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Chiang Mai, Thailand

Summer Impact Project Thailand 2024

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Trip Highlights

Responsibly care for elephants living at an Elephant Project
Learn about cultural, social and environmental issues related to elephant tourism
Volunteer and help with educational needs around a primary school classroom
Visit colorful night bazaars filled with local cuisine and handicrafts
Explore the best of Chiang Mai, a beautiful city with rich and interesting history
Learn to make your own Thai meal by participating in a Thai Cookery course
Visit to Doi Suthep and Doi Pui, a Hmong hilltribe village
Experience Northern Thailand like never before
Meet some amazing people from different parts of the world

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Overview Program Requirements Itinerary Living Costs Dates Reviews

Overview

Volunteering Solutions offers an amazing volunteering & adventure trip for those who wish to set out for an all-encompassing journey and experience the best of Northern Thailand in two weeks. There can be nothing better than this for your upcoming Summer Break! During the two week period, you will be based out of the city of Chiang Mai, the hub of traditional Thai culture and Thailand’s second largest city.Meander along the leafy streets dotted with Buddhist temples, bustling local markets and monks giving their daily alms.

During the first week you will have a full cultural immersion with an extensive orientation and city tour followed by beginning of your volunteer service project at a school project.While the mornings would be busy at the project, the group would be busy with additional activites in the evening such as chat with a Buddhist monks, Thai cooking course and fresh market tour, interaction with university students and visit to Doi Suthep Temple.

On the weekend, you get a free day to just relax or do additional activities. On the second day of the weekend, visit to Thai Elephant Conservation Center, followed by visit to FAE Elephant Hospital that is a non-profit foundation that helps treat sick and injured elephants.

During the second week, you will get to spend a few days immersed in rural life venturing out of Chiang Mai in a lush green valley. You will work alongside the mahouts, or elephant caretakers, to learn exactly what it takes to care for an elephant. From morning walks through the forest to bathing elephants in a nearby river, we’ll directly contribute to the well-being of these amazing creatures.

Undoubtedly, this is one of the best summer volunteer adventure programs in Thailand and it'll turn out to be one of the best journeys of your life !

Program Requirements

Volunteers must be 17 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with elephants and outdoors. You should also be proactive, have the ability to take initiative and willing to work outdoors. Participants should have no criminal convictions and should provide a clean criminal background check report. A parental consent form shall be required for Under 18 participants joining the program.

Schedule

Day 1 - Saturday - Arrivals and Airport Pickup

You will be picked up from Chiang Mai International Airport by a member of the local team and shall be taken directly to the hotel for check in. Welcome dinner with other members later in the day.

Meals Included – Dinner

Day 2 - Sunday – Orientation and Tour

Morning Orientation including Thai language lessons, cultural do’s and don’ts, how to stay healthy and safe in Thailand, program details.

Afternoon City Tour, with stops at local temples and waterfall. Dinner and Shopping at Sunday Night Walking Street Market. Conveniently, the hotel is located just across the street from the start of this market. So, after dinner participants can take

their time with shopping, or go directly back to the hotel, if they would like.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3 - Monday – Teaching Project

Morning Orientation to Teaching in Thailand.

Afternoon visit to school group will be teaching at, meet students and other teachers, etc. Late afternoon planning and preparation.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Days 4 - 7 - Tuesday to Friday – Teaching Project

Mornings spent teaching English as a Second Language at local school in groups of 2 - 3 volunteers in each teaching group.

Teaching Volunteer Project in Thailand Afternoons spent doing different cultural and fun activities, including:

1. Monk Chat with senior bilingual monk about what Buddhism is all about, and how it’s practiced. Also, practice meditation session, for those interested, in the main center building of the temple.

2. Visit to Doi Suthep (temple on the mountain) and Doi Pui - this is a Hmong hilltribe village that has a market and two botanical gardens.

3. Meet and Greet activity with local university students. Learn what it’s like to be a university student in Thailand and take a tour of their campus.

Thai cooking course and fresh market tour to introduce fresh ingredients. Here participants not only learn how to cook Thai food, but they make their own dinner!

Day 8 - Saturday – Free Day

This is your day to relax and chill out at the hotel or alternatively opt for additional optional activities such as whitewater rafting or zip lining. These additional activities are chargeable extra.

Meals Included – Breakfast

Day 9 - Sunday - Learn about Elephants Day

Morning visit to Thai Elephant Conservation Center, followed by visit to FAE Elephant Hospital that is a non-profit foundation that helps treat sick and injured elephants.

Afternoon visit to Elephant Parade. Learn about the work that they do, and paint your own elephant figurine!

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Days 10 - 13 - Monday to Thursday – Elephant Volunteer

Experience

Learn, feed, bathe, and hike with elephants!

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13 (afternoon) - Thursday evening / night – Back to Chiang Mai city

Return to the city and check back into the hotel. Farewell Dinner in the evening with the group.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 14 - Friday - Departure

Check out from Hotel. Return drop to airport shall be provided for flight back home or travel onwards.

