Volunteer

Thailand Hill Tribes: Conservation, Education & Elephants

Name: Thailand Hill Tribes: Conservation, Education & Elephants
Brand: GIVE Volunteers
SKU: 97814
Rating: 5 (81 reviews)

Hosted by

GIVE Volunteers

5 (81 reviews)

Good for

Adventure travelers

Students

Solo Travelers

Thailand Hill Tribes: Conservation, Education & Elephants

GIVE Volunteers

5 · 81 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

Thailand
- Chiang Mai

Length

2 to 7 weeks

Project Types

Agriculture Climate Change Community Development Service Learning Conservation Environmental Conservation Reforestation Wildlife Conservation Elephant Conservation Education Teaching ESL Health Indigenous Rights Tourism +5

Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Age Min.

Timeframe

Short Term Summer Winter

Housing

Guesthouse Hostel

Groups

Small Group (1-15) Medium Group (16-30) Large Group (31+)

Travel Type

Solo Women

Pricing

Starting Price

2795

Price Details

What's included:
-All accommodations
-Group and ground transportation, including airport pick up and drop off
-All meals and drinking water
-Epic adventures and cultural immersion activities
-Funding toward volunteer projects

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Equipment Meals Transportation

What's Not Included

Airfare Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Last Reviewed: Jan 17, 2026

Wish List

64 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Travel to the hill tribe villages of Northern Thailand. GIVE's transformative Thailand trip includes elephant trekking, reforestation, English education, permaculture & bamboo rafting. It's the perfect introduction to Thai culture and community.

Our Thailand trip is two weeks, but you can extend your trip with 3 unique add-ons in Southeast Asia. These destinations include Laos, Thailand Scuba (in Krabi), and our Elephant Experience!

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers a deeply immersive experience in Northern Thailand, blending meaningful volunteer work with cultural learning and adventure.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

Video and Photos

Face to face with Thailand's gentle giants

Bamboo Rafting down the mighty Mae Tang River

A little yoga at the GIVE Accommodations with new friends made family

Learning how to make local handicrafts from the community

Group photo at the elephant conservation center in Thailand

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Impact 🌎

Sustainability

GIVE's mission is to inspire growth, empower global citizens, and ignite sustainable change worldwide. To truly inspire growth and achieve sustainable travel internationally, GIVE has adopted the Asset-based community development (ABCD) model, a set of proven best practices in sustainable development that mobilizes a community’s assets and resources as the basis for development. Furthermore, through providing hands-on and eye-opening learning experiences that foster authentic connections between participants and host community members, we can empower global citizens who will continue to spread GIVE’s values and ignite sustainable change worldwide.

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Ethical Impact

Exploring the world with GIVE is all about responsible travel, but what does that really mean?
Mindful Tourism + Community Partnership = Economic Growth & Community Empowerment.

Part of what makes GIVE trips so special is being fully immersed in the cultures and communities we visit. However, we take extra steps to ensure we minimize our influence and always respect local cultures. We prepare all participants before travel and ensure they understand the culture and how to dress appropriately.

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Program Highlights

Plant the seeds of change with reforestation projects
Embark on a bamboo rafting journey
Thai cooking classes
Trek for elephants in the jungle
Be a teaching assist for local schools

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 81 reviews

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Rating Spread Volunteer

5 rating 100%
4 rating 0%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Impact 5
Support 5
Fun 5
Value 4.95
Safety 5

Good for Adventure travelers, Students, Solo Travelers

Showing 33 - 40 of 81 reviews

Solo traveling to Thailand was one of the biggest leaps I've ever taken, and I'm so glad I did it! I was fully immersed in a beautiful culture while making lifelong friends and making the best memories! GIVE does a great job of teaching volunteers how to be global citizens and the steps to better embrace the world around them. This was truly an empowering yet humbling experience. I've learned so much about the world and its beautiful people from this trip and I can't wait to continue the adventure!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Just do it!!! I was so nervous to travel all the way across the globe by myself and meet a completely new group of people, but it was the best decision I've ever made! A piece of my heart will always remain in Thailand. Jump into everything with an open mind and heart and you'll do great!

Pros

Cultural immersion!
Meeting elephants and learning about them!
The other volunteers!

