Surin Elephant Sanctuary

$1250USD

14 nights

Spend 7 days providing much-needed volunteer work to help protect the endangered Asian elephant. Followed by 7 days relaxing in a Thai beachfront resort.

Notice:
August 29, 2011: This trip has been temporarily suspended while new trip itineraries are finalised. Please contact us before booking your trip.

Your work

Your 7 days work will be in Surin, Thailand:

Caring for a family of elephants: bathing and feeding them.
Reforesting elephant habitat.
Planting targeted local species of elephant foods.
Engaging local community regarding elephant conservation.
Retraining locals for ethical and sustainable elephant tourism.

The sanctuary

The Surin Elephant Sanctuary was created by the Elephant Nature Foundation (ENF) to help save the Asian elephant from extinction. It does this through education, public awareness and preserving elephant habitat and provides domesticated elephants a life worth living, free from abuse.

The ENF was established in 2006 by award winning conservationist, Sangduen Lek Chailert (Time Magazine’s Hero of Asia 2005). ENF works in co-operation with local and international elephant and government organisations to protect elephants and their environment. ENF promotes sustainable elephant management by focusing on families of elephants living freely in their natural habitat. Learn more about the sanctuary.

Relaxation

After your week a volunteer work, a coach will take you to the Holiday Inn Resort on Patong Beach in Patong on the island of Phuket (south Thailand).

Enjoy your well-deserved rest - relax on the beach, enjoy fresh coconuts, cool off in the swimming pool, travel to local cultural spots. Spend time with your new friends from the volunteer group, or explore/relax on your own.

The Holiday Inn is on the main beachfront road, close to shops and nightlife. The beach is just across the road. Patong’s town area, extending away from the beach, has many shops, restaurants, and a lively nightlife.

Itinerary

Day 1: Make your way to Bangkok on Sunday from wherever you are in the world.
Day 2: Your group meets in Bangkok in the morning, greeted by your Volunteer Coordinator. Travel by coach to Surin. Traditional ceremonial welcome by village elders. Meet our family of 7 elephants. Relax, buffet dinner, (local / western / vegetarian). Group meeting: your Volunteer Coordinator will define the week's project.
Day 3-7: Clean the elephant shelters. Walk the elephants to the project site. Commence project work such as: planting trees, planting elephant food, simple building work and maintenance. Village development work such as: visits to local schools, temples, providing community services, teaching English, and other ways volunteers might contribute specialised skills to the community. Harvest grass/sugarcane for the elephants' evening meal. Evening activities: such as: preparations for next day's activities, group discussions on conservation, volunteering, and the role tourism plays, guest speakers from the local community. In a typical week, the group will travel to a village school or cultural site (ie silk weaving village). All volunteer projects are designed to strengthen bonds with the community, promote conservation and sustainable forms of elephant tourism, and work towards the ultimate goals of the Surin Project.
Day 7: In the evening, your group will be treated to a special performance from the students of the local dance school. This traditional dance style is unique to their tribal community, which cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.
Day 8: Final goodbyes to elephants and staff. Travel to the resort. Check-in late afternoon.
Day 9-13: Relax and kick-back at your 3-star resort. Great beaches, swimming pools, close to town and local cultural activities. The perfect place to unwind.
Day 14: Check-out and travel to Bangkok by coach.

Dates

Trips are availalble all year round starting on a Saturday and finishing 13 days later on a Sunday. You can change your dates at any time up to 2 months before departure.

