Six weeks from Bangkok to Thailand’s southern islands

You’ll meet your Program Instructors in Bangkok for two days of orientation, getting to know the group and setting goals for the weeks ahead, finished off with a welcome dinner. A city tour takes us along Bangkok’s canals by longtail boat and into the Kudi Chin community. Then we head to Kanchanaburi to join Our Land, a local organisation working to protect wildlife corridors to the River Kwai and to live in harmony with nature. We get hands-on straight away, with time to explore waterfalls and swim in the River Kwai.

• Orientation
• Culture
• Sustainability

Our days at Our Land include making mud bricks, sorting waste at a recycling centre and caring for saplings in the nursery. Then we travel to Ayutthaya, once the capital of Siam, and explore the city by mountain bike. In Sukhothai, another former capital, a sunset bike ride takes us through the historic town. The bus north brings us to Chiang Mai for a hands-on Thai cooking class. Then we transfer to Hug Elephants to begin five days with the elephants, helping with feeding and bathing and learning about the sanctuary’s work to care for them.

• Service
• Biking
• Elephants

We spend the rest of our time at Hug Elephants settling into the rhythm of daily life with the elephants and the people who care for them. Next we move to Mae Win for five days of community volunteering with Hub Volunteer. Depending on what the community needs at the time, that might mean debris clean-ups, reforestation work or spending time with young people at the local school, so come with an open mind and helping hands.

• Animal welfare
• Service
• Community

After our last days of volunteering, we head to MCU for a three-day Buddhist meditation retreat. Days begin with chanting and meditation, and we learn about Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness and compassion before practising meditation in nature. Traditional meditation can be challenging, so it’s challenge by choice. Then we fly to Surat Thani and transfer to Our Jungle Life Camp in Khao Sok National Park, one of the oldest rainforests in the world. We start with yoga, then hike jungle trails and tube down the river.

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Jungle

A basic overnight at Cheow Lan Lake wraps up our time in Khao Sok. From Ao Nam Mao we take a longtail boat to Railay Beach, surrounded by limestone cliffs and the Andaman Sea. A half day of rock climbing comes first, with no experience needed. Next we explore the coast by kayak, then hike the Dragon Crest Trek to a viewpoint over Railay and the Andaman Sea. A free day gives time to rest on the beach before the boat and ferry to Koh Lanta.

• Climbing
• Kayaking
• Hiking

On Koh Lanta we stay at The Dive House for a three-day scuba diving course in the waters of southern Thailand. Whether you’re a beginner or already a diver, the course takes you out to explore coral reefs and marine life. Then we switch to two days of Muay Thai, Thailand’s national sport, learning the techniques of this traditional martial art. We finish in Ao Nang with a final night together before flying home from Krabi.

• Scuba diving
• Muay Thai
• Program wrap