Backpacking Programs in Thailand

I am so lucky that I chose Pacific Discovery, they created an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. They made it easy to make new friends and easy to try new things safely. I am so grateful I got to go on this once in a life time opportunity and adventure.

Going into this trip I was so nervous and had little idea of what to expect, but it truly was the best two months of my life! I’ve come away with the most wonderful memories, experiences and friends for life, I’d go back and do it all again tomorrow. The day trips, volunteering, and cultural experiences were really second to none and fulfilled everything anyone would hope to do when travelling to South East Asia- it’s a really great way to see that part of the world without the added stress of organising and planning everything yourself. Our guide, Stefan, was great with leading us around for the eight weeks, making us feel safe but still independent to do our own thing, no activities were ever forced or expected of us. Overall this trip has the perfect balance of experiences, culture, adventure, relaxing and fun. I’d recommend it to anyone and can’t thank Stefan and Gapforce enough!

I enjoyed it, we did a lot over the two months, the people we interact with and work with in the counties; elephant sanctuary and volunteer building are great. It’s a varied trip with good amounts of independence, doing different things. Stephan was good and the group also. Being 1 of 2 guys in a group of girls made it difficult to connect at time, but I did eventually. Also the switching up of rooms and living arrangements helps, cos it changes the dynamics. Overall good, hot, amazing, nice people, food :), great variety within the trip. Would definitely recommend.

It was amazing, the activities were amazing, the volunteering of was amazing, the leader (Stefan Ivanovic) was amazing. It was so much fun. I loved every moment. I would absolutely recommend it, and I would definitely do it again if I had the time and money.

The SEA 8 week programme is a great trip full of activities to experience new cultures, foods and people! I have thoroughly enjoyed every moment, especially because I have been surrounded by a great group of friends and an amazing leader, Magnus. He has been very organised and supportive whilst providing us with the freedom to do what we want in our free time. If any one of us were ill, he was quick to respond and provide the necessary measures to support us. The only criticism I have is that the itinerary in Thailand was a bit up and down meaning we had to visit Bangkok 3 times which was a bit tiring. Also, if you want to have flexibility during the trip (e.g. extend your stay in a certain area) then this programme won’t be suited for you as the itinerary is fixed from the start. Overall, I would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to travel and be adventurous in their gap year- you definitely won’t regret it!

I volunteered at Nakavango in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as part of the IVHQ Wildlife Conservation Project. It truly was one of the highlights of my life. And I’ve had some pretty remarkable experiences so that says a lot. The staff a Nakavango was incredible and extremely knowledgeable. They create the perfect balance of hard work and joyous moments playing with the children at Masuwe School, observing wildlife in the bush, and taking in the sights of one of the seven wonders of the world. We each had our own room, were provided three yummy meals a day with great care to accommodate those who have special diets. Highlights of my stay included morning and evening game drives, sitting around the fire pit under the stars, camping out in the bush, and completing a work task feeling that we had made progress on a project. Yet, the most outstanding aspect of this experience for me, was bonding with my fellow volunteers. Prior to arriving at Nakavango, I thought I’d be the senior member of the crew so I was a bit apprehensive even though I had worked for weeks to get in shape physically so I could contribute equally. Well, I wasn’t the most senior. In fact, we had a wonderful range of ages, nationalities, and personalities. We became a family, caring for and respectful of all. That truly blew me away. And now, we continue to stay in touch. I am so grateful for the IVHQ program at Nakavango. It changed my life!

Since the moment the 8 weeks started, the group leaders mad an active effort to include and welcome all the participants. For anyone who's thinking of going travelling for the first time and are unsure what company to go with or where to go, gapforce will support you in every step and have a good range of trips if you're uncertain of where to go. All accommodation, food and activities were inclusive and I'd do the whole 8 weeks again.

