Volunteer With Elephants in Surin Thailand

Trip Highlights

Volunteer with Elephants in Thailand, get to work in a quaint Elephant village in Surin, Thailand
Responsibilities include working with mahouts, collecting elephant feed from the forest, helping in making their vitamins, taking them for walks, morning and evening bathes and taking care of baby elephants
Volunteers also get to make different organic products out of Elephant waste
An ideal break where volunteers get to live in the countryside and also take a break from their everyday life
Great opportunity for all wildlife enthusiasts to work for the conservation of elephants at local elephant camps
Get to meet passionate volunteers from all over the globe
Opportunity to explore Surin and also take a weekend trip to Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Get More Information Click Here to Book Now

Overview

Surin is said to be the “Elephant capital” of Thailand, and soon after arriving here volunteers would realize why. One of the most amazing things about Surin is its elephants. They are revered throughout Thailand and the Elephant Volunteering program is a unique opportunity, not only to get up close and personal with them but to live in a genuine Thai community and experience real rural Thai life first-hand.

Surin is home to over 400 of these wonderful animals. Generations ago the elephants were originally captured from the wild jungles to use as farming ‘machinery’ by Surin’s founding fathers. In more modern times, however, the use of elephants in logging and agriculture has become redundant and with a fully grown elephant eating huge amounts of food each day, these elephants are extremely expensive to look after. Many elephant owners (known as Mahouts) sold their elephants or took them to the streets of the big cities to beg for money from locals and tourists alike. Not a good situation at all for the elephants.

Located on the outskirts of Surin province lies the community of Tha-Tum. This community is home to approximately 250 people and over 30 elephants. Through many years of collaboration and volunteering effort, we were able to support this village and ensure that the mahouts no longer need to take to the streets and go begging with their elephants. Instead, the community focusses on giving visitors the opportunity to learn about elephants in Thailand, spend time with them and also experience living in the local community. Volunteers spend three nights each week living in the home of the village elder and his family. This is a unique opportunity to see how life operates on a day-to-day basis. During the village stay, three meals each day are included. There is a small shop in the village where you can purchase snacks. Volunteers are expected to help cook meals and join in with day to day activities in the village. It is important that throughout your time in the village (and indeed wherever you are in Thailand) that all volunteers respect the local community, their culture, and way of doing things. Our local team member based in the village will, of course, help you with this.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer Work Schedule

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

Accommodation will vary during this journey. You'll be staying at a guest house in Bangkok, a shared house in Surin town and experience authentic village-style accommodation while working at the elephant village.

Bangkok
For the first couple of nights, you'll be living in a comfortable hostel near Khao San Road, Bangkok. All rooms have ACs, en-suite bathrooms (western style toilet and hot water showers!) and access to wi-fi (please note that wifi won’t be of superfast speed).

Surin
You'll be living at a volunteer house, sharing your room with 3 to 5 other volunteers. It's a very basic accommodation, but you'll be provided with all the necessities like a bed and kitchenware including a hob, sink, toaster, kettle, fridge, and utensils, as well as communal living space. You will be staying near local amenities such as supermarkets and restaurants, where you can buy ingredients or eat out.

Elephant Village
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!

Local Transportation

Transportation to and from the Elephant Village to Surin is provided to the volunteers. After staying in the elephant village from Mon – Wed, volunteers are transported back to Surin where they stay at volunteer house accommodation and enjoy an extended weekend.

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

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.