Thailand Elephant Service & Adventure - 25 Days

Westcoast Connection’s Community Service Program in Thailand was absolutely incredible! This was my 16 year old daughter’s third Westcoast trip and she did not want to come home! From the wonderfully enthusiastic, uber friendly and engaging staff to an itinerary that provided full emersion into the Thai culture and life changing community service projects, this program was exceptional! The adventure began with an introduction to the country itself, exploring the hustle and bustle of city life in Bangkok and it’s markets, sampling the cuisine and visiting some of Thailand’s most beautiful building and temples, including the Grand Palace and the White Temple. With their native Thai guides at their sides, the travelers got an in depth and first hand history lesson about the country while utilizing all of the local modes of transportation including the sky train, canal river boats, vans, buses and Thailand’s famous tuk tuks. Traveling from the northern most region of Chiang Rai to Krabi in Thailand’s southern portion, with stops in between, the group also got to experience life in Thailand’s very rural, if not rustic, parts of the country as well – what an incredible cross section of Thai life! The community service projects included beautification projects, working, teaching and playing with Thai children and epitomizing teamwork in mixing and pouring a concrete court/playground for the Lahu Tribal Village. The community service projects wrapped up with the global adventurers spending a day at the Patara elephant farm where each student traveler was assigned an elephant for the day. Aside from feeding, washing, riding and playing with their elephants, the students were educated about the ever changing role of the elephant over time. It was amazing! WCC also does a fabulous job incorporating fun location specific activities into the community service program. So whether it’s attending a cooking class, a kick boxing class, scuba diving, snorkeling or zip lining, rest assured, student travelers get to live like the locals and they are in for the experience of a lifetime! Having experienced 3 years with another student travel program, I can say confidently and without hesitation that Westcoast Connection is the gold standard in student travel! They are, hands down, the Best of the Best! Thank you Westcoast Connection 360 for another phenomenal summer!

My 16 year old daughter took her 3rd WCC trip and spent 25 days this summer in Thailand on a community serviced based program . . . and it was nothing short of spectacular! The trip leaders were just fantastic! Super responsible and organized, very friendly, professional, and fun, they set the pace and the tone for an amazing adventure! The itinerary gave the students the best opportunities to experience the essence of everything Thailand. An up close and personal travel adventure, the group lived and experienced Thai culture, customs, cuisine and sites, shopped markets, took several modes of local and country specific transportation (including riding in Tuk Tuks ) and visited some of the country's most beautiful and architecturally ornate temples! The community service projects were absolutely life changing! From working with Thai children and exchanging cultural dances and games, to the physical labor of the group projects (teamwork at its finest) to spending the day at an elephant preserve, it was like living world history up close and personal! And they traveled all over the country! What a tremendous opportunity for students to experience another country and it's culture! The things she learned and got to experience first hand are unparalleled! And she did not want to come home! As a parent, I could not have asked for more! Well done WCC! Exceptional job well done!

My trip to Thailand was amazing and a great experience! Every day was planned so well - we had so many fun activities planned. Also the staff were all very nice, helpful, and accommodating. Out your guides were also amazing and taught us about the culture and places we were touring. The service was, although tiring at times, amazing. We got to interact with the locals during service and many other times throughout the trip. The healthcare was also very nice- close to the hotel and very clean!