Volunteer with Elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand
WLS International is a not-for-profit volunteer abroad organization for affordable volunteer work programs in Asia. We are delighted that you are interested to give time, energy and enthusiasm for elephant conservation in Thailand. The Elephant volunteering project is located near Chiang Mai City. This elephant volunteering program in Thailand allows you to take part in meaningful volunteering animal conservation work whilst discovering the people and the culture of Thailand. Volunteering whilst traveling is a great way to totally immerse yourself in the local culture and to give back.
The Program
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Start Dates: Start every Sunday throughout the year
Minimum Stay : 1 to 2 weeks
Arrival and Departure : Chiang Mai Airport on Sunday
Volunteer at an elephant camp in Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand for a wonderful experience. This program also includes great activities such as Thai cooking and adventure activities such as trekking and rafting. You can start the program every Sunday throughout the year.
Volunteers stay at a homestay with a lovely Thai family. All meals and activities as per the itinerary below are included in the program. You will stay in a single room with a private bathroom in a homestay in the village with a wonderful Thai family. Previous volunteers loved staying with our homestay family where they experienced an authentic Thai lifestyle. There is free WIFI internet available at the homestay. For pictures of the homestay click here.
Ms Prachit Kasemrat, our Country Manager in Thailand
About the Elephant Camp
All the logging was officially abandoned in Thailand from 1989 and so it also demands that the elephants that had been employed in the logging industry no longer have to work. Since it is very expensive to feed and care for an elephant in captivity, many elephants owners started using the elephants in the tourist industry. In the tourist industry there is a lot of abuse of elephants.
In response to save the elephants and to try to keep the elephants in their natural environments, WLS International has in partnership with the local villagers and a group of elephants owners, set up this elephant camp in Chiang Mai. This is however an elephant camp which is different then typical animal camps and the elephants will stay in their natural environment.
Each elephant owner is responsible for taking care of their own elephant. To make sure that no elephants is abused or overworked. All the elephants will stay in the forest at night in their natural environments.
Volunteers will go to the forest in the morning to wake up the elephants and give them a bath in the river. At the end of the day volunteers will ride the elephants back to the river to give them a bath. Then the elephants will go back to the forest to have a good night sleep.
Weekly Itinerary (7 days/6 nights)
Day 1
Airport pick up and transport to your hotel in Chiang Mai City. Relax from your trip, explore Chiang Mai and in the evening go to the famous Chiang Mai night market. Accommodation in a hotel in Chiang Mai.
Day 2
In the morning you will join the eco adventure activity of Jungle Flight. Jungle Flight takes you on an unforgettable adventure as you slide from one platform to the next along a series of steel cables set amongst magnificent natural surroundings. The scenery high up within the forest canopy is spectacular. The platforms are located in giant rainforest trees. The scenery and bird life is spectacular and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology. Click here for some pictures. Accommodation in a hotel in Chiang Mai.
Day 3
In the morning there is a Thai cooking class where you will learn how to prepare and cook a Thai meal while enjoying the relaxing non touristy countryside. You will be given the opportunity to pick some of the fresh ingredients that you will use while preparing your favorite dishes in one of our spacious well equipped kitchens. Each person will have his/her own cooking station. Finally, enjoy eating your meal on the terrace overlooking the fishpond where you will have a splendid view of the entire farm as well as the nearby mountains. In the afternoon you will leave for elephant camp which is about 2 hours drive from Chiang Mai City. Arrival and dinner at the homestay. All meals at the homestay are included. Accommodation at the homestay.
Day 4
In the morning you will walk from the homestay to the forest and ride elephant to river. After that there is a basic mahout training. Then you will ride the elephant back to homestay in time for breakfast.
Around 10 am you will go for a day of Trekking and Rafting. Packed lunch provided. In the evening there will be dinner at the homestay. Accommodation at the homestay.
Day 5
In the morning you will walk from the homestay to the forest and ride elephant to river. It is time to give the elephants a bath in the river. Then you will ride the elephant back to homestay in time for breakfast. You will learn how to make food for the elephant followed by lunch. Ride the elephant to a river for another bath, followed by a ride with the elephant to the forest to let the elephant stay overnight there. Walk back to the homestay for dinner. Accommodation at the homestay.
