Program Reviews

This was my first time traveling outside of the country. My parents and my self were scared but I wanted to go so bad.
Loop abroad sent weekly emails about things to pack and FAQ and even the travel alerts.
My flight took off from Salt Lake City Utah to jfk airport on Friday july 11th. We were scheduled to leave jfk on Saturday morning.
We got on the flight to Thailand and I was so scared but I felt so safe. They made sure we were all comfortable and ready for the long flight.
We landed in Hong Kong after 16 hours of being in the air and then had a little lay over. Then we flew into chiang Mai Thailand.
They let our parents know we were there safe. The next 2 weeks were all about learning, and exploring.
We stayed at the elephant nature park for 1 week which was the coolest experience ever. We were literally sleeping with the elephants outside our door. We learned a lot about elephants. How many people get to say they have bathed with an elephant in the wild? Not many. But I did. We splashed with them and bathed them for hours. After our week there we went and stayed at a hostel that loop abroad rents out just for their students. We were there for 1 week and worked in a animal shelter. We neutered 2 dogs and 2 cats. We actually did it. It was amazing. We learned how to give vaccines and take blood and remove ticks.
During our free time they took us to the night markets, and gave us each a cell phone to communicate. If we did not come back on time or disrespect the rules we would get that privilege taken away. They wanted to make sure we were always safe.
They took us to cool restaurants and a butter fly sanctuary and even tiger kingdom where we layed and played with tigers.
Then the day came. Time to leave. I was ready to go home but I knew I was going to miss Thailand.
Overall, this trip was so worth it. I can't express how grateful I am to loop abroad not only for the amazing experience but also feeling so entirely safe and protected the entire time.
If you're looking for a trip or a volunteer program for you or your child I highly recommend them. They have all sorts of programs not only vet ones. Check out their wesbite. Www.loopabroad.com
I plan to go back with loop abroad.

This trip was an incredible experience. The short two weeks we were there we were constantly busy doing fun and exciting things. If you love animals, adventures, and good times then this trip is perfect! You have to put in some hard work, but hey work hard, play hard right? The staff was super supportive and was always willing to help you with anything you needed whether it was being homesick or what to buy for a family member, they were there to help! I learned so much and had so much more fun than I ever expected.

I went to Thailand with Loop Abroad for a Highschool Veterinary Program to learn about and experience Elephants, and cats and dogs.I was able to spend a week with elephants at the Elephant Nature Park about an hour outside of Chiang Mai and another week taking care of dogs at the Animal Rescue Kingdom in Chiang Mai.

While I was at ENP, I learned about the daily responsibilities the elephant caretakers had as well as wound management. Many elephants in their care have foot injuries from stepping on landmines as they were crossing the Burma-Thailand border. I had the opportunity to treat one of the elephants who stepped on a landmine, her name is Thai Koon. Even though she has received treatment for her injury for over three years she still has a large hole in her foot. I cleaned it out with multiple q-tips to remove the dirt then I wash it out with an iodine solution, and lastly I applied a purple antiseptic spray. At ENP they have over 450 dogs and around 300 cats, during our down time we were able to help the veterinarians deworm them by making treats with the medicine inside. I made about a hundred treat balls which included rice, beef, fish, chicken, and wet food and then estimated each of their weights and gave them the treat with the appropriate dosage.

The last week in Thailand I went through a veterinarian workbook with 6 other girls guided by our veterinarian, Dr. D (DVM). We learned skills such as how to restrain animals, how to draw blood, how to give the three types of injections, as well as other skills needed in surgery. I had the opportunity to be on the anesthetic and surgical team for dog and cat neutering surgeries. Going to Thailand and learning these basic Veterinary skills while bonding with all the amazing people who were in the program and the very supportive staff was a once in a lifetime experience. I would recommend this program to anyone who is considering being a veterinarian, working in this field and to anyone who loves animals.

This trip was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I learned so much, met amazing people and lifelong friends. To be honest, I was a bit hesitant at first. Going on a trip with people you met 2 hours ago is not something I prefer to do but the staff and all the students were extremely nice and everyone had the same thing in common-we all love animals! Experiencing Thailand first hand is incredible. We got to go to the evening markets, try bizarre fruits and stuff our faces full with the best Thai food! We also learned a bit of the Thai language as well as the culture which was extremely interesting and something completely new.

The 2 week trip consisted of spending one week at Elephant Nature Park (ENP) and the second week in Chiang Mai at Spicy Thai. Both weeks were equally as great but living at ENP allowed me to meet some pretty amazing people. The program involved a lot of hands on with the animals as well as learning basic veterinary medicine.

Most importantly, through this trip, I have learned and discovered more about myself as an individual and what I really want to do in the future.

Thank You Loop Abroad and everyone involved! This is an experience I'll never forget!

First off I want to say this was my first experience traveling overseas and it couldn't have gone much smoother! I signed up for the Thailand 101 experience last minute and the staff was extremely encouraging and helpful, from the application process to helping me get to New York for departure all the way to the return flight home. The entire duration of the trip the staff was very comforting, concerned and helpful. Our adventure was filled to the brim with amazing experiences you would have a hard time arranging by yourself, the best part was waking up to elephants the whole first week of the trip! From outdoor markets, tantalizing foods, zip lining and touring jaw dropping temples, Thailand warmed my heart with sights, smells and feelings I will never forget. If you want to be a part of something bigger than yourself, help the cause and be around people that want the same Loop Abroad is undoubtedly the way to go!

