Gentle Giants Om Koi Evolution

Location: Thung Ton Ngio Village Omkoi ( Thai : Omkoi , pronounced [ʔōm.kɔ̌j] ) District is the northwestern most district of Chiang Mai province in northern Thailand in the biodiverse Montane evergreen forest.

Nearest Airport: - Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), Chiang Mai, Thailand 

Duration: Volunteer 1 week ( 7 days) - Initial Maximum stay 2 weeks.

Volunteer Operational Months: Year round. 

Starting Day: Every Monday.

Occupancy: Minimum of 6 volunteers needed per week (do not need to be related or know each other). Maximum 15 volunteers.

Age Requirements: Adults 18 - 60 years of age & in good health.

Om Koi Volunteer Program: This Program allows the elephants to be free from work. Elephants from tourism & logging where brought back to live in their homeland.

The main goals of the current project are:

1) to continue to keep Asian elephants in their natural forest habitat by purchasing indigenous owners’ crops to feed the elephants, thereby by replacing their lost tourism income;

2) to employ local contractors to build chain-free shelters for the female elephants and their (currently) 18 babies that cannot return to the forest exclusively, having been born in captivity;

3) to educate & train the village woman to make jewelry, cook, prepare host houses for a future volunteer visiting project;

4) to train mahouts in more humane elephant care practices; and

5) to help rejuvenate the surrounding forests by returning the elephants, a keystone species, to the forests during the day.

Volunteers coming to the Om Koi Evolution Elephant Volunteer Program should expect to be engaged in the local culture in the remote village of Om Koi. Working alongside the mahouts and the local community, volunteers will learn more about this unique culture and their relationship with elephants. 

Volunteers stay with mahouts' families in a traditional home-stay, learn about mahouts culture, experience Buddhism activity and respectfully & safely observe the elephants. No bathing with elephants. No selfies with elephants. 

This offers the people of Om Koi an alternative form of employment away from elephant riding, circus shows, logging;  which are the common forms of income for many villagers in the area. 

Most importantly volunteers will get a chance to go out on daily walks and observe the elephants interacting with each other in a more natural, respectful setting.

Hopefully, in time, as volunteer numbers increase, and we show the local villagers that people are willing to see elephants in a natural state, they will become self-sustaining & we can expand our ability to support more elephants and villagers in this region.

7 Day Itinerary EXAMPLE - Subject to Changes Depending on Season (see below), Weather, etc.

Day 1 – Picked up at hotel; meet at ENP office; Leave to Om Koi by 7:30am Stop along the way for coffee, break, site seeing, etc 12:00 stop for lunch 4:00 Arrive at Om Koi & get settled 6:00 Ceremony 7:00 Dinner.

Day 2 – 7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast 8:30/9:00 am Walk with elephants whole day 12:00 Picnic lunch 1:00 View elephants in natural jungle habitat 3:00 Take elephants to river Back home for dinner.

Day 3 - 7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast 8:30 am Visit Local School & interact with children 12:00 Lunch 2:00 Walk elephants to river Back for dinner.

Day 4 - 7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast 8:30 am Cut grass for elephants Plant rice in paddy field with local community 12:00 Lunch 2:00 Work with village animals; remove tics, worm cats dogs, etc Back for dinner.

Day 5 –  7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast – Only ½ day Jungle Survival Course Lunch – Jungle BBQ Walk with elephants Dinner. 

Day 6 - 7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast  8:30 am work with woman in local community; prepare rice/weaving, etc 12:00 Lunch with woman in local community 2:00 Visit each host house to say goodbyes. Free time to spend with villagers, shop, talk, etc. 

Day 7 - 7:30 – 8:00 Breakfast  Leave back to Chiang Mai.

SEASONAL ACTIVITIES:  

January - February: Help villagers cut fire wood for warm fires, weaving 

March - April: Paddy (rice) cultivation, weaving.

May: Plow fields  

June: Paddy (rice) cultivation

July - August: Weaving, find food in the wild for cooking, tree plantation

September - October: Harvest crops 

November - December: Rice drying, keep rice in stock

You will be living on site in basic, but comfortable home-stay; same gender shared accommodation. There are newly installed Western style bathrooms/toilets; shower rooms; dining room; and kitchen. Volunteers will eat together for every meal. The food is healthy and varied, with a buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinner with many different dishes to choose from. Vegetarian/Vegan food is always available. All dietary restrictions are catered to.

What is Provided?

• Transport from Chiang Mai to the Volunteer Program and back.
• Clean, convenient accommodation on site
• Three delicious meals per day, served in buffet style
• Bottled drinking water.
• English speaking staff on hand at all times to ensure your safety and be on hand to answer questions and provide you with a practical education about elephants, the forest & the culture; along with anything else you may have questions about.

What do I need?

• Current/Valid passport for the duration of your stay.
• Trip Insurance (covering your volunteer time and any planned independent travel). We will provide the insurance that the government requires.
• Independent travel costs to and from Chiang Mai. Additional costs such as sightseeing, snacks, shopping, tips, entertainment - allow approximately 500 Baht (in small denominations) per day, depending on lifestyle. You may want to bring small denominations of Baht to purchase gifts from Karen tribe to support them.  There is no bank or cash machines available at the village. 
• Tourist Visa/Covid Testing: Please check with the Thai Embassy on current requirements. 
• No compulsory inoculations are necessary although do check with your doctor to make sure polio, typhoid and Hepatitis A&B shots are up to date.

What is Included: Transport from Chiang Mai accommodation, to project and back; clean, convenient accommodation on site, Three delicious meals per day, A practical education on the challenges facing elephant conservation; plus a free "Volunteer" t-shirt.

You will be picked up early Monday morning from your hotel in Chiang Mai  & travel to the Elephant Nature Park office to fill out all necessary paperwork to participate in the volunteer program.

Return after finishing at the project: Volunteers will leave early Sunday morning and be taken back to Chiang Mai. You are responsible for your accommodations once you return. 

We suggest that you travel as lightly as possible. Remember you are 2 hours away from the nearest town. You will be doing a lot of walking/hiking in dense, forest terrain. We recommend that you take the following: 

Essential items: Flashlight, earplugs, alarm clock/watch, basic first aid kit, personal medication, towel, personal toiletries, sunscreen, insect repellant, flip flops, closed shoes, (rubber boots can be purchased in Chiang Mai if you do not with to pack for $5 USD) long sleeved shirts and trousers, extra socks. Bottled water will be provided, but you may wish to bring your own refillable water bottle.

Seasonal gear: Rainy season: June - October:  poncho/waterproof shoes/boots. Cold season: November - February; can get quite cold at night.  Warm clothing, long sleeves, sweat pants, sweatshirt/jacket.

Recommended but not essential: Reading material, travel games, camera, small daypack, gardening gloves, wide brimmed hat.

Important Note about clothing: Please remember to pack clothes that are respectful to the local culture - t-shirts that cover your shoulders, shorts that come down to your knees - No bikinis, string vest tops or hot pants allowed. You will be asked to change if you are wearing any of these items. Comfortable, long leg, Elephant pants can be purchased at the Elephant Nature Park office for $5 USD upon pick-up.

Baggage / Luggage allowance: One Standard Check-in Sized Rucksack/Suit Case/Bag AND one small day pack per person.  

Volunteer Donation for one week (Monday - Sunday) is 25,618 THB - $700.00 USD per person. 

Minimum of 6 volunteers needed per week (do not need to be related or know each other). Maximum 15 volunteers.

Volunteers must be 18 - 60 years of age & in good health. 

Bookings close: Two Days before you are due to visit. 

Extensions: You can extend your volunteer program another week.

The initial maximum 2 weeks may be extended depending on availability and suitability. Any decision of extensions will be made at the end of your stay with us.  

Refund Policy: Donations are nonrefundable. A minimum of one week notice of cancellation is mandatory. If you cancel, you will be issued a "rain check" good for one years time. 

If you booked your week and we do not have a minimum of 6 volunteers then you have the option to put your donation towards volunteering at Elephant Nature Park, Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary, Highlands Elephants and or Save Elephant Foundation Laos.