Thailand Summer Program

Elephant conservation volunteering, cultural immersion and adventure travel in Thailand

Experience an enriching month in Thailand with two weeks of volunteer service work and two weeks of amazing educational adventure travel. Immerse yourself in elephant conservation volunteer work at the award-winning Elephant Nature Foundation. Spend a rewarding week volunteering at an educational centre with marginalized Burmese youth. Discover Thailand’s fascinating cities and culture. Explore incredible jungle, islands and beaches. Join us on a journey to the heart of Thailand for a pivotal summer abroad.

This summer abroad program is suitable for high school graduates, gap year students, university students and graduates, ideally 18 – 23 years. Optional transferable academic credit is available on this program.

Known as the ‘land of smiles’, we have found Thailand’s 54 million people (the ones we’ve met) live up to their reputation. People are well educated and, as the country moves rapidly into the 21st century, are embracing elements of modern culture without discarding their own rich traditions. The country is geographically diverse - tropical beaches and islands in the south have some of the world’s best diving. The mountainous jungle clad north is populated by numerous minority tribal groups and has stunning national parks. Thailand is an immensely popular travel destination. Travelling with us you’ll have the chance to taste a less-touristed slice of Thailand, as well as its highlights.

Thailand Summer Program Highlights

• Volunteering with elephants for a week at the award-winning Elephant Nature Foundation
• Volunteering with Burmese migrants and refugees for a week at a vocational training centre
• 2-day rock-climbing and caving adventure – no experience needed
• Hiking and kayaking in the amazing jungle of Khao Sok National Park
• Snorkelling and exploring spectacular Kho Phra Ngan island
• Historical Sukhothai and its superb temples and monuments
• Thailand’s kaleidoscopic markets and temples
• Thai cooking course and traditional Thai massage
• Informal lectures and discussions on history, culture, society and environment
• Very personalized small group experience (compare with other programs of up to 40 students)
• Fantastic program leader supported by great English-speaking local guides

“Traveling with Pacific Discovery has been one of the most personally rewarding things I have ever done. The program's small group sizes and focus on responsible travel allows you to interact with a country's local culture, customs, and environment on a much deeper level. I had the time of my life on the trip!” Mauri Lowrey

Academic Credit available on the Thailand Summer Program

Click on the link below to view course and registration information for optional transferable credit available on this program.

Seattle Central Community College
Credit is available through the Seattle Central Community College Office of Cooperative Education and Service Learning. Whether you are from the US, Canada, or elsewhere, you are able to undertake this optional independent-study credit while on a Pacific Discovery program. Courses can be taken for 5 or 10 quarter credits and a maximum of 20 credits can be taken per quarter. This credit is a particularly good option for gap year students and students wanting an economical credit option.

Thailand Summer Program Itinerary

Elephant conservation volunteering, cultural immersion and adventure travel in Thailand

Day 1-2. Bangkok. On arrival in booming, mega-city Bangkok, you’ll be met by your program leader. After a comprehensive program briefing we’ll immerse ourselves in the kaleidoscope of new sensory stimulus. While here we traverse the city visiting temples, markets and getting a real sense of all the contrasts Bangkok offers before finishing up with a traditional Thai massage to loosen those jetlagged muscles.

Day 3-4. Sukhothai. Departing Bangkok we take the Northern Train Line to Sukhothai, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Site, famous for its ancient temples. 1000 years ago, Sukhothai was the capital of Thailand. Today it is a tranquil riverside town. We explore the complex of temple ruins by bicycle before continuing north by minivan, to Chiang Mai.

Day 5-9. Volunteer Project 1 - Elephant Conservation. This is an amazing week, based at the Elephant Nature Foundation, a centre that cares for elephants and educates about the problems elephants face today in Thailand. We spend the week doing varied and valuable work at the centre, from planting trees and maintenance, to bathing and caring for the elephants. By the time we return to Chiang Mai, you’ll have learned an enormous amount about elephant conservation, will be very sad to farewell these gentle giants, and will feel incredibly satisfied at the rewarding work you’ve done to ensure their protection.

Day 10-11. Rock-climbing and Caving. After a refreshing night in Chiang Mai we head into the country side and spend two days learning climbing, rappelling and caving, overnighting in a small rural village and visiting nearby hot springs and waterfalls.

Days 12-16. Volunteer Project 2 – Burmese education center. This week we are based from our comfortable guesthouse in Chiang Mai. We spend the mornings assisting inspiring young Burmese migrants and refugees with their English language and computer skills – both of which are critically important to them in gaining employment and a chance at a better life outside Burma/Myanmar. Each afternoon we do a different activity...a traditional Thai cooking course, an ‘Amazing Race’ around Chiang Mai, visiting a spectacular mountain-top temple. There’s also time to trawl Chiang Mai’s amazing night markets.

Days 17-20. Khao Sok National Park. We fly from Bangkok to Southern Thailand and travel (3 hours) overland to Khao Sok National Park. Based from a jungle lodge we spend three days hiking, kayaking and exploring this amazingly diverse jungle environment. Khao Sok National Park is a remnant of the oldest and most diverse rainforest in the world, and is home to the largest flower in the world, a carnivorous species with a diameter measuring 2-3 feet!

Days 21-25. Island Life. From Khao Sok we travel by road and ferry to the spectacular island of Ko Pha Ngan. On the island we stay in Thai style beach houses at a small resort that specialises in yoga and meditation. Nestled on a jungle covered hill, we are a stones-throw from the ocean and a beautiful white sand beach. We have plenty of time for snorkelling the nearby marine reserve, swimming, relaxing and reminiscing over the adventures of the last four weeks. On our final day we return to Bangkok, catching a ferry to the mainland, and then a bus to Bangkok.

Day 26-27. Bangkok and Program Conclusion. We have a day in Bangkok to explore together before we sadly farewell our trip mates and this wonderful country. We depart Bangkok for home having had an unforgettable month in the ‘land of smiles’.

Thailand Summer Program Notes

Elephant conservation volunteering, cultural immersion and adventure travel in Thailand

Suitability

Open to students, graduates and non-students 18-25 years. This program is suitable for anyone of average fitness with an enthusiasm for conservation, humanitarian work, new experiences and different cultures. You need to be open-minded, and committed to, and prepared for, some physical work whilst on the elephant volunteer component of the program i.e. tree planting or painting. You don’t need to have had previous experience with travel or any of the activities offered.

Accommodation

Our accommodation will vary from simple share accommodation with shared facilities to modern hotels and guesthouses with private bathrooms. Laundry, postal, telephone and email facilities will be available most days except while at the elephant conservation project. Accommodation is diverse, comfortable and carefully chosen to fit our needs.

Meals

Food is a highlight when traveling in Asia. Special dietary requirements and vegetarians are catered for. Two thirds of meals are included in the program cost. The remaining meals are not included to allow us a choice of when, where and what we eat. For the meals not included, you will have the option of dining out, or self-catering with others in the group. Throughout the trip, there will be the opportunity to eat authentic Asian or Western style food.

Transport

The itinerary has been designed to maximize comfort and safety whilst also giving you the opportunity to experience local transport and take part in daily life. We utilize charted vans and buses, trains, private taxis, ferries and local water taxis, bicycles, and take 2 internal flights.

Program fee

Program cost is $3,950 USD (change currency).

Program fee inclusions

All in-country transport – including 2 flights within Thailand; All accommodation; Most meals as above; 2 weeks of volunteer projects; All excursions, activities and adventure travel as described in the itinerary; Experienced Pacific Discovery program leader/s and local guides; Online image library for your program. Refer information booklet for international flight options.

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