Summer Volunteer Program Thailand 2019

Trip Highlights

Volunteer in Thailand this Summer to contribute meaningfully towards the society
Visit Thai temples and interact with little Thai kids and monks in the temples
Take care of toddlers in the Thai countryside and paint their daycare centers with different colors
Travel around in trucks exploring little Thai villages and collecting bamboos for Elephants in and around Surin
Get drenched by the waterfalls and kayak in the local lake
End the night by playing games with the local community folks and fellow volunteers

Get More Information Click Here to Book Now

Overview

Be a part of the Summer Volunteer Program in Thailand with Volunteering Solutions and experience the authentic Thai way of life while contributing meaningfully towards the society. For 3 weeks, this program is perfectly suitable for college as well as high school students, gap year student, families, corporate groups, the first-time solo travelers as well as experienced adventurers who are keen to explore Thailand responsibly.

Being a volunteer, you will get a chance to support the underprivileged communities of Thailand, and volunteer with little ones at Bangkok & spend some quality time with the elephants & mahouts in Surin. Experience the thrill of a jungle trek at Khao Yai National Park, explore the bustling markets of Bangkok, binge on delicious Thai food and learn to cook some authentic dishes as well

Still, you have a query? Enquire now.

Itinerary

Day 1– Wednesday – Arrival Day

Arrival: Our team will receive you at the airport and help to check you into your accommodation on Khao San Road, Bangkok’s famous backpacker hub. You will then have the rest of the day to relax and meet people from all over the world.
Note: If you are making your own way to orientation, you will need to contact us after you have checked in. We will then confirm arrangements for orientation weekend with you. Full arrival details are provided in the ‘Making Your Own Way’ and ‘Airport Pickup’ documents. All participants need to book their flights to arrive between 6am-10pm on the arrival date.
(Meals – Breakfast)

Day 2 – Thursday – Orientation, Bangkok Tour and Welcome Meal

In the morning, you will formally meet your Guide and fellow group members. During the orientation, you will learn more about Thailand and your itinerary. Later the Bangkok tour will take you on a journey through the old city and includes magnificent temples and a private canal boat trip around old Bangkok, Wat Arun, Wat Pho. Take rest after you come back so that you can prepare for an exciting evening with your group on the world famous Khao San Road.
(Meals – Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 3 – Friday – Volunteering in Bangkok

Join our team running games and activities for children at Wat Pho School in Bangkok. Wat Pho is one of Thailand’s most iconic temples and home to the gigantic, golden reclining Buddha. This is a privilege that most tourists may never experience. The activities will provide the children to practice their English with you and also be a lot of fun for all involved.
(Meals – Breakfast)

Day 4 – Saturday – Chatuchak Market Day

Today you will visit the largest outdoor market in Southeast Asia. It is packed with hundreds of stalls selling vintage clothing, antiques, DVDs, electrical equipment, paintings and more. There are also dozens of great food shops and even a few bars to relax in.
(Meals – Breakfast)

Day 5 – Sunday – Transfer to Surin

You’ll travel to Surin approximately 7 hours away with the rest of your group. When you arrive in Surin, you’ll check into your hotel and then meet the Surin team for local orientation. After that, it’s time to relax ready for your project work.
(Meals – Breakfast)

Day 6 - 9 – Monday – Thursday – Surin School Renovation

summer volunteer program thailand You will work together with your group to help renovate part of a local school or community center. Surin is one of the poorest regions in Thailand and many facilities are desperately underfunded. During these four days, you will complete a project identified by a local school as benefiting the local children. Don’t worry, no specialist skills are required – just a bit of commitment and teamwork. Past projects have included the renovation of school playgrounds, development of sports fields/facilities for school and also renovating and decorating school libraries. Your project will be assigned and discussed with you on arrival in Surin. This is a great opportunity to really leave your mark on the local community and be proud that your efforts will benefit those that live in the local area.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 10 – 12 – Friday – Sunday – Explore Surin on weekend

