Involvement Volunteers International WHY we need you in Thailand
- Although Thailand's economy is improving, there is still a wide gap between the rich and the poor.
- The majority of Thailand's poor live in rural areas, with a lack of education being a main contributor to poverty.
- Due to economical developments, environmental degradation is evident. The decline of biodiversity and deforestation is increasing.
- The expliotation of animals in Thailand is a big problem. With many being beaten and held in small cages for the tourist trade.
HOW can you help?
- Play an important role in caring for elephants in their natural habitat.
- Help with daily activites around the centre, such as feeding and cleaning
- Work with rehabilitation centre staff who’ll guide you and teach you on how to care for these animals
- Take part in and gain valuable in-field research experience
WHAT can you do?
- Cleaning cages and general duties around the centre
- Prepare food and feed the elephants
- Assist with any other daily duties around the centre
- Observing elephant behaviour
Why Involvement Volunteers International?
- Non Profit Organisation & Charity
- Over 30 Years Expertise Globally
- Low Program Fees - From US$295
- Excellent Safety Record, In-Country 24/7 Support & Emergency Assistance
- 1 Application Fee - Multiple Countries
PROJECT NAME: ELEPHANT CARE & CONSERVATION
LOCATION: CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
START DATES: WEEKLY (SAT/SUN ARRIVALS)
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
For approximately 5000 years, elephants have been employed by humans to carry out various tasks. Although this relationship has been advantageous for people, it has not been so for the elephants. In Thailand, elephants are held in high regard and have had a significant impact on the country’s culture, myths, and religion. Unfortunately, the profound respect that the species deserves is often not reflected in how individual elephants are treated. The rapid decline in elephant numbers is due to widespread abuse, poaching, deforestation, increased tourism, farming, and a considerable reduction in their natural habitat, which has led to the Asian elephant being listed as an endangered species.
Therefore, this project operates in a sanctuary where old, sick, disabled, previously abused or illegally-owned elephants are now provided with a home. Our focus is on caring for the elephants, rather than exploiting them, so there will be no elephant riding involved in the program. Instead, you will have the opportunity to interact and bond with these gentle giants by , bathing and cleaning enclusures and preparing their food, which usually consists of sugarcane and banana plants. Moreover, the elephants roam freely around the sanctuary during the day and are taken to the forest in the early evening.
You will be working alongside experienced mahouts who have dedicated their lives to understanding elephants and providing them with the best care possible. The sanctuary welcomes respectful day and short-stay visitors who can interact with the elephants without saddles. Without this level of support, the sanctuary would not be able to sustain these majestic animals, who have been subjected to hard labour (logging and farming) or entertainment labour (riding and shows), whether they are young or old. This means that you may see 40-50 individuals on-site working for the animals, preparing food, assisting with bathing, and lovingly observing their behaviour.
Please bear in mind that our primary focus is to care for these graceful creatures, and the program does not engage in any form of animal exploitation.
Location
Chiang Mai is a city in northern Thailand known for its rich cultural heritage and stunning natural beauty. It is a popular destination for tourists, with attractions such as ancient temples, night markets, and trekking in the nearby mountains. In addition to its religious sites, Chiang Mai is also famous for its vibrant night markets, where visitors can find a variety of local crafts, souvenirs, and delicious street food.
Project Tasks
- Take care of relocated, injured, ill, previously abused or illegally owned elephants
- Gain a unique and memorable experience in care taking for elephants.
- Assist the local sanctuary staff by providing an extra hand
Food & Accommodation
You will stay in a nice volunteer house with all the standard facilities like WiFi, hot showers and aircon/fans. Rooms are single gender and fit 4-8 people. Private rooms can be booked for an additional fee. We also have an open and lovely lakeside where you can get some fresh air. There is also a beautiful dining area where you can have a cup of tea and coffee and hang out with fellow volunteers. Table tennis is also available!
3 meals a day are provided, and 2 on weekends. All the meals served inside the accommodation are homestyle, vegetarian-friendly and you can expect that they will be typically Thai style dishes, including plenty of rice or noodle dishes with vegetables and occasionally some meat and fish will be provided as well, along with seasonal fruits for dessert.
While we do our best to accommodate our participants, what we provide for most meals is local cuisine. If you are a picky eater or allergies, have dietary restrictions, or if you think that you will not be satisfied with the local dishes provided, you might want to consider supplementing our menu with your own western type foods and snacks that are more to your liking.
*Accommodation may be in our local centre or in close proximity, depending on availability and time of year.
Specialty
Projects
- Elephant Rehabilitation, Chiang Mai
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1 Week - $820
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2 Weeks - $1540
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3 Weeks - $2260
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1 Month - $2980
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2 Months - $5860
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3 Months - $8740
- Private rooms cost additional $400 p/week
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Meals
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Airport Pickup
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Local Transportation
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1 Day Orientation
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24/7 In-Country Support
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Project Materials & Equipment
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Pre-departure Expert Advice
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Preperation Tools & Checklists
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Certificate of Completion
- Application fee is one off per person (unlimited placements)
- Click Here to convert the below prices to your local currency
- Discounts may apply if travelling in a pair or group!
- All credit card /international fees included in below pricing! 🙂
Testimonials...
FAQ
Anyone interested in animal conservation and does not mind mucking in! This is a responsible program so there will be no elephant riding, with duties being to care for the animals and helping around the centre, so must be ok with a little hard work.
