a partir de 472€

Excelente 4.8rating (16)

Ethical Elephant Experience

location
1 - 2 semanas  ·  Idade 18 - 50+

rating  Excelente 4.8  · 
  Verificado por Volunteer World
  taxa de resposta excelente

Destaques

  • Ethical & sustainable
  • The elephants are given autonomy and freedom of choice, spending their days foraging in their natural habitat, without having to please humans
  • These elephants are not controlled with bull-hooks, and they do not drag heavy chains through the forest
  • Experience the Karen hill tribe way of life
  • Contribute to community development

Especialmente adequado para

Idade 18+
Solteiros
Casais
Grupos

Sobre o programa

Improving welfare of captive elephants by allowing them to retire in the forest, creating alternative livelihoods & supporting the community.

- Isara Elephant Village -

These elephants have retired from harsh working environments. They are now free to forage and socialise how they wish, without force or fear.

Here at our project, the elephants' welfare is the priority, so we do not allow large noisy groups of people, we allow the elephants ...

Sobre o programa

- Isara Elephant Village -

These elephants have retired from harsh working environments. They are now free to forage and socialise how they wish, without force or fear.

Here at our project, the elephants' welfare is the priority, so we do not allow large noisy groups of people, we allow the elephants to do as they were meant to do in their natural habitat. For those interested we also collect behavioural data for our research.

Join us for the experience of a lifetime. Your support is a key piece of our ability to keep elephants living as they deserve. We have a number of ways that visitors can help the elephants, and the community.


What you can expect

Visitors hike into the forest daily to see the elephants in their natural habitat. For those interested, you can learn about elephant behaviour, and collect behavioural data for our research. The elephants are given verbal directions when needed as there are no bull hooks used to control them. During the day, elephants are free to roam, with their mahouts nearby to prevent conflicts with villagers or farms. The elephants are not forced to interact with visitors, but they are accustomed to human interaction, so they often come to you.

Help the locals with farming projects and teach English to the wonderful kids at the school. Learn to weave the traditional Karen cloth, bamboo crafts and learn the local language only the Karen people speak.


The Location


The project is located in a remote Karen Hill Tribe village. You will be allocated a homestay in the village with a friendly host family. Karen people live in wooden/bamboo houses in the mountains. Accommodations are very basic, you will have a private room with a thin mattress on the floor, clean bedding and a mosquito net. You should bring a travel sleeping bag with you.

The bathroom is a separate room outside with a squat toilet and cold bucket shower. The village has fairly reliable power and water, but we will occasionally lose access temporarily.

Your host family will provide lunch and dinner, and you’ll eat breakfast with your fellow guests at the voli-house. Karen food is generally vegetables, rice, noodles, egg, and occasional pork, chicken or fish. Vegetarians/vegans can be catered for, but if you are staying a good length of time you will want to bring some protein powder. There are a couple of little shops in the village that sell drinks, snacks, and beer for purchase.

Filtered water provided.

This is really an incredible, life-changing experience for everyone who comes to share in our passion for elephants.


Dia típico

Sunday

You will travel 2.5 hours out to the village, (with a lunch stop) meet your friendly host family & fellow guests

Monday - Friday: 

In the mornings, visitors hike out into the stunning forest to see the elephants in their natural habitat. For those interested, you can learn about elephant ...

Dia típico

Sunday

You will travel 2.5 hours out to the village, (with a lunch stop) meet your friendly host family & fellow guests

Monday - Friday: 

In the mornings, visitors hike out into the stunning forest to see the elephants in their natural habitat. For those interested, you can learn about elephant behaviour, and how to collect behavioural data for our research.

Afternoons there will be an activity planned depending on season:

  • teaching at the school
  • learning the local language
  • cooking classes
  • Karen crafts like basket weaving, weaving the tradition cloth, bamboo goods
  • work on our germination project
  • tree planting
  • help our veterinary nurse care for the pets, strays and livestock 
  • football matches with the locals 
  • visit a waterfall
  • hanging out with fellow visitors the voli-house

Saturday/Sunday: Free time or travel back to city


Actividades em tempo livre

You have free time every afternoon and all weekend.

You are welcome to leave the project on weekends to explore other areas but all at your own risk & cost.


Actividades em tempo livre

You have free time every afternoon and all weekend.

You are welcome to leave the project on weekends to explore other areas but all at your own risk & cost.