4-Jun-2011	17-Dec-2011	30-Jun-2012
18-Jun-2011	31-Dec-2011	14-Jul-2012
2-Jul-2011	14-Jan-2012	28-Jul-2012
16-Jul-2011	28-Jan-2012	11-Aug-2012
30-Jul-2011	11-Feb-2012	25-Aug-2012
13-Aug-2011	25-Feb-2012	8-Sep-2012
27-Aug-2011	10-Mar-2012	22-Sep-2012
10-Sep-2011	24-Mar-2012	6-Oct-2012
24-Sep-2011	7-Apr-2012	20-Oct-2012
8-Oct-2011	21-Apr-2012	3-Nov-2012
22-Oct-2011	5-May-2012	17-Nov-2012
5-Nov-2011	19-May-2012	1-Dec-2012
19-Nov-2011	2-Jun-2012	15-Dec-2012
3-Dec-2011	16-Jun-2012	29-Dec-2012

Included

Included in the Holiday Volunteers program:

Air fares Bangkok-Chiangmai, Chiangmai-Phuket, and Phuket-Bangkok. (The cost of any changes made by the traveller separate from the Holiday Volunteers program may not be included.)
6 nights' accommodation in the working location chosen, and three meals daily (except on days of arrival and departure).
Meet-and-Greet, transfers from Chiangmai airport to working location, or (for locations not based on Chiangmai) from Bangkok city to working location, and returns.
Meet-and-Greet, transfers to-and-from Phuket airport to resort.
6 nights' accommodation in the Holiday Inn resort in Phuket, and daily morning buffet breakfast.

Not included

Air fares to-and-from Bangkok. But we'll help you find the best flight.
Insurance. (You are strongly advised to take out personal, accident, and illness insurance for your journey.)

What to pack

Travel as lightly as possible. Backpacks / rucksacks are usually better than suitcases and a good rule is that if you can't lift it you have too much stuff!

Sandals or flip flops (for free time and for showering)
Closed shoes: sand shoes/ runners - these will get wet and dirty
T-shirts
Lightweight conservative clothing; quick dry long-sleeve shirts that can get dirty and for at night to protect against mosquitoes
Quick-drying (nylon) long pants that can get dirty and for at night to protect against mosquitoes
Socks
Wide brimmed hat
Working gloves (also can be provided on site)
Towel (light or quick-dry)
Flashlight and spare batteries, rechargeable batteries (headlamp recommended)
Alarm clock/watch
Camera and extra film/memory
Multi-tool such as Swiss Army Knife or Leatherman tool
Lots of reading material, cards, travel games, etc.;
Inner liner for sleeping (silk or cheaper synthetic liners can be purchased from any outdoor / camping store) - Recommended but NOT essential
Small daypack
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Biodegradable soap and shampoo
SPF 30+ sunscreen
Insect repellent and a anti-itch cream e.g. Anthisan
Basic First Aid kit (treatments for insect bites, sunburn, blisters, minor cuts, stomach-ache, diarrhea, and personal medication, etc.)
Hand sanitizer
Other personal essentials
Avoid bringing expensive jewellery or designer clothing. Think carefully before packing valuable possessions. You will use public transport, live in shared accommodation and you are responsible for your belongings at all times.

Accommodation

Volunteers are housed in groups in home-stays in the village. Shared bathrooms with western style flush toilets are available. Western showers as well as Thai style bucket showers are available, but no hot water. Mosquito nets are provided. Volunteers will share 2 to 4 to a room, and can sleep on rolled out mattresses with blankets.

Accommodation is basic by most western standards. Volunteers should be open-minded and adapt as much as possible to village life.

Meals

Three meals per day will be provided. Vegetarian diets are always accommodated. Bottled water is provided, and soft drinks and snacks are available for purchase at shops in the village. Any special dietary needs should be made clear to project staff as early as possible.

Banks

Bring Thai Baht with you for spending money at the elephant sanctuary. The easiest way is to use ATMs in Bangkok - there are no ATMs in Baan Tha Klang (the nearest town).

Shops in the village sell basic essential items. This part of Thailand receives extremely few foreign visitors, so shops may not carry goods you are used to finding. During our cultural visit to the silk weaving village, there will be opportunity to purchase high quality silks at fair prices.

Communication

A phone is available on site for emergency calls. There is mobile phone reception in nearby Baan Tha Klang Village. If you plan to make frequent phone calls, buy a Thai SIM card in Bangkok before the project starts. There is no internet access at the elephant sanctuary - the nearest is in Surin town, a 1 hour drive (i.e. emergencies only).