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.
WHAT does Cultural Week Involve?
- Explore the local areas- walking tours, cultural excursions, temple visits, cooking classes, language lessons & hot springs
- Visit the stunning Buddhist temples
- Become immersed in local life by practicing your new language skills with the locals!
- Get to know your new home and settle in before your project starts
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: CULTURAL ORIENTATION WEEK
LOCATION: CHIANG MAI, THAILAND
START DATES: 1ST & 3RD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH
ACCOMMODATION: VOLUNTEER HOUSE (SHARED ROOMS)
MIN DURATION: ONE WEEK
MIN AGE: 16+
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Criminal background check required
Overview
The stunning mountainous terrain surrounding Chiang Mai offers plenty of natural attractions. This city is known for being a hub of Thai handicrafts and is home to two tribal villages. Learn about Thai culture through a diverse range of cultural activities, sightseeing, and leisure time to appreciate the breath taking mountainous scenery.
The orientation and culture week provides a chance for you to fully immerse yourself in Thai culture through a variety of cultural activities, sightseeing, and leisure time to appreciate the beautiful mountainous surroundings. You will have the opportunity to participate in authentic cultural activities, watch performances, and engage in various experiences during the program.
Throughout the program, you will explore several famous landmarks in and around Chiang Mai, while also learning about Thai customs, language, and cuisine. Visits to Buddhist temples (known as ‘Wat’ in Thai) will offer insight into Thai Buddhism. Additionally, we have scheduled visits to local markets where you can observe the local Thai lifestyle, sample a range of food items, and taste delicious delicacies and other products.
See schedule in dropdown section below.
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
- Help you familiarise yourself with the local surroundings.
- Provide a full induction, preparing you for volunteering
- Broaden your knowledge on the local customs, history and culture.
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.
Standard
Projects
- Cultural Orientation Week, Chiang Mai
- English Teaching, Chiang Mai
- Kindergarten Teaching, Chiang Mai
- *Buddhist Monestary Experience, Chiang Mai
- *Construction, Chiang Mai
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1 Week - $455
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2 Weeks - $575
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3 Weeks - $825
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1 Month - $1055
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2 Months - $2155
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3 Months - $3150
- 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
If you want to gain a head start on your projects and feel comfortable in your new surroundings, before you begin, this week is a fantastic way to do just that! It gives you time to adjust before your project begins, to explore the local area and to learn more about the culture and customs. This can greatly help you to communicate with the locals on your projects.
- 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
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
Program Introduction, registration and general info. Introduction to Thai Culture.
Thai cooking class and Lunch
Dinner
Tuesday
Breakfast
Thai Culture Lesson: Thai history, religion, and customs
Lunch
Thai Language Lesson
Dinner
Wednesday
Breakfast
Umbrella Village; Umbrella Painting
Lunch
Hot spring Water (Hot spring Pool)
Dinner
Thursday
Breakfast
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan
Lunch
Wat Pha lad
Welcome and Goodbye Dinner Session.
Friday
Breakfast
Lanna folklife museum, Warorrot Market
Lunch
Wat Chedi Luang & Night Market
Dinner and Spa treatment after a fun-packed week.
*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 330 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.
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.
30 Years Non Profit Experience
IVI is an Australian charity & non profit organisation founded in 1989 and is one of the pioneers of overseas volunteering successfully placing over 20,000 volunteers globally.
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