from 480€

Excellent 4.8rating (16)

Ethical Elephant Experience

location
1 - 2 weeks  ·  Age 18 - 50+

rating  Excellent 4.8  · 
  Verified by Volunteer World
  Excellent response rate

Highlights

  • Ethical & sustainable
  • The elephants are given autonomy and freedom of choice, spending their days foraging in their natural habitat, without having to please humans
  • These elephants are not controlled with bull-hooks, and they do not drag heavy chains through the forest
  • Experience the Karen hill tribe way of life
  • Contribute to community development

Especially suitable

Age 18+
Singles
Couples
Groups

About the program

Improving welfare of captive elephants by allowing them to retire in the forest, creating alternative livelihoods & supporting the community.

These elephants have retired from harsh working environments. They now forage and socialise how they wish, without force or fear. This journey is exclusively for guests seeking an ethical experience with elephants. You understand that the elephants' needs come first and you wish to appreciate their ...

About the program

These elephants have retired from harsh working environments. They now forage and socialise how they wish, without force or fear. This journey is exclusively for guests seeking an ethical experience with elephants. You understand that the elephants' needs come first and you wish to appreciate their presence without imposing upon them.

Our aim is to allow these elephants to thrive without coercion or exploitation for the pleasure of guests. We do not allow large noisy groups of people, we allow the elephants to do as they were meant to do in their natural habitat. We adhere strictly to ethical guidelines; therefore, activities such as riding, bathing, feeding, touching, or posing with the elephants are strictly prohibited.

Visitors hike into the forest daily to see the elephants in their natural habitat. For those interested, you can learn about elephant behaviour, and collect behavioural data for our research. The elephants are given verbal directions when needed as there are no bull hooks used to control them. During the day, elephants are free to roam, with their mahouts nearby to prevent conflicts with villagers or farms. The elephants are not forced to interact with visitors, but they are accustomed to human interaction, so they often come to you.

You will be allocated a homestay in the village with a friendly host family. Karen people live in wooden/bamboo houses in the mountains. Accommodations are basic, you will have a private room with a thin mattress on the floor, bedding and a mosquito net.

The bathroom is a separate room outside usually with a squat toilet and cold bucket shower. The village has fairly reliable power and water, but we will occasionally lose access temporarily.

You’ll eat breakfast with your fellow guests at the voli-house, a very simple western breakfast of toast, jam, eggs, or cereal, with tea & coffee. Lunch & dinner is prepared by the locals, the food is very simple, generally vegetable, rice or noodles, egg, and occasional pork, chicken or fish. Vegetarians/vegans can be catered for. There are a couple of little shops in the village that sell drinks, snacks, and beer for purchase.

Please note: This project is situated in a remote Karen Hill Tribe village, enveloped by jungle. You must be prepared to fully immerse yourself in jungle life, which includes adapting to different foods, cultures, languages, primitive ways of life, as well as the absence of luxuries. Be ready to encounter bugs, spiders (which cause no harm), and all aspects of jungle living. Please refrain from booking this project if you are not prepared to accept these conditions.

This is really an incredible, life-changing experience for everyone who comes to share in our passion for elephants.


Typical day

Sunday

You will travel 2.5 hours out to the village, (with a lunch stop) meet your friendly host family & fellow guests

Monday - Friday: 

In the mornings, visitors hike out into the stunning forest to see the elephants in their natural habitat. For those interested, you can learn about elephant ...

Typical day

Sunday

You will travel 2.5 hours out to the village, (with a lunch stop) meet your friendly host family & fellow guests

Monday - Friday: 

In the mornings, visitors hike out into the stunning forest to see the elephants in their natural habitat. For those interested, you can learn about elephant behaviour, and how to collect behavioural data for our research.

Afternoons there will be an activity planned depending on season:

  • teaching at the school
  • learning the local language
  • Karen crafts like basket weaving, weaving the tradition cloth, bamboo goods
  • work on our germination project
  • tree planting
  • help our veterinary nurse care for the pets, strays and livestock 
  • football matches with the locals 
  • visit a waterfall
  • hanging out with fellow visitors the voli-house

Saturday/Sunday: Free time or travel back to city


Free-time activities


You can relax every afternoon and evening at the volunteer house, with fellow visitors and staff, read a book or watch the sunset.

