Thailand Volunteering Program

Why a Volunteer Program?

Volunteering is a beautiful way to travel with numerous benefits that are being enjoyed by tens of thousands of people from all over the world each year.

f you are looking to have fun, make a difference and do it safely then you can look forward to making a volunteering trip for the following reasons:
  • Experience the real culture of your destination – unmatchable by any other type of travel.
  • Make a difference to a community or environmental project.
  • Travel safely in a well-organised packaged program
  • Pay fair prices for trips that offer a lot of great experiences.
  • Visit famous highlights and nature reserves or have soft adventures.
  • Be a proud, 21st -century global citizen, travelling responsibly.
Why Thailand ?
Reasons Thailand Should Be Your Next Trip

Thailand is the country everyone wants to visit, and for a good reason. It's the type of place that draws you back again and again, mostly because it has so much to do. Thailand offers experiences you can't find anywhere else in the world. Here are 5 reasons why Thailand is guaranteed to be a fantastic trip.

If you are around Udan Thani between November and February, you will see Red Lotus Lake burst into a field of vermillion blossoms, and the lake is 15 kilometers long. You can even take a small boat tour to be surrounded by the blooms.

For the adventure seekers or someone just wanting to try something new, Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places in the world to get your diving certificate. The dive instructors have often been on thousands of dives and ensure that you follow step-by-step procedures so that you and your buddy are safe underwater. You will experience our world from an entirely different perspective. Fish will drift within a few feet with you, the coral builds into its own painting of colour and, if you are lucky, you might even spot a blue whale. If you want to take your experience to the next level, the advanced certification offers a 30-meter dive, a wreck dive and a night dive.

If you are seeking to throw yourself into an entirely new challenge, you could visit a 10-day Silent meditation retreat. Surat Thani, in the south of Thailand, offers this experience for about 70 euro. For 10 days, you will learn how the mind, body and breath are connected. The retreat provides walking meditation, group meditation, sitting meditation and yoga in a structured daily schedule. Be prepared however, you sleep on a concrete bed with a wooden pillow, and you only receive 2 meals a day. It's a nice break from the overstimulation of daily life, and you can learn more about yourself in 10 days than you might in a lifetime. The purpose is to immerse you into the Buddha's way of life; it's a real cultural experience.

Ayutthaya is not only a park, but it's also a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll find the faces of Buddha buried in the roots of tree's, ruins of temples and palaces still standing from the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It was the second capital of Thailand for 417 years until it was destroyed by the Burmese. The Burmese troops burned the entire city, obliterating sacred shrines, chedi's and Buddha, statues. Any structures left standing were buried in the ground for centuries. If you are staying in Bangkok and seeking a day away from the hubbub, at an hour's drive, Ayutthaya Historical Park is your best bet.

If you aren’t interested in visiting a meditation retreat, there are still many ways to immerse yourself in the Buddhist culture. There are Buddha’s, temples, pagoda’s, and shrines everywhere you go. Much of the architecture is astonishing and has been standing for centuries. You can begin a spiritual journey of your own amongst the Buddhism of Thailand. Overall, wherever you go in Thailand, you will find something compelling that makes you want to keep exploring. Glamorous and mysterious, wild and safe, Thailand is a mix of everything, and it gives you an excellent travel experience that leaves you dreaming of this beautiful country long after you've left.

Features of the Volunteering Trip

After knowing why you should see yourself making a volunteer trip, as compared to any other type of travel, here are some features that make it a safe, immensely enjoyable and memorable experience.

Safety features

Your safety and well-being is the top priority when you are travelling to another country. For this, we use our experience since the year 2000 to make it one of the safest forms of travel you can undertake:
  • Everything is pre-organised for you from the time you arrive until the time you complete the program. Journey with complete peace of mind.
  • Safe, licenced drivers and registered vehicles used for all your road transportation.
  • We are always with you, during trips, transfers and your project activities.
  • Hygienic meals of home-like local cuisine (as included in your plan) for proper nutrition.
  • We prepare you really well for your travel and volunteer experiences from before you start the program until the completion of the program.
  • With us, your family can feel safe because they can reach you through multiple team members that are with you or looking out for you.