Day 6
In the morning you will walk from the homestay to the forest and ride elephant. Then you will ride the elephant back to homestay for breakfast. Prepare food for elephant followed by lunch.
In the afternoon ride the elephant to the river for a bath and in the evening ride the elephant to the forest to let the elephant stay overnight there. Walk back to homestay, Dinner and accommodation at the homestay.
Day 7
In the morning you will walk from the homestay to the forest and ride elephant to river. It is time to give the elephants a bath in the river. Ride the elephant back to the homestay for breakfast. At 10.00 am leave the homestay and transport back to Chiang Mai or Chiang Mai airport for your onwards journey.
(for a 2 week program day 4 to 6 repeats)
Click here for more Videos of the Elephant Program
Program Requirements
The minimum age for joining the program is 17 years. There are no specific qualifications needed to join the volunteer program in Thailand .
Prices of the Program
Prices |
US$ |
GBP |
EUR |
|---|---|---|---|
1 week |
770 |
525 |
615 |
2 weeks |
1090 |
735 |
865 |
Our program includes these services:
• Volunteer placement and activities as per itinerary
• All accommodation and meals as per itinerary (no meals in Chiang Mai City)
• Airport pickup and transport to the elephant camp from Chiang Mai airport (or Chiang Mai City)
• Pickup from the camp at the end of your program and transport to Chiangmai airport
• Support : From the very beginning to the end of the project your local WLS Coordinator will coordinate your program
• Emergency Support : WLS International provides volunteers with the mobile phone of your local coordinator so that volunteers and their family members can contact our coordinator in the event of an emergency or crisis.
• Certificate of Completion : Upon completion of your respective service project, participants receive a certificate upon request illustrating their contributed time.
• Pre-departure information : We help you with any questions that you have regarding your program before you leave.
The prices of our programs also cover the cost of researching, visiting the projects, advertising and promotion costs, office expenses and staff at our head office and local staff.
What's not included : international flight, travel insurance, visa
Click here for pictures of our Thailand programs on Flickr
volunteer testimonial
The program was great. My boyfriend and i lived an experience either of us will never forget. The family who welcomed us was very kind, the food was great and the organisation well thought of. To be around those giant creatures was quite an experience! we had a brilliant time so when I'll get the time I'll go again! Working with elephants in such a beautiful environment was one of the best travelling experience I've ever had.
Chloe Tarot, France
volunteer testimonial
The elephant volunteer program in Thailand with WLS International was definitely the coolest thing ever. I had so much fun. The WLS Coordinator was awesome and was always just making sure that I was comfortable. The staff at the elephant camp were so nice and so clearly passionate about what they do. I've been bragging to everyone and they all want to do it as well! Thanks a lot!
Cara Hanley, USA
volunteer testimonial
Very well organized and made sure we felt at home straightaway. The program was varied and interesting, we learnt a lot. Our coordinator made the whole program very easy. Contact was always available if needed and they went out of their way to help and show us Chiang Mai. Definitely going to recommend to other. Absolutely brilliant!
Philippa Tilbury, Australia
volunteer testimonial
I just returned to the U.S. from my volunteer program in Chiang Mai and wanted to reach out to you to express my gratitude. The support and attention throughout my stay there really made the two weeks a wonderful experience. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful my coordinator was and how much I truly appreciated having her there. I will definitely recommend WLS to anyone thinking about a volunteer program. Thanks again!
Leslie Lau, USA
volunteer testimonial
The elephant program of WLS International was very good. Really authentic lifestyle with good support and a wonderful homestay family. The elephant program and the activities were super. I am really going to miss it!
Inge Theeuwes, Belgium
volunteer testimonial
The program was wonderful, everything was perfect. My coordinator was helpful and answered all my questions. I had so much fun with the elephants and the homestay family, I definitely plan to come back!
Sabrina White, USA
volunteer testimonial
The program was fantastic. The homestay family treat you as family, they are kind and caring. Prachit's help and support both before, during and after the program was above and beyond what we expected. She is amazing! We are both so pleased with this program, we learned a lot about Thai culture and had the most amazing adventure.
Zoe Haynes and Tom Neane, UK