Response from GIVE Volunteers

We are so proud of you for taking that leap and stepping out of your comfort zone to travel with us! It can be scary at first, especially as a solo traveler, but as you mentioned, the personal growth achieved and lasting connections surpass any initial fears! So happy to have travelers like you!! Good vibes!

By GIVE Volunteers on July 17, 2024

This trip completely changed my life!!! Going into a trip with random people can be a little intimidating and that is totally understandable! But I promise you, the instant connections with everyone on this trip can be more than enough trust to all of the guides, locals and people I was on this trip with! GIVE is such an amazing program with unforgettable guides and an awesome itinerary. The people you meet are so wholesome and inspiring humans. I wish I could do this trip all over again, if you can go to Thailand with GIVE! I promise you will not forget it!

My trip to Thailand with GIVE was a life changing experience for me in so many ways and I will never forget it. We got to be fully immersed in many cultures and learn first hand ways to be a better human. We went on epic adventures like hiking through a limestone cave, trekking through a jungle and finding elephants, working on permaculture plots, meditating with monks, staying in remote villages, rafting down rivers, teaching English to local children and so much more. We also had such amazing guides that helped push us out of our comfort zones, but always kept us safe and were the most supportive people I have ever met. Being able to disconnect to reconnect with myself, the planet, the locals, the guides and my fellow volunteers was the best experience of my life. I cant wait to go back.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

The most surprising thing we saw and was not expecting was, while we were trekking through the jungle to find elephants, it was a surprise that one of them had just given birth that morning. So we got to not only see the baby elephant but watch the relationship and trust that the momma had with the mahouts and watch as they helped her baby out of a ditch. Then, I also got to watch her take her first few steps while eating lunch. Incredible.

Pros

Conquering my fears and bungee jumping
Rafting down the Mae Taeng River to Pong Ngen
A meditation in the limestone cave

Cons

The bugs and their bites. The nats, mosquitos, and ants were so annoying

A beautiful local child of the Lahu village and I playing around

My experience to Thailand was one of the most enlightening, fun filled, heartbreaking journey I have ever been on. I was emersed into the culture where I got a real feel for how others live, grow and love and will forever take that knowledge with me wherever I go. Our guides were amazing, they are the most selfless people I have ever met, and they made the experience by a long shot. I am so grateful I was able to go on this journey, GIVE opened my eyes up to so much and I cannot wait to continue!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

The most nerve-racking moment was going into the cave with the bats, going into the trip I had planned to sit this portion of the trip out because of my fear of the bats. Everyone in my group was planning to go so I decided I had too, up until that moment I kept telling myself it would be okay, and if everyone else could do it; I could too. Although, hearing and seeing the bats being in the cave was so much fun and I am so glad I decided to do it after all.

Pros

staff was amazing
food was delicious and accommodations were great
teaching was so rewarding

Cons

all the surprises
not too many food options on the nights of spicy food for those who don't like spicy food
spiders

Response from GIVE Volunteers

We LOVE to hear this and see these beautiful faces!! Can't wait for you to continue your journey with us! :)

By GIVE Volunteers on July 17, 2024

Volunteering in Thailand was the best experience of a lifetime. I got to meet so many amazing individuals including local guides, fellow volunteers, and the overall community in Mueang Khong. Traveling with Give has been the best. I am able to travel in a safe and sustainable way. I get to be involved within the community. Give directly asks the community what they need help with. We get to directly interact and learn from those around us. In Thailand I learned to live in the moment and take in each experience!

What was your funniest moment?

The funniest moment had to be either feeding elephants, caving, or bungee jumping. So many fun adventures in Thailand!

Pros

Traveling sustainably
Becoming a global citizen
Meeting like minded individuals

Cons

None
None
None

I did the Thailand experience with GIVE this year and it is one of the best experiences i have ever had. At first i was a little skeptical as it seemed too good to be true but surely enough it was just as it said if not better. We were emerged in the tradition culture of northern Thailand, visited the rural villages, bamboo rafted, were able to wash and feed the elephants and I made so many new friends that i will have for life. It was a once in a lifetime experience and with the help of the local guides and Give guides the experience was incredible from the fun activities we did to the permaculture and educational teaching we did in rural schools teaching english. I love GIVE and it is definitely something you should book!

