🇹🇭 VOLUNTEER IN THAILAND 🇹🇭

Most Affordable – PMGY’s programs are accessible to everyone who wants to make a difference, through low fees and high-impact projects.

 

Best Support – Our international and local teams provide extensive around the clock services to assist you every step of your PMGY adventure.

 

Safety Prioritised – With safety a PMGY number-1 priority, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe and structured as possible.

 

Extraordinary Experiences – With PMGY, you have the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in amazing cultural and travel experiences, ensuring you leave with unforgettable memories.

 

Friendships for Life – Your PMGY experience not only opens up a doorway for new experiences and exciting memories, but also life-long friendships when meeting new people from around the world.

THAILAND ELEPHANT VOLUNTEERS

As an elephant volunteer in Thailand with PMGY, you will have the unique chance to work behind the scenes to care for rescued elephants. Eager and passionate participants are required to assist with the general upkeep of the project throughout the year. The centre works to rescue and rehabilitate elephants within Thailand. With our team on this Thailand volunteer program, you will have an amazing chance to help care for these gentle giants.

 

Background to the Elephant Program

 

Thailand is home to both populations of wild and domesticated populations of the Asian elephant. The domestic population is sadly made up of animals that have been caught from their natural habitat or bred in captivity. These animals have been trained/broken to live and work in the tourist or logging industry.

 

Today, Thailand’s wild population elephant population is struggling for survival. The wild elephant population of Thailand is estimated at 2,200, living in open grasslands and dense rainforests spread over the country. Historically, domestic elephants have been used in the logging industry. In turn, they have ironically and unwillingly helped to destroy the very habitat they rely on to survive.

 

After the ban on logging in 1989, most of the logging elephants ended up being used within the tourism industry. Others have been used to make a living by begging on the streets of big cities. Walking day and night on these dirty and traffic-congested streets is detrimental to the elephant’s health, and is simply unnatural. Street begging elephants often end up being involved in road traffic accidents. This commonly results in fatalities for both the elephant and the mahout.

 

Unfortunately, in Thailand, there are currently no laws to prevent this abuse and mistreatment. Therefore there is an urgent need to help these animals. This is where our participants come in. This sanctuary has been created for elephants to retire and be given the respect these amazing creatures deserve. Our international participants help support the centre, assisting and leading different tasks to help rehabilitate and home these gentle giants.

 

Elephant Volunteer Placement

 

WFFT – If you wish to be a responsible volunteer, working ethically with elephants, then this is the place to volunteer. This wildlife volunteering project project allows you to learn more about them, the problems they face and be part of the solution. The forested land around the rescue centre gives rescued elephants the chance to roam around in near-natural surroundings. Large pieces of land have been purchased to make these forests and grasslands similar to their natural habitat. The large elephant enclosures allow the elephants the space to move around and socialise with other elephants. Each enclosure can be up to 5-hectares in size, with natural trees, lakes and grazing areas. No elephant is ever chained up, day or night.

 

The rescue centre provides elephants with the freedom they deserve in a safe and natural environment. Our team provides lifelong veterinary care to those who need it, as well as the best husbandry and diet. As an elephant volunteer in Thailand, you will be taught everything needed to take care of these captivating creatures. A volunteer with elephants in Thailand will prepare food, create enrichment items, clean and maintain enclosures, and harvest plant matter. Common meals for elephants include banana trees and grass. You may also be lucky enough to walk the elephants between pieces of land!

 

When volunteering in Thailand with elephants, our coordinators will assign participants to groups each day. The groups are managed by team leaders – longer-term experienced participants who assist and guide their teams throughout daily tasks.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Working Day

 

Thailand elephant conservation participants are required to support and assist with the day-to-day operations at the volunteer project. This includes (but is not limited to): preparing and distributing food, preparing and distributing behavioural enrichments, assisting with environmental enrichments, cleaning the land, and general maintenance, including maintaining forest areas.

 

On this Thailand elephant volunteer program, the working day starts at 6:30am at the Volunteer House. The Volunteer House is where all organisation and orientation of participants is based. On the Thailand elephant volunteer program, you will normally finish work around 5pm. There will be several breaks throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and water and toilet breaks. Participants are expected to work 6 days a week with one day off. The Volunteer House is based on-site at the rescue centre. Although volunteer work with elephants in Thailand is very physically and mentally demanding, the end result is always well worth it. Volunteering in Thailand with elephants is tremendously rewarding.

