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Take this opportunity to assist with the preservation of one of the world’s most respected animals and to explore Thailand - the land of smiles. Visit Bangkok, the rich green hills of the tribal north, the lush jungle of the interior, and the paradise of the southern islands and beaches. As an Imaginative Volunteer you will be assisting at ‘The Elephant Nature Park’ in Chiang Mai, established to preserve the future of elephants in Northern Thailand.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Maximum Group Size: 12 Trek Grade: A / B - Easy / Moderate Arrival Transfer: Airport transfer to hotel day 1 Staffing & Participation: Fully escorted by Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guides while trekking and in Khao Sok National Park, services of local staff at the Elephant Nature Park Transport: Local transport, buses, minibus, pick-up trucks, tuk tuks, ferries, longtail boats, sleeper trains
Activities: Hilltribe trek, bamboo rafting, jungle safari in Khao Sok National Park, canoeing, tubing, volunteer programme at the Elephant Nature Park Accommodation: 4 nights simple hotels, 3 nights sleeper train, 2 nights village houses, 2 nights rafthouses, 2 nights beach bungalows, 1 night jungle huts, 7 nights simple accommodation at volunteer programme Meals: As per itinerary. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner On days where meals are not included, allow US$12 per day Entrance Fees: Not included. Allow US$30 Local Payment: Must be paid in cash on day 1 of your tour
TOUR ENDING IN KRABI: This tour finishes in Krabi to enable you to extend your time on the beach, continue on to Malaysia, or join a community based tourism programme on an island in Phra Nga Bay. However we can also arrange a flight, or a bus and overnight train transfer to Bangkok. Please ask us for more details or refer to the trip dossier.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Hilltribe trekking in northern Thailand
Shop in Chiang Mai's famous night market
Bamboo rafting
Visit riverside villages of Karen and Shan tribes
Stay in rafthouses and jungle lodges
Nature walks and wildlife spotting
Optional watersports and rock climbing in Krabi
Get close to elephants at the 'Elephant Nature Park'
BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 1, BANGKOK: Arrive Bangkok and transfer to hotel.
Day 2, BANGKOK: Free day. Overnight train to Chiang Mai. (B)
Day 3, CHIANG MAI: Arrive Chiang Mai and transfer to the Elephant Nature Park. (LD)
Days 4-9, VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME: 6 days volunteering.(BLD)
The Volunteer Programme
Elephant Nature Park - Chiang Mai
An exciting and memorable time awaits you at the ‘Elephant Nature Park’. You’ll be bathing elephants, shopping for and preparing the masses of food they need, helping elephant trainers to trace the wandering giants in the park’s wide perimeters, amongst many other duties.
Volunteer Programme Hosts
The Elephant Nature Park was founded by local resident, Sangduen Chailert (Lek) around 10 years ago. Having had an elephant in the family Lek was always fond of these gentle giants and decided to make it her mission to help as many as she could after the logging ban in 1989. The park not only looks after the elephants but also employs and trains their original mahouts (trainers).
The Volunteer Programme
Alongside other volunteers and under the supervision of local park staff we will take part in a week-long volunteer programme. We stay in village houses located at the park. Bathroom facilities at the park are basic, Asian-style squat toilets and bamboo hut showers with fresh rainwater tanks. Meals for volunteers are included in the programme.
What does your donation cover?
100% of your donation goes to the Elephant Nature Park. It is used for general park running costs, including park upkeep, elephant food and medicines, mahout wages, vehicle and lodgings maintenance. (See the fundraising section for ideas on how to fundraise for your donation).
A Typical Volunteer Week at the Elephant Nature Park: Day 1, Feed and Bathe
Go to the market and buy food for the elephants, meet the elephants and give them a bath, learn some elephant commands.
Day 2, Tree Conservation and Mud Bathe
Spend the morning marking trees to deter illegal loggers, this afternoon give the elephants a mud bath (their favourite part of the week!)
Day 3-4, Heaven
Accompany park staff and elephants to ‘Heaven’ a huge piece of land set aside for elephants to graze freely on. Stay overnight in a bamboo stilt lodge on the side of a mountain, then in the morning trace the elephants and guide them back to the park.
