Elephant on the banks of the Kinabatangan River

Wildlife vacations

When it comes to wildlife experiences in Asia, it’s impossible not to think of Borneo.

There are more plants and animals in Borneo than in Europe and North America put together, making it one of the best places in the world to immerse yourself in the mind-boggling diversity of nature. But it’s not the only wildlife hotspot in Asia. In fact, the region is home to nearly 15 percent of the world's tropical forests, so there are plenty of amazing nature-based experiences to be discovered here. We've collected some of our favorites below.

These span bonding with elephants in Thailand, checking camera traps and salt licks in the rainforests of Laos, and joining in with conservation efforts in the threatened wilderness of Cambodia’s Botum Sakor National Park. What they all have in common is a strong focus on environmental conservation, community-based tourism and animal welfare, so you can be certain that your visit will make a positive impact on the places, people and animals you visit.

Our top itineraries for wildlife lovers

A selection of itineraries focusing on wildlife and conservation

$2,909
Family
Activity
On the water
Scenery
Wildlife

This family trip has it all: tropical beaches, jungle adventure, hands-on culture and (best of all) elephants.

$3,783
Activity
Active
Adventure
Responsible entreprise
Scenery
Wildlife

Wild, tough and thoroughly rewarding, this is an intense, trekking-focused itinerary through the mountainous cloud forests of Laos.

$3,151
Family
Classic
Activity
Adventure
Culture
Scenery
Wildlife

Take the kids on a family adventure to Laos and discover a land of rivers, jungles and hidden caves.

$2,859
Family
Classic
Active
Adventure
Relaxation
Scenery
Wildlife

Orangutan encounters, whitewater rafting and jungle exploration: Borneo is the perfect setting for a family adventure.

$3,180
Activity
Active
Adventure
Scenery
Wildlife

Challenging but oh-so-rewarding, this one’s all about spectacular nature, minority culture, and getting out on the trail.

$5,377
Classic
Honeymoon
Active
Wildlife

Indulge your inner Attenborough and experience the world’s oldest rainforest in Sabah, Malaysia’s wildest state.

Top destinations for nature buffs

Our favorite places to appreciate Asia’s spectacular wildlife

Borneo

Sepilok isn’t just the best place in North Borneo to see orangutans – it's one of the island’s premier conservation destinations, with exemplary projects doing fantastic work.

Borneo

Stay in an eco-lodge on the banks of Sabah’s longest river, where elephants, macaques and gibbons forage in the dense riverside foliage, and frogmouths, nightjars and hornbills wheel overhead.

Laos

A visit to Laos is all about the wild and untamed beauty of the mountains – and it doesn’t get much wilder and more untamed than this. Covering nearly 6,000 square kilometers, Nam Et-Phou Louey provides a haven for endangered animals.

Cambodia

Covering most of Preah Vihear Province in the remote northern plains, Kulen Promtep is a haven for rare birds, and one of the few remaining places to see the endangered giant ibis — Cambodia’s national bird.

Cambodia

A visit to Mondulkiri is about feeling as far away from civilization as it’s possible to be, sleeping in rainforest huts surrounded by the hoots of yellow-cheeked crested gibbons and trekking through jungle to meet rescued elephants.

Borneo

Danum Valley is one of the few places in the world that has never been settled, logged, hunted or otherwise interfered with by humans. Hidden in its untouched forests, wildlife thrives – from the world’s tallest tropical tree to the highest concentration of orangutans anywhere in the world.

Borneo

Covering an area twice the size of Singapore, come to Tabin for mud volcanoes, jungle trekking, an orangutan release center, and the chance to spot over 300 types of exotic bird – from the bronzed drongo to the blue-crowned hanging parrot.

Cambodia

Forget jostling with sharp-elbowed crowds to get that perfect sunrise snap of Angkor Wat. What if you could explore 800-year-old cave temples with only silver langur, barking deer and pileated gibbons for company?

Laos

Home to the largest elephant population in Laos – as well as a stellar conservation project working to ensure their survival – remote Sayaboury is one of our favorite places to get up close and personal with these gentle giants.

Cambodia

A tatty yet alluring colonial town on the Mekong River, not far from the Laos border, Kratie is one of a handful of places left in the world to spot the endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin.

Malaysia

Home to sun bears, elephants, Malayan tigers and clouded leopards, Taman Negara is among the oldest primary rainforest in the world. Explore its tangled depths on a treetop-skimming canopy walk, whitewater raft, or challenging mountain hike.

Wildlife-themed experiences

Our best guided tours and excursions for experiencing Asia’s wildlife

Kinabatangan River
On the water
Wildlife

A riverboat safari on the Kinabatangan River just might be the best wildlife experience in the world.

Kuching
Wildlife

Just south of Kuching, the Semenggoh Wildlife Reserve has provided a sanctuary for rescued orangutans since 1975.

Gaya Island
Active
Wildlife

Borneo is a firm contender for top marine destination on the planet, and there are few natural environments more magical than the coral reefs around Gaya Island.

Kratie
Wildlife

Recognizable by their distinctive snub-noses and enigmatic smiles, the largest population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the world lives in the Mekong, where — if you’re lucky — you might spot their little dorsal fins dancing about above the water not far from the village of Kampi.

Kuching
Active
Adventure
Wildlife

Don’t be fooled by its petite dimensions: at just 27 square kilometers, Bako may be one of Borneo’s smallest national parks, but with seven different ecosystems it packs a massive punch when it comes to diversity.

Khao Sok NP
Responsible entreprise
Wildlife

Combine luxurious, safari-style tents with a world-class, animal-friendly elephant sanctuary — all set against the backdrop of the magical Thai rainforest — and you get one of our favorite wildlife experiences in Southeast Asia.

Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area
Adventure
Scenery
Wildlife

If you want a real adventure (and we’re talking the old-fashioned kind, complete with creepy crawlies, strenuous exercise, and lots of sweat) this one’s for you.

Responsible entreprise
Wildlife

If you love elephants as much as we do, you must visit Green Hill Valley. It’s a family-owned sanctuary that not only provides a refuge for ex-logging elephants, but also aims to preserve the natural environment and create working opportunities for people from the local villages.

Luang Prabang
Responsible entreprise
Wildlife

We’ve seen a lot of wildlife sanctuaries in our time, and this one might be the very best.

Proboscis monkey - Alastair Donnelly

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