Program Reviews

My name is Erin and I spend an entire month with Loop in Thailand.
I have only great things to say about elephants bonus week. We had so much hands on experiences with the elephants as well as time with their mahouts which was fantastic. Communication may have been difficult at times but it was all part of the experience and such a pleasure to be a part of. If I could stay even longer I definitely would have. It's definitely a program worth doing for the experience and the adventure. The people you meet and the animals you help will change your perspective of life in such a positive way. This bonus week was absolutely amazing and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

The Elephant Bonus Week was so much fun! We were able to take part in an enrichment project that students in the regular elephant week were not able to be apart of, so it was a fun new change for the second week there! It was fun sleeping and living in the jungle, but make sure you bring bug spray and any medicine you may need since there is no way of getting it for a week! All of the staff working with Loop Abroad and the staff who works full time and ENP was amazing to work with. Watching the mahout to elephant relationship was inspiring and eyeopening. If you are coming on a Loop trip, I definitely recommend the bonus week!

I just went on Elephant Bonus week and had an amazing time. For a bonus week, it was super organized and every day was packed with new activities all day with optional activities at night. I was provided with multiple opportunities to get up close and work with the Elephants as well as the hundreds of dogs and cats, goats and horses. If you love animals and caring for them, you would love this bonus week!

Although I wasn't on the vet program, the bonus week provided me with the opportunity to do vet rounds. This was an amazing exposure to have and gave me a comprehensive idea as to how much the people who live and work at the Elephant Nature Park care for the animals and are willing to go above and beyond to make the animal's lives happier.

Although it was sad to learn the history of elephants that live here, it was amazing to be able to contribute to helping them have a better retired lifestyle. Elephant Bonus week involves projects that are designed to enhance the Elephants living situations. I'll never forget how the Elephants reacted when they entered their enclosures surrounded by new foods, senses and decorations.

Overall, this program allows you to be creative and have fun with your group, get up and close with the Elephants as well as the other animals that live here, and is a memorable experience. There are a lot of bugs so bring bug spray and get ready to be sweaty and hot! However, the this tea provided in the afternoon helps and the food is amazing.

I can honestly say that my experience in Thailand with Loop Abroad was life-changing in ways that I never expected when I departed from JFK for Chiang Mai. Loop Abroad was incredibly thorough concerning our groups direction and safety leaving us better able to enjoy our time in Thailand without having to worry. The week that we spent in Chiang Mai at the ARK shelter was an incredibly immersive learning experience with a wide variety of tasks from vaccinating 6 week old puppies to dissecting chicken hearts. Exploring the night bazaars and local temples was a fantastic end to our day after which we gladly passed out in our amazing hostel. While our time in Chiang Mai was undeniably incredible, nothing quite compares to the experience of living at the elephant sanctuary. Every second of the day is filled with wonder and amazement whether you are doing rounds with the vets or just relaxing on the balcony enjoying the splendor of the sanctuary and the elephants who inhabit it. Hearing the stories of the elephants who were abused, some for decades, and spending time with them is an experience incomparable to any other. I would highly, highly recommend traveling to Thailand with the fantastic group, Loop Abroad.

My experience with Loop Abroad's Veterinary Service: South Africa program was one I will never forget. Feracare Wildlife Centre, where you spend most of your time during the program, is an outstanding facility run by knowledgable and helpful staff, and the amenities there far exceeded my expectations. I was also impressed by the educational and experiential aspects of the trip. The program provides veterinary experience with a variety of animals in an environment that is very different from that which you would experience in the United States. During the two weeks at Feracare, you basically live alongside the animals. It is a personal experience. The class on big cats was very informative, and the veterinarians that led the trip were extremely helpful, always willing to answer questions about veterinary medicine and their personal experiences in the field. During the weekend between the two weeks spent at Feracare, I had the opportunity to safari in Kruger National Park. Going on game drives in Kruger was one of my favorite parts of the trip. Seeing elephants, leopards, hippos, and more wild animals in their natural habitat was undoubtedly one of the most amazing and impactful experiences of my life thus far. I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in veterinary medicine and/or wildlife conservation.

