Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
Children: 1 week £699, 2 weeks £1049.
Includes airport pick up, accommodation, three meals per day.
Children must be 14 or over to work with the elephants.
Description of Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
Experience Family Volunteering in Thailand's Elephant Refuge!
Escape the typical holiday and dive into an elephant lover's paradise with your family! Volunteer in a sanctuary dedicated to rescuing elephants from a lifetime of abuse and providing them with a safe haven.
Your family will engage in hands-on activities, caring for over 20 rescued elephants. You'll help prepare and feed them, enjoy bathing sessions, and take them on walks through lush forests. This rewarding project involves physical labor, so we recommend participants be at least 14 years old.
Nestled within a larger wildlife sanctuary housing around 700 animals—including sun bears, monkeys, and gibbons—your accommodation will be comfortable, featuring en-suite western-style bathrooms and solar-heated showers.
You'll enjoy three daily meals, featuring delicious Thai cuisine and vegetarian options, all catered to various dietary needs.
Located close to a vibrant local community and a large national park, you’ll have opportunities for exploration, and the beach is just a 20-minute drive away for relaxing days by the sea.
This unique experience allows both adults and teenagers to immerse themselves in conservation efforts while contributing to a meaningful rescue mission. Create unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime!
*We do not support elephant bathing experiences for tourism due to issues of control and safety. Please note the elephants that volunteers wash on this trip are animals that are too elderly or frail to wash themselves.
Itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival day is a Sunday. You will be collected from Bangkok airport (BKK) and driven to the refuge, a 3 hour drive south. |
| Day 2: | You will receive a full induction and tour- and get fully stuck in to the project! Expect to get mucky! |
| Day 7/14: | Departure is a Sunday. Return to the airport or head on for further family travels |
Price information
Children: 1 week £699, 2 weeks £1049.
Includes airport pick up, accommodation, three meals per day.
Children must be 14 or over to work with the elephants.
Departure information
Travel guides
Holiday information
Accessibility
Reviews
1 Reviews of Family elephant refuge volunteering in Thailand
Reviewed on 15 Jul 2017 by Massimo Marolo
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Learning about elephant conservation efforts and being part of a uniquely pristine natural environment
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be ready to leave behind creature comforts from home and disconnect
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
wonderful.
Responsible Travel
Planet
Animal welfareThe sanctuary is committed to conserving, saving, protecting and, where possible, rehabilitating the animals. The centre will rescue any animal that is being neglected or maltreated, providing it with a large and comfortable enclosure, constructed as closely as possible to reflect the natural conditions these animals would be living in.
Protecting the world
We are passionate about encouraging our travellers to be kind to the environment as they travel. Each participant receives advice about how to care for the environment whilst they are away. This includes water usage, how to avoid single use plastic and electricity usage.
We insist that all participants bring their own water bottles when they travel with us, and clean free water is always available. We have even created a water bottle that can be purchased before departure and encourage people to use it at all stages of their journey including at the airport, on flights and whilst on their project. We are striving for all of our projects to be free of single use plastic.
People
Meeting local needsVolunteers live and work as a member of the local community. This is a small community, located off the traditionally trodden tourist trails, and so bringing volunteers to this area really benefits the local population. Food is bought from local markets and restaurants, trips are all sourced locally and local transport is used when needed.
Campaigning for change
This project works to change the future for animals who have been subjected to harm and mistreatment. The aim is simple: to provide a home for mistreated animals in an environment as close to nature as possible. A programme actively runs to rescue, rehabilitate and release captive wild animals with this hope to repopulate Thailand's forests and jungles. Campaigns are regularly launched against all forms of animal abuse and exploitation in Thailand. An education programme runs for locals, children and visiting tourists to make them aware of the importance of animal welfare.
Cultural sensitivity
We emphasise the importance of showing respect for local people and their customs in our briefing material. Participants will work alongside permanent staff, forming close bonds and getting an insight into real life in rural Thailand.
All of our participants receive comprehensive pre-departure documentation. This covers topics on how to be culturally sensitive, how to best look after the environment when in the country and how to stay safe as well as up to date information on the political situation.
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