Going to keep this short. I am now 32 and went on this trip when I was 23 or 24. It remains one of the greatest moments in my life. I have traveled a lot since then, largely because this trip made me very comfortable with international travel. I made a lot of friends and have countless memories of the couple of months I spent in Asia. To anyone considering a trip with Pacific Discovery I encourage you to do it. They are well organized and it is very clear they care deeply about everyone having a good experience.

I volunteered in Bali- Ubud, through IVHQ. Bali was an incredible experience. I made life long friends, taught a class of 6th graders, and got to experience a beautiful new culture. The staff were amazing, and helped out all the volunteers with whatever needs they had. The location was beautiful, we were situated in a village 20 minutes outside the town of Ubud. This allowed us to integrate in a real Balinese community. The people (the volunteers, locals & staff) were second to none. I volunteered for five weeks- by the end of those 5 weeks I was wishing I had 5 more! The only downside to this programme is missing the children you taught and the friends you made after you leave! A member of the IVHQ team was on hand from the minute I booked the trip. She answered any questions I had, and checked in with m to make sure everything was going well during the volunteer programme. Volunteering with IVHQ in Bali was absolutely the best thing I ever done. I thoroughly recommend anyone interested in volunteering abroad to consider IVHQ Bali. You wont regret it.

This was the best experience of my life! I have always wanted to travel and volunteer abroad and IVHQ made this so fun and easy. During the week we were able to volunteer and take in the experiences we wanted while leaving plenty of time to explore the country for the weekend. Highly highly recommend this organization if you want a new way to travel and give back.

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewJuly 03, 2018

Hi Deanna. Thanks for such an awesome review! It's fantastic to hear our program offered you one of the best experiences in your life and that we made the process of volunteering easy and fun for you. Thanks for being a great volunteer and please join us on another program soon. ^Claire - IVHQ South Africa Program Manager

I went to Cusco in June-July, for 5 weeks! I volunteered 3 weeks in a school with kids and 2 weeks in the zoo of the University. Both of programs was so much fun ! Just a little warning : don't accept the food at the school , the kid and the teacher can put some pression but it's important to say NO! I said yes and i've made an indigestion 2 hours after, for 5 days... nice ! Additionally, the staff is really amazing and always there if you need help! My host-family was really cool and we were 13 volunteers in the same house , so its easy to make activity with them during the evening! In perou, I've discover some wonderful people, amazing places, good food and a different culture! My best memories was to visit Plaza del Armas, the Macchu Picchu, rainbow mountain, moray, salt mines and the lake Titicaca during the weekend. The organisation American Inca Trail is a great staff to organize your tour! Finally, Just do it !

International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ] responded to this reviewMay 21, 2018

Hi Florence, It's nice to hear from you! It sounds like you had a wonderful experience across your projects and exploring the wonders of Peru. Thanks for your feedback and for being a wonderful volunteer. We hope you'll join us again in the future. ^Andrea - IVHQ Peru - Cusco Program Manager

Thailand 101 was an absolutely incredible adventure and a life-changing experience for me. The Elephant Nature Park was a wonderful place to stay and interacting with and caring for the elephants was indescribable - a dream come true for me. The city of Chiang Mai was beautiful and all of the activities we did (white water rafting, zip lining, etc.) were very exciting, thrilling, and fun. I felt completely safe during every part of the trip - the Loop Abroad staff is welcoming, reassuring, skilled, very familiar with Thailand, and very accommodating, happy and fun. On this trip I was always confident that I was safe, comfortable, full of the best food I've ever eaten, and smiling. I would recommend Loop Abroad to anyone!

