Siem Reap: Elephants & Apopo Rat Demining Private Trip

Imagine spending a full day alongside gentle elephants and tiny hero rats, learning about their vital roles in Cambodia’s recovery and safety. This private tour offers just that—an engaging, ethical experience that combines wildlife kindness with life-saving innovation. It’s particularly appealing for travelers who want a meaningful alternative to traditional sightseeing, especially families or those curious about local conservation efforts.

Two things we love about this experience are how ethically the animals are treated—no riding, just observing and interacting—and the fascinating work of the hero rats that actively make Cambodia safer. A possible consideration? The price for sanctuary entry isn’t included, so it’s a bit of a surprise cost on top of the tour fee. Nonetheless, this trip suits anyone seeking authentic encounters, a deeper understanding of Cambodian efforts, and a break from crowded temples.

If you’re someone interested in compassionate travel, wildlife, or innovative landmine clearance work, this tour offers a worthwhile glimpse into Cambodia’s ongoing healing and resilience.

Key Points

• Ethical animal encounters with elephants, no riding involved
• Learn from expert guides passionate about elephant and rat conservation
• Unique demining work with trained hero rats clearing landmines across Cambodia
• Flexible scheduling with morning or afternoon options
• Affordable base price of just $15 per person, with extra costs for sanctuary and rat landmine tickets
• Small group size (limited to 10) for a more personal experience
• Total duration around 12 hours, including transportation and visits
• Family-friendly activity, especially appealing to kids who love animals

You can check availability for your dates here:

A Clearer Look: What to Expect from This Tour

This tour is designed to give you a balanced view of Cambodia’s wildlife rehabilitation and landmine demining efforts, all packed into a well-organized 12-hour day. You’ll start with a hotel pickup in Siem Reap’s comfortable air-conditioned vehicle, heading about 40 minutes out to the Elephant Sanctuary. Here, the emphasis is on ethical treatment—no elephant rides or shows, just observing elephants in natural-like settings, feeding them, and watching them bathe.

Our favorite aspect? Making handmade elephant snacks to feed these majestic creatures. The guides are knowledgeable, giving clear explanations of each elephant’s story and demonstrating how they’re cared for. As one guest noted, “seeing them roam freely and learning about their rehabilitation was heartwarming.” You’ll also have the chance to watch them play and enjoy the pond, reinforcing the message that these elephants are living happily, not being exploited.

After this, you’ll return to Siem Reap for a visit to the Apopo Landmine Center. Here, the tiny hero rats are trained to detect landmines—an effort that has saved countless lives and reclaimed land for farming and community use. The training center is surprisingly engaging; the rats are adorable, and you’ll get to see them in action. Many visitors describe this as both fun and inspiring, with one noting, “their mission is inspiring, proving small creatures can make a big impact.” If you’re feeling brave, you can even hold a rat yourself.

The timing is flexible—either start your day with the elephants and end at the rat center, or vice versa, based on your preference. The entire experience usually involves some waiting for tickets to the sanctuary and the rat center, which are purchased separately. The tour provides transport, an English-speaking guide, light snacks, and water, making for a comfortable and hassle-free day.

Detailed Itinerary Breakdown

The Elephant Sanctuary Experience

Your day begins with hotel pickup, where you’ll meet your driver and fellow travelers (small groups keep this intimate). The drive to the sanctuary is about 40 minutes, allowing some initial conversation with your guide about Cambodia’s wildlife efforts. Upon arrival, you’ll likely join other visitors and benefit from an expert guide’s introduction. This overview highlights the sanctuary’s mission—caring for elephants that previously endured harsh conditions or labor exploitation.

The highlight is feeding the elephants. You’ll prepare simple snacks like rice and banana balls, then enthusiastically feed the elephants—imagine the joy of sharing bananas with a gentle giant. Observing them wallow in the mud or splash in the pond gives you a chance to see their natural behaviors, which are often hidden in traditional tourist setups that focus on rides or performances.

The donation-based sanctuary ticket (roughly $75 for 2 hours or $45 for 1 hour for adults) is a separate fee. Many reviews mention how well-cared-for and happy these elephants appear—something that’s easy to miss at larger, commercialized sanctuaries.