Today there are no planned group activities giving you the opportunity to relax or explore the city of Surin at your own pace. The in-country team will help you with ideas and offer advice on what to do. You can also head out to Siem Reap in Cambodia and the local team shall help in suggesting some options. Siem Reap is approximately 4 hrs drive from Surin and is definitely worth a visit as you can go to the world famous Angkor Wat Temple.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 13 - 16 – Monday – Thursday – Elephant Experience

Immerse yourself in traditional life and get up close and personal with one of Thailand’s most iconic creatures. You will stay in the village and support the mahouts caring for the elephants. Later in the day you can relax at the house or join in activities organized by the team. Your hosts are excellent cooks and all meals while at the village are included. You will return to your previous accommodation in Surin city in the late afternoon of day 16.The week's activities include elephant trekking (no riding), elephant bathing, elephant feeding, depending on the time of year may include crop planting or harvesting plus kayaking in the local river. In addition, there is the opportunity to make elephant paper from dung and potentially other community-based activities in the village.
(Meals – LD on Day 13, BLD on Day 14-15 and BL on Day 16)

Day 17– Friday - Travel to Khao Yai National Park

You will leave Surin around 9.00am and travel towards Khao Yai National Park. Khao Yai is one of Thailand’s most beautiful national parks and has stunning scenery. The journey is approximately 4 hours. Once you arrive at your accommodation you’ll have the evening to relax and prepare for the Jungle Trekking tomorrow.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 18 – Saturday – Jungle Trek

You will join an experienced local guide and spend the day trekking to one of Thailand’s most iconic waterfalls and take in a breathtaking view at Pha Drew Dai. The Jungle Trek is often regarded as one the highlights of the trip for its sense of adventure. The trek is very pleasant and provided you are in good health, not particularly challenging. Lunch is not provided but you will be allocated time to eat the National Park headquarters. Around 15:00 you will transfer back to your accommodation and have the evening to discuss today’s activities with the rest of your group.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 19 – Sunday – Transfer to Bangkok

At around 10:00 you will depart the resort to head back to Khao San Road. The journey will take approximately 4 hours. Once on Khao San Road you will check into the hotel and have the evening free.
(Meals – Breakfast)

Day 20 – Monday – Bangkok Bike Tour

Join an exciting one day bike tour around Old Bangkok. For those doing the Beach Week, they will leave for Ko Tao by the overnight journey and reach there the next day.
(Meals – Breakfast)

Day 21 – Tuesday – Finish or Start Beach Week

Tour finishes for customers who chose the three-week option. If you are leaving today then you are free to make your own arrangements for onwards travel or making your way to the airport.

Those who booked the additional week beach extension will be reaching Koh Tao today to spend a great week on the beach.

Beach Week Extension (Optional)

If you’re choosing the beach extension option (and why not – the beaches of Thailand are rightly famous not only for their beauty but also some of the best parties around) your itinerary will be as follows:-

Day 22 – Wednesday (Beach Extension): Koh Tao

Relax in your hotel accommodation located close to the beach at Koh Tao.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 23 – Thursday (Beach Extension) Koh Tao Snorkel Boat Tour

Today you will join an exciting one-day boat snorkel trip around the islands.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 24 – Friday – Ferry transfer to Koh Phangan (Meals – N/A)

Day25 – 27– Sat-Mon(Beach Extension) Relax in Koh Phangan

Your beach extension is your time to relax, explore or party at your leisure. Your guide will be on hand to help you get the most out of your time and there are lots of places to explore on the island and things to do - or of course, why not chill out next to the pool or on the beach and enjoy the sun. Koh Phangan is famous for it's Full Moon Parties but they aren't the only things going on - each month sees Black Moon Parties, Half Moon Parties and even Jungle Parties - something for everyone!
(Meals – N/A)

Day 28 – Tuesday (Beach Extension) - Transfer back to Bangkok

You'll be up early and head back to the big city. Taking the morning ferry and then transferring to a coach, you'll arrive back in Bangkok around mid-evening, your guide will help you check in to your accommodation and then it's time for one last night out and about in the exciting chaos of Khao San Road.
(Meals – N/A)

Day 29 (Beach Extension) - Time to go!