Meals Included – Breakfast

Living

As a VolSol participant you are provided with best of living standards available in Thailand. Our dedicated coordinator and staff will assist you with your airport pick up, stay, meals and even weekend sightseeing and travel. Arrive in peace and have the best time of your life.

Airport Transfer

Volunteers are picked up from the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok by the local coordinator or representative on the program start date. Please note that airport pickup is only provided between 08:00 to 20:00 hrs. Those participants who are already in Bangkok will need to make their own way to the hotel/guest house accommodation details of which shall be provided.

Accommodation

While in Chiang Mai, participants are provided accommodation at a centrally located hotel.It is a very centrally located hotel that is right across the street from Tha Phae Gate. The hotel is just a 15-minute drive from Chiang Mai Inernational Airport, and 20 minutes from Chiang Mai Zoo and Chiang Mai Railway station. Most of Chiang Mai City's key historic, cultural and contemporary lifestyle attractions, from Thaphae Gate to Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, are within easy reach on foot.

While volunteering at the Elephant Project, accommodation would be provided within the camp itself.

Meals

All meals including breakfast, lunches and Dinners would all be provided(except for the free day).Here the group would be provided with various different options. Some nights would be a proper sit down restaurants, whereas other evenings would be at open air dinner markets, etc. Lunches during school days will be at the school with the students.

During your Free Time

You will get some free time to explore on your own or take some well needed rest on the free day. The two week summer program is inclusive of different activities and one free day is provided in the itinerary which gives you a chance to relax or do some additional activities.A list of different activities could be provided as additional add-on options. The recommended additional activities during the free day would be Zip Lining or White Water Rafting which can be arranged at additional costs.

Dates

2024

January

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Past Date

Available

Unavailable

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Costs

2 Weeks $1399

Please Note: -An application fee of $229 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 5% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)

What are you Paying for?

Pre departure information and support
10 nights lodging at a centrally located hotel in Chiang Mai
3 nights lodging at the Elephant Project
Airport transfers (Bothways) from Chiang Mai Airport
Education Volunteer Project coordination
In Country Transportation
All activities and excursions as per the itinerary
All meals except Lunch and Dinner on Day 8
Fully guided and supported by local team
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions

Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)

What's NOT included?

International Flights
Visa fees
Travel insurance (available at nominal cost)
Vaccinations
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary

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Frequently asked questions

: All accommodations are provided in twin/triple sharing basis in guesthouse, resorts or hotels.Meals are provided strictly as per the itinerary.Thai cuisine is amazing and one of the most popular cuisines of the world.
: Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and dietary requirements. Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
: We encourage our volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to connect with our team and our participants.

To read alumni interviews, visit the Meet a Volunteer section on our website.
: VolSol recommends that all interested international volunteers should apply well in advance.

As we have limited spots available in our programs and we serve on first come first basis, it is strongly recommended to apply for the program and reserve your spot. You can book your spot in the program by filling an online form and pay the application fee.

Once you complete your application, your individual 'My Account' will be active in which you will receive your placement confirmation after which you can pay the program fees.
You can pay the program fees later as well in installments, but 45 days before the program starts.
: Please refer to the individual requirements for the particular program you wish to join. Requirements vary for every program depending on different factors.
: We encourage our participants to volunteer in a group. We take special care in providing you a placement and also customize your itinerary to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for. Also, we can design special group programs for groups of 5 or more. Our programs are designed to be safe, affordable and offer a great group volunteering experience to the volunteers.

In our experience of more than 15 years, we have facilitated volunteer programs for college groups, university groups, high school groups, group of families, group of couples as well as groups of colleagues.
: You need to arrive in Thailand at the given program date. More details shall be provided in your booking confirmation document. Pickup is provided from the designated pickup airport only at given scheduled airport pickup times. After you are picked up from the airport you will be transferred to your accommodation.
: Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.
: Yes, you will have free time during your program.During the freetime you can just have rest or explore the location on your own as well. You can ask for assistance from your guide/coordinator for arranging any trips for free time.
: Yes, we can provide you with the necessary support and assistance for the documents for the visa. However, applying for the visa is the responsibility of every participant and you need to do it on your own and Volunteering Solutions does not provide any assistance in submitting the application. We can only provide assistance on suggesting the suitable visa for you and provide the required letters for support.
: Although all major airlines fly to Thailand, we recommend the following:
Etihad
Qatar Airways
British Airways
Emirates
Thai Airways
Virgin Australia
Air Asia
: Your safety is of prime importance to us. We provide our volunteers with 24x7 in-country support. Our in-country team ensures a smooth, safe, and comfortable trip for our participants.As in any destination, all participants are advised to follow general safety precautions for their safety and well being. Thailand is a very popular tourist destination and millions of people travel to the country from around the world every year.
: We recommend you to consult your doctor but the general recommended vaccinations are Covid 19, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Typhoid.