 

As a volunteer with elephants in Thailand, you will stay on-site at the wildlife centre. This means that external transport is not required. Any required transport for the needs of the project will be included in your Program Fee.

 

THAILAND WILDLIFE RESCUE VOLUNTEERS

As a PMGY volunteer with wildlife in Thailand, you will have the unique opportunity to work behind the scenes to care for animals. Enthusiastic and passionate participants are required to assist with the general upkeep of the project throughout the year. The centre works to rescue and rehabilitate animals within Thailand. With our team, you will have an amazing opportunity to care for a wide variety of rescued wildlife.

 

Background to the Wildlife Program

 

Thailand has a rich biological diversity. However, human pressures are increasing alarmingly fast, impacting the livelihoods of many species worldwide. Such pressures include overexploitation, habitat loss and habitat degradation. These factors are sadly pushing many of Thailand creatures to the brink of extinction. Wild animals, such as young gibbons, macaques, lorises and bears are commonly illegally poached from the wild for inhumane purposes. This can include being sold as pets and use as photo-props.

 

Thailand has a thriving tourist industry, playing a large part in the country’s economy and the livelihoods of locals. However, this, unfortunately, has been accompanied by the exploitation of many animals for the entertainment of foreign visitors. Common examples include elephant riding, performance shows and appearances in photos.

 

The wildlife rescue centre is trying its best to get those animals out of the miserable conditions they are living in. The centre works hard to offer a variety of services, from simply offering shelter to rehabilitation and eventual release back into the wild. Further to this, the centre works to educate both local and international communities about animal welfare and wildlife volunteering abroad projects. There is an education centre on site of the project to further promote this. Our international participants help support the centre, by assisting and leading different tasks in attempts to rehabilitate and home animals.

 

Wildlife Volunteer Placement

 

WFFT – The centre provides shelter for hundreds of wildlife animals. The aim of the program is to rehabilitate and release animals back into the wildlife. For animals who would sadly not survive in the wild, they are provided with shelter for the rest of their lives.

 

As a volunteer with wildlife in Thailand, you will find a huge variety of different animals at the centre. This includes six species of gibbon, five species of macaque, lorises, two species of langur, two species of bear, small wild cats, various civet species, reptiles, otters and birds. All the animals located at the centre have been rescued from poor living conditions. Some individuals have been saved from the illegal wildlife trade. In other cases, rescues have been made from the pet trade, entertainment and tourism industry, or directly from the wild. In the last case, individuals may have been victims of road traffic accidents, dog attacks or other human-caused accidents.

 

Where feasible, the Thailand volunteer program tries to provide the rescued animals within their care in an environment as close to ‘nature’ as possible. The overall objective will always be that animals are rehabilitated and released back into the wild. Unfortunately, for a majority of animals at the centre, this is often difficult and in some cases not feasible at all.

 

The centre always needs help from animal lovers and wildlife enthusiasts. This may be in the form of volunteer work, donations or professional help, such as veterinary experience. Without the invaluable contribution from participants, the centre would simply not be able to function. To work with wildlife in Thailand, it can be difficult at times, but the work is highly rewarding.

 

Your Volunteer Role & Typical Working Day

 

Volunteers with wildlife in Thailand are required to support and assist with the day-to-day operations of the project. This includes (but is not limited to): preparing and distributing food, preparing and distributing behavioural enrichments, assisting with environmental enrichments, cleaning enclosures, scrubbing animal pools and general maintenance, including maintaining forest areas in the local area.

 

The working day for PMGY wildlife volunteers in Thailand starts at 6:30am at the Volunteer House. The Volunteer House is where all organisation and orientation of participants is based. Participants will normally finish work around 5pm, with several breaks throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and water and toilet breaks. Participants are expected to work 6 days a week, with one day off. The Volunteer House is based on-site at the wildlife rescue centre.

 

As a volunteer with elephants in Thailand, you will stay on-site at the wildlife centre. This means that external transport is not required. Any required transport for the needs of the project will be included in your Program Fee.

 

The work for a wildlife volunteer in Thailand is very physically and mentally demanding, but the end result is always well worth it. Coordinators will assign participants to groups each day. The groups are managed by team leaders – longer-term experienced participants who assist and guide their teams throughout daily tasks.

Flights

 

After confirming your place on a PMGY volunteer program, we strongly advise that you book your flights as early as possible. This is since it will help ensure that you get the lowest airfare. You can choose to book your flights independently or we can help you with arranging them. PMGY has a wealth of experience in travelling to and from our host countries. Therefore, we know the most affordable ways to travel and the best airlines to use. Therefore, if you would like any assistance booking your flight, you can request an optional flight quote during your online application. Alternatively, feel free to contact us on the phone or by email.