The hikes can be tough and strenuous, and tire people out, but this is not a very busy back-to-back activity-filled volunteer program, it is more of an experience.

There ...

Free-time activities


You can relax every afternoon and evening at the volunteer house, with fellow visitors and staff, read a book or watch the sunset.

The hikes can be tough and strenuous, and tire people out, but this is not a very busy back-to-back activity-filled volunteer program, it is more of an experience.

There are a couple of little shops in the village that sell drinks, snacks, and beer for purchase.

You are welcome to leave the project on weekends to explore other areas but all at your own risk & cost.


Requirements

Requirements

Minimum Age: 18 years

In order to join the program you need to be at least 18 years old on the program start date. There might be exemptions if you can provide the permission of your legal guardian(s) or if your are accompanied by your parents.

Language Skills

You need to speak English (fluently)

Required Documents

Proof of comprehensive insurance.

Nationality Restrictions

No restrictions. Helping hands from all over the world are welcome.

Other Skills

We appreciate help from anyone, you do not need certain skills, just an open mind and willingness to help. You do need to have a high level of fitness. You must speak English for safety reasons.

Time Commitment

Your helping hand will be required on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 08:00 - 14:00

What's Included

What's Included

Services by Isara Elephant Foundation

Program Fee includes:

  • Transport from your hotel in the city - to the village at 9am on your first day (Sunday)
  • Transport back to Chang Mai city at the scheduled end of your stay (Saturday)
  • Getting from the airport to the city is very easy, there are many blue & yellow taxis waiting at the airport and it's a quick ten minute ride to the city from the airport.
  • Homestay accomodation on site in the village with a host family.
  • 3 meals per day on site in the village. (We are in the jungle, Karen food is very basic)
  • Leaving site between/or outside your scheduled start and finish dates for any reason, is not included. and you will need to pay extra for.

PLEASE NOTE: Make sure you read the project description carefully, to be sure this program is right for you before booking. 

All fees are non-refundable, however dates can be changed until 4 weeks prior to your arrival.



Accommodation

Guests are allocated a homestay in the village with a friendly host family. Karen people live in wooden/bamboo houses in the mountains. 

  • Accommodations are basic, you will have a private room with a thin mattress on the floor, bedding and a mosquito net.
  • The bathroom is a separate room outside usually with a squat toilet and cold bucket shower. 
  • The village has fairly reliable power and water, but we will occasionally lose access temporarily.

Food & Beverages

You will prepare yourself breakfast and eat with your fellow guests at the volunteer house. Cereal, toast, jam, boiled eggs, tea & coffee.

A packed lunch is provided by one of the homestays.

We all eat dinner together at one of the homestays.

Karen food is very basic asian style, generally vegetable, rice, noodles, egg, (occasional pork, chicken or fish) If you dont eat meat, and are staying a decent length of time you may want to bring some protein powder. There are a couple of little shops in the village that sell drinks, snacks, and beer for purchase.

Filtered water is provided.

Internet Access

Limited access at the project site

What's NOT included?

What's NOT included?

Airport Pickup at Chiang Mai International Airport

An airport pickup isn't included within the program fees either.

Flight Tickets

The nearest airport is Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) in Chiang Mai. We assist you to find cheap flights to Thailand. FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS

Travel Insurance

Going abroad is an adventure and it is always best to be prepared. Sudden illness or injury, cancellation or theft - a travel insurance for Thailand provides security and is a plus to have. GET A QUOTE

Vaccines

If you are intending to volunteer in Thailand you should seek medical advice before starting your social journey. Check your required vaccinations for Thailand. VACCINE CHECKER

Details on arrival

The week starts on a Sunday morning (Pick up from the city) so it is best to arrive the day before.

You return to the city on the Saturday afternoon of your last week (Dropped back to the city)

Please make sure you read ALL of the information provided, if there is something you don't understand we are more than happy to answer all questions.

 

Please note: All fees are non-refundable, but we know the world is unpredictable so dates can be changed until 4 weeks prior to your arrival.

Availability
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Program fees

1 week (min. stay) 480€
2 weeks (max. stay) 909€
Average fees 467€/week

Program fees

467€ per week 1 - 2 weeks Age 18 - 50+

Payment methods

Visa Master Card Maestro American Express PayPal

NO CREDIT CARD FEES


Duration

1 - 2 weeks

Deposit

The deposit is simply to reserve your volunteer placement. Payments are handled by PayPal, our trusted global payment provider. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can also pay using a credit card.