Requisitos

Requisitos

Idade mínima: 18 anos

Para aderir ao programa é necessário ter pelo menos 18 anos de idade na data de início do programa. Poderá haver excepções se puder fornecer a permissão do(s) seu(s) tutor(es) legal(ais) ou se estiver acompanhado pelos seus pais.

Habilidades linguísticas

Precisa de falar Inglês (fluentemente)

Documentos Necessários

Proof of comprehensive insurance.

Restrições de Nacionalidade

Sem restrições. São bem-vindas as mãos que ajudam de todo o mundo.

Outras Competências

We appreciate help from anyone, you do not need certain skills, just an open mind and willingness to help. You do need to have a high level of fitness. You must speak English for safety reasons.

Compromisso de tempo

A tua mão auxiliadora será necessária na Segunda-feira, Terça-feira, Quarta-feira, Quinta-feira e Sexta-feira de 08:00 - 14:00

Serviços incluídos

Serviços incluídos

Serviços por Isara Elephant Foundation

Program Fee includes:

  • Transport from your hotel in the city - to the village at 9am on your first day (Sunday)
  • Transport back to Chang Mai city at the scheduled end of your stay (Saturday)
  • Getting from the airport to the city is very easy, there are many blue & yellow taxis waiting at the airport and it's a quick ten minute ride to the city from the airport.
  • Homestay accomodation on site in the village with a host family.
  • 3 meals per day on site in the village. (We are in the jungle, Karen food is very basic)
  • Leaving site between/or outside your scheduled start and finish dates for any reason, is not included. and you will need to pay extra for.

PLEASE NOTE: Make sure you read the project description carefully, to be sure this program is right for you before booking. 

All fees are non-refundable, however dates can be changed until 4 weeks prior to your arrival.



Alojamento

Guests are allocated a homestay in the village with a friendly host family. Karen people live in wooden/bamboo houses in the mountains. 

  • Accommodations are basic, you will have a private room with a thin mattress on the floor, bedding and a mosquito net.
  • The bathroom is a separate room outside usually with a squat toilet and cold bucket shower. 
  • The village has fairly reliable power and water, but we will occasionally lose access temporarily.

Alimentos e Bebidas

You will prepare yourself breakfast and eat with your fellow guests at the volunteer house. Cereal, toast, jam, boiled eggs, tea & coffee.

A packed lunch is provided by one of the homestays.

We all eat dinner together at one of the homestays.

Karen food is very basic asian style, generally vegetable, rice, noodles, egg, (occasional pork, chicken or fish) If you dont eat meat, and are staying a decent length of time you may want to bring some protein powder. There are a couple of little shops in the village that sell drinks, snacks, and beer for purchase.

Filtered water is provided.

Acesso à Internet

Acesso limitado no local do projecto

O que NÃO está incluído?

O que NÃO está incluído?

Recepção no aeroporto em Chiang Mai International Airport

Uma recolha no aeroporto também não está incluída nas taxas do programa.

Bilhetes de avião

O aeroporto mais próximo é Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) em Chiang Mai. Ajudamo-lo a encontrar voos baratos para Tailândia. ENCONTRAR VOOS BARATOS

Seguro de viagem

Ir para o estrangeiro é uma aventura e é sempre melhor estar preparado. Doença ou lesão súbita, cancelamento ou roubo - um seguro de viagem para Tailândia proporciona segurança e é uma vantagem a ter. OBTENHA UMA COTAÇÃO

Vacinas

Se pretende ser voluntário em Tailândia deve procurar aconselhamento médico antes de iniciar a sua viagem social. Verifique as vacinas necessárias para Tailândia. VERIFICADOR DE VACINAS

Detalhes à chegada

The week starts on a Sunday morning (Pick up from the city) so it is best to arrive the day before.

You return to the city on the Saturday afternoon of your last week (Dropped back to the city)

Please make sure you read ALL of the information provided especially regarding visas and what to bring, if there is something you don't understand we are more than happy to answer all questions.

Please note: All fees are non-refundable, but we know the world is unpredictable so dates can be changed until 4 weeks prior to your arrival.

Disponibilidade
Jan Feb Março Abril Maio Jun Jul Ago Set Out Nov Dez

Preços do programa

1 semana (estadia min.) 472€
2 semanas (estadia máx.) 895€
Preços médios 460€/semana

Preços do programa

460€ por semana 1 - 2 semanas Idade 18 - 50+

Métodos de Pagamento

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

SEM TAXAS DE CARTÃO DE CRÉDITO


Duração

1 - 2 semanas

Depósito

O depósito é simplesmente para reservar a sua colocação como voluntário. Os pagamentos são tratados pelo PayPal, o nosso fornecedor de pagamento global de confiança. Se não tiver uma conta PayPal, também pode pagar usando um cartão de crédito.


