Description

Is plunging down a river on a bamboo raft more fun than riding an elephant? These are the types of questions you will be pondering when you travel on this amazing ultimate adventure through the mountains of Thailand. Your first three weeks will be dedicated to teaching English to enthused children and lounging on the sunny beaches on Rayong (toughest decision - mainland beach or island beach today!). Then you are off on the mountain adventure of a lifetime. Trekking miles through the dense forests, spending the night with hill tribe communities, floating down the river by bamboo raft and stomping through the wilderness on the back an elephant - this will be your life!

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

* 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 to Rayong and get settled into your new coastal paradise!

* Day 3: Rayong
Spend today settling in and exploring the beautiful beaches of Rayong. Go for a swim, lounge on the beach and blend in with the locals.

* Day 4 to 8: Teaching English
Your first week teaching English! Enjoy the challenge of working with lively and enthusiastic youngsters really keen to develop and practice their English skills. You'll soon find your feet and get a huge amount of pleasure from seeing your students pick up new words and phrases - and then put them to use!

* Day 9 to 10: Rayong and around
You have the weekend free to explore the area or just relax. Why not visit the magical, pristine island of Koh Samet - known for having some of the whitest beaches anywhere in Asia? Alternatively hang out with the locals eating amazing sea food under the trees in Ban Phe. Choices, choices!

* Day 11 to 15: Teaching English
Get creative with your lessons and inspire your students to keep learning!

* Day 16 to 17: Rayong
Relax at home or travel around. Visit a local market and gather courage to sample even the most obscure local delicacies - fried crickets anyone?

* Day 18 to 22: Teaching English
By now your students are really showing promise! Keep your spirit high and your motivation flowing as you cover new material and help the children learn the tools they need to succeed.

* Day 23 to 24: Rayong
Enjoy your final weekend at the coast, top up your tan and rest up for the adventure ahead.

* Day 25 to 27: Teaching English
Teach your final lessons and say goodbye to the amazing children you have been lucky enough to share time with for the past few weeks.

* Day 28: Bangkok
Today you will have some time to explore the fantastic capital city of Thailand. Visit temples, museums or just wander and let the pulse of the city decide your course.

* Day 29: Travel to Chiang Mai
Now it's time to head off into the mountains for a week of hard earned fun and adventure! 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 30: 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 31: 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 32: 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 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 33: 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 about 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 34: Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Today is reserved for exploring Chiang Mai. Why not take a Thai cooking class, visit 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 35: 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 36: Departure
Today you will be taken to the airport in time to catch your flight home or onto your next adventure.

* What the project does and why it needs you!

Thailand has a proud history of never having been colonized by the West and as a result has maintained her own distinct language, culture and tradition. The government did not focus on English language in the past but over the last 15 years has put English language skills at the forefront of its educational programs. These government-run schools that you will volunteer at have between 100 and 300 students. Class sizes are generally large but the students are keen to learn and enjoy the interaction with volunteer teachers. Many schools want to employ native English speakers but can not afford to do so. In many schools children do not actually get the chance to practice day to day conversation which is so important in developing their language skills. Therefore, you will need to focus on basic conversational English, which means helping students to speak simple English. By teaching young people English you will be able to make a positive impact on their lives and make more opportunities available to them particularly in Rayong province where tourism is a major employer.

* Who is it for?

You need to have a love of young people and to be prepared to fully immerse yourself in the project. You will need to use your initiative, be patient and use your imagination. A CV is required for confirmation from the project.

* What you'll be doing:

You will be teaching in one of 4 state primary schools in Rayong province, located on the coast around 3 hours east of Bangkok. You will be teaching basic conversational English and helping the other English teachers. You will need to spend time planning lessons and making class as interactive and stimulating as possible. You may also be involved in arranging and running other activities such as crafts, sports and games.

Highlights

* Feeding elephants their breakfast
* Bamboo rafting down mountain rivers
* Trekking deep into the mountains of Chiang Mai
* Getting acquainted with your new mode of transport...an elephant!
* Going for a swim after English class in the clear blue ocean

Travel Types

• Rafting
• Trekking

Languages

• English

Languages Used as a Medium of Teaching

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 2199.00 for 5 weeks

Program Fees Include:

* Accommodation: The teaching projects are based in Rayong province, on the coast to the east of Bangkok. You will live in the small coastal town of Ban Phe (also the ferry port for boats to the beautiful island of Koh Samet perfect for relaxing weekends) and all the schools are within 30 minutes of the town.
- Rayong: shared room in a guesthouse
- Bangkok: shared room in guest house or hostel
- 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, 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 help desk, Local in-country team and 24hr emergency support

Experience Required

no

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