The Apopo Demining Center

After a leisurely break with snacks and drinks, you’ll head back to Siem Reap for the landmine rats. The visit typically lasts about an hour, during which you’ll see these small, clever animals in action. They detect landmines and unexploded ordnance with remarkable accuracy—saving lives and helping land be reused for farming or habitation.

Many reviews highlight the novelty and impact of this work. One visitor remarked, “the rats are much cuter than they sound and are extremely smart,” and others appreciated the opportunity to hold a rat or watch them in training. The ticket for this part is a flat $10, which is a small price for such an impactful demonstration.

The whole day is about more than sightseeing. It’s about understanding how Cambodia is healing from its troubled past, through both compassionate wildlife care and innovative demining efforts.

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Why This Tour Offers Good Value

While the base price is only $15, remember that sanctuary and rat center tickets cost extra—$75/$45 and $10 respectively. Even with these added costs, many travelers find the experience worth the price for the chance to see well-cared-for animals and learn about heroic efforts to clear landmines.

Compared to larger tours, the small group size (up to 10 participants) means you’ll get more personalized attention and time with the animals. The tour duration of 12 hours includes transportation, giving you a full day of engaging, meaningful activity without feeling rushed.

The combination of ethical wildlife interaction and life-saving work makes this a standout experience for those wanting to explore Cambodia beyond its temples. Plus, reviews consistently mention how knowledgeable and friendly guides enhance the day, adding depth and context to every encounter.

Who Will Love This Experience?

This trip is ideal for travelers who want to avoid the typical temple-hopping and instead engage with Cambodia’s ongoing efforts for animal welfare and safety. Families with kids will find it particularly engaging, especially with the appeal of the hero rats and gentle elephants. It’s also a good choice for eco-conscious travelers or anyone interested in wildlife conservation, animal rescue, or innovative humanitarian work.

Those with limited time but a desire for authentic, impactful experiences will appreciate how this tour packs two significant activities into one day. However, be prepared for extra costs for sanctuary entry, and plan accordingly.

FAQs

Are elephants ridden during this tour? No, the sanctuary operates on an ethical basis, focusing on observation, feeding, and bathing without any rides.

What is included in the tour? Pickup and drop-off from your hotel, an English-speaking guide, snacks, and bottled water during transport are included.

Are sanctuary and rat center tickets included? No, they are purchased separately at the sanctuary ($75/$45 for adults, $62 for kids) and $10 for the rat center.

How long does the tour last? The entire experience is about 12 hours, including transportation and visits.

Can I choose morning or afternoon? Yes, the tour offers both options, with the sequence of visits adjustable to your preference.

Is this experience suitable for children? Yes, especially kids who love animals and are comfortable around gentle elephants and rats.

How big are the groups? The small group size is limited to 10 participants, making the experience more personal and relaxed.

What are the main benefits? It provides an authentic, ethical wildlife experience and insight into Cambodia’s demining efforts, all with knowledgeable guides.

Is this a good value? Considering the meaningful encounters and the impact of supporting conservation efforts, many travelers find it well worth the cost despite some separate ticket fees.

Final Thoughts

This tour offers more than just sightseeing; it’s a chance to connect with Cambodia’s ongoing stories of compassion and resilience. You’ll see happy, well-cared-for elephants in a sanctuary that prioritizes their wellbeing, not entertainment. Simultaneously, the hero rats at Apopo demonstrate how tiny creatures can make a colossal difference—literally saving lives and reclaiming land.

It’s a thoughtful choice for those seeking authentic, educational, and impactful experiences away from crowds. The blend of wildlife and humanitarian efforts provides a nuanced view of Cambodia’s efforts to heal and rebuild. The guides’ knowledge and the genuine care for animals shine through, making it a memorable day for anyone interested in more than just temples.

If you cherish ethical wildlife encounters and want to see how small animals can have big impacts, this trip is a perfect fit. It’s a meaningful, well-organized day that leaves you with more than just photos—it leaves you with stories of hope and resilience.

You can check availability for your dates here: