from 757€

Excellent 4.8rating (877)

Thailand Elephant Volunteers

location
1 - 4 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Complete your reservation as soon as possible. This project fills up quickly and is already booked on certain dates.


Highlights

  • 80% of PMGY volunteers are 18-22 years old
  • A unique experience to work with animals on a top conservation project
  • Learn about some of the pressures & difficulties faced by Thailand’s wildlife
  • Experience a captivating & dynamic culture by volunteering in Thailand
  • Explore some of the world’s most magnificent temples in your free time

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Groups

About the program

Work closely with rescued Asian elephants in this inspiring elephant sanctuary in Thailand. If you love elephants, this experience is not to be missed!

As an elephant sanctuary volunteer in Thailand with PMGY, you will have the unique chance to work behind the scenes to care for elephants. Eager and passionate volunteers are required to assist with the general upkeep of the project throughout the year. The centre works to rescue and rehabilitate ...

About the program

As an elephant sanctuary volunteer in Thailand with PMGY, you will have the unique chance to work behind the scenes to care for elephants. Eager and passionate volunteers are required to assist with the general upkeep of the project throughout the year. The centre works to rescue and rehabilitate elephants within Thailand. With our team on this Thailand volunteer program, you will have an amazing chance to help care for these gentle giants.

BACKGROUND TO THE ELEPHANT PROGRAM

Thailand is home to both populations of wild and domesticated populations of the Asian elephant. The domestic population is sadly made up of animals that have been caught from their natural habitat or bred in captivity. These animals have been trained/broken to live and work in the tourist or logging industry.

Today, Thailand’s wild population elephant population is struggling for survival. The wild elephant population of Thailand is estimated at 2,200, living in open grasslands and dense rainforests spread over the country. Historically, domestic elephants have been used in the logging industry. In turn, they have ironically and unwillingly helped to destroy the very habitat they rely on to survive.

After the ban on logging in 1989, most of the logging elephants ended up being used within the tourism industry. Others have been used to make a living by begging on the streets of big cities. Walking day and night on these dirty and traffic-congested streets is detrimental to the elephant’s health and is simply unnatural. Street-begging elephants often end up being involved in road traffic accidents. This commonly results in fatalities for both the elephant and the mahout.

Unfortunately, in Thailand, there are currently no laws to prevent this abuse and mistreatment. Therefore there is an urgent need to help these animals. This is where our participants come in. This sanctuary has been created for elephants to retire and be given the respect these amazing creatures deserve. Our international participants help support the centre, assisting and leading different tasks to help rehabilitate and home these gentle giants.

ELEPHANT VOLUNTEER PLACEMENT

WFFT - If you wish to be a responsible volunteer, working ethically with elephants, then this is the place to volunteer. This wildlife volunteering abroad project allows you to learn more about them, and the problems they face and be part of the solution. The forested land around the rescue centre gives rescued elephants the chance to roam around in near-natural surroundings. Large pieces of land have been purchased to make these forests and grasslands similar to their natural habitat. The large elephant enclosures allow the elephants the space to move around and socialise with other elephants. Each enclosure can be up to 5 hectares in size, with natural trees, lakes and grazing areas. No elephant is ever chained up, day or night.

The rescue centre provides elephants with the freedom they deserve in a safe and natural environment. Our team provides lifelong veterinary care to those who need it, as well as the best husbandry and diet. As an elephant sanctuary volunteer, you will be taught everything needed to take care of these captivating creatures. A volunteer with elephants in Thailand will prepare food, create enrichment items, clean and maintain enclosures, and harvest plant matter. Common meals for elephants include banana trees and grass. You may also be lucky enough to walk the elephants between pieces of land!

When volunteering in Thailand with elephants, our coordinators will assign participants to groups each day. The groups are managed by team leaders - longer-term experienced participants who assist and guide their teams throughout daily tasks.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERING IN THAILAND

Return Airport Transfer - Your return airport transfer is not included in your Program Fee. Our local team can help arrange onward transfers to the airport or an alternative destination from the volunteer accommodation. Making specific arrangements once in Thailand provides more flexibility as plans can often change and participants may be on similar flight plans. The costs depend on your method of transport and your final destination. This can often be split across multiple participants if you are travelling with someone else on the program.

Hands-Off - Please be aware the elephant conservation volunteer work in Thailand promotes a hands-off experience. Volunteer work with elephants in Thailand will involve little physical interaction with animals. The project tries to provide a natural experience for elephants rather than an opportunity to pet the animals. Instead, elephant volunteers in Thailand will provide the essential daily and long-term needs of the animals. This includes activities such as feeding, cleaning enclosures, and providing stimulation in the form of behavioural and environmental enrichments. This means the project is there to provide a true conservation experience and the elephant's welfare is at the heart of the experience. Many elephant projects in Thailand are advertised as a "volunteer" experience but involve touristy activities such as riding and scrubbing elephants in the river. This project is completely different and true in their approach to conservation. However, there are some instances where volunteers touch the elephants as part of the volunteer role only when necessary.

Physically & Emotionally Demanding - The work as an elephant conservation volunteer in Thailand is incredibly demanding. Participants must, therefore, be fit in both physical and mental health to complete the project. Before committing to the program, individuals are encouraged to reach out to a member of the PMGY staff should they have concerns.

During volunteer work with elephants in Thailand, each participant will have their own pace, strengths and weaknesses. You are asked to kindly respect that not everyone will have the same abilities - individuals may work at different paces. Everyone in the Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program is here to help and will make their unique contributions.

Additional Tasks - All participants volunteering in Thailand with elephants will be asked to assist in additional tasks outside of project hours. This is to help run the Volunteer House and include activities such as "house duty" and "doggie duty". Typically, two people per day are chosen to help with each. House duty involves ensuring all areas are kept tidy each day and some common housework is completed. Doggie duty involves caring for some of the dogs that live at the Volunteer House. This involves washing, feeding and walking the dogs.

Save Some Time to Travel - The volunteer projects in Thailand provide a very "volunteer-focused" experience where you are involved in the project for 6 days a week and have 1 day off. We recommend participants reserve time after their program for independent travel as this program does not have a traditional weekend travel culture. During your day off you will be able to visit the local beach, nearby caves and waterfalls. However, participants will not be able to travel too far afield on their day off.



Typical day

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL WORKING DAY

As a volunteer in Thailand, you are required to support and assist with the day-to-day operations of the elephant conservation project. This includes (but is not limited to): preparing and distributing food, preparing and distributing behavioural enrichments, ...

Typical day

YOUR VOLUNTEER ROLE & TYPICAL WORKING DAY

As a volunteer in Thailand, you are required to support and assist with the day-to-day operations of the elephant conservation project. This includes (but is not limited to): preparing and distributing food, preparing and distributing behavioural enrichments, assisting with environmental enrichments, cleaning the land, and general maintenance, including maintaining forest areas.

On this Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program, the animal volunteering day starts at 6:30am. The Volunteer House is where all the organisation and orientation of participants is based. On the Thailand elephant sanctuary volunteer program, you will normally finish work around 5pm. There will be several breaks throughout the day for breakfast, lunch, water and toilet breaks. Participants are expected to work 6 days a week with one day off. The Volunteer House is based on-site at the rescue centre. Although volunteer work with elephants in Thailand is very physically and mentally demanding, the result is always well worth it. Volunteering in Thailand with elephants is tremendously rewarding.

As a volunteer with elephants in Thailand, you will stay on-site at the wildlife centre. This means that external transport is not required. Any required transport for the needs of the project will be included in your Program Fee.


Free-time activities

The volunteer in Thailand wildlife rescue project cares for over 500 animals, including bears, elephants, tigers, gibbons, macaques, loris and birds. There’s also an elephant rescue program where the elephants live chain-free. The centre gives shelter to maltreated and neglected wild animals. ..

Free-time activities

The volunteer in Thailand wildlife rescue project cares for over 500 animals, including bears, elephants, tigers, gibbons, macaques, loris and birds. There’s also an elephant rescue program where the elephants live chain-free. The centre gives shelter to maltreated and neglected wild animals. Many of these animals are rehabilitated and released back to the wild. The Wildlife Rescue Centre is the perfect place for volunteering with animals.

Care for the animals is required 365 days a year and volunteers are required to participate in the project for 6 days a week to help with the general upkeep of the wildlife. However, in your free time it is worth a trip to the local village there are markets, restaurants and small shops for you to explore.

As our volunteers will testify, the wider travel opportunities are extremely important to the whole experience and it is something we certainly recommend. Our local team are able to arrange activities, transportation and accommodation but please note this is usually an independent experience outside of the core program.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (basic level)

Criminal Background Check

required

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

You should also be physically fit, as volunteering overseas can be quite strenuous. If you have any medical/mental health conditions that may affect your participation overseas then these must be declared to us during your online application.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 06:30 - 17:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Plan My Gap Year

  • Accommodation 
  • Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
  • Airport Pick Up
  • In-Country Orientation
  • 24 Hour Support

Airport Pickup at Suvarnabhumi Airport

You should arrive into Suvarnabhumi International Airport (airport code BKK) or Don Muang International Airport (airport code DMK) on the Sunday. The airport pickup is available between the hours of 6am and 2pm.

On arrival a member of our local team will be at the waiting area for you holding a sign with your name on it. They will drive you straight to the centre where you can relax and settle in. This journey takes around 3 hours depending on traffic.

Accommodation

In the Thailand volunteer program, you will live in one of our Volunteer Houses. All houses are located on the same campus. The accommodation is based in the region of Phetchaburi, in southern Thailand. Housing is based on the same grounds as the elephant conservation project rather than in a town. However, there are nearby villages withiin walking distance for convenience stores. There is also a small shop on the same site as the project that sells snacks, drinks and souvenirs.

As a volunteer in Thailand, you will be living with other international participants. Volunteers in Thailand stay in European style, concrete and brick bungalows. Each room houses on average 2-3 people. The rooms are usually single-sex, however, there can be exceptions for couples, friends and families if requested enough time in advance. Fresh linen is provided weekly during your stay on the experience. Bathrooms at the accommodation are communal, with a western-style toilet and shower. Each room has a fan.

There is free Wi-Fi in certain areas across the main project base. This can be intermittent, therefore volunteers in Thailand should also purchase a local SIM card in-country to use with an unlocked mobile phone. Throughout the accommodation, there are two main communal areas for international participants to relax and socialise. This is also where the volunteer work is coordinated each morning. There is a local laundry service available at the accommodation. Alternatively, there is some but limited space to perform hand-washing. Individuals on a volunteer trip to Thailand are recommended to bring a small padlock. Any valuables can be stored with our local team, however, participants are encouraged to only bring essential items during their volunteer work in Thailand. There is fridge space within the accommodation for participants to cool items they need to keep chilled. Please note that power cuts are fairly commonplace in Thailand although they tend not to last more than a couple of hours.

The Volunteer Houses are located on the same grounds as our local coordinators. Although they will not be based within the houses, they are accessible if needed. Our accommodation is on the same grounds as our volunteer placement. However, the centre covers acres of land. This means that when your project is not in walking distance from the accommodation, our local team will transport you to and from the project each day. The cost of this service is included in your Program Fee.

Food & Beverages

All your meals are provided during your stay in Thailand. All meals are prepared by the local team. Meals are predominantly traditional and local Thai cuisine. There are western meals provide on a weekly basis.

Clean drinking water is also provided in a number of locations on-site for volunteers.

Our team will do their best to cater for any dietary requirements but there may be instances where you may need to purchase alternative ingredients at your own expense.

 

Internet Access

Good access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in Bangkok. We assist you to find cheap flights to Thailand. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Thailand provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Thailand you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Thailand. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

This program starts every Sunday year-round

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 757€
2 weeks 1,117€
3 weeks 1,420€
4 weeks (max. stay) 1,722€
Average fees 593€/week

Program fees

593€ per week 1 - 4 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 4 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Plan My Gap Year during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Plan My Gap Year

Excellent 4.8 rating (877 reviews)

Agency - founded in 2011

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Josh

Spoken languages: English

About the project

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK.

Meet your organization

Plan My Gap Year is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK. We provide safe, affordable, need-driven volunteer programmes from 1 to 24 weeks in 11 countries worldwide.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US…

Founded by volunteers for volunteers, Plan My Gap Year works with local communities in the developing world towards long-term sustainable goals. We know there is no better way to travel and make a positive impact on the world.

We work extremely hard to ensure that our opportunities are affordable for everyone who wants to make a difference. So fees are 100% transparent, something our volunteers really appreciate.

Plan My Gap Year structured programmes create the perfect platform for you to see the world, meet like-minded people and engage in meaningful volunteer work. We have teams in the UK and in our host destinations who will support you 24/7 throughout your time with us. Furthermore, every project on our network is regularly risk-assessed by our UK team to ensure our set up is safe and that our volunteers are making a positive impact.

There is also a great social element to our programmes. Plan My Gap Year puts you in touch with all your fellow volunteers via Facebook before you set off. Our projects receive volunteers from around the world throughout the year, so even if you’re travelling solo, you’re going to meet heaps of people along the way. Plus you’ll have plenty of opportunity to travel the country with your newfound travel buddies – it’s all part of the PMGY experience!

So if you’re thinking of doing something a bit different on your next trip abroad, then why not drop us a line and find out what extraordinary things you could be doing.

AFFORDABLE & TRANSPARENT FEES

Our aim is to make our programmes accessible to motivated travellers irrespective of their financial capacity. Plan My Gap Year focuses on providing the core requirements of a volunteer programme: safety, structure and sustainability.

We are 100% transparent with our fees. That way you know exactly how much of your money goes towards the local community.

Compared to the large majority of volunteer organisations out there, even most charities and not-for-profits, PMGY’s opportunities are significantly cheaper. Furthermore, as our reviews will testify, our support service and structured programmes are second to none.

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT

Your safety is our top priority. All of Plan My Gap Years' programmes have been personally inspected and vetted by the PMGY team – which is not an industry standard by any means. We carry out independent risk assessments on an annual basis and our local teams constantly review the safety precautions we implement. This includes regular staff and safety appraisals.

 Our local teams are made up of highly experienced volunteer coordinators. They have hosted international volunteers for many years and are prepared to react in the unlikely event of an emergency. Whatever the problem, big or small, our local teams are available around the clock.

As part of our commitment to your safety, we keep in constant communication with local embassies and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office to ensure we can identify potentially dangerous situations and act upon them immediately. Our UK team are available 24/7 to assist volunteers and their families.

TRAINING & SUPPORT

We support our volunteers every step of the way. Before you go we will provide you with a detailed Volunteer Handbook, which will guide you through how to prepare for your trip. This Handbook contains literally everything you need to know – from what to pack, to how to obtain a visa, to local language guides.

Our experienced UK team are always available to provide assistance. Plan My Gap Year is always available to answer our questions and support you in anyway we can. 

On arrival, a member of our in-country team will collect you from the airport and help you settle in. Your orientation course will teach you everything you need to know about the country, how to stay safe and what to expect from your upcoming volunteer experience. 

Our local team are on-call 24/7. Whether you’ve lost your passport or just want some help in planning a weekend trip, our friendly in-country coordinators provide that safety net to ensure you are well looked after.

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

Plan My Gap Years' responsibility is not limited to our travellers but also the projects we support. That is why all our volunteers must provide a Criminal Background Check before they travel.

It is essential that our projects are need-driven and sustainable. We work closely with our local partners to ensure that our volunteers are contributing to bring about long-term development.

PERSONAL TOUCH

We really know our programmes. Our UK team have stayed in the accommodation, volunteered at the projects and met the volunteers. We carefully assess each application we receive so that your personality and skills are suited to the project. Whatever your query, you can feel assured that you will be speaking to someone who can tell you exactly what to expect.

HAVING FUN

One of the best aspects of volunteering is meeting some amazing like-minded people. We place over 2,000 volunteers every year so wherever and whenever you go, you have the peace of mind in knowing you will be living and working alongside other PMGY volunteers. In many of our destinations, we run our own Volunteer House accommodation, which ensures all volunteers live together, and therefore guaranteeing a strong social element. In addition, our local team are always there to help you plan any independent travel or give you some tips for what to do at the weekend.

877 reviews · rating4.8

Sylvia Anderson rating5

2024 at Thailand Elephant Volunteers

I just spent at week volunteering at Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT). It was the most incredible week of my life. The staff was beyond amazing. Working with the elephants was such a beautiful experience that I will definitely return. The weather in Thailand was hot and humid, but not ...
I had the most amazing time at the wildlife friends foundation!! I found this program through PMGY and volunteered through the PMGY site. They answered all questions and queries I had as well as aided booking flights. The detailed guide they provided was also a great help. Would ...
Aurora rating5

2022 at Thailand Elephant Volunteers

I applied at PMGY for an "Elephants Rescue" experience in Thailand. The customer-help service is great! Every time I sent an email asking for information, I received an answer 10 minutes later by a kind, helpful and prepared Program Manager. The information they give are exhaustive, detailed and ...
Joseph rating5

2019 at Thailand Elephant Volunteers

Had a great 2 weeks in Thailand on the Elephant Conservation project. PMGY were very helpful throughout the whole pre-departure process, I would highly recommend using ...
Brooke rating5

2019 at Thailand Elephant Volunteers

I had an amazing time on my trip to Thailand where I worked at the Wildlife Rescue and Elephant Refuge. Pre-departure I had all my travel information and reassurance emailed to me by PMGY and I felt super confident on here I had to go and what had to be done when I got there. This made the travel ...
I volunteered on the elephant conservation for 2 weeks in Thailand and it was an amazing experience. I would recommend PMGY and the project to anyone who was looking to volunteer as there is nothing I would ...

Location

Asia > South East Asia > Thailand > Phetchaburi

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