Description

What does an elephant eat for breakfast? You'll find out when you spend 2 weeks working side by side elephant keepers in Surin province, Thailand. Feeding elephants a hearty breakfast full of leaves and branches will be just one your daily tasks. Then you are off on an action-packed adventure through northern Thailand. You will trek through the breathtaking mountains of Chiang Mai, board a bamboo raft for some awesome wildlife viewing, ride an elephant through the jungle and then even spend the night in a remote hill tribe village where you will have a chance to really bond with the local community and experience their uniquely peaceful way of life.

* What the project does and why it needs you!

This well-respected elephant foundation is in the Tha Toom district of Surin (around 60Km north of Surin). The village was established in 2006, under the supervision of the provincial government in order to put into practice the philosophy of bringing the local elephants home for the development of their hometown". The aim of the foundation is to encourage mahouts (elephant carers) from various parts of Thailand to return to their home town with their elephants. Currently, the foundation houses over 80 elephants. It is believed that around 1300 elephants have left Surin province due to lack of traditional work as a result of the extensive de-forestation in the region. Some of these elephants are now working and living in the busy streets of Bangkok - used as a tool for 'begging'. in Surin, the provincial administrative organization has opened the Elephant Village in the village to encourage mahouts bring these elephants back to their home province. The elephants and mahouts are re-trained to demonstrate various techniques to show to visitors and also for the Surin Elephant festival, the biggest elephant festival in Thailand. International visitors are needed to raise the profile of the village and volunteers are required to help reach the villages goal to be the biggest 'elephant village' in the world and to provide a sustainable place for humans and their elephants to live alongside each other. Volunteers will be working with the elephants and also teaching English language to the mahouts.

* Who is it for?

Anyone with a love of wildlife and yearning to see one of Asia's most beautiful destinations. Conservation volunteers need to be hands-on people who love the outdoors. You must be prepared for some relatively hard physical work, and you must be flexible and pro-active, as this project involves a variety of activities. English teaching skills may also be utilized during your conservation placement. This placement would suit someone with bags of initiative who is prepared to work hard both individually and in a team.

* Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Bangkok. Today you will be met at the airport and taken to a friendly guesthouse. Dinner is included.

* Day 2: Orientation
Meet the i-to-i team in Thailand and learn about this amazing country from those who know. Then you will travel overnight to Surin where the elephants will be patiently waiting! Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 3: Surin
Today you with meet the elephants and then spend day settling in. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 4 to 8: Work at the elephant village
Over the next few days you will have an opportunity to really live the life of an elephant keeper. You will spend your days feeding and watching over the elephants. You may want to get involved with teaching the keepers some English or helping to promote the area as a tourist destination. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 9 to 10: Surin and beyond
You have the weekend free to explore the area or just relax. Go for a hike, take an elephant for a walk or just enjoy being in this beautiful area. Why not go to Surin and visit Buddhist temples, the local museum or one of the many Khmer ruins around the city? Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 11 to 13: Work at the elephant village
Continue on with your daily routine of caring for the elephants. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 14: Bangkok
Wave goodbye to your long nosed friends and travel to Bangkok. Tonight you can enjoy the world famous nightlife or relax in one of the many trendy restaurants or cafes.

* Day 15: Travel to Chiang Mai
Now its time to head off into the mountains for a week of hard earned fun! You will take a comfy overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Enjoy the incredible views as the development surrounding Bangkok fades away into mellow villages and lush vegetation.

* Day 16: Chiang Mai walking tour
Chiang Mai is a lively city full of charming temples and plenty of sites worth visiting. In the late afternoon you will have a short overview of your trek so you know what to bring and can start mentally preparing for the challenges ahead.

* Day 17: Trekking and hill tribe village
In the morning you will travel by pick-up truck to Huay Nam Dang National Park, known for its breathtaking mountains and colorful flora and fauna. In the afternoon the real fun begins as you trek 5 to 6 km through forested, hilly terrain. Once you reach your destination, a Karen hill-tribe village, you will enjoy a traditional dinner and experience life as a local. You will even spend the night resting your weary limbs in a small bamboo hut in the Karen village. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 18: Trekking and elephant riding
Wake up in the comfort of your bamboo hut and greet the day. Enjoy a deliciously simple breakfast before setting off on a 7 to 8km trek through the forested mountains. You will arrive at an elephant camp around lunch time. Give your legs a rest and let the elephant do the walking as you ride 3 to 4km to a rafting camp near a Karen village. Cool down with a luxurious swim in the river and lay in the bright afternoon sun to dry. You will spend another night snuggled in your bamboo hut, letting the sound of the river lull you to sleep. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

* Day 19: Bamboo rafting
Fill up on a tasty breakfast and then board your bamboo raft for a 20 to 25km jaunt down river. You will stop at several villages along the way for some rest and stretch time. The rafting can take between 3 to 4 hours with fast rapids in the rainy season and up to 6 hours in the dry season when the water level is shallow and the current is slow. After lunch you will set off to Chiang Mai by pick-up truck. Breakfast and lunch are included.

* Day 20: Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Today is reserved for exploring Chiang Mai. Why not take a Thai cooking class, visit the Doi Suthep or spoil yourself with a relaxing Thai massage? Optional activities are not included in the tour price. In the evening board the overnight train to Bangkok were you will catch some rest in comfortable, air-conditioned sleeping berths. Breakfast is included.

* Day 21: Bangkok
Can you believe you are almost done? Today is your last day to explore this incredible country at your own pace. Do some last minute shopping, visit one final temple and have a final Thai meal.

* Day 22: Departure
Today you will be taken to the airport in time to catch your flight home or onto your next adventure.

Highlights

* Feeding elephants their breakfast!
* Floating down the river on your bamboo raft
* Trekking to a hill tribe village hidden deep in the mountains of Chiang Mai
* Greeting the tree branches at eye level from the top of an elephant
* Touring the bustling capital city of Bangkok

Travel Types

• Rafting
• Tours
• Trekking

Cost in US$:

USD 2,195.00 for 3 weeks

Program Fees Include:

* Accommodation:
- Bangkok: shared room in guest house or hostel
- Surin elephant camp: shared room in home stay
- Trekking: shared basic bamboo huts, you will sleep on a floor mat with a sheet
- Hill tribe community: shared room in basic home stays or at the school
* Food: All meals while trekking and at the home stay, some other meals as per itinerary
* Airport Pickup: Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you're arriving early!
* Training: In-country orientation
* Support: Pre-departure helpdesk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants.

i-to-i Volunteering's Mission Statement

i-to-i Volunteering provides unique opportunities for you to travel, work and volunteer abroad. Thousands of travelers aged 16 to 80 have joined our volunteer vacations. With over 130 projects on 4 continents, across 22 countries you can join the worldwide i-to-i volunteer community on an extended adventure in areas such as teaching English, community development, conservation, home building, and working with animals.

Year Founded

1994