Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand: Environmental Conservation, Education & Elephant Trekking

Traveling with GIVE was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Being welcomed into the communities in Thailand and having the opportunity to truly immerse myself in their culture was an experience I’ll never forget. The connections I made—both with the locals and fellow volunteers—were genuine and meaningful. Working on projects that directly benefit the community gave me a real sense of purpose and showed me just how much of an impact you can have, even in a short amount of time. It was inspiring, humbling, and incredibly fulfilling. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

This was an inspiring, unforgettable, and life changing experience. I had so many amazing experiences with the guides, the locals, and my fellow volunteers that I will treasure for a lifetime. I went to Thailand expecting to meet fun people and go on cool excursions, like caving and elephant trekking, but I left with so much more than that. I was given the opportunity to live among locals and experience their culture in a way that I had never imagined. I learned that where many Americans think people live difficult and unhappy lives, people are actually much happier and able to support themselves just using the world around them and living sustainably. This trip did contain hard parts, like farming and building a greenhouse, and enduring difficult weather conditions like extreme heat and rain, so if you are not up for it, it might not be the best fit. However, if you are willing to look past few inconveniences, it is worth it to watch the communities you visit benefit from your hard work and use these experiences to improve your own life. I would 100% recommend it to anyone searching for an incredible experience.

Wow this trip changed my life! From the amazing people that I met, the beautiful towns and villages we visited, the delicious food, and to the connection forged between mind, body, soul, and nature; Thailand made me feel alive again. Days were filled with laughter, learning, and exploring. The itinerary is perfectly balanced between volunteering and going on adventures. I didn't think that I was going to be very good at teaching English, but our guides Chelsea and Hailey gave us all the resources we needed to be successful! Spending time with the students was one of my favorite parts. I also loved getting to connect with and learn about the nature around us. P'Krit and P'Daves' expertise in plants and permaculture was astounding. I would do this trip over and over if I had the chance!!

I adored my trip to Thailand in the winter of 24-25. The volunteers that I went with were some of the most hilarious, intelligent, and kindhearted people ever, who I will never forget and most definitely stay friends with for a long time. The guides were equally amazing and I will miss them for as long as it takes for me to make it back to Thailand someday! I was able to learn so much about myself, Thai culture, and the Thai natives on my trip that I will never forget. I had so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences on this trip including getting to spend a day with an elephant and getting to feed it, going bungee jumping, and having access to small close-knit communities in northern Thailand that I otherwise may never have gotten the chance to go to without the amazing local guides. More importantly, however, I got to form close relationships with the kids that we taught and get real experience in the classroom while learning how much of a relationship you can build with someone without necessarily even speaking the same language. It was challenging and exciting and I desperately wish I could go back and see those kids again now that I’m home. GIVE taught me a lot about sustainable tourism and the importance of behaving as a respectful guest in a foreign country. Rather than walk all over someone else’s culture and take advantage of it, GIVE taught me the importance of learning the culture and respecting it through dressing culturally appropriately, attempting to learn some of the language and customs, and entering the country with an open mind and a non-judgemental attitude. I am counting down the seconds until I can be fortunate enough to go on another GIVE trip!

Such a great and memorable trip! The local guides were amazing and we did the best activities such as caving, tubing, elephants, pad thai cooking class, and more. We spent two days teaching at an English Camp and two days in the classroom. Chelsey did a great job preparing us for the lessons and making us feel comfortable. We got to feed an elephant and observe her in her natural habitat. We rafted to our accommodations in the jungle and spent time with the local Lahu tribe. We celebrated in the city on New Year's Eve and watched local performances and fireworks. We visited a beautiful temple and museum. I would 100% do another GIVE trip if possible!

Wow, GIVE Volunteer is special!

This company provided a safe, positive, welcoming, and motivating environment for my month-long adventure in Southeast Asia! Words can't describe how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to travel to both Thailand and Laos! The trips included inspiring guides with endless knowledge and welcoming energy, unforgettable endeavors in caves, rivers, villages, and more, and a packed yet organized itinerary! I truly felt safe the entire trip which helped me be present in the culture and activities! I learned so much more than I even imagined about permaculture, teaching English, Buddhism, and more. Not only were the guides amazing but all of the participants and I became family! This program is set up to encourage like-minded people to come together to make the world a better place. I encourage anyone considering taking a leap of faith to attend a Give trip, you will not regret it:)

Like anyone I was hesitant at first but honestly it was the best experience of my life. The staff took such good care of you, I met so many amazing people, and I learned so much about Thai people and their culture. This trip honestly crosses my mind at least once everyday, I have made the best memories. The only con that i can even think of was the cost (the conversion rate from cad to american $$ is hefty) but me and my friends did some fundraising and saved up, it was worth it! Beautiful experience. 10/10 recommend

My trip in Thailand was truly life-changing. From the people I met, the friends I made, the experiences I had, it was all so incredible. Those 2 weeks gave me a lifetime of memories and I learned more about myself than I ever have before. This trip taught me so much about the world and changed my outlook on so many things. You will come out of this trip a completely different person. From the agriculture, to teaching, to rafting, and elephant trekking, it was all so so incredible. I would do it all over again if I could.