Volunteering in Thailand was absolutely incredible and inspired me to continue being a proactive global citizen. Before getting to Thailand, I didn't know much about the country. Throughout this trip, it was amazing to learn about the culture, history, food, and people of Thailand. I was also able to gain important insight into the field of permaculture and how important it is to sustainably and ethically care for the lands we live on. I found myself in Thailand, and I am constantly inspired by the local guides who continue to better the lives of the people around them every day. Thanks to GIVE I now have incredible individuals who I can welcome into my second family.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

Bungee jumping was by far the scariest thing I have ever done, but I would do it again in a heartbeat!!!

Pros

Amazing guides and community
Getting to meet like-minded people
Stepping outside of your comfort zone

Cons

Leaving :(
Running out of tissues because of leaving :(
Not knowing when I'll ever be back in Thailand :(

I‘m gonna be honest, when I first learned about GIVE I was skeptical about it, thinking it was a scam. However, what sold me was the in person meetings with the GIVE staff. They settled my nerves and convinced me to go. In terms of the trip itself, it far exceeded my expectations. The local guides were SO amazing, they provided knowledge about the culture like no other. They were super fun, made relationships with everyone, and enhanced the trip so much. It was an experience that you can’t get anywhere else. All the staff cared for us and made sure we were all okay, no matter what we were doing. I made amazing life-long friendships with my fellow volunteers and the locals. I would definitely do it again. Thank you GIVE volunteers 😊

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

I found GIVE Volunteers through my university and was so excited to see they had Thailand trips because my grandmother was from Thailand. I decided to choose Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand: Environmental Conservation, Education & Elephant Trekking for the diverse experience of Thai culture and meaningful efforts for conservation. In other words, I saw this trip as the best opportunity to give back to my heritage and to the country my grandmother loved so much.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

GIVE Volunteers was very helpful with assisting me in planning my trip! After I discovered GIVE at my university, I attended an in-person information session explaining the mission and purpose of the non-profit organization. The GIVE ambassadors taught me how to fundraise in order for me to pay for the trip, encouraging me to set up a GoFundMe that I then shared with friends and family. Once my payments were all set they helped me pick flights through my preferred airline and created a travel itinerary for me. Throughout the planning experience, their program coordinators are very responsive through both phone and email and are always incredibly helpful with any questions!

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

This will be one of the most valuable and meaningful experiences of your life. Go into your trip with an open mind and a giving heart to truly soak it all in. And to truly immerse yourself in the experience, set the intention to unplug from social media. You can always update others after you return home!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Each daily agenda is different, but once you arrive at the main accommodation in Mueang Khong for 8 nights, most days will start with either Thai boxing or yoga (your choice), followed my breakfast, teaching English at the local school, lunch, working on the permaculture plot, free time to bond with other volunteers, discussion time, dinner, and a session of "good vibes" to celebrate the day. And throughout the week there is always fun field trips and cultural activities to mix it up!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

As someone who takes a while to trust new people, my biggest fear was connecting with the other volunteers I would be spending 14 days with. The night before the trip I had a moment to set my intentions—this can look like a prayer if you're religious, or simply a positive message to put out in the universe. I intended to go into the trip with an open heart, with the hopes of making new friends and having a fun time. What I didn't know then was that I was about to meet a group of the most amazing, kindhearted people. By the end of the trip, we all agreed we had never clicked with people this quickly or this deeply before. When people from around the world come to this beautiful place with this meaningful purpose of giving, you're bound to find a deep connection.

How did your experience extend beyond the trip dates?

Since I have returned home from Thailand, I have been able to permanently document experience through my photography and through my writing. After taking only a few photos in Thailand, I was able to come home to upload, and share my art with my family and friends. Two months after the trip ended, I finished writing a photo essay about my experience connecting with my heritage through giving back. I have now published the essay to my online portfolio and shared it with everyone who donated to the GoFundMe that helped fund my travel expenses. And since the last day of the trip, my volunteer group chat has continued with a series of updates, loving messages, and funny videos. We all intend to stay connected to each other and to GIVE, despite us all living in different parts of the world.

About GIVE Volunteers

Since 2011, GIVE has led hundreds of all-inclusive, award-winning & life-changing group trips around the world, inspiring more than 8,000 teenagers and young adults to travel with purpose. Our 1-7 weeklong summer programs engage young travelers in meaningful opportunities to learn through doing, such as locally-led volunteer projects, authentic...