Convenience features

A volunteer program needs to be well designed and organised to make sure that even if you are volunteering or visiting the country for the first time, you can focus on enjoying your time there and make the maximum positive impact possible.
  • Pre-arranged accommodation throughout the program with other international volunteers.
  • 3 meals per day as per local cuisine (breakfast, lunch and dinner) for the entire duration of the program.
  • Free wi-fi at the accommodation to stay in touch with family and friends.
  • The regular presence of our trained staff to help you at your volunteer project guiding you on how to plan and execute your volunteer work.

Volunteering experience features

It is very possible that you are volunteering for the first time or at least volunteering in a new country on your trip. This means that you will do better if we supported you fully during your volunteering activities.
  • We provide complete details of the project where you would be contributing. You will know why the project exists, it's needs and the role you play as a volunteer to help in that project.
  • A tailor-made volunteering activity plan for you to get started as quickly as possible and know who you are teaching.
  • We support you every day in planning activities at your project, the next day.

Care and support features

We will speak with you daily, assist in case you need medical care or help you change plans if something unexpected comes up.

Travel and cultural Experience features

We believe that a good volunteering program should be fun and leave you with memorable experiences. This means that your volunteer program can include trips, adventures, workshops and cultural experiences that are delightful or hard to find.
  • Optional weekend excursions to top highlights of the country or region ensure that you are getting the best of what tourism in the area offers.
  • One of the most fun elements of a country's culture is learning the basics of its language, cooking food local style, seeing how local people live and other aspects. For this reason, we include workshops in your volunteer program such as
  • Visiting local families and having a meal with them.
  • Learning the local dance or arts.
  • Trying your hands at local cuisine.
  • Learning the local language for fun and for practically using during your travels or volunteering.

Thailand Volunteer Program

Duration : 30 Days

Country : Thailand

  • Day 1, Monday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

    Arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport and transfer to accommodation settle down

  • Day 2, Tuesday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

    Welcome meeting and orientation starts. Orientation includes talks & presentations on: • Thailand & its culture • Social development and the role of volunteers • How to do volunteer work • Project activities • Cultural responsibility • Personal safety & Code of Conducts • General Local area • Thai Language lessons and visit to local market.

  • Day 3 , Wednesday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

    Volunteering project work starts with the daily schedule of volunteering, cultural activities and free time. Afternoon Thai language lesson.

  • Day 4, Thursday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

    Volunteering project continues. Afternoon Thai language Lesson.

  • Day 5, Friday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

    Volunteering project continues. Afternoon Thai language Lesson

    • Day 6, Saturday

      Free Weekend. (Volunteer only Program)

      One night/ Two day excursion to Chiang Rai (Travel Program)

    • Day 7, Sunday

      Free Weekend.(Volunteer only Program)

      Excursion to Chiang Rai continues. Return to Chiang Mai and overnight.(Travel Program)

    • Day 8, Monday , (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Volunteering project continues. Late afternoon Thai cooking Class

    • Day 9 , Tuesday , (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Volunteering in the morning. Visit a local family in the evening for learning about day to day life in Thailand and have a meal with them.

    • Day 10, Wednesday , (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Volunteering during the day and afternoon free.

    • Day 11, Thursday , (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Volunteering during the day and afternoon free.

    • Day 12, Friday , (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Continue volunteering in the morning and afternoon for personal activities.

    • Day 13, Saturday

      Free Weekend. (Volunteer only Program)

      Excursion to Lampang and Doi Suthep. (Travel Program)

    • Day 14, Sunday

      Free Weekend. (Volunteer only Program)

      Return from Lampang and Doi Suthep.(Travel Program)

    • Day 15, Monday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Continue the volunteering project. (a departure for 2-week program participants).

    • Day 16 - Day18, Tuesday to Thursday

      Continue volunteering project. (Volunteer only Program)

      Continue volunteering project. Start the overnight journey for Kanchanaburi and Erawan excursion. (Travel Program)

    • Day 19, Friday

      Continue volunteering project. (Volunteer only Program)

      Kanchanaburi and Erawan Falls Excursion. (Travel Program)

    • Day 20, Saturday

      Free Weekend. (Volunteer only Program)

      Visits and activities in Kanchanaburi. Overnight travel to Chiang Mai. (Travel Program)

    • Day 21, Sunday

      Free Weekend. (Volunteer only Program)

      Arrival in Chiang Mai and rest. Free day for personal activities. (Travel Program)

    • Day 22, Monday (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Continue volunteering project. (Departure for 3-week program participants).

    • Day 23 - Day 25, Tuesday to Thursday, (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Continue Volunteering project

    • Day 26, Friday

      Continue Volunteering project (Volunteer only Program)

      Fly to Krabi for Krabi and Phi Phi island trip. Overnight in Krabi. (Travel Program)

    • Day 27 , Saturday

      Free Weekend (Volunteer only Program)

      Sightseeing in Krabi followed by different island tour. (Travel Program)

    • Day 28 , Sunday

      Free Weekend (Volunteer only Program)

      Krabi to Phi Phi island full day tour, return back to your hotel at Krabi. (Travel Program)

    • Day 29, Monday (Volunteer and Travel Program)

      Departure transfer to Chiang Mai airport for the journey back home.

Participants can choose to travel on weekends by purchasing excursions additionally. + Please note that for the Volunteer and travel option for 4 weeks, the departure transfer is included from Krabi airport (Code—KBV). Please book your flights accordingly.

Typical Daily Schedule

Monday – Saturday
While the schedule of the day depends on the project, overall, it looks a bit like the following:

  • Activities Time
  • Breakfast at accommodation 7:00 - 8:00
  • Project volunteering work 8:00 - 13:00
  • Lunch 13:30 - 14:30
  • Cultural workshops- as per program schedule 15:00 - 16:00
  • Preparation meeting/lesson planning for the next day 16:00 - 17:00
  • Tea/coffee at the accommodation 17:00 - 17:30
  • Dinner at accommodation 19:00 - 20:00

Lunch may be offered a packed lunch or lunch at the project depending on different factors such as distance from accommodation and others. *The scheduled time table mentioned above may change due to the need of the project or any other circumstances.

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Available Volunteering projects in Chiang Mai (Thailand)

Teaching and education project

Childcare

Monk teaching project

Specific conditions for this type of project activitie

  • Formal education or past experience related to the type of project: Not required.
  • Language Proficiency: Basic English
  • Age Limit: the minimum age of this type of project is 18yrs and there is no upper age limit
  • A Medical certificate required : Yes
  • Open to which gender of volunteers: Male and Female
  • A criminal Background check is mandatory for volunteers to ensure well being of children at the project.

TEACHING PROJECT

Volunteers engaged in teaching activities make a direct and long term contribution to the development of students for building their confidence, academic performance and future prospects. You work mostly in pairs as teachers or teaching assistants for one or more of the following kind of activities based on the curriculum and academic plans for the educational facility or project:
  • Teaching English, Math, Computers / IT and creative subjects.
  • Music Lessons and practice.
  • Sports instructions and activities.
  • Helping with homework
  • Supporting teachers with lesson planning or preparations
  • Additional classes to students requiring individual attention
  • Development of teaching learning material for joyful learning and activity-based learning
The project activities of the volunteers are designed in such a way that there is no need for previous teaching experience to participate in a teaching project. Teaching material, everyday lesson/activity planning and day to day support are provided for making the most impact in your time at the project.

CHILD CARE

Daily caring for and help with Basic English of children from underprivileged communities is one of the most satisfying and accessible of volunteering activities. The overall purpose of these projects is to provide a higher standard of care to infant's children in different public and privately-run facilities by providing hands-on support on a day to day basis.
Volunteering activities on these projects include one or more of activities similar to the following:
  • Preparing meals for and feeding children
  • Helping children with bathing, homework etc.
  • Other activities as may be needed by the institution/facility such as motor skills and preparation for early education, education on health, hygienic etc.

Specific conditions for this type of project activitie

  • Formal education or past experience related to the type of project: Not required.
  • Language Proficiency: Basic English
  • Age Limit: the minimum age of this type of project is 18yrs and there is no upper age limit
  • A Medical certificate required : Yes
  • Open to which gender of volunteers: Male and Female
  • A criminal Background check is mandatory for volunteers to ensure well being of children at the project.

Specific conditions for this type of project activitie

  • Age Limit: the minimum age of this type of project is 18 years and there is no upper age limit
  • Formal education or past experience related to the type of project: Not required.
  • Language Proficiency: English
  • A Medical certificate required : Yes
  • Open to which gender of volunteers: Male and Female
  • A criminal Background check is Mandatory.