Check out is at 11:00 am and it's the time to head home armed with lots of experiences, new friends, and happy memories
(Meals – Breakfast)

Cost for Beach Week Extension is $399

(NOTE: this week is fully guided so you'll have expert advice on all the best places to go and things to do - our guides know all the cool spots on Koh Phangan giving you a great start to your time at the beach)

Living

As a VolSol volunteer 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 6am – 10pm at night. 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.

Orientation

All volunteers are provided with an orientation and 2 days city tour before starting their project work. The Orientation session covers areas like, local Thai culture, greetings, locations, transportation etc. Volunteers are also given a city Tour of Bangkok.

Accommodation

Volunteers are provided accommodation in a Guesthouse/ hotel for two nights in Khao San Road area in Bangkok on arrival. While in Surin, lodging will be provided in one of our three volunteer houses where accommodation is shared with other volunteers. The houses are centrally located and close to shopping, ATM’s, restaurants and more.

Living at the elephant village will be a beautiful experience as you'll get to enjoy the authentic rural lifestyle. You'll be staying close to the mahout family, who are the caretakers of the elephants. Shared toilet facilities are in each house with cold water showers and simple ‘Western’ style toilets (please be aware that in many parts of Thailand there isn’t handle flush system – instead you need to pour water from the bucket next to the toilet down the toilet to flush away your business! There is no Wifi in the village, so make sure you inform your family & friends back home about this! .

While at Khao Yai National Park, accommodation shall be provided at a hotel/guest house and during the extended Beach Week you will be staying at a beach resort in Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

Local Transportation

Daily transportation to and from the project placement to the volunteer house is provided to the volunteers.All intercity transfers are included in the program fee.

Meals

Meals are only provided when staying at the elephant village from Day 13-16 of the trip. For the rest of the trip, please allow at least $10 per day for the meals.

During your Free Time

In Surin there are many local bars, shops and restaurants in the town plus a night food market. The city is an extremely safe place to stay. Surin province once belonged to the Khmer empire (now Cambodia) so you’ll find scattered ancient temples from the same period as the temples of Angkor in Cambodia. The land border crossing in to Cambodia is located just an hour from Surin and is easily accessible from the town’s bus station. This accessibility allow volunteers to travel to Cambodia during weekends

Dates & Cost

Program Requirements

Reviews

FAQs

FAQ's Application and Program Details

When should I apply for the volunteer programs in Surin, Thailand?

VolSol recommends that all interested international volunteers should apply well in advance. Our major booking seasons are from January to July and September to December.

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.

Are there any necessary requirements to participate in the Surin-based volunteer programs?

Minimum age requirement to participate in the programs in Surin is 18 years and above.
The minimum age requirement for taking part in the Thailand Adventure Volunteer Program is 17 years.

The other requirements are as follows:
Criminal background check for children’s project
You need to be a medical professional/ student and have a medical background to participate in the medical programs
You will need to submit your CV/ resume along with your photo and statement of motivation. For Medical volunteers, you will need to submit a letter of recommendation as well.

However, we can also accept volunteers who are seriously considering a healthcare career. In this case, however, you will only be observing and shadowing the doctors and nurses rather than directly being involved in hands-on work with patients.

Can I volunteer as part of a group?

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 12+ 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.

Surin is one of our popular destination among student groups and is highly recommended for family volunteering as well.

When do I need to arrive in Surin for my program? What will happen once I arrive there?

You have to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok (BKK) on the given arrival day which is a Friday. Our in-country coordinator will meet you at the airport and take you to your accommodation in Bangkok.

Please note: We offer the airport pickup service between 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM only. Volunteers who are already in Bangkok can come directly to the hotel accommodation in Bangkok on the arrival day and meet the team there. You will be provided with the directions to the hotel as well.

The accommodation in Bangkok is on Khao San Road (the hub of all ‘travellers’ ) and is easy to get to. The two nights stay in Bangkok is provided to all the volunteers.
On Saturday, an orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Surin followed by the Bangkok City Tour. On Sunday, you will be transferred to Surin (by train or coach) and settle in your project accommodation.

