Northern Laos: Wildlife Conservation, Permaculture, & Meditation Practice with Monks

Traveling to Laos with GIVE was one of the best decisions of my life. To all the guides, Auy’ Mai, Auy’ Good, Auy’ Tony, Lexi, and Chiara, you all made this trip so special for me. You can’t get experiences like this by going on a vacation, no one is gonna let some random stranger into their home but by traveling with GIVE, you get the benefit of their amazing connections they have with these communities. I would recommend this trip to anyone because you get to explore Laos in a way 90% of people will never experience.

Living in the village of Sop Chem changed my life forever and at such a pivotal point. This trip gave me a new sense of purpose and direction, one that I am incredibly excited to pursue. And this will happen to you too, when you get out there into the real world and truly connect with people beyond the bubble at home, you start to realize what truly matters to you.

My experience with GIVE Volunteers in Laos was truly unforgettable. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed by both the GIVE staff and the local community. The trip was thoughtfully organized and balanced meaningful volunteer work with cultural immersion and adventure. The GIVE staff created a supportive, encouraging environment that made it easy to step outside my comfort zone while feeling safe and included. They were knowledgeable, passionate, and genuinely cared about both the volunteers and the communities they partner with. This experience gave me a new appreciation for different cultures and reminded me of the importance of human connection. I left Laos with lifelong memories, incredible friendships, and a perspective that will stay with me for years to come. I would highly recommend GIVE Volunteers to anyone looking for a meaningful travel experience that combines service, cultural exchange, and personal growth. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm so grateful I had the chance to be a part of it.

I traveled with GIVE to Laos in the summer of 2026 and the trip impacted me in ways I never thought possible.

The volunteer projects included building a road up to the village of Sop Chem, and teaching English to the local children. Each project was so important and taught me a lot about hard work and dedication.

The adventures we went on were always so fun yet informative. We got to go to: the UXO museum to learn how Laos was impacted by (and continues to be affected by) the Vietnam War; the Save the Bears wildlife refuge; hiking; camping under the stars; swimming in different waterfalls; and so much more. There was never a dull moment.

While the volunteer work and fun adventures were great, they are not the most enjoyable part of the trip. The most memorable part was just interacting with and working alongside the local people in Sop Chem each day. The people in Laos may not have many physical riches but they are so rich compassion, community, and love. They taught me to always live in the moment, accept the uncertainty of uncomfortable situations, and to appreciate the little things. Even though there was a language barrier, I still have such a strong connection with many of the women there and I’ll always value the many lessons they taught me.

If you are wanting to step out of your comfort zone, volunteer on amazing projects, and travel the world, I highly recommend traveling with GIVE!

GIVE did it again with giving me a second 10/10 trip! The Laos team is nothing short of AMAZING, inspiring, and smart and I am grateful to have gotten to travel with them and learn from them all. Being in the village of Sop Chem was special as I became close to several locals and had the privilege of gaining knowledge of their culture. Beginning with breakfast and ending the day with “good vibes” this organization does one incredible job establishing a personalized and thoughtful itinerary for us travelers. It was an amazing experience working with locals while constructing a road and teaching English to the students of Sop Chem! I also appreciate the pay now, book later option making trips like these more accessible for college students like me! Thanks again GIVE, looking forward to Tanzania and Zanzibar!

It was by far the most impactful thing I have ever done in my entire life. It forced me to go out of my comfort zone in so many ways and I learned so much about myself and what I want to do in life. I did things I never thought I would get to do, like teaching english and meditating with monks. It was by far the coolest experience and taught me so much. I grew my skills in sustainability and agriculture, and learned ways I would make a difference. It completely changed the trajectory of my life and I can't wait for my next trip.

There truly aren’t enough words to describe my love for Laos. This trip has been life changing in so many aspects that I can’t even begin to describe. Arriving to the village after a 4 hour car ride and 2 hour boat ride, to see so many smiling faces eager to help you carry your bags is something I will never forget. I will never forget the children and ladies who remembered my name and would say hi to me as I walked through the village. I will never forget the smiles on the kids’ faces every morning as I walked into class. I will never forget the endless piggyback rides that were given to the kids, or the nights that were spent teaching the ladies in the village. I’ll never forget the laughs we shared as a group, the smiles we shared, and even the cries we shared. We shared so many memories that I wish I could go back and experience 1,000 times over again. We ate every meal together, hiked together, rice farmed together, danced with one another, cracked so many jokes together, checked in on eachother… the list goes on. We all endured so much together, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. Without the help of any of my tour guides, none of this would have truly been possible. They gave us pep talk after pep talk and constantly encouraged us. If you were to have told me at the beginning of the trip that I would have been 8,000 miles away from home without service for 9 days and still had the best experience of my life, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, but I’m so glad I can look back at this trip with so much gratitude and love. To the cute kids who helped put a smile on my face when I was down, to the ladies who always uplifted my mood and gave me a laugh when needed, and to the other volunteers and guides who were there for me every step of the way, thank you. Khawp jai lai lai, Laos! You’ll always hold such a special place in my heart

I went on every Southeast Asia trip, and I do not have a single regret. Each trip is unique and provides different opportunities to interact with the country, culture, and people. I genuinely was able to connect with not only those in the group, which I have made some lifelong friends by, but also the locals in every place that I have visited. In Laos specifically, after spending an incredible 9 days in Sop Chem working, teaching, and living with the locals, I feel as if I truly gained a second family. Even though we weren’t able to communicate all the time, I feel as if I was apart of their village. I was constantly playing games with all of the kids and learning from our locals guides and locals about the life of someone who lives there. We got to participate in local cultural ceremonies such as the Baci ceremony, where the locals get to thank you and give blessings and wishes to you as we get to eat, dance, and enjoy each other’s presence. It is these moments that I will remember forever and carry all of the lessons I’ve learned with me no matter where I go.

I had a great overall experience in Laos. This trip offers a variety of awesome experiences such as Free the Bears, zip lining, cave exploring, hiking to see waterfalls and camping! The guides in Laos were awesome! They were extremely helpful and always made sure to check in on us when we needed it. I had a great experience in Sop Chem. I loved teaching the children and being able to play uno with them later on. The people in the village were very kind. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to travel or has in interest in sustainable agriculture or working with children