Day 5-7, Elephant Nature Park
Back at camp you learn about being a mahout, and nutrition and herbal medicines (for elephants, that is!) Other jobs may include repairing fencing, digging mud pits, collecting data or cutting grass for elephant food.
As volunteers it is important to remain flexible and keep in mind that sometimes emergencies may arise within the park that mean your duties could change at short notice.
Day 10, CHIANG MAI: Transfer to our guesthouse in Chiang Mai. We meet our trekking guide for a trek briefing. (B)
Day 11, HILLTRIBE TREK: Drive by pickup truck to Chiang Dao via a local market. We continue to a Shan village for lunch before beginning our trek. We stay overnight in a Karen village. (BLD)
Day 12, HILLTRIBE TREK: Trekking in a less explored area of Chiang Dao, where we visit different hilltribe villages. Overnight at a riverside village. (BLD)
Day 13, BAMBOO RAFTING - CHIANG MAI: We board bamboo rafts and float along the Mae Ping river. Return to Chiang Mai in the early afternoon. (BL)
Day 14, CHIANG MAI: Free day to explore. Overnight train to Bangkok. (B)
Day 15, BANGKOK: Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to our hotel. There is the option to visit the war museums of Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai with its infamous bridge.
Day 16, BANGKOK: Free day. Overnight train to Surat Thani. (B)
Day 17, KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK - RAJA PHRABA LAKE: Transfer to Khao Sok National Park. Enjoy a boat ride along Raja Phraba Lake and spend the afternoon exploring caves and waterfalls. After dinner we take a night safari in search of the nocturnal animals of the jungle. Stay 2 nights in rafthouses. (LD)
Day 18, KHAO SOK - RAJA PHRABA LAKE: Free day. (BLD)
Day 19, KHAO SOK: Transfer deeper into the National Park. Take an afternoon nature walk and spot some wildlife. If the water in the river is high, we can shoot rapids on inner-tubes. Overnight in jungle huts. (BLD)
Day 20, KRABI: Transfer to Krabi Province, famous for its magnificent limestone karst scenery and gorgeous beaches.
Day 21, KRABI PROVINCE: A free day.
Day 22, KRABI PROVINCE: Tour ends.
B - breakfast L - lunch D - dinner
DEPARTURE DATES
Starts Bangkok
Ends Krabi
Saturday
Saturday
05 January 2008
26 January 2008
02 February 2008
23 February 2008
01 March 2008
22 March 2008
29 March 2008
19 April 2008
19 April 2008
10 May 2008
10 May 2008
31 May 2008
31 May 2008
21 June 2008
21 June 2008
12 July 2008
12 July 2008
02 August 2008
02 August 2008
23 August 2008
23 August 2008
13 September 2008
13 September 2008
04 October 2008
04 October 2008
25 October 2008
25 October 2008
15 November 2008
15 November 2008
06 December 2008
06 December 2008
27 December 2008
21 December 2008
11 January 2009
TRAVEL STYLE
As a volunteer you live and work in the community and develop a unique insight into another society - immerse yourself in a culture but still have a holiday.
Group Size: 4 - 12
Transport: Private bus, 4WD, train, motorised canoe Accommodation: Dependent on destination: camping, basic dormitory, home stay (very basic) tourist class hotel on twin share basis Single Supplements: Not available Recommended Age: Minimum 18 years Tour Personnel: Build team, Imaginative Traveller Tour Leader, trek leader/crew, volunteer programme co-ordinator Included Meals: Breakfasts (except Mongolia) Other meal availability varies with destination Guaranteed departures: Subject to minimum bookings Tour Duration: 13 - 15 days
[Read more about Imaginative Traveller travel styles]
*All Rand prices have been calculated at 1USD=ZAR8.00 or 1GBP=ZAR16.00 and are subject to change according to currency fluctuations
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As a volunteer you live and work in the community and develop a unique insight into another society - immerse yourself in a culture but still have a holiday.