Thailand holiday & development project
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Khao Sok National Park, Southern Thailand |
| departures: | 2008: 4 Oct, 1 Nov, 22 Nov, 6 Dec, 20 Dec |
| price: | From £850 (14 days) excluding flights, on a twin sharing basis. We can offer advice on flights from the UK. |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Have a holiday and make a real difference by joining us on this adventure which includes time visiting the stunning sights of Bangkok, relaxing on beaches and exploring the jungles of Khao Sok as well as spending 4 days assisting with the tsunami recovery efforts in southern Thailand. By joining us, your assistance will be two-fold – one through your volunteer work and two by bringing much needed business to the area. And of course, we’re not forgetting that for many people this will be their holiday too… so we’ll do our best to make sure it’s fun as well as offering you a unique opportunity to get more involved with the local people.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival In Bangkok. You’ll be given a warm welcome at the airport by our team leader or local guide and transferred to a comfortable and friendly Bangkok guest-house. In the afternoon, the group will meet for a cultural orientation meeting, before enjoying a delicious Welcome Dinner, on the banks of Bangkok’s famous Chao Phraya River. |
| Day 2: | Explore Bangkok. Explore the wonders of this most vibrant and ancient city including the magnificent Grand Palace and a boat trip into the backwaters to witness life as it has existed for centuries along and often, on, the river itself. |
| Day 3: | Khao Sok National Park. Today we'll catch a short flight to Phuket and then head into the breathtaking scenery of Khao Sok National Park for a jungle adventure. |
| Day 4: | Khao Sok National Park. Take an elephant trek to explore further into the jungle before returning for lunch. In the late afternoon, go tubing down the river - an experience not to be missed! |
| Day 5: | Khao Sok National Park. Set off on a lake trip adventure. Khao Sok National Park is one of South East Asia’s best-preserved habitats for tropical flora and fauna. The park covers an area of about 645 km, with evergreen virgin jungle, waterfalls, massive limestone cliffs and crystal clear rivers and streams. Many species of protected wildlife live in the park including elephants, gibbons, monkeys, tapir, birds of prey and wild gaur. Strikingly beautiful Chio Larn Lake features spectacular limestone karst rising out of the sparkling waters, it’s a part of the park that you won’t want to miss. |
| Day 6: | Volunteering. Leave the jungle and head to the Andaman coast where we will be volunteering our services for the next 5 days. Work may vary depending on the time of year but we will be staying with the local villagers and whatever else we do, you can be assured of a very warm welcome... delicious food... and lots of fun! |
| Day 7-10: | Volunteering. Tsunami Recovery Project |
| Day 11: | Head to the beach. A short drive will take us a little further down the coast where we can enjoy a well-earned rest at a small hotel on the beautiful beaches of Koh Kho Khao island. |
| Day 12-13: | Relax. Chilling on the beach! |
| Day 14: | Bangkok. We'll head back to our Bangkok hotel where we'll enjoy a farewell dinner with the group. |
| Day 15: | Last Day. Free time for last minute shopping before you return to the airport and homewards. |
travellers' tales
The Riverside Cottages at Khao Sok were wonderful... The most memorable part of the trip was the Tsunami volunteer work, particularly meeting the people of Ban Talae Nok, the women's soap collective and playing with the children. (more)
volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you are looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world. Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We try to ensure that all our trips not only minimise the negative effects of tourism but actually have a positive impact on the communities who welcome us into their villages and often their homes. Using local guides, local transport and local accommodation and paying fair wages, ensures that not only do our clients gain a unique insight into the culture they are visiting but also that as much of their money as possible stays in the local community.
Khao Lak was one of the areas worst hit by the tsunami in Thailand and as you drive along what was once a thriving beach road it still shows. Whilst in Phuket and other areas in the south, it’s hard to remember that the tsunami ever happened, here in the north, progress is still slow as there is simply so much to rebuild. And with many of the larger aid agencies now pulling out of the area the locals still need all the help they can get. On this trip, you'll also be visiting the fascinating jungles and lakes of Khao Soke National Park which, although well inland from the tsunami affected regions, has also suffered greatly from the reduction in visitors to the southern area over the last few months. By joining this unique trip, you will not only be providing practical help through volunteering but also financial support to local businesses as well as (and arguably most importantly) showing the local people that they are not forgotten. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |