Location
  • Thailand
    • Chiang Mai
    • Bangkok
    • Surin
Length
1 to 24 weeks

Program Details

Language
English
Age Min.
17
Timeframe
Year Round
Housing
Host Family Hostel

Pricing

Price Details
The costs include:
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Airport Pickup
- Orientation
- Accommodation
- Daily transfers to and from the placement
Jan 19, 2022
Jun 24, 2022
141 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Volunteering Solutions provides a wide range of volunteering programs across 3 different cities in Thailand - Bangkok, Surin & Chiang Mai. And all the programs have been designed amazingly so that volunteers can not only be a part of meaningful work but also get to travel extensively while in the country. There's no doubt of the fact that Thailand is one of the most popular volunteering destinations of the world. Whether you wish to volunteer with little children in Bangkok or teach the monks in Chiang Mai or work at an elephant village in Surin - we have the best of all for you! You can also choose to be a part of the Thailand Summer Volunteering program or Thailand Special Voluntour - which accommodates the best of volunteering & traveling. Explore the pristine beaches of the country, dive into the turquoise water, binge on delicious Thai cuisine and make a difference while volunteering. Medical students and practitioners can also join medical volunteering or internships in Thailand.

Consider your impact: Volunteering abroad can be a rewarding experience for both volunteers and local communities, and at Go Overseas, we believe all volunteers should have the resources to make informed decisions about the type of volunteer project they want to partake in. However, despite best intentions, some organizations offering placements in orphanages may unknowingly place children in danger. You can read about the potential dangers of orphanage volunteering here. Learn more about how Volunteering Solutions is promoting ethical volunteering.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Experience the hustle & bustle of Bangkok, mellow and serenity of Surin and the breathtaking beauty of Chiang Mai.
  • Interact with the natives to learn about the age-old traditions and typical Thai cultural nuances.
  • Volunteer for a meaningful project and gain first-hand international work experience.
  • Enjoy some of the best local Thai delicacies, all the way from a native's kitchen.
  • Meet some amazing travelers from other parts of the world.

Popular Programs

Volunteer Teaching in Thailand

As the name suggests, under the Teaching English Volunteer Program in Thailand volunteers are placed at different school setups across the Bangkok city to teach English. Volunteers must understand that the children at these schools come from less privileged families and the administration is not well equipped to handle the quality of their education.

Volunteer With Elephants in Thailand

Surin is said to be the “Elephant capital” of Thailand, and soon after arriving here volunteers would realize why. One of the most amazing things about Surin is its elephants. They are revered throughout Thailand and the Elephant Volunteering program is a unique opportunity, not only to get up close and personal with them but to live in a genuine Thai community and experience real rural Thai life first-hand.

Medical Volunteer Program in Thailand

Medical Volunteering projects in Thailand, Surin are an ideal way for both students and qualified medical professionals to learn about and participate in (depending on your skills) rural healthcare practices in Thailand. Throughout the placement, all volunteers are supported by a member of the local Thai Health Authority and member of our in-country support team who will help with translations.

Program Reviews

4.88 Rating
based on 49 reviews
  • 5 rating 89.8%
  • 4 rating 8.16%
  • 3 rating 2.04%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Impact 4.6
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.6
  • Value 4.8
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 1 - 8 of 49 reviews
Default avatar
Olivia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thailand

I loved the experience I had with the elephants, hearing the sad stories of each individual elephant and then knowing I was helping them was very empowering. Happy elephant home is a great place to go for volunteer experience, the people there are so nice and are so fun! They care for their elephants and want the best for them! The people in Thailand are some of the nicest you will meet. The food was very yummy. All the adventures we went on were very fun. I would highly recommend going to Thailand and this program.