This was not my first trip with Loop Abroad so going in I already knew that it would be amazing, and it did not disappoint! Not only was it amazing to be able to go to South Africa, work with cheetahs and spend a day at Kruger National Park I learned so much from both the veterinarians with us and the people I met at Feracare. I made great friends and some wonderful professional connections that I am so excited to keep in touch with. As a 1st (going into 2nd) year veterinary student this trip was not only an amazing learning experience but a wonderful way to remind myself why I am on this path.

Those two weeks in Thailand were amazing and beyond what I expected. Our teachers, Ruth and Jordan, were helpful, patient, and taught us so much. Loop did a great job partnering these two ladies together. Not only were they awesome teachers, but they were also strangers turned into lifelong friends, along with the others girls in the Young Adult Vet group.

The classes taught us many basics of what goes on in the vet field and we were able to have hands on practice with the dogs and cats of ARK. At ENP, we worked closely with elephants following them around and doing diet studies. We were also able to do some chores, feed the elephants, bathe them, and work a little in their animal clinic.

The housing accommodations for both our week in Chiang Mai and ENP were great. The food options provided for us during our week in Chiang Mai were also great! There was a variety to choose from for our lunch breaks; I ate something different every day! At ENP, it was all vegetarian, but I still managed to eat something filling every single day.

Overall, this was an adventure I will never forget. If there is some advice I like to give people now, it is to take that leap and study abroad! You will not regret it!

This past summer before entering my Junior year of college I decided to follow my passions for educating others and traveling by embarking on a 2-week trip to Thailand. This experience was hands down the most life-altering and breathtaking excursion I have had the privilege of experiencing in my lifetime thus far. The staff was exceptional both the American and Thai staff members) and there was always something new to learn, see, or do! There literally were (basically) elephants in our backyard! I 100% recommend Loop Abroad programs, especially the traveling teacher program, to anyone interested in stepping outside your comfort zone and taking in a whole new and incredible culture. One thing I will recommend if you decide t go on this program is to travel to Thailand with an open mind! The hill tribe village in which we stayed, Ban Lao, was more rural than anticipated with cold showers and bugs galore, but honestly I loved every second of it and it make the trip and our group closer/better as a whole! It has been only 2 months since I've retuned from my trip to Chiang Mai and I miss it more and more each day... Am definitely returning to Thailand in the near future and hope to pursue a career Teaching Abroad post-graduation. Thank you loop for the unforgettable experience of a lifetime!

This trip was an excellent combination of learning about vet services on companion animals as well as exotic animals and at the same time giving back to the community. My experience was amazing! Everything on my trip went so smoothly. Well organized and professional group of people that made my trip that much more enjoyable. I learned very valuable skills that I will carry on throughout my life and the duration of my future career in vet medicine.

When I saw this program I immediately knew that I wanted to take this adventure. Unsure of what was next for me as a recent college graduate, I was craving to travel outside my comfort zone. This trip definitely met all of my expectations and more!

For the two week-long trip, I always looked forward to what was planned next. From teaching English and living in a village in Ban Lao, to exploring the city in Chiang Mai and meeting an amazing group of people, it made my trip a memorable one. Living in the village is definitely something to get used to, it is not like living at home or staying at a hotel. The living conditions are the best they can be given the fact that you are staying in a village away from the city. It is very rewarding when you visit the children at the school and interact with them. Let alone being able to interact with the elephants, I felt very fortunate to have such an astounding opportunity. During the weekend when we stayed in the city, the conditions were accommodating from the resort we stayed at to shopping at the night market. Despite the obstacles that you might be faced with, you have to come to Thailand with an open mind. When you do, you'll have an amazing and unforgettable experience!