VOLUNTEERING IN Thailand

ASIA

Thailand, known as ‘the land of smiles’, is a magnet for travellers from around the world due to its glorious beaches, tropical climate, great food and fascinating culture. From the bustling modern city of Bangkok to the tranquil mountains in the North and the idyllic beaches in the South, Thailand has something to offer everyone including those looking to volunteer in Thailand.

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Thailand is an incredibly popular holiday destination for travellers and you probably know people who will have visited. Behind the scenes there is a great need for volunteers to work on animal projects and marine conservation initiatives. Pod Volunteer is an award-winning non-profit organisation helping people to volunteer in Thailand for as little as 1 week or as long as 3 months.

We find the best volunteer projects in Thailand for you, help you with all the arrangements and provide lots of support before and during your volunteering time in Thailand!

You can get involved in animal volunteering projects including elephant care & wildlife rescue at a large animal sanctuary we support, and dog rescue on the island of Phuket. Or you can combine diving and conservation and help protect our underwater world, through a marine conservation volunteering project on the island of Koh Tao.

There is no bad time to volunteer in Thailand and volunteers are needed all year round. Climate wise it’s pretty much always tropical and hot (often very hot!) and the rainy season arrives at different times of the year throughout Thailand.

At Pod Volunteer we love travel and we have visited Thailand many times (Alex even lived in Thailand for a few years as an English Teacher and Dive Master!). Here is our insider’s view of our experiences travelling and volunteering in Thailand…

Things we loved: The food – Thai street food is some of the freshest and most diverse on the planet - our favourite dishes are massaman curry, tom yum soup and pad thai! The beaches – hopping between the islands in the south of Thailand is great fun and a fantastic way to see many of the idyllic beaches and crystal clear waters. Temples - Thailand has thousands of Buddhist temples spread all over the country. They are beautiful places to visit and soak up the calm and relaxed atmosphere.

Things we weren’t so sure about! Traffic – the Thais aren’t known for their fantastic driving skills and you will soon learn to look left and right more than a few times before crossing a road. Tiger Temple – unfortunately there are tourist attractions such as Tiger Temple who operate under the guise of helping animals, but use as animals as photo props and dupe many tourists who simply want to do something positive.

Below you’ll find a summary of our volunteering projects in Thailand which you can click through to and find out about the volunteer role, location, accommodation and costs, see lots of pictures and read volunteer reviews!

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Dog Rescue

Dog Rescue

Thailand

  • Support a Dog and Cat sanctuary on the tropical island of Phuket
  • Help walk, socialise and play with the dogs
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Duration: 1– 8 weeks

Cost from: £450 / €520 / $540

Elephant Care

Elephant Care

Thailand

  • Help look after amazing rescued elephants and ensure that they receive the best care
  • Live on site at a tropical wildlife sanctuary home to around 900 animals
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Duration: 1 - 12 weeks

Cost from: £695 / €805 / $835

Marine Conservation

Marine Conservation

Thailand

  • Learn about coral reefs, marine species and how we can monitor, protect and preserve
  • Open to all dive levels and experience, conservation certificates included
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Duration: 1 – 4 weeks + dive courses

Cost from: £875 / €1015 / $1050

Wildlife Rescue

Wildlife Rescue

Thailand

  • Work with rescued bears, monkeys, otters, gibbons and other exotic animals
  • Help to protect endangered animals, living onsite at a tropical wildlife sanctuary
Discover more >

Duration: 1 - 12 weeks

Cost from: £695 / €805 / $835

Top 5 reasons to visit and volunteer in Thailand

  • Temples and monks - a visit to Thailand would not be complete without visiting some of the temples in Bangkok. Take a walk around and observe the incredible architecture and intricate decoration. Must see temples include Wat Saket, Wat Arun and Wat Po (where you can also get a massage!).

  • Beaches and islands - need we say any more?! Pristine white sandy beaches, shady palm trees and clear blue sea with colourful corals and fish (you may even spot a whale shark if you are lucky!). Take your time exploring the tropical islands of Koh Phi Phi, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Phuket.

  • Thai cuisine - Thailand is famous worldwide for its cuisine which includes Thai green curry and pad thai to name just a couple! Thai food is based on balancing sweet, salty, spicy and sour flavours. If you have the time, cooking classes are easy to find so you can make some of these culinary delights back home.

  • Festivals - Thailand celebrates several festivals throughout the year including Loi Krathong in November where people launch floats decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways and light sky lantens. Songkran is traditional Thai New Year, celebrated in mid-April with a country wide water fight!

  • The North - visit the ancient city of Chiang Mai and head up into the ‘Golden Triangle’, where you can go trekking or mountain biking through the unspoilt jungles and visit the hill tribes.

Thailand gibbon island

Thailand gibbon island

Thailand beach

Thailand beach

Thailand volunteers and children on beach

Thailand volunteers and children on beach

Thailand koh tao island

Thailand koh tao island

Thailand turtle swimming

Thailand turtle swimming

Thailand Bangkok street

Thailand Bangkok street

Thailand tuk-tuk Bangkok

Thailand tuk-tuk Bangkok

Thailand beach sunset

Thailand beach sunset

Thailand island beach sunset

Thailand island beach sunset

Thailand traditional dress

Thailand traditional dress

Thailand elephant

Thailand elephant

Thailand koh tao island

Thailand koh tao island

We have long term relationships with hand-picked projects that have lasting and positive impact. We are a highly experienced and passionate team, here to support you!

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