MONK TEACHING

Providing education to Monks is one of the most sought after activ- ities by volunteers from all over the world. A lot of children come to these institutions to get formal and spiritual ed- ucation. These institu- tions, despite their overall right economic conditions tend to focus more on the religious/ spiritual knowledge of the pupils and there- fore leading to an acute need for quality formal education.
Therefore the need for volunteers is very high in Monk education cen- tres as they require help to teach English, Mathematics, Art & Craft and to prepare teaching learning material. These monk-teaching centres usually have accommodation facility for their students, and it means the volunteers can contribute to a more significant period each day if they so wished.
The age group, the students, are from 8-25 years and they have a different level of grade & education. Day to day activities may include:
  • Teaching English, Math and social skills
  • Beautify the classroom with painting.
  • Games and sports activities
  • Making teaching-learning materials and teaching aids.

Program Dates

Here are the start dates of the program this year. Please note:
  • Start date of the program is the day when you arrive at the designated airport.
  • The programs include one extra day on top of the weekly duration. For example, the 2-week program is 14 nights, and 15 days, week program is 28 nights and 29 days and so on.

Start Date

09-Jan-23

End Date

23-Jan-23(2W)

30-Jan-23(3W)

06-Feb-23(4W)

Start Date

23-Jan-23

End Date

06-Feb-23(2W)

13-Feb-23 (3W)

20-Feb-23(4W)

Start Date

06-Feb-23

End Date

20-Feb-23(2W)

27-Feb-23(3W)

06-Mar-23(4W)

Start Date

20-Feb-23

End Date

06-Mar-23(2W)

13-Mar-23(3W)

20-Mar-23(4W)

Start Date

06-Mar-23

End Date

20-Mar-23(2W)

27-Mar-23(3W)

03-Apr-23(4W)

Start Date

20-Mar-23

End Date

03-Apr-23(2W)

10-Apr-23(3W)

17-Apr-23(4W)

Start Date

03-Apr-23

End Date

17-Apr-23(2W)

24-Apr-23(3W)

01-May-23(4W)

Start Date

17-Apr-23

End Date

01-May-23(2W)

08-May-23(3W)

15-May-23(4W)

Start Date

01-May-23

End Date

15-May-23(2W)

22-May-23(3W)

29-May-23(4W)

Start Date

29-May-23

End Date

12-Jun-23(2W)

19-Jun-23(3W)

26-Jun-23(4W)

Start Date

12-Jun-23

End Date

26-Jun-23(2W)

03-Jul-23(3W)

10-Jul-23(4W)

Start Date

26-Jun-23

End Date

10-Jul-23(2W)

17-Jul-23(3W)

24-Jul-23(4W)

Start Date

10-Jul-23

End Date

24-Jul-23(2W)

31-Jul-23(3W)

07-Aug-23(4W)

Start Date

24-Jul-23

End Date

07-Aug-23(2W)

14-Aug-23(3W)

21-Aug-23(4W)

Start Date

07-Aug-23

End Date

21-Aug-23(2W)

28-Aug-23(3W)

04-Sep-23(4W)

Start Date

21-Aug-23

End Date

04-Sep-23(2W)

11-Sep-23(3W)

18-Sep-23(4W)

Start Date

04-Sep-23

End Date

18-Sep-23(2W)

25-Sep-23(3W)

02-Oct-23(4W)

Start Date

18-Sep-23

End Date

02-Oct-23(2W)

09-Oct-23(3W)

16-Oct-23(4W)

Start Date

02-Oct-23

End Date

26-Oct-23(2W)

23-Oct-23(3W)

30-Oct-23(4W)

Start Date

30-Oct-23

End Date

13-Nov-23(2W)

20-Nov-23(3W)

27-Nov-23(4W)

Start Date

13-Nov-23

End Date

27-Nov-23(2W)

04-Dec-23(3W)

11-Dec-23(4W)

Start Date

27-Nov-23

End Date

11-Dec-23(2W)

28-Dec-23(3W)

25-Dec-23(4W)

Start Date

11-Dec-23

End Date

25-Dec-23(2W)

01-Jan-24(3W)

08-Jan-24(4W)

Start Date

25-Dec-23

End Date

08-Jan-24(2W)

15-Jan-24(3W)

22-Jan-24(4W)

Services Included

  • Accommodation on sharing occupancy basis for the program duration selected.
  • Airport pickup on arrival
  • Drop off at the airport at the end of the program (Please note that 4-week participants on the Volunteer and Travel program will be dropped off at Krabi airport)
  • Daily return transfers between accommodation and volunteer project
  • All required transfers for cultural workshops and excursions ( as included in the program)
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner of local cuisine from the time of arrival till departure during the volunteering days and free weekends

  • Cooking workshop to observe and learn Nepalese cuisine and try your hands at it yourself.