Hello everyone! I traveled with the Thailand 101 group. I got to interact with the beautiful elephants and even got to experience the culture in Thailand. The first week we stayed in a hostel where we got to try all different Thai fruit, had a Thai cooking class, went zip-linning, visited temples, had a meditation class and much more. You also volunteer at an elementary school to play with the kids or help them in class. The second week we stayed at the elephant nature park. It was so beautiful and peaceful. At night you can sit on a huge porch and stare right at the stars while listening to the crickets. The stars seem so close to you, it feels like your right in space! The elephants were my favorite. They are kind and gentle creatures. Giving them baths, feeding them, following them around for a day, getting to know some of their stories and why they are there is amazing. "They say elephants eyes speak the greatest language in the world. Who else could make you feel so much without saying a word" (Tarzan). I can truly say that this quote is true. Obviously with everything I mentioned above, there are so many more activities you will do and it's all so fun and life changing experience. You won't regret going on this trip. I know I loved it and hope to take another trip with Loop Abroad soon!

As stated in the title, this had been my first time on an airplane. We drove 14 hours to New York the night before and I was so scared. Now I feel like I am really good at getting through airports and enjoy flying. I made new friends and got to do so many adventurous things, and see elephants (my fav). The second day of the trip I had a friend back home pass away in a car accident. My roommates and my group leader we’re all so comforting and I really appreciated that. Thanks to them I was able to really enjoy my experience that I had worked so hard to pay for. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is adventurous, loves elephants, and is looking to get some cool photos of temples. And of course make friends and awesome memories. If I could go back, I definitely would. It was worth every penny. Best trip ever!

Summer of 2015 was by far the best summer I've ever had. I had the AMAZING opportunity to go to Thailand to volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park, to explore, and to learn and immerse myself in the Thai culture. I have nothing but great memories from my trip, the Loop staff were just helpful and friendly people, the Elephant Nature Park staff were great to know and befriend, and working along side the animals was just a dream. I still wear my Loop Abroad and Elephant Nature Park shirt, and I always get asked questions about it! Still hoping to go back to Thailand with Loop Abroad because I just loved it so much! I really hope people apply for this program because it is honestly the best experience.

The adventure I embarked on with Loop Abroad was under their special program, “Thailand 101” which allowed me to experience as much culture and animal wildlife as possible in two weeks! Loop Abroad makes first time foreign travelers feel not only safe but comfortable to ask as many questions as one could think of. Our program was simply wonderful. The first week was spent in Northern Chiang Mai at the Elephant Nature Park where we, as a group, obtained hands-on experience with the beautiful rescued elephants the park has sheltered. We learned about their diet, their way of living, and some of their difficult pasts. The second week was spent in the city and country of Chiang Mai which was needless to say: breathtaking. Our guide, Noom, was excellent! He showed us all aspects of life in Thailand all the while having the most fun possible and being extremely safe! I made such great, unique friends from all over the country on this trip and I wouldn’t change anything for the world. So far, this trip to Thailand has been the best thing to EVER happen to me. Highly recommend, 10/10!!! -Maggie Reid

Volunteering in Thailand created a lot of firsts for me. It was the first time I had ever flown on a plane and was the first time I’d ever gone off on my own. Yet all the staff were friendly, helpful and understanding of all of these situations. I met people who will be my friends for the rest of my life, and even more than that we became family. This trip made me take a step back from my life and take a clear look at it. I will forever be grateful and can’t say enough about how great Loop Abroad is!

I had the most amazing experience visiting Thailand with Loop Abroad. Everything was perfectly scheduled, the activities were so fun, and the staff was extremely helpful and kind. The experience was so much better than I could have even imagined. I made so many friendships and can’t wait to go back as a group leader one day soon!

I seriously never wanted to leave this trip! The leader of our group was awesome the girls that were in the group were awesome and the experience itself was awesome. Safety was their biggest priority which was a high turn on in my parents decision to let me go on this trip! The food was another thing I wasn’t sure about but it was all so amazing.

I was able to volunteer at a special needs orphanage in Lima, Peru. I helped the Physical Therapist do range-of-motion with the children. It was wonderful to get the kids out of their wheelchairs and help them loosen up and relax. The best was seeing smiles on their faces from just having more stimulation. I traveled on the weekends with the other volunteers. Such an awesome experience making memories with new friends. We went sand boarding in Huacachina, hiking in Huaraz, and exploring in Cusco and Machu Picchu.