 

Volunteers in Thailand on our wildlife and elephant conservation programs should book their flights to either Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok) Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang Airport (DMK). Participants travelling to Thailand can arrive anytime between 6am-2pm on their Sunday start date.

 

Travel Insurance

 

Importantly, having an appropriate travel insurance policy during your time abroad is essential. Therefore, it is mandatory for all of our international volunteers to be appropriately covered across all of their trip dates. This includes your travel to and from the host country, as well as any onward travel. Although PMGY does everything to ensure your trip is safe, inevitably things can go wrong. Therefore, having a travel insurance policy in place helps you effectively deal with any problems you may encounter during your time away.

 

We have partnered up with the insurance company battleface to create an affordable and comprehensive optional policy. This has been designed with our international volunteers in mind, to cover our participants for all of their travel essentials. The policy is available to anyone across the globe, up to the age of 65 years. The document will cover you for your time on any PMGY destination and any onward travel (excluding the US and Canada). You can purchase PMGY Travel Insurance during your online application or you can contact us directly to arrange it.

Our International Team will work hard to provide extensive levels of support in the build-up to your trip. From our online chat service to email support and telephone conversations, our team are always ready to help. All international participants with PMGY will receive a Volunteer Handbook. This detailed hand guide will provide you with all you need to know in the build-up to your trip. From visa guidance to suggested packing lists, this will be the ultimate guide, helping you plan for your trip abroad.

 

We have Facebook groups for each of our destinations. Here you can find members of our international and local teams, as well as past, present and future participants. These pages, therefore, provide a great forum for participants to network, share experiences and community updates year-on-year.

 

Sometimes it can be difficult to picture yourself abroad without yet being there. We, therefore, do our best to further manage expectations before you arrive through a variety of informative and action-packed videos on our PMGY Vimeo channel. These clips help provide you with a visual perspective of what you can expect during your time volunteering with us. Our webinars are not to be missed either. Running on selected Tuesdays, at 4pm UK time, our International Team provides invaluable advice for your upcoming trip. Each webinar covers something different. Our pre-departure webinar covers all of the essentials you need to know and do before joining us abroad. Our program preparation webinar is more project-specific, with advice and information for the time you will spend on placement. Finally, our safety webinar offers you some top tips on how to manage your safety and wellbeing across the pond. For those who are simply interested in learning more about PMGY, our team also run an introductory webinar. This provides an introduction to the volunteer organisation, our background, goals and volunteer opportunities overseas.

 

Teaching and childcare participants may wish to take their program preparation even further, through a 60 hour online TEFL course. This is the perfect introductory course for working with children and teaching English abroad. Participation in this course enables international volunteers to acquire key skills whilst working towards an internationally accredited certificate.

Volunteers in Thailand on one of our animal conservation projects are located in Phetchaburi, within the Thamairuak district. This is a rural location approximately 3 hours south of Bangkok. These volunteer opportunities in Thailand are within a 10 minute walk from the local village. There, participants in Thailand can find roadside restaurants, 2-small supermarkets and an internet cafe. The nearby tourist locations of Hua Hin and Cha-am are approximately a 45 minutes drive from the project.

 

Our programs in Thamairuak run from 1-4 weeks, beginning on every Sunday of each month.

PMGY’s volunteer opportunities in Thailand program are run by our dedicated and experienced in-country local teams.

 

All staff have been fully vetted by our International Team. The committed local community network provides the structure for your stay with us as a participant in Thailand. Our local team will arrange your accommodation, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24/7 emergency support. Whether you are teaching English in schools or working to support wildlife, our local team will support you. Our team provides a great framework for you to enjoy a unique volunteering experience with us in Thailand.

Your orientation as a volunteer in Thailand will begin on Sunday, after your arrival at the centre. Upon arrival, volunteers in Thailand will be greeted by the coordinators and shown to their room. In the afternoon, volunteers in Thailand will spend time being briefed on all theoretical aspects of the program. The team will brief you on health and safety, whilst providing you with an introduction to the work you can expect on the placement. You will then receive a tour of the rescue centre. During this time, the coordinators will explain more to you about why the program exists and how you can help. The remainder of the day will be a chance for you to get to know your fellow participants and relax.

Please make sure you arrive at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang Airport (DMK) in Bangkok between 6am-2pm on Sunday.

