I would definitely go again

I joined the Elephants & Gibbons program in Huay Pakhoot, near Chiang Mai, Thailand, and it turned out to be one of the most meaningful travel experiences I’ve had.

From the beginning, everything was very well organised, including airport pickup, accommodation in Chiang Mai, and transfer to the village. Once there, I stayed with a local homestay family and experienced simple village life while taking part in conservation and community activities.

Throughout the program, I learned how to collect behavioural and welfare data for elephants and gibbons, helped with activities on base and within the community, taught English to local children and mahouts, and learned traditional local skills from the villagers themselves.

The experience is very immersive and definitely not a luxury holiday. Expect basic living conditions, steep hikes, bugs, and physically demanding days at times — but that’s also what makes it feel authentic and rewarding.

One of the best parts was the people. The local community was incredibly welcoming, and the volunteers and interns were all very like-minded. I was even lucky enough to attend a local wedding and a blessing ceremony during my stay.

I originally planned to stay for only two weeks, but ended up extending my program because I enjoyed it so much.

If you’re looking for something more meaningful than a normal trip abroad, I would absolutely recommend this experience.