Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary in Chang Rai that allows these majestic creatures to live freely in a natural habitat! This project takes place at a refuge in Thailand for rescued elephants. The refuge prides itself on its ethical values; there is no riding, bathing with, performing with or abusing of the elephants in any way, shape or form.Program Highlights: 

• Contribute to creating a sustainable habitat for elephants, which has been greatly impacted by tourism and the logging industry
• Observe the elephants in their natural habitat
• Participate in rehabilitating elephants so that they can be released back into the wild
• Use any skills that you currently possess (plumbers, electricians, carpenters etc) to help build a refuge for elephants and speed up the building of the infrastructure at the sanctuary
• Enjoy delicious Thai cuisine daily!

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum one-week commitment): 

Arrival Day, Sunday: Arrive at Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI). You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to the volunteer house in Chiang Rai. Spend the day settling into your new home and get to know the layout of the sanctuary.

Day 1, Monday: Orientation day: learn about the project and get to know the elephants and the environment.

Day 2-5, Tuesday-Friday: Spend half of the day with the elephants – observing them in their natural habitat in the forest, participating in their daily routine and helping to feed them their daily supplements. The other half of the day may be spent developing the support structure that surrounds the elephants, such as cutting grass and maintaining the sites infrastructure and helping behind the scenes with elephant feeding and food production.

Day 6-7, Saturday-Sunday: Take the opportunity to explore the Chiang Rai area on your days off: visit local markets, have a look at the temples and palaces or go on a trip to see some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country.

Remaining Weeks: The remaining weeks will follow a similar schedule of volunteering Monday-Friday and having Saturday-Sunday free. Spend your days off experiencing the warmth of the Thai locals, or go on a hike up Lion Hill and enjoy a beach day after your trek. Departures are on a Sunday.