How do I get to the program location?

Our in-country team will accompany you to Surin. Each day during your program in Surin, our in-country coordinator and team will take you to your placement and back to your accommodation.

Does VolSol provides with a reference or a certificate after program completion?

Yes, we will provide you with the Certificate after successful completion of your program. The certificate is provided on request.

Would I have free time during my program? Can I do sightseeing during my program?

Yes, you will get ample time to do so! Projects in Surin run from Monday – Thursday, giving you Friday – Sunday each week to relax and/or explore. While many volunteers enjoy relaxing in Surin and explore the town, others enjoy weekend trips to Khao Yao (a stunning National Park with great trekking around 3 hours away), even longer trips to Koh Samet – an island off the East coast – or even a weekend in Cambodia.

We encourage our volunteers to travel. We have designed various weekend tours which can be booked under the Add-on Tours section in your ‘My Account’. Your in-country coordinator will also help you book and organize the tours once you are in Thailand.

For how many hours will I volunteer every day?

VolSol volunteers usually work for 5 to 6 hours in a day depending on the program. Medical / Health, Teaching and Childcare programs usually run from around 8:00 AM to 2:30 / 3:00 PM from Monday to Thursday. For those in the elephant program, you will spend 3.5 days a week in the village. Although, the local festivals can change these timings.

Flights and Visa

Does Volunteering Solutions help with Visa?

Most volunteers participating in a short-term volunteer travel experience in Thailand can enter the country with a 30 days tourist Visa which is available to the majority of nationalities on arrival at the airport itself. It is also possible to attain a 60 days tourist visa prior to the arrival in Thailand.

We can help you attain 90 days Non-Immigrant Visa as well. However, this takes a longer time to apply for and requires a lot of paperwork. Please contact us for further information on the same.

Please Note: During your time of volunteering, if you leave Thailand (for example: to spend a weekend in Cambodia and Laos), it will be your responsibility to re-enter Thailand and get the relevant Visa at the border.
Also, note that the maximum duration of visa at the Surin - Cambodia border is 15 days.

What are the recommended inexpensive airline options to reach Thailand?

Although all major airlines fly to Thailand, we recommend the following:
Etihad
EVA Air
China Airlines
Jet Airways
Thai Airways
Virgin Australia
Air Asia

Health and Safety

How safe is Thailand, and Surin in particular?

You 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 volunteers.

Surin is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand and offers the travelers a traditional South Eastern culture and hospitality. Crime rates are very low, however, it is always advised to take care late at night and not have items of high value with you. We strongly recommend all the volunteers to follow the safety rules and guidelines provided by the in-country coordinator.

What immunizations/vaccinations will I need?

Surin is a very healthy place to visit. You can expect the odd upset stomach as you will take time to get used to different food but, other than that, most visitors feel positively healthy and refreshed after spending time here. However, please do take precautions to cover yourself in the early evenings to avoid mosquito bites. Please visit your local doctor/travel clinic, who may recommend vaccinations prior to travel to Thailand.

Accommodation and Living

Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?

VolSol provides accommodation for our volunteers in the volunteer houses. The accommodation is provided on a sharing basis with around 3-5 volunteers in a room. Houses have shared bathrooms, a basic kitchen area, and a small communal living area. The house is fully equipped and is kept clean by a local housekeeper who also offers to wash clothes for a small fee.

The houses are in a great location with numerous food options within less than 5 minutes walk.
Wi-fi connections are not great in Surin. The system usually works well but please don’t expect to be online 24/7.

Although the toilets in Thailand are of Western style, you need to pour water with a bucket as there’s no flush system to save water.

For those in the elephant project, you will stay in a homestay in the elephant village from Monday – Wednesday evening. The accommodation in the village is simple and gives you a great experience of real rural life. The home has shared rooms with fans and simple bedding (mattresses on the floor), basic cold water showers and no wifi at all. However, you’ll soon find that the experience of staying in the village far outweighs any lack of comforts.

