Trekking and Community Work
Location
Thailand: Bangkok
Description
This volunteer in Thailand program lets you take in the sights and culture this wonderful country has to offer. You will be jungle trekking, elephant riding and bamboo rafting, before jumping into a true adventure by volunteering in Thailand in a remote village. When staying in the village you will be living with a family and be able to witness their way of living and their closeness to nature.
This volunteer in Thailand program involves assisting local teachers who dedicate themselves to giving an education to poor Thai and hill-tribe children.
Highlights
* Day 1: Bangkok - arrival transfer
Arrival and joint-transfer to your accommodation. An experienced guide will meet you at the airport and will provide you with some useful tips for exploring the city and give you some ideas of what you could do on your tour.
* Day 2: Bangkok - a walking tour - night train to Chiang Mai
Today is a tour on foot. The aim is to ensure that you see as much as possible of the everyday life of Bangkok and its people; and what better way to do that than to combine your walk with as many different modes of public transport as possible. Stops on the tour will normally include some interesting temples, a flower market and Little India or Chinatown.
* Day 3: Bangkok - night train to Chiang Mai
Your journey to Chiang Mai is by second-class overnight train with air-conditioned sleeping berths. It is comfortable enough and is a fun journey.
* Day 4: Chiang Mai - an orientation tour
After settling yourself into your hotel take a walking tour around the old city. There is always something of interest for everybody to see; spectacular temples, the gastronomic delights offered by the local food vendors, fantastic markets and shopping, etc.
* Days 5-7: Trekking - hill tribe villages - elephant riding - bamboo rafting
Set off on an exciting 3-day trek through the hills and forests. You will not find the trekking too strenuous as long as you are reasonably fit, as it will be a good mix of walking, seeing different cultures and ways of life, elephant-back riding and an exhilarating bamboo-raft trip. You will have 2 nights in jungle huts and return to overnight in Chiang Mai in the late afternoon of Day 7
* Day 8-11: Community services at a hill-tribe village
Depart to Chiang Dao area where you will stay in a hill-tribe village and witness their way of living close to nature. You will visit local markets, assist the local teachers who dedicate themselves to giving an education to poor Thai and hill-tribe children and perhaps help the locals in their routine farming. Return to overnight in Chiang Mai on Day 11.
* Days 12-13: Chiang Mai - train to Bangkok
You will have a free day in Chiang Mai before taking an overnight train to Bangkok. Please let us know if you wish to spend more time in the north or go direct to any beach destination. We can alter the final arrangements to meet your wishes.
* Day 14:Bangkok - departure transfer
Spend this last free day shopping or exploring more of Bangkok on your own. Then joint transfer to the airport for flight home.
The program can be extended by a week where you will you will continue your service as assisting teachers in teaching English at the village school.