Pagamento final

O teu pagamento final será acordado com Isara Elephant Foundation durante o processo de candidatura. As soluções comuns são ou através de transferência bancária ou pagamento em dinheiro no local do projecto.


Conheça seu anfitrião

Isara Elephant Foundation

Excelente 4.8 rating (16 revisões)

Non-profit - fundada em 2015

Verificado por Volunteer World

  taxa de resposta excelente

Hospedado por

Lo

Línguas faladas: Inglês

Sobre o projecto

A sustainable, ethical elephant experience, mutually beneficial to both elephants and the community.

Conheça seu anfitrião


- Who we are?

We are a team of veterinary professionals and locals working with the community to improve the welfare of captive elephants. 

We are non profit registered in both Australia and Thailand. 


- What we do?

At Mae Tala Elephant Village, Isara Elephant Foundation Thailand provides a sustainable, safe home for elephants to live a more natural life, and an alternative livelihood for families who want to transition away from using their elephants in the harsh tourist camps. We assist with community development & education, veterinary care for all animals in the community and contribute the forest health.

We are are retiring elephants to their natural habitat where they can forage freely eating their natural diet, exhibit natural elephant behaviours and are not expected to please tourists. This greatly improves the welfare of these elephants. They have autonomy and freedom of choice. They are monitored closely by their mahouts, to be sure they stay safe out in the forest & can receive any necessary veterinary care. 

Elephants play an important role in forest health, as they roam throughout the forest they open up areas, allowing light to enter and creating new growth, adding habitat variety and overall biodiversity to the forest. As they roam, they leave their nutrient rich dung behind full of seeds which is the perfect fertiliser. This seed dispersal creates new plant growth for other species. We are monitoring our impact on the forest, with the help of Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU-CMU), you can contribute without regular tree planting activities.

Volunteers coming to our project value elephant welfare, but also value the Karen culture, and are as engaged in the community as they are with the elephants. 


- Where we work? 

The project is located in a Karen hill tribe in Chiang Mai. Karen hill tribe communities are spotted throughout the mountains along the Thai/Myanmar border, where they settled as refugees after fleeing Burma due to ethnic and political conflict.They have owned elephants for thousands of years. The population in Thailand is around 1 million, and speak their own unique language. Their long history and integration in Thailand means they have now largely assimilated into Thai society. 


- Who are we looking for?

Whether you are after the experience of a life time, a student, a photographer, a teacher, a professional, taking a gap year, or seeking experience in wildlife conservation, animal welfare, veterinary, conservation, the environment, community development or just have a passion for elephants, we would love to have you! You DO need to be in good physical fitness, as the hikes into the forest to find the elephants can be tough, especially in the heat. 




16 revisões · rating4.8

Oliver Schmidt rating3.2

2024 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Me and my girlfriend visited the Isara Elephant Foundation in february/march 2024. Upfront: we have mixed feelings about the stay, none of which are necessarily anyones fault, but I'll try to describe our experience as best as I can. We were accomodated at Pop's House, who's a nice and fun guy in ...
Emily Evans rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Beautiful place with really friendly locals, incredible to see the elephants in their natural habitat, it meant you could really witness their personalities. Really enjoyed the afternoon activities and experiencing the culture. Highly ...
Becca Holton rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Honestly this experience is amazing, it’s incredible to see the elephants out in their natural habitat doing what they were meant to do, and you can really tell they’re happy out there too! The locals in the village are all super friendly and more than willing to help teach us the local language ...
Siobhan Utting rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Had an amazing time working with the elephants, you can really see how much they care for them, and that the elephants are actually happy here and can enjoy their lives, rather than being used for entertainment. I've been on holidays before and seen elephants clearly stressed out being used for ...
Adrienne Bowerman rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Enabling elephants to retire in their native habitat while providing alternative income to the elephant owners and the villagers. You can see how ethical tourism promotes the health and well-being of not just the elephants but also the native people who have cared for and depended on them for, ...
Annabel Holton rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

I had such an amazing experience volunteering with the Isara Elephant foundation. The local villagers couldn’t of been more kind, and the authentic Thai food was delicious!! It was great to see the elephants in their natural habitat with the help of our friendly guide. Was such an amazing ...

Localização

Ásia > Sudeste da Ásia > Tailândia > Chiang Mai

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