Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand: Environmental Conservation, Education & Elephant Trekking

Wow! Coolest and most different experience of my life. Very adventurous, culturally immersive, and on the move. Reach villages you would never get to traveling on your own. So many incredible aspects of the trip including teaching English to elementary school kids, assisting with permaculture on an organic farm, hiking, caving, interacting with elephants, completing crafts with women in the villages, etc. GIVE is an incredible organization that travels responsibility and does a great job explaining their intentions and the behind-the-scene details of everything on the itinerary. Everyone who goes on these trips has an adventurous and giving heart, which leaves everyone bound to bond. I learned so much about Thailand, myself, and the world on this trip and would go back in a heart beat. Would recommend to anyone and everyone!

I first heard about this program sitting in class by a random loud kid running in and talking about elephants. As someone who adores elephants I was immediately intrigued by the idea and make it my goal to go on this trip to pursue my dream of seeing elephants. I had heard good things from other students in my school who also attended this trip but at the time i didn't know that after two weeks my life would do a 180. With this trip I was able to fully emerge myself in Thai culture with the locals. Each local I met and talked now holds a special place in my heart. Apart from learning a new culture first hand, I've made friends that will last a lifetime as well as unforgettable memories. I honestly recommend to just jump right into this trip and don't look back. you wont regret it.

I went into this experience with little expectations and was surprised with the time of my life. I craved the adventure but what I didn't know was that this trip was gonna change my life. The relationships I created with my fellow volunteers, my guides, and many native Thai people filled my heart and I'll cherish these relationships for the rest of my life. I still got the adventure I craved but served in a totally different package. Helping elephants, bamboo rafting, bungee jumping, and staying up late with these newfound friends of mine made me never want to leave. This trip made me want to adventure not just for myself but to got out there and devote my time to the betterment of lives that need it most. I didn't wanna help people before I went on this trip but now I want to do it for the rest of my life.

This trip was honestly one giant, amazing 2 week blur. It's amazing how much can be packed in only 2 weeks! GIVE and all of the people who run it are really amazing people who love what they do and dedicate their time to make sure every volunteer is having an amazing time! Not to mention the amazing volunteers I met and became friends with. Everyone is nervous when it comes to traveling to a different country, especially if it's your first time but I never once felt unsafe. We got to bungy jump, trek elephants, visit temples, bamboo rafting down the Mae Tang River, and make crafts with locals while also making an actual impact in the community. Getting to teach Thai kids English and see them grow academically was really the centerpiece of this trip. You learn so much about the culture and the amazing people in Thailand, and you also get to appreciate the fact that you have the power and resources to help another human being(s). You will definitely gain more from this experience than by visiting the country as a tourist! Impacting a community, marking off things in your bucket list, and growing as a person; reserve your spot and get ready to talk about it for years to come!

I had such a special trip with GIVE. The two weeks completely changed my perspective on the world and my attitude to life. One of the unique things about GIVE is that they converse with the village chiefs before starting projects to ensure that volunteers are giving the locals what they want and need! This makes you feel like you're actually making a positive impact on people's lives. You'll also gain a huge appreciation for simple village life learning so much about their culture and how to be happy as GIVE find culture emersion very important! My guides also shared how important it is to keep a positive attitude throughout the trip and this is something that has stuck with me helping me live a happier life. I really can't recommend this company enough and I can't wait to sign up for my next trip! Thank you so much!! 


Saying GIVE volunteer trips will "change your life" isn't a gimmick. There's a reason I will (and constantly do) spend hours talking about GIVE and my experiences on these trips. Even though my vocabulary always shrinks to one word: amazing. Amazing trips, amazing countries, amazing cultures, amazing food, amazing adventures, and amazing people. With GIVE, you're not a typical tourist, you're a volunteer; you become a part of these countries and the countries become a part of you. The Thailand excursion was a fantastic way to experience the country and culture, while making a big impact with a lot of great people. I felt very safe and cared for the entire time. There is plenty of time to explore and so much to do on this trip. I highly recommend joining GIVE Volunteers!
Change your life, change the world, and be the roots of change.

This trip was hands-down the best thing I ever did. It taught me so much about myself, and about the impact we as humans have on the world. Not only did I feel safe 100% of the time, but the staff made you feel like family. They take care of you and make sure you feel welcomed at all times. It was a complete cultural immersion without the anxiety of being in a new environment. It was a truly authentic experience and gave me some of my favorite moments in my life thus far. These people and this place taught me the most valuable lessons I've ever learned. If you're on the fence about the program, stop holding yourself back. Let go and take a trip that will fill every cup that's empty in your life (or maybe overflow ones already filled.) Good Vibes Forever <3

The volunteer excursion with GIVE was unique from any volunteer trip I had ever been on. Our GIVE tour guides, Hayley and Tyler, were very knowledgeable and familiar with the community's we were serving which provided us with a unique experience. We were able to immerse ourselves in the Thai culture and work together with other community members to develop plans of action and work as a team to accomplish community goals. One of my favorite things about the trip was learning firsthand from the villagers what they felt they needed and then working alongside them to help bring positive change to their villages. Everything we did was not only a learning experience but a great time! This trip was full of activities as well as volunteer experiences. We went cave exploring, bungee jumping, spent time with the elephants, and explored the temples. I made lifelong friends and would reccomend this trip to anyone!