- Accommodation
- 3 meals p/day weekdays / 2 meals p/day weekends
- Arrival airport transfer (Sat/Sun arrivals)
- Filtered drinking water, coffee & tea
- 1 day orientation
- Daily transportation to project
- In country 24/7 support & emergency assistance
- Fundraising support
- University course credits (where applicable)
- Certificate of Completion
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
- Tours, Souvenirs & spending money
Most of our programs will include a 1 day orientation on the first day, which will include things like a walk around the local area, explanations of where everything is, ATMs, how to get local sim cards, etc, and lessons on cultural norms and what to expect.
Programs begin every Monday, and volunteers are required to arrive the day prior, for orientation before the project. Your accommodation on the Sunday is included in the program fees.
A free airport pickup is included when arriving to Chiang Mai Airport (CNX), Level 1, Door 5. You must arrive between 08.00 and 16:00 on Sunday.
If arriving outside the pickup times you will need to pay an additional fee for any extra night’s accommodation, and a private transfer to our accommodation.
Alternatively, if arriving early you could wait at the arrival’s terminal for the pickup time, book accommodation at the airport and meet us during the pickup times or make your own way to the project (we will advise on how to do this).
From the airport to the accommodation in Chiang Mai, it takes around 30-45 mins by Taxi/Song Teaw. This is not including any delays that may occur.
Monday
Breakfast
Introduction about Asia Elephant
Lunch
Learn and Prepare Thai herb medicine for Elephant.
Tuesday
Breakfast
Clean and Renovate Elephant Area
Lunch
Observe Elephant taking Mud Bath.
Wednesday
Breakfast
Clean and Renovate Elephant Area.
Lunch
Making Nutrition Ball for Elephant.
Thursday
Breakfast
Clean and Renovate Elephant Area.
Lunch
Learn Mahout Basic Skills.
Walk with Elephants.
Friday
Breakfast
Clean and Renovate Elephant Area.
Lunch
Prepare food and Feed Elephants.
Observing Elephant Behaviours.
*Schedule possible to change due to the project and community needs at the time. Volunteer flexibility and adaptability is important to a positive volunteering experience.
Visit ancient temples – Chiang Mai is home to over 300 Buddhist temples, many of which are centuries old. Some of the most famous temples include Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Wat Chedi Luang, and Wat Phra Singh.
Explore the night markets – Chiang Mai has several night markets, where visitors can shop for souvenirs, handicrafts, and local cuisine. The most popular markets include the Sunday Night Walking Street and the Night Bazaar.
Trek in the mountains – Chiang Mai is surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests. Visitors can go trekking, hiking, or mountain biking in the nearby Doi Inthanon National Park or Mae Sa Valley.
Learn about the local culture – Chiang Mai has a rich cultural heritage, and visitors can learn about traditional crafts, music, and dance at places like the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center or the Lanna Folklife Museum.
Take a cooking class – Thai cuisine is famous worldwide, and visitors to Chiang Mai can take a cooking class to learn how to prepare traditional dishes like pad Thai or green curry.
Attend a festival – Chiang Mai hosts several festivals throughout the year, including the Yi Peng Lantern Festival and the Songkran Water Festival.
Minors traveling to Thailand
Minors traveling to Thailand with/without parents/legal guardians are required to adhere to instructions of the Thai immigration. For more information, please check here.
Motorbike Hire
Please note, motorbike hire is strictly prohibited for volunteers, including when outside the centre on weekends. If a participant is found to have hired a motorbike, this will result in termination of the program with no refund.
Other
- Older participants are required to have a medical clearance.
- Participants below 18 years old will need to have a parental consent.
- Good and Sturdy walking shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
For information on holidays and any programs affected, please see the following link: TH – Holidays – All Programs
With a long sandy coastline and jungle-topped islands anchored in crystal blue waters Thailand is a tropical getaway and favorite traveling destination for holiday makers and volunteers from all over the world. Thailand’s culture is generous, warm and outgoing and the cuisine is world renowned for a tropical abundance of fresh and varied flavors of spicy, sweet, salty and sour.
Thailand is a fascinating and exotic country to explore. Through volunteering, you’ll gain a love in the people, culture, scenery, cuisine and in the overall lifestyle of Thailand.
We offer diverse project options catering to many different interests. Volunteering is the ideal way of assimilating into the local Thai culture and experiencing the real lifestyle in Thailand.
November to Febuary is the best time to visit Thailand, with a pleasent temperature through most of the country. From March to May temperatures can get very hot. The monsoon rains start from about June to October. Showers usually are quite predictabe and come in short bursts, so this time of year can be great to visit, as everything is so green and there are fewer crowds!
Temperatures are around 30 degrees on average throughout the year. If in the North of Thailand in the winter, evenings can get quite chilly, so bring some warm clothes too!
Vietnam has one of the oldest cultures in South East Asia, creating a rich history with ancient traditions dating back thousands of years. It also has a large Chinese influence. Elders are very well respected in Vietnamese culture, the older you are, the more respect is shown to you. ‘Saving face’ is a concept shown by most Vietnamese people and is thought of as extremely important in their culture. This means that if you feel angered or annoyed by someone, you do not show it and remain respectful. If you lose your temper/ are rude, then this is seen as losing face and therefore a loss of reputation and self-respect.
Vietnamese is the most widely spoken language, other languages include Chinese, Khmer, Cham and tribal dialects. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism are the main religious beliefs in Vietnam, and you will find many temples dotted around the country. You will often see the local people giving fruits and burning incense to give as offerings.
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