Pros
  • Great food
  • Volunteer experience was awesome
  • So many nice people
Cons
  • Would have been nice to spend even more time with the elephants
  • Maybe have one more day planned for you in krabi
48 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hey Olivia,
Thanks for your lovely review. We are extremely happy to know that you had a wonderful experience on the Thailand 2 Week Special Program. Would love to have you back in our programs sometime soon.
Thanks once again,
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Alexandra
3/5
Yes, I recommend this program

ELEPHANT CAMP

This camp is ran extremely well, the staff is extremely kind and accommodating, the food was fantastic however this is mainly a tourist attraction. The camp is advertised as a sanctuary where elephants run free and are given the best care and life possible given the circumstance that they can never be taken out of captivity. We signed up for this volunteer program under the impression of helping maintain and giving these elephants the best quality of life. There are multiple tour groups that come during the day, where they take the elephants on walks, feed them and bathe them. Some of the Mohouts (elephants trainers) are kind and caring towards the elephants and some are not. I do not agree with forcing animals to perform tricks simply for just the entertainment of humans. I question whether the elephants would get the same amount of exercise and care had we not been here or the countless vans full of tourists. On the count of them being chained up when the Mohouts are taking a break or busy working on the rice fields. On our final day we witnessed one of the Mohouts using a bull hook on an elephant continuously and the reason being unclear. I noticed the elephants ankles bleeding and asked what had happened and I was told they get hurt sometimes in the jungle…. This was a lie. Another concern was the behavior of one of the elephants that constantly rocks back and forth when she is chained up, this is a sign of distress. I was told that she’s young and has a lot of energy and “likes to dance”. Im sad to say I’m disappointed, I had higher hopes for this camp with low expectations and realize now that I should have set my expectations lower. Do your research throughly before you come and volunteer for modern day circus.

53 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

Hi Alexandra,
Thanks for leaving a review of your experience in Thailand. We are happy to know that you recommend the program and have given a ranking of 10/10 on the support provided to you during the program. However, we would like to clarify to you in regards to certain points and issues mentioned by you in your review. You need to understand that you participated in the Elephant Camp/Elephant Nursery Project wherein volunteer work in a working elephant camp, where the only source of income to feed and care for the elephants comes from visitors and volunteer support. Without that none of the elephant camps can survive and as as have seen with the pandemic, many of the camps closed due to a lack of revenue and may never reopen.
The camp does not make the elephants do any tricks. There is no elephant show, and the elephants are not trained. The elephant that sways when she is chained and not with her mahout. Yes, swaying is a sign of stress. Yes, this elephant is stressed. She is unusually connected with her mahout. When he is not with her she really misses him. Although it's not unusual for elephants and their mahouts to have a close relationship, it is unusual for the elephant to miss their mahout so much when they are not with them that they show signs of distress. The camp is looking at ways to best work with this elephant and how she can best learn to be away from her mahout when he is not present. We have never had any volunteer or visitor to the camp state that they witnessed an elephant being abused. We are investigating this claim as well.

Thanks once again for joining the program. We hope to have you in the program sometime again soon.

Thanks
Team Volunteering Solutions

Default avatar
Alec
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Chiang Mai - Elephant Camp

I volunteered at this project in Chiang Mai for one week. This was a short trip which was preceded by a much longer one in Cambodia. The Friends for Asia staff located in Chiang Mai are very well-organized and keep the volunteer house in Chiang Mai very tidy for us. The house itself is well-located in the city. The staff at Changland (the official name of the camp) are very kind to all visitors and are intent on giving the volunteers a variety of tasks that will enhance the experience while also contributing to the operations. The food provided at the camp is truly exemplary also. The experience was slightly marred by COVID-19, considering that the number of volunteers is still low - but I would expect that to change in the coming months. Every visitor and volunteer is a contribution to these communities, so I strongly encourage all travelers to participate in this program.