This was my first time outside of Michigan (the state I live in). I am so pleased that I decided to travel with Loop. From the moment I got to New York I knew it was going to be great. The staff was very helpful into helping me get to my hotel for the night. Once we finally got to Thailand I met more staff which made things even better!! I think my favorite part would be when my group all bonded together while riding down a river through the Elephant Nature Park! This entire trip was just phenomenonal, from meeting all the elephants and learning how to care for them, to learning to neuter a dog and a cat. Another thing that I loved was trying the different foods! I wish I could tell more but there arnt enough words to describe how amazing this trip was!!

All I could think about when filling out the programs review preceding this page was that I wish 11/10 was an option, because that is truly how I would rate every aspect of my experience with loop abroad. Being an aspiring veteranarian this trip seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to travel abroad, learn in a hands on environment about veterinary medicine ( both domestic and exotic!) and make life long friends, so it's safe to say that going into this adventure I had very high expectations. Well, it's also safe to say that every single one of those high expectations was exceeded. From before my departure, the staff was extremely friendly and tremendously helpful, the amount of hands of veterinary learning I got to be a part of was outstanding, and the amazing people and animals I met along the way only made the experience 100x better. I would recommend this trip to anyone with an interest in pursuing veterinary medicine who's looking for a hands on and unique learning experience, but most of all to someone who is looking to have their lives forever changed (FOR THE BETTER!!!) by this extraordinary program. The college veterinary program with loop abroad was easily the best two weeks of my entire life and thanks to loop, do have lifelong memories, knowledge and friends that I will carry with me for a very long time.

I always found it so funny to tell people I found Loop Abroad's program as I was scrolling through Facebook. After clicking on the link and investigating further (and pushing for my parents to please say yes), I submitted an application, got accepted, and anxiously awaited for July to come. I had no idea this program would make such an impact on me. I was enrolled in the Loop Abroad high school veterinary service program, group 2. For two weeks I was with a group of 10-15 people. In the first week, my group spent time at the Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park which was founded by Lek Chailert, who has devoted her entire life to caring for all animals. The Elephant Nature Park is said to be one of the most respected elephant conservation efforts in the world. The sanctuary has been recognized by everyone from the United Nations to the United States congress for their work protecting Asian elephants. While there, my group and I were able to assist directly with the Asian elephants reserved there. We learned stories about each of the elephants; their past, what they went through, and how they got to the elephant nature park. Under supervision, we were able to wash the elephants, learn how to feed them, administer "medicine balls", exudating out purulent wounds from the elephants accidentally stepping on landmines, and learning how to harvest the food for them. I was able to go right up to the elephants and hug, kiss, or pet them. Not a lot of words can really describe what it's like when you make eye contact with an elephant, but it does change you. For the rest of our time there, we were able to walk around the reserve, eat our delicious Thai meals provided to us, shop at the street markets, and enjoy the incredible view of the park. There were so many other fun activities we were able to do while staying there, and I was able to create friendships that will last for a long time. Nothing else amazing or aesthetically refreshing can describe what it's like when you get to eat fresh pineapple and deviled eggs on a balcony, and you see the elephants peacefully strolling along the countryside. I will never forget that feeling.

The second week, my group traveled to an animal shelter called the Animal Ark Kingdom, a.k.a "ARK". There, we learned about the basic procedures of caring for animals and veterinary care. We learned how to perform physical exams, blood draws, administering medications, wound care, and surgery. There, I got hands on experience under direct veterinary supervision. I was able to learn the steps into performing neuters and castrations, and was also able to directly assist in these spays and neuters. The experience of ARK helped me begin learning my veterinary skills, and soon I was able to utilize those skills at the Vet Tech Institute as a skilled veterinary technician student. In between, we were able to take little side trips. We were all able to visit the Doi Suthep temple, eat at different restaurants, getting to cuddle and pet tiger cubs and adult Bengal tigers at Tiger Kingdom, and exploring the Chiang Dao Caves on a lantern tour.

Because of this amazing trip, I have been able to impress and inspire others around me. My community's newspaper interviewed me and posted an article in the newspaper, do a presentation about the trip in a college class, and I've been able to use this trip on my resume for jobs and for my vet tech externships; all that I've been able to successfully earn. If I am to pursue a career in zoo/wildlife medicine, I know this experience will make me standout amongst any other potential candidates. I was able to help animals from all walks of life, and the feeling of being able to give to others is a very rewarding feeling. Traveling abroad is a one in a lifetime experience, and I highly encourage everyone to try taking that opportunity.

I learned so much and had a lot of fun during the two weeks I spent in Thailand this summer. I got to practice veterinary skills such as drawing blood, checking for parasites, and neutering a dog and cat. The second week was spent with rescued elephants and it was amazing to see the hard work that went into the sanctuary and what a difference it made in these elephant's lives. The Loop Abroad program staff were all helpful and friendly and tried extremely hard to make sure that we had the best experience possible!

I joined this program knowing I wanted to work with exotic animals, but actually being there and living it was an entirely different feeling. I felt whole while I was there. I didn't want to leave and I have already planned to go back once I graduate veterinarian school, if not sooner.