 

Day 1 (Sunday) Arrival Welcome to Thailand!

 

Welcome to Thailand! You will be met at your arrival airport into Bangkok by one of our appointed taxi drivers who will be holding a name sign. The journey to the Wildlife Centre will take around 3 hours, depending on traffic.

 

Your orientation as a participant in Thailand will begin on Sunday, after your arrival at the centre. Upon arrival, volunteers in Thailand will be greeted by the coordinators and shown to their room. In the afternoon, volunteers in Thailand will spend time being briefed on all theoretical aspects of the program. The team will brief you on health and safety, whilst providing you with an introduction to the work you can expect on the volunteer placement. You will then receive a tour of the rescue centre. During this time, the coordinators will explain more to you about why the program exists and how you can help. The remainder of the day will be a chance for you to get to know your fellow participants and relax.

 

Days 2-8 (Monday-Sunday) Volunteering Begins

 

The working day starts at 6:30am at the Volunteer House. The Volunteer House is where all organisation and orientation of participants is based. Volunteers will normally finish work around 5pm, with several breaks throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and water and toilet breaks. Participants are expected to work 6 days a week with one day off. The work can be quite physically demanding but the end result is always well worth it.

 

When volunteering in Thailand with elephants, our coordinators will assign volunteers to groups each day. The groups are managed by team leaders – longer-term experienced participants who assist and guide their teams throughout daily tasks.

 

During your time in Thailand, each participant will have their own pace, strengths and weaknesses. You are asked to kindly respect that not everyone will have the same abilities – individuals may work at different paces. Every volunteer in Thailand is there to help and will make their contribution in their own way. Please speak to the coordinators if you feel you have been given too much or too little work for your personal abilities, as there are plenty of tasks to suit all. Coordinators will be around to answer any questions and both monitor and observe each group throughout the day.

 

All participants volunteering in Thailand with elephants will be asked to assist in additional tasks outside of project hours. This is to help run the Volunteer House and include activities such as ‘house duty’ and ‘doggie duty’. Typically, two people per day are chosen to help with each. House duty involves ensuring all areas are kept tidy each day and some common housework is completed. Doggie duty involves caring for some of the dogs that live at the Volunteer House. This involves washing, feeding and walking the dogs.

 

Day Off (Varies)

 

Whether you are looking for a relaxing day by the beach, some adventure activities, or a more cultural experience – Thailand has it all! The local team in Thailand will be very happy to help talk through options for you to get involved in during your free time. Please note that participants are required to commit at least 6 days to the project so your exact day off will vary and is dependent on the overall workload.

 

The Following Weeks

 

Your next week(s) will follow a similar pattern, as you will be volunteering across a 6 day week. Time will fly so make sure you make the most of it! Our local team are there to support you throughout your stay. Whether you’ve lost your phone, want some advice for weekend travel plans or just need someone to talk to, they are there for you.

 

Last day (Saturday)

 

Sunday is your last day with PMGY. If you are heading home then we can help you arrange your return airport drop off. Please note that this is not included in your Program Fee.

If you have not travelled much before, it is really hard to know what to expect. When anticipating their time overseas, many international participants (and their loved ones) are often concerned about safety and security. Although we can never guarantee experiences to be 100% trouble-free, we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our programs are as safe as possible. Every program that PMGY offers has been personally inspected and selected by a director of PMGY. We have lived in the accommodation, experienced the orientation and worked on the projects. Through our frequent visits and daily communications, we have built strong, trusting relationships with our local staff.

 

In the unlikely event that something was to happen, participants have various layers of support available to them:

 

• Volunteer in Thailand Local Team
• Project Staff
• PMGY International Team

 

Projects are monitored on an on-going basis to gauge participants’ experiences. With the help of feedback, we are able to continually improve our placements and opportunities. Security and safety are frequently assessed as part of this. We ask our participants to raise any concerns with our local or International Team. This ensures that these can be addressed and/or resolved as readily and appropriately as possible.

 

Through pre-departure and in-country guidance, we do our best to prepare our international participants for their time in Thailand. All participants are provided with a comprehensive safety briefing during their orientation period. Our local teams will go through everything from project introductions, to emergency procedures, how to use local transport and cultural differences. During this period, our team also provide participants with a full list of the important contact numbers.