Pros
  • Thai food is heaven
  • Farm-like work, very familiar to those who were raised rurally
  • Opportunities to meet many foreigners
56 people found this review helpful.
Response from Volunteering Solutions

We are so glad you had an amazing experience in Thailand!! We hope you can join us on another adventure in the near future Alec !
Thanks
Team Vol Sol

Default avatar
Alec
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Elephant Camp - Chiang Mai

I volunteered at the Elephant Camp (Changland) program in Chiang Mai for one week. The staff are very polite and they are very careful to give you work that they believe might enhance the experience while also arranging fun activities outside of work. The chance to work with the elephants and interact with the many foreign visitors is unforgettable.
Since I was the only volunteer staying there at the time, the volunteer house itself was a bit empty - although I would expect that to change soon as Thailand continues to reopen to foreign travelers. This program is very good for anyone seeking an introduction to Thailand as a whole.

Pros
  • Thai food is magnificent
  • Effective communication and support from program and on-site staff
  • Breathtaking views
56 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Alec
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Elephant Camp - Chiang Mai, Thailand

I volunteered at this project in Chiang Mai for one week. This was a short trip which was preceded by a much longer one in Cambodia. The Friends for Asia staff located in Chiang Mai are very well-organized and keep the volunteer house in Chiang Mai very tidy for us. The house itself is well-located in the city. The staff at Changland (the official name of the camp) are very kind to all visitors and are intent on giving the volunteers a variety of tasks that will enhance the experience while also contributing to the operations. The food provided at the camp is truly exemplary also. The experience was slightly marred by COVID-19, considering that the number of volunteers is still low - but I would expect that to change in the coming months. Every visitor and volunteer is a contribution to these communities, so I strongly encourage all travelers to participate in this program.

Pros
  • Thai food is heaven
  • Farm-like work, very familiar to those who were raised rurally
  • Opportunities to meet many foreigners
62 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thai Elephant Home Nursery

As an animal lover, I absolutely loved volunteering at Thai Elephant Home Nursery. The elephants were rescued from poor situations (such as logging camps) and given a great life. The animals were so well taken care of and loved by their caretakers. I learned about the day to day care of the elephants and was able to participate and get to know the animals as individuals. The tourists were given the opportunity to learn about and enjoy the elephants...it was not just about making money. The staff was dedicated, friendly and so enjoyable to get to know. It was a great place that I recommend to animal lovers and travelers of all ages. Please check out my book about my experience, available on Amazon: "Maetang to Koh Chang" by Katie McGee :)

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
durian fruit, chicken ankles, grass hoppers, grilled frog
113 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Nina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Unforgettable

The trip had the perfect combination of action, volunteering, and relaxation. The local team genuinely cared about helping the community and getting involved with charity work. We worked at a few schools, and the atmosphere was entirely professional, whilst easing us into working with the kids at our own pace. The children were wonderful to work with and really wanted to learn as much as they could. One of the highlights of the trip had to be snorkeling in Koh Tao. We saw amazing coral and even some sharks.

106 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Erica
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Beyond Bangkok

Working with Volunteering Solutions gave me more than just a typical cultural experience in Bangkok. My volunteering with these children, teaching English in a Thai Middle School changed my life. The selflessness and kindness of the kids I worked with has made me reconsider my degree. I was well prepared with information, being taught Thai prior to beginning work and more. I may consider teaching again in an international country for much longer than 1 week, perhaps maybe a year. My favorite memory is the last day with our students, seeing how grateful they were for my time there. Tears were shed and there were plenty of hugs. It’s something I will never forget and an experience beyond what I was expecting from Bangkok. I absolutely would come back again to work with Volunteering solutions!

What would you improve about this program?
I cannot think of a way to improve it.
102 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

For my particular program it was a mix! In Bangkok, meals weren't provided (BUT VERY CHEAP); in the elephant camp all of our meals were provided and they were delicious! During our second volunteer project, breakfast and lunch were provided, and on the island no meals were provided.

Yes, there are opportunities in Bangkok.

Yes, volunteers will get room and board.

Hi! All the places I stayed were included in the price. I believe the total amount I paid Volunteering Solutions was around $1000 (US), and another $1000 for a round-trip flight. Food is so cheap in Thailand. Someone could budget $10-$15 per week for food and be totally fine. Street food is around $2. I remember someone telling me I could buy a new outfit, a hot meal, and taxi cab ride all for $20...