Final Payment

Your final payment will be agreed with Isara Elephant Foundation during the application process. Common solutions are either via bank transfer or a cash payment at the project site.


Meet your organization

Isara Elephant Foundation

Excellent 4.8 rating (16 reviews)

Non-profit - founded in 2015

Verified by Volunteer World

  Excellent response rate

Coordinated by

Lo

Spoken languages: English

About the project

A sustainable, ethical elephant experience, mutually beneficial to both elephants and the community.

Meet your organization


- Who we are?

We are a team of veterinary professionals and locals working with the community to improve the welfare of captive elephants. 

We are non profit registered in both Australia and Thailand. 


- What we do?

At Mae Tala Elephant Village, Isara Elephant Foundation Thailand provides a sustainable, safe home for elephants to live a more natural life, and an alternative livelihood for families who want to transition away from using their elephants in the harsh tourist camps. We assist with community development & education, veterinary care for all animals in the community and contribute the forest health.

We are are retiring elephants to their natural habitat where they can forage freely eating their natural diet, exhibit natural elephant behaviours and are not expected to please tourists. This greatly improves the welfare of these elephants. They have autonomy and freedom of choice. They are monitored closely by their mahouts, to be sure they stay safe out in the forest & can receive any necessary veterinary care. 

Elephants play an important role in forest health, as they roam throughout the forest they open up areas, allowing light to enter and creating new growth, adding habitat variety and overall biodiversity to the forest. As they roam, they leave their nutrient rich dung behind full of seeds which is the perfect fertiliser. This seed dispersal creates new plant growth for other species. We are monitoring our impact on the forest, with the help of Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU-CMU), you can contribute without regular tree planting activities.

Volunteers coming to our project value elephant welfare, but also value the Karen culture, and are as engaged in the community as they are with the elephants. 


- Where we work? 

The project is located in a Karen hill tribe in Chiang Mai. Karen hill tribe communities are spotted throughout the mountains along the Thai/Myanmar border, where they settled as refugees after fleeing Burma due to ethnic and political conflict.They have owned elephants for thousands of years. The population in Thailand is around 1 million, and speak their own unique language. Their long history and integration in Thailand means they have now largely assimilated into Thai society. 


- Who are we looking for?

Whether you are after the experience of a life time, a student, a photographer, a teacher, a professional, taking a gap year, or seeking experience in wildlife conservation, animal welfare, veterinary, conservation, the environment, community development or just have a passion for elephants, we would love to have you! You DO need to be in good physical fitness, as the hikes into the forest to find the elephants can be tough, especially in the heat. 




16 reviews · rating4.8

Oliver Schmidt rating3.2

2024 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Me and my girlfriend visited the Isara Elephant Foundation in february/march 2024. Upfront: we have mixed feelings about the stay, none of which are necessarily anyones fault, but I'll try to describe our experience as best as I can. We were accomodated at Pop's House, who's a nice and fun guy in ...
Emily Evans rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Beautiful place with really friendly locals, incredible to see the elephants in their natural habitat, it meant you could really witness their personalities. Really enjoyed the afternoon activities and experiencing the culture. Highly ...
Becca Holton rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Honestly this experience is amazing, it’s incredible to see the elephants out in their natural habitat doing what they were meant to do, and you can really tell they’re happy out there too! The locals in the village are all super friendly and more than willing to help teach us the local language ...
Siobhan Utting rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Had an amazing time working with the elephants, you can really see how much they care for them, and that the elephants are actually happy here and can enjoy their lives, rather than being used for entertainment. I've been on holidays before and seen elephants clearly stressed out being used for ...
Adrienne Bowerman rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

Enabling elephants to retire in their native habitat while providing alternative income to the elephant owners and the villagers. You can see how ethical tourism promotes the health and well-being of not just the elephants but also the native people who have cared for and depended on them for, ...
Annabel Holton rating5

2023 at Ethical Elephant Experience

I had such an amazing experience volunteering with the Isara Elephant foundation. The local villagers couldn’t of been more kind, and the authentic Thai food was delicious!! It was great to see the elephants in their natural habitat with the help of our friendly guide. Was such an amazing ...

Location

Asia > South East Asia > Thailand > Chiang Mai

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