Improving the conditions & lives of captive Asian elephants by providing economic sustainability.

Location: Khun Chai Thong Village - Surin province – NE Thailand by Cambodian Border

Nearest Airport: - Buriram (BFV) - an airport serving Buriram and Surin Provinces in Thailand. 

Duration: Volunteer 1 week ( 7 days) - Initial Maximum stay 2 weeks. 2 day vistit can be arranged. 

Volunteer Operational Months: Year round. 

Starting Day: Every Monday.

Occupancy: Minimum of 4 volunteers needed per week (do not need to be related or know each other). Maximum 15 volunteers total.

Age Requirments: Adult and children 12 + years old. Under 18 yo welcome if accompanied by an adult/ legal guardian 

Surin Volunteer Program: This Program allows the elephants to be free from work. Elephants from street begging where brought back to live in their homeland.

Our main focus is placement of elephants into a more natural surroundings, where volunteers can walk alongside them and observe these magnificent creatures in a vastly improved environment. 

Volunteers stay with mahouts' families in a traditional home-stay, learn about mahouts culture, experience Buddhism activity and respectfully & safely take care of the elephants. No bathing with the elephants. Selfies with elephants strongly discouraged, as they perpetuate stress in both the elephants and their mahouts; which could lead to negative consequences.

This offers the mahout owners an alternative form of employment away from elephant riding, circus shows, & street begging;  which are the common forms of income for many mahouts in the area.

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

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 setting.

Hopefully, in time, as volunteer numbers increase, and we show the local mahouts that people are willing to see elephants in a natural state, they will adapt their mindset to be more considerate of the elephants' welfare and expand our ability to support more elephants and mahouts in this region.

You will be living on site in basic, but comfortable home-stay; same gender shared accommodation. 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 Surin Bus Station to Volunteer Program and back
• Clean, convenient accommodation on site
• Three delicious meals per day, served in buffet style
• Volunteer T-shirt
• Drinking water and ice
• 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 culture and anything else you may have questions about.

What do I need?

• Current/Valid passport for the duration of your stay.
• Insurance (covering your volunteer time and any planned independent travel).
• Independent travel costs to and from Buriram (or directly to the project, our staff can help you arrange this at an additional cost. Additional costs such as sightseeing, snacks, shopping, tips,  entertainment - allow approximately 500 Baht per day depending on lifestyle.
• 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 Surin city bus station to Khun Chai Thong Village and back;  clean, convenient accommodation on site; three delicious meals per day; a practical education on the challenges facing elephant conservation; & a free volunteer t-shirt.

Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to & accommodations in Surin, both before project and after.

Schedule:  Monday morning: 10:00am, meet at Surin Bus Station, Nai Mueang, Mueang Surin District, Surin 32000, Thailand.  Arrangements to be picked up at your hotel can be scheduled as well. You will travel with your guide & other volunteers to the project by air conditioned mini van or truck.

Return after finishing at the project: You will leave the project Sunday morning & returned to either the Surin Bus Station or your hotel. 

We suggest that you travel as lightly as possible. 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, long sleeved shirts and trousers, extra socks. 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 - we can provide gloves and hats on site if you do not have these items.

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. Light, comfortable, long leg Elephant pants can be purchased for $5.00 USD/each.

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 22,854 THB - $600.00 USD per person.  2 day visits, for a minimum of 2 people, can be arranged for 7666 THB -  $200 donation/person.

A minimum of 4 volunteers must attend (do not need to be related or know each other).

Volunteers must be at least 12 years of age. Any participant younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by a legal guardian. You can extend your volunteer program another week.

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

Extensions: 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. You will be issued a "rain check" good for one years time.