Meals are not included in the programs other than, whilst you are at the elephant village, where simple but delicious food is provided. However, half the fun of your time in Thailand is experiencing the huge range of different foods on offer and Surin is a great place to do this.

From simple meat dishes with rice to complex curries and even fried insects – tuck in and enjoy ‘real’ Thai food.

What sort of clothes are required for Surin?

In Surin, clothing depends on the project you are taking part in.

For Medical / Health, Teaching and Childcare programs, you should make sure you pack some smart/casual clothes – ie trousers, polo shirt, skirt – as a ‘smart’ appearance is important in Thailand (don’t worry – you don’t need formal office wear!).

At the elephant project, you need to get old clothes – jeans/t-shirts / shorts – in which you don’t mind getting dirty / torn and an old pair of trainers/sneakers is also recommended.

For your free time in Thailand, we recommend plenty of t-shirts, lightweight ‘trousers’, jeans and shorts.

Please note: Thailand is a conservative country, it is recommended to be decently dressed at all times.

Don’t forget ‘flip flops’ / sandals – much cooler on your feet in the evenings.

For those traveling between November and February, please note that the evenings can get quite cool so a sweater/light jacket will be required.

Will phone connections and internet be available?

Most of our volunteers arrive with a mobile phone and for most phones, it’s easy to pick up a local SIM card to use while you are in Thailand. If your handset is ‘locked’, don’t worry – a simple handset for SMS and calls can be bought for less than $25.
Internet connections can be patchy in Thailand. Although the houses do have wi-fi, this service is slow and interrupted. Please don’t expect to be online for 24/7.

When you are ?in your project, you will not have access to the internet unless you use a data roaming package from home (very expensive) or buy a local package.

Can vegetarians be accommodated?

Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can help you to find the best food! Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.

Are there more expenses once I arrive in Surin?

Your program fee covers all the necessary aspects - your accommodation, airport pick up, Orientation, placement, Pre-departure information and in-country staff support. However, you will need to cover your personal expenses, such as traveling, telephone, the internet, shopping, sightseeing etc.

You should carry around $100 per week for your basic personal expenses, such as food, water, local transport, phone etc.

Where can I change my money in Surin? Are there ATMs in Surin?

There are ATM machines in the arrival area of Bangkok Airport and you are recommended to change some money at the airport itself. Most overseas bank cards work at ATM machines in Thailand, although please do note that there is a 150THB charge for using an ATM card for international transactions.

Throughout Thailand, there an ATM machines and it’s easy to withdraw money from your bank account at home. However, please note that if you are going to the elephant village you need to take cash with you for snacks, evening drinks etc.

We recommend that when you travel to Thailand you bring a small amount of initial cash – to change on arrival – and then use your ATM card from home. Please note: Travelers' cheques are not recommended as they take a long time to change (you need to go to a bank during office hours, not easy when you are in your project).

Connect with Past Volunteers

How can I connect with past Volunteering Solutions Surin alumni as well as other former and current volunteers?

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.

Got a Question? Write to us

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Program Info

Start Date
All Year Round
Duration
3-4 Weeks
Program Location
Surin
Minimum Age
17 years+

What's Included?

Comprehensive pre-departure guide
24 Hr assistance from support staff and In-country program coordinator
Airport pickup from Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Between 6am - 10pm)
Program orientation
Accommodation in hotel / guest house in Bangkok
Stay in volunteer house/guest house in Surin and in a home stay in elephant village
Meals during elephant village program in Surin
Volunteering in Bangkok and Surin
Daily transfers to and from project location
City tour of Bangkok and visit to Chatuchak Market
Elephant experience in Surin
Trek through Khao Yai National Park
Exciting guided jungle trek
Bangkok-Surin-Bangkok transfers by train/coach

What's Not Included?

International/Domestic Airfare
Visa fees
Travel insurance (available at nominal cost)
Departure transfer to airport (can be arranged at nominal cost)
Vaccinations
Any personal expenses, TIPS, beverages, laundry and any other services which are not mentioned (approximate personal expenses for food and traveling per week would be USD 50 to USD 60 per week)