by Loop Abroad
Located in a rural village and offering a true Thai experience, Elephant Research Week is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the lives of elephants while building your veterinary knowledge about these gentle giants.
During this one-week add-on to any of our two-week programs, you'll get the chance to work alongside an elephant expert to observe, examine, and care for the village’s elephants. Contribute to the local community by cleaning elephant shelters, chopping sugarcane, and planting trees. Help with research on rescued elephant behavior and welfare. Explore research methods that provide the scientific basis for improving how we care for elephants, what environments we should provide them, and how to maximize their welfare in rescue settings.
Plus, enjoy Thailand's culture, colors, flavors, and language for a unique cultural experience!
Ready to dive deeper into this program?
Jump to the full breakdown of dates, costs, eligibility, and more.
Updated May 8, 2026
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
Fields & Subjects
Available Terms / Availability
Eligible Nationalities
Education Levels & Language
Accommodation Options
Application Procedures
Age Requirement
18-30
Starts At
Hear what past participants have to say about Loop Abroad
Rating breakdown
Top categories
Participated in this program? Share your experience now.
Review this ProgramShowing 1-5 of 5 reviews
Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary offered me a new perspective to elephant behavior and enrichment. I was exposed to knowledge about the elephants' experiences prior to rescue and then exposed to their behavior after. The transformation was inspiring.
This was an absolutely amazing trip. I had come with high expectations and they were achieved. When you come on this trip you will be grateful for such kind and friendly staff. And will learn and experience so many amazing things.
I spent a total of three weeks in Thailand with Loop Abroad. This organization is absolutely phenomenal. I learned so much about elephant care and welfare than I ever could have here in America. The friends that I have made are lifelong. I truly appreciate having such an amazing experience with loop abroad and recommend them to anyone looking to travel abroad and work with animals :)
Photos
This is a trip I will never forget. I learned SO much about animals and the Thai culture. The staff was incredible and I miss them dearly. Only thing I didn’t like was how much there was to do two weeks or so prior to traveling that we were not informed of until the last minute. Getting to Thailand was stressful but once I was there I didn’t want to leave!
I came from the South Africa Veterinary Service to Thailand. It was definitely a culture shock. But I enjoyed the unique flavor of Thailand. Seeing an elephant up close and in person was an experience that I can't adequately describe. Their eyes are so kind and it feels like they are looking at who you truly are when you look them in the eye. It was surreal to be able to feed them in the mornings. Like, I got to feed an actual real live elephant. My absolute favorite part was getting to watch them in the river and roll in the hills. It was my favorite part of the day. We got to see their personalities and watch them play with each other and drench their mahoots in water. We didn't get to have as much interaction with the villagers as I would have liked - instead we attended lectures about the elephants. It was a trade off: getting to learn about elephants over interacting with the people in the village. I would have liked more interaction with the elephants as well but because the elephants were young: all of our interaction had to be supervised. Overall, it was a fun bonus week!
Photos
Inquire
Have a question? Send us a message and the program team will get back to you.
Awards and accreditations earned by this provider
Browse programs you might like
University Studies Abroad Consortium
8 reviews
The colorful, vibrant country of Thailand is considered the "land of smiles," and for good reason: the friendliness and hospitality of the Thai p...
Semester at Sea
47 reviews
Unlike traditional study abroad or tourism experiences, Semester at Sea offers a unique opportunity for deep, authentic engagement with countries...
WorldStrides
79 reviews
Explore Bangkok, Thailand’s dynamic capital and a global hub for culture, commerce, and cuisine. Study at Mahidol University International Colleg...
Have more questions?
The GoAbroad team is here to support you as you choose the best program for you, and Loop Abroad is also happy to answer any questions you have.
Trusted by millions of travelers worldwide since 1997