 

Listed below are some general safety tips:

 

• Be modest with the amount of jewellery worn in public
• Do not drink tap water
• Be cautious of beggars or crowds. Incidents can occur when is confusion to distract you.
• Be cautious about removing money in public
• Always try to know where you are going before you attempt long journeys. Be especially careful at night
• Use reputable transport only. Our local staff will be able to recommend some during orientation
• Try to keep in groups at night and never walk alone along dark, empty streets
• The recognised tourist areas can be considered potentially high-risk areas for pickpockets and thieves
• Leave your valuables behind before a night out in the town
• For traffic safety, always keep looking to the left and right and walk slowly when crossing the road
• Do not accept drinks or food from strangers

In line with the rest of South East Asia, Thailand has a tropical climate. Generally speaking, this means that it is hot all year round. The best time of year to visit Thailand is in January and February when it is generally cooler and dry. The hottest months are April and May where the temperature rarely drops below 30-degrees Celsius. The rainy season is between May-October, with June, September and October being historically the wettest months. However, like all tropical climates, the rain comes in short sharp bursts. This means that despite it being the rainy season, there are usually large dry spells throughout the day.

Volunteer House

 

On the Thailand volunteer program, you will live in one of our Volunteer Houses. All houses are located on the same campus. The accommodation is based in the region of Phetchaburi, in southern Thailand. Housing is based on the same grounds as the project rather than in a town. However, there are nearby villages in walking distance for convenience stores. There is also a small shop on the same site as the project that sells snacks, drinks and souvenirs.

 

As a volunteer in Thailand, you will be living with other international volunteers. Volunteers in Thailand stay in European style, concrete and brick bungalows. Each room houses on average 2-3 people. The rooms are usually single-sex, however, there can be exceptions for couples, friends and families if requested enough time in advance. Fresh linen is provided weekly during your stay on the experience. Bathrooms at the accommodation are communal, with a western-style toilet and shower. Each room has its own fan.

 

There is free Wi-Fi in certain areas across the main project base. This can be intermittent, therefore volunteers in Thailand should also purchase a local SIM card in-country to use with an unlocked mobile phone. Throughout the accommodation, there are two main communal areas for international participants to relax and socialise. This is also where the volunteer work is coordinated each morning. There is a local laundry service available at the accommodation. Alternatively, there is some but limited space to perform hand-washing. Individuals on a volunteer trip to Thailand are recommended to bring a small padlock. Any valuables can be stored with our local team, however, participants are encouraged to only bring essential items during their volunteer work in Thailand. There is fridge space within the accommodation for participants to cool items they need to keep chilled. Please note that power cuts are fairly commonplace in Thailand although they tend not to last more than a couple of hours.

 

The Volunteer Houses are located on the same grounds as our local coordinators. Although they will not be based within the houses, they are accessible if needed. Our accommodation is on the same grounds as our volunteer placement. However, the centre covers acres of land. This means that when your project is not in walking distance from the accommodation, our local team will transport you to and from the project each day. The cost of this service is included in your Program Fee. [/vc_column_text]

• WI-FI YES (FREE)
• PEOPLE PER ROOMUP TO 8
• SINGLE SEX ROOMSYES
• WESTERN BATHROOM FACILITIESYES
• AIRPORT TRANSFER3 HOURS
• NEAREST ATM & SHOPS5 MINUTE DRIVE

• BREAKFAST (SELF-SERVE)BREAD, JAM, FRUIT, TEA
• LUNCHCHICKEN, RICE, VEGETABLES
• DINNERNOODLES, PORK, SOUP

Transport to and from your volunteer project is included in your Program Fee. However, on our wildlife and elephant conservation projects, participants stay on-site at the wildlife centre, therefore external transport is not usually required. Any required transport for the needs of the project will be included in your Program Fee.

PMGY welcome participants of all nationalities and backgrounds. The minimum age to join the program is 18 years, although our wildlife and elephant conservation programs welcome participants as young as 14, in the presence of a parent. There is no upper age limit. All participants need to have a good level of English, although it does not need to be your first language. You do not need to speak Thai. However, you will find that learning a few words in your days with us in Thailand will go a long way!

 

All participants must be able to provide a clean criminal background check in advance of volunteering with us abroad. In general, no formal experience or qualifications are required for the projects, just lots of energy, enthusiasm and preparation!

 

In order to confirm your place on a PMGY program, you need to pay your Registration Fee of 249 USD. The remaining fee is then due no less than 60 days prior to your program start date. During this period if you need to make a change to your trip (destination, program or date) then this can be facilitated free of charge.

 

Please check out our Application Process for more info on how to join our volunteer projects overseas.