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WEEKS 1 & 2 Volunteer Project

Each volunteer work project runs for the 1st two weeks and is operated in partnership with well-established conservation organizations including, not-for-profits, government and non government organizations (NGOs), private industries, and local grassroots groups. Projects are based in various locations around Thailand.

Volunteer Work Projects

Each project can be broadly classified based on the goals of the host organization, the project location, and the primary work task.

CONSERVATION & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF): WAR has projects located in a variety of regions throughout Thailand. WAR's objectives are to prevent, educate and actively campaign against hunting and cruelty to wild animals. WAR actively rescues wild animals that have been maltreated or injured and if they are unable to be released back into the wild, helps them to spend the rest of their lives in a sanctuary in a natural setting. Here, these animals help to educate locals, especially school children, on the importance of conservation. ISV groups will volunteer at a WARF Gibbon Rehabilitation Project in Phuketor at the WARED project near Ranong. The rehabilitation and education centre is situated in a vast area of virgin mountainous rain forest. The centre is home to many rescued gibbons. Specific project work may include:

• Wildlife enclosure maintenance
• Research and data collection on the released Gibbons; including behavior, location and interactions
• Local community conservation education
• Preparation of research material for study of released Gibbons

Elephant Nature Park (ENP): This organization is committed to the care, rehabilitation of mistreated and rescued elephants; education of elephant conservation issues to tourists and local elephant owners / mahouts; and developing sustainable alternate models for elephant tourism. ENP also provides local hill-tribe villages with education on taking care of elephants and also supports these hill-tribes on with small development projects. Specific project work includes:

• General maintenance duties at elephant nature park
• Elephant conservation awareness and education to visitors
• Education of local hill-tribe villages on elephant care
• Small community support projects in hill-tribe villages.

Overseas Educational Group (OEG) — Moo Baan Dek (Community Development Project): OEG is involved with a wide range of educational and cultural programs and services for both Thais and international students and volunteers. OEG is largely involved with sending Thai students abroad to gain further education, internships and traineeships. Through the administration of a high school exchange program OEG has also established a close working relationship with Her Royal Highness Princess Somsawalee.

In 2005 OEG began coordinating volunteer programs in Thailand, having noted the importance of volunteers in positive community development. Moo Baan Dek (the 'Children's Village') was founded in 1979 as an alternative educational community for Thai children who have been orphaned or come from very poor families, some of which are abusive. The long-term goals of this project are to instill the children of Moo Baan Dek with confidence and skills which will allow them to be self sufficient and positive members of society. The village is located close to Kanchanaburi in western Thailand.

The majority of volunteer tasks will be related to the education of the children such as teaching basic English and listening skills. Other planned activities within the village are playground maintenance, basic repair and construction, general painting and renovations.

Development and Education Program for Daughters and Communities (DEPDC) — Half Day School: DEPDC is a non-profit community based NGO working on the prevention side of the trafficking of woman and children into the sex industry or other exploitative child labor situations. It offers free education, vocational training and full time accommodation for young girls and boys in an effort to achieve these goals.

The Daughters Education Program (DEP) was founded in 1989 and has since helped over three thousand children by providing preventative education and life skills development.

Founded in 1996 the Half Day School (HDS) provides free primary education (grades kindergarten to grade six) for the children of seven villages in the Mae Sai area of Northern Thailand. HDC children come from various ethnic minority groups or hill-tribes of the Mekong Sub region.

Dusky Langur Community Conservation Centre Project (DLCCC): The dusky langur can only be found living wild in three countries: Thailand, Burma & parts of Malaysia. In all of these countries deforestation is destroying the langur habitat and their numbers are being decimated as they are hunted by the locals for their meat and sold to markets for export to the pet trade. In Thailand, the dusky langur lives in relatively small areas which are increasingly being surrounded by roads and villages. This could potentially restrict their choice of mates and reduce the quality and quantity of food and water.

The DLCCC works in close partnership with the residents of Ban Khung-Thanod, a small fishing village that lies within the boundaries of Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Ban Khung-Thanod's location within the National Park means that it is an ideal base for the Centre's conservation work as several dusky langur family groups live in the mountains, jungle and marshland surrounding the village. The project was founded in 2005 in cooperation with the ecotourism company Eco-Explorer. The project aims to educate local communities about the problems Dusky Langur's face and provide a means for tourists to visit these local communities to see the Dusky Langur in the wild. Promoting ecotourism and demonstrating the values of the Dusky Langur's are greater alive then as meat or being sold to the pet trade.

Volunteer tasks will be based around the following;

• Studying Langur's and taking observation data of daily habits
• Providing food and water to Langur families that have lost access to these
• Education of locals and tourists (this may include visiting local schools and children activities)
• Maintenance, light construction and further development of the Education Centre

Habitat for Humanity Thailand: Habitat Thailand was established in 1998 and is part of the global network of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI). HFHI was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety regardless of race or religion and welcome volunteers and supporters from all walks of life to work together in partnership to help build houses with families in need. Presently, Habitat for Humanity Thailand helped build more than 2000 simple, decent and affordable houses for needy families and served more than 10,000 people in 19 provinces. Work tasks will be primarily associated with the building of a new home for a needy family combined with a children's based program teaching English, providing education through children activities, and arts & crafts.

HOST ORGANIZATIONS

• Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (Conservation Projects)
• Elephant Nature Park (Conservation Project)
• Overseas Education Group (Community Development Project)
• Development and Education for Daughters & Communities
• Dusky Langur Community Conservation Centre Project (Conservation Project)
• Habitat for Humanity Thailand (Community Development Project)

WEEKS 3 & 4 Adventure Tour

Day 1: Arrive to Khao Sok
Travel by bus from your volunteer work project to Khao Sok National Park, featuring beautiful waterfalls, thick rainforest and an amazing array of wildlife such as wild elephant, leopard, and over 175 bird species. Enjoy a free night to enjoy the sounds and sights of Khao Sok National Park.

Day 2: Khao Sok (Rubber Tubing; Hike in National Park)
A free day to explore the beautiful Khao Sok National Park. Take a hike through the jungles to one of the many cascades and waterfalls. You will gain a glimpse into the jungle environment of this magnificent region. Then join in the fun and float down-river on inner tubes amongst the karst formations and jungle on the Sok River.

Day 3: Khao Sok to Railay Beach
Travel to the Andaman Coast where you will take a long tail boat from the mainland to get to the peninsula of Railay. After checking into our accommodation, join your Tour Leaders as they take you on an afternoon guided exploration to some of the most amazing sights Railay Beach has to offer, including a beautiful hidden cave. Finish the quick tour of Railay with a visit to our climbing school to be fitted with your climbing gear for the following day's climbing activity. This evening, relax as you sit on the beach and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Day 4:Railay Beach (Rock climbing / Rappelling)
Learn to rock climb and rappel amid the beautiful backdrop of spectacular limestone cliffs jutting out from the crystal clear waters. Railay is a wonderland for rock climbers from around the world. After a morning of 'learning the ropes', enjoy the afternoon of more vertical excitement, explore other nearby beaches and islands, or take a long boat to Ao Nang to check out the local markets.

Day 5: Railay Beach (Snorkeling Koh Phi Phi)
Travel to the islands made famous by the movie 'The Beach' - Koh Phi Phi. Experience the amazing reef environments which are known as one of Thailand's best diving and snorkeling areas. Some of the highlights you may expect underwater are sea anemones, schools of batfish, barracudas, trevallies & giant groupers. Here, we will snorkel at two locations and for those that are keen to try it, scuba diving is available at an additional cost. Enjoy a free evening to soak up the atmosphere of Railay and prepare for the following two- day Sea Kayak adventure.

Day 6: Railay Beach to Koh Yao Noi (Sea Kayaking)
Today you will sea kayak around AO Phang-Nga, featuring beautiful limestone cliffs, odd rock formations and islands rising out of the sea like inverted mountains. You'll spend the day exploring the beautiful islands and caves once used as hideouts for pirates.

Day 7: Koh Yao Noi to Chiang Mai
Today you will fly into the visually striking Northern Capital of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Unwind with a free night out in this vibrant city and visit the famous night markets.

Day 8: Chiang Mai (Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Cooking School)
Today is a free day to explore the ancient temples and streets of Old Chiang Mai and/or take a cruise up the Mae Ping River. Visit Doi Suthep, a 1676m (5028ft) mountain peak that offers stunning views over Chiang Mai. Near the summit, you may visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the north's most sacred temples. For those with the optional activity package you will enjoy a traditional Thai massage at our beautiful massage spa, followed by an evening learning how to cook up to five local Thai dishes with our Thai Cooking School.

Day 9: Chiang Mai (Canyoning)
An early start for our canyoning adventure will lead to a great day of rappelling down waterfalls, jumping into deep pools and sliding down natural rock slides, while enjoying the surrounding jungles of Doi Inthanon National Park.

Day 10: Chiang Mai to Mae Taeng (Elephant Nature Park)
Today visit an elephant conservation park. Gain an understanding of the issues relating to elephant tourism in Thailand. View Asian elephants in their near natural environments as they roam free throughout the park. Getting close and personal with the elephants; assist with the mornings feeding and bathing of the elephants, or assist in walking them to the elephant haven, a beautiful jungle setting where the elephants roam free at night. You will stay in the beautiful Lisu Lodge nestled in the valley of Mae Taeng. Experience the friendly hospitality and hill tribe culture of this authentic accommodation.

Day 11:Mae Taeng (Jungle/Hill-tribe Trek)
Today you begin an overnight journey into the jungles of Northern Thailand. You will journey by foot, hiking through the hillsides and local villages. Visiting a number of different hill-tribe people you will gain an insight into the lifestyles of these cultures.

Day 12: Mae Taeng (Jungle Trek - White Water Rafting)
After breakfast, you depart the village, further traveling by foot, passing by a waterfall for a quick swim. Later, you will take a high adrenaline white water rafting adventure on the Mae Taeng River (class III and IV rapids). Following the fun and excitement of the white water rafting, you will travel back to Chiang Mai.

Day 13: Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Today is a free day to explore the rest of Chiang Mai; visit the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam, enjoy the shopping at the handicrafts villages and Thai Silk Village. Or simply relax and explore the temples surrounding Chiang Mai. This afternoon we depart Chiang Mai to travel by overnight sleeper train to the buzzing and steamy capital of Thailand Bangkok.

Day 14: Bangkok (Sights and Temples; Siam Niramit): Today is a free day in Bangkok to explore the many temples, busy streets, markets and river life.
For those with the Optional Activity Package you will explore the capitals Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha plus traveling by long-tail boat through the old waterways (khlongs) of Bangkok. This evening you will enjoy the spectacular stage performance of Siam Niramit. Discover the traditions, culture and tastes of Thailand through the stage show, exploring the Thai Village and a pre show meal.

Day 15: Bangkok (Departure)
The adventure ends.