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This programme offers a three different options meaning you can tailor your time in Thailand to suit your interests.
Gold Option, Wild Option, Work Option
For the alternative programme options such as volunteering in week 2 & 3, weeks one and four will remain the same as the following itinerary, below you will find details of how the itinerary changes.
Gold Option Example Itinerary:
During your time in this incredible country you will become fully immersed in the Thai culture during lessons, excursions, volunteer work or trekking and relaxing free time.
Week One – Introduction Week
Arrival in Bangkok
You will start with a Bangkok Stopover. Upon arrival at Bangkok airport, you will be met by a guide and taken to your hotel by air-conditioned minibus for a 3-night stopover. To make full use of your time in Bangkok we have arranged a number of excursions to help acclimatise and familiarise you.
Friday
After being taken to the hotel, you will have free time until the evening when there is a welcome dinner with your fellow volunteers followed by an orientation tour of the popular Khao San Road Area.
Saturday
After breakfast at the hotel you will be taken on a temple tour, including the famous Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keo. You will have plenty of free time to explore the hotspots of Bangkok - our coordinator will be able to advise you on the popular places to go.
Sunday
After breakfast you will visit one of the world’s largest markets, The Chatuchak Weekend Market. This amazing market has nearly everything you could ever wish to buy and is a great place to pick up Thai handicrafts…be prepared to barter! The rest of the day is free time. Monday
After breakfast you will check out of the hotel and transfer to the project site in Singburi by air-conditioned minibus.
Arrival in Singburi
The base camp is located in central Thailand on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, 142 kms north of Bangkok. The camp is situated approximately 10km from the nearest town and a local bus into the centre costs 30 Baht (25p). It takes 3 hours to reach Singburi from Bangkok and there is a stop on the way at a petrol station for drinks and supplies.
Upon arrival at the project location you will be provided with lunch. A programme coordinator will give an introduction to all aspects of the Thai Adventure Programme. This will cover detailed itineraries of your next 4 or more weeks and information on the volunteer programmes. Tonight a welcome party will be given with dinner to help you all settle in.
For the rest of the week volunteers are given an introduction to Thailand. You will learn about Thai culture, its people, the language, attitudes and customs. During this week you will be staying at the base camp and activities include:
- Thai language lessons
- Introduction to Thai culture (Do’s and Don’ts)
- Thai cooking lessons
- Thai massage
- Visits to local markets, temples, villages and sightseeing tours to Lopburi and Saraburi
- Explore the surrounding areas of Singburi
- AIDS temple visit (optional)
- Social evenings – welcome dinners, local restaurants and Thai movies
Week Two – Culture Week
The cultural week gives volunteers a more in depth experience of Thai culture. The main focus is on an overnight stay in a Buddhist temple. You will live and work alongside Thai monks and learn about the teachings of Buddhism, meditation and their way of life. This is a unique experience and few travellers are ever offered this opportunity.
The activities arranged during week two include:
- Day trip to the old ancient capital of Thailand – Ayuthaya
- Temple visit to learn about Buddhism and the Thai monks
- 2 day, 1 night temple stay
- Learn to meditate
- Offer food to the monks at sunrise
- 2 day tour to Supanburi with an overnight stay at a spa resort
Temple stay
This is an extraordinary experience for all those interested in discovering more about Buddhism and the Thai monks way of life. To stay in a temple overnight, alongside practising monks is an opportunity that few westerners ever get the chance to experience. You will be taught meditation techniques and the underlying philosophy of Buddhism. There will be ample opportunity to ask questions on all aspects of Buddhism and practice meditation as much as you desire. The accommodation for the overnight stay is very basic and consists of a mat on the floor within the temple, therefore a sleeping bag is advisable to provide a little bit of comfort. You will also be provided with special white clothes, which are an easy fit for all.
Your temple stay experience culminates with a blessing from the temple Abbott.
For those not inclined to follow this schedule, it is possible to take time to relax or walking around the village.
Week Three – Trekking or Teaching
- Teaching – opportunity to help local communities (option A)
- Trekking – based in the Phu Toei National Park (option B)
Teaching Placement (option A)
During the teaching week you will have an opportunity to help local communities. The primary need in the Singburi regions is in education and volunteers are needed to help teach English in local schools. More information regarding the placements will be given during the introduction week. During the teaching placements volunteers continue to stay at the camp in Singburi. All schools are within walking distance.
* You may do more volunteer after your 4 week programme.
Trekking (option B)
For the next 3 days you will be trekking in the rainforest of Phu Toei National Park. Located in the Kanchanaburi province, approximately 130km north of Bangkok. This week offers a unique experience of trekking to waterfalls and Karen hill tribe villages, whilst camping in traditional villages in tents (all camping equipment is provided). At the end of the week we take you off to a resort where tents will be swapped for proper beds and an opportunity to relax.
The trekking is physically demanding so requires a basic level of fitness. One full day trek into the hills is included which last for approximately 6-8 hours depending on the group. All trekking equipment will be provided, including tents and mosquito nets, but please be advised that you will need to bring a good pair of walking boots, wet weather clothing, long sleeved shirts and long trousers.
Week Four – Beach Week
You head to the beautiful island of Koh Samet, for 6 nights of relaxation. Koh Samet is a National Park and is surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand, reached in only 3.5 hours from Bangkok.
This stunning island is renowned for its fine white powder sands and tranquil pace of life. Surrounded by coral reefs, it is a snorkelling enthusiast’s paradise.
You will be staying directly on the beachfront of the longest and most picturesque beach on the island – Sai Kaew – White Sand Beach. During this week the emphasis is on providing you with free time in which to either explore Koh Samet and its neighbouring islands or simply relax. There are a number of excursions included, such as boat trips, snorkelling and traditional Thai massage.
Programme End
At the end of the four weeks you will arrive back to Bangkok at around 15.30 hours. Please arrange onward flights after 20.00 hours on the Saturday, alternatively extra night’s accommodation can be arranged at an additional charge for those wanting to stay longer. For those staying on to do more volunteering, a bus transfer is included back to the camp in Singburi.
Wild Option (Week two and three) – Working with Elephants
You will travel to Phitsanulok Province to work with elephants and their mahouts. It is estimated that there are only 2000-3000 elephants still living in the wild in Thailand and this number is steadily decreasing. Throughout rural Thailand elephants are competing with villagers for land resulting in causalities on both sides. Equally, throughout Thailand’s cities elephants roam the streets with their mahouts begging for food and performing tricks.
The eco-centre has been developed to raise awareness of the plight facing elephants in Thailand. During your time at the centre you will assist the mahouts in their daily chores washing and feeding the elephants. You will also learn about elephant’s position in Thai culture, and about the current social problems surrounding these great creatures. Throughout the two weeks you will visit a local NGO and go to the surrounding national parks, you will also have the opportunities to hike or raft during your spare time.
Work Option (Week two and three) – Teaching English or working in an orphanage
Volunteers will be accommodated in Singburi as per the itinerary above. Volunteers are needed to teach conversational English ad maths to children in local primary and secondary schools or at education camps.
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