Travel to Thailand’s Chiang Mai Province and volunteer with elephants relieved from working in the tourism industry.

Assist with monitoring the elephants’ behaviour as they are reintegrated into the forests and work alongside mahouts (traditional elephant keepers) and other locals to establish alternative livelihoods. Discover the unique culture of the Karen community, and the lush mountain forests of Northern Thailand in your free time.

Volunteer in the mountain forests of Northern Thailand and spend time in the fields with elephants relieved from working in the tourism industry. Leaving behind their lives in the tourism industry, these gentle giants now live more natural lives as a semi-wild herd in the Chiang Mai Province - an area famous for its traditional elephant keeping communities.

Volunteers can learn about elephant behaviour and contribute directly to the elephants’ wellbeing by providing working alternatives for their owners, mahouts, and locals, allowing the elephants to live in the forest. You will observe elephants alongside mahouts who draw on generations of knowledge about elephants.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn about elephant history, behaviour, training, biology, social interactions and more
• Have the incredible opportunity to observe the elephants in their natural habitat
• Learn about elephants from the local Karen community, who have worked alongside elephants for centuries
• See the elephants in a more natural setting, interacting with the forest, the mahouts and each other as a semi-wild herd

BOOST YOUR CV: ADD OUR ONLINE COURSE

We now offer an online program so that you can make an impact from home. Complete only the online program or combine it with one of our programs abroad.

If you have absolutely no plans to volunteer or intern abroad, but would like to earn new knowledge and skills in sustainable development, simply book onto one or more of our online courses and complete it virtually within 2-weeks. Or, if you’d like to earn real work experience, then you can combine our online program with any of our volunteer or intern abroad programs. Enquire now to find out more! 

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

• 24-hour emergency phone and in-country support
• Access to Alumni Services and Discounts
• Airport pick-up (unless otherwise stated)
• All necessary project equipment and materials
• All necessary project training by experienced staff
• A comprehensive training program that encompasses theory lectures, group study and field practise
• Location orientation
• Long term experienced staff
• Meals while on project (except on work placements for long term internships)
• Required transportation for the duration of your stay
• Safe and basic accommodations (usually shared)
• Welcome meeting
• Your own room within homestay

WANT MORE INFO OR KEEN TO APPLY?

If you're keen to go on this program or want more info, then chuck your details in below and someone will be in touch to help you out! Our team of Country Experts are here to answer any and every question you have about our programs and they're all ex-GVI volunteers so they know all about the life-changing experiences you can expect while volunteering with GVI.

GIVING YOU EXTRA PEACE OF MIND

Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we are offering you the opportunity to transfer your program to a new date free of charge should you not be able to start on your proposed date due to travel restrictions. There are also flexible payment plans available, reach out for more information!