  • Visit the home of a local, English-speaking middle-income level family to experience their day to day life, its challenges and opportunities. Have a meal with the family for a truly authentic experience.

  • Have a fun day with henna painting and dressing like locals, a great photo opportunity.

  • One workshop to practice yoga with a professional instructor.

  • Learn the Thai language for fun, use during trips and volunteer work.

  • Project introduction to get you settled at the project.

  • Handover session so you may continue the work from where it was left by previous volunteers.

  • Daily work planning to plan the next day.

  • Daily accompanying staff to help with translation, organising and general support.

  • The material used for volunteering such as pens, papers, workbooks, paint, colours or others.

  • A thorough orientation upon arrival including various topics of local culture, personal well-being and appropriate behaviour.

1 night, 2 day Excursions++ to

  • One night and two days Chiang Rai trip.

  • Lampang and Doi Suthep

3 night, 4 day trip to

  • Ayutthaya and Erawan.

  • Krabi and Phi Phi Islands.

  • One way Flight on the Chiang Mai – Krabi sector.

  • Entrance fees to monuments and sightseeing as required.

  • Services of English-speaking guides during sightseeing.

  • Transport by air, trains or sleeper buses (please see excursion itineraries for more details)

  • Accommodation on twin sharing basis.

  • All currently applicable taxes.

  • All currently applicable taxes.

# Refer to arrival and departure procedure to know pickup window times and departure schedules. + Meal plan during any trips during weekends may be different. Please refer to detailed information about excursions for all details.

Services not Included

  • Any personal expenses such as tips, laundry and drinks.
  • Any extra meals (other than those specifically mentioned).
  • Personal Travel Insurance, visa etc.
  • Camera fees (both still and video).
  • International flight ticket or other flight tickets, unless otherwise mentioned.
  • Donation to your volunteering project is not included in this program fee and may be taken upon an individual capacity.

Arrival and Departure Procedure

Arriving into and departing from an unfamiliar country can cause stress. Especially if you are visiting the country for the first time. Read these instructions carefully and have them be known to your travel agent because at any scheduled start date we are picking up people arriving from all parts of the world to join the program.
Once we have you on the program, you can just relax because we will pick you up, no matter what time of the day it is. You will also have multiple phone numbers to reach out to, in case your flight is delayed, or you miss the connection altogether. Once you provide us with your flight details, we have you covered. Important: please carefully note the detailed itinerary to know the arrival and departure airport for your trip and plan your flights accordingly

Arrival Procedure

Please arrive by flights that have their scheduled arrival time from 10 AM on the start date of the pro- gram until 6 AM on the following day ( Day 2) of the program. If the flight is delayed inside a reasonable time, then we will wait for you – else call us, and we will come to pick you up.
Arrival pickups or flights with their scheduled arrival time outside of these hours will be charged extra.
Check in at accommodation is available from 12 noon on Day 1 of the program, even though, we attempt to have you checked in at the accommodation, as early as possible.
Please exit from departure gate and wait outside of exit gate at Cape Town International airport.
Please be advised that you will see a board with the Idex logo instead of your personal name when searching for our airport pickup representative.

Departure procedure

Airport transfer on departure is available from 8 PM on the 2nd last day of the program (for ex, Day 14, Day 21, Day 28 in case of 2 weeks, 3 weeks or 4 week programs respectively) until 10 AM on the last day of the program (for ex, Day 15, Day 22, Day 29 in case of 2 week, 3 week or 4 week programs respectively).
Departure transfer will be available at gaps of 2 hours, and you will be asked to take the most convenient transfer based on your flight's departure time.
Departure transfers outside these times or schedules are available on extra charges
During departure, check out time from the accommodation is 12 noon on the last day of the program (for ex, Day 15 on a 2-week program).

Important:

all the program and services are available as per schedule only. If any deviation or reschedule occurs, and such would cost extra to organise, then it will be charged extra. We are not able to do any settlement or reimbursement against any unused services.

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