2019 Chesapeake Elephant Conservation Program
| Travel Dates: |
July 1, 2019 -
July 14, 2019
Dates are tentative
|
| Group Organizer(s): |
|
| WTT Contact: |
|
| Program Tuition: |
$3,290 USD
- or -
$3,190 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
|
| Estimated Airfare: | $1,400 |
| Deadline(s): | Forthcoming |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $3,290
Pay in Full
Pay in full at the time of enrollment and receive a $100 discount off your program tuition! Payment with the discount would be:
$3,190.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$49.83
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Thailand Conservation Expedition
With world class rood, stunning natural beauty and friendly people, it’s apparent why Thailand is one of the most renowned destinations in all of Asia. It’s impressive geography ranges from thickly forested mountains to towering limestone pinnacles and from white sand beaches to bountiful rice paddies that extend to the horizon. While Thailand has become increasingly modern, many Thais pride themselves on maintaining their traditional culture, values, and lifestyle. Discover for yourself what makes Thailand so unique and experience first-hand all this enchanting country has to teach you!
Conservation Expeditions
Conservation Expeditions bring travelers to the heart of the modern-day conservation movement. Whether building nurseries for sea turtle hatchlings in Costa Rica, snorkeling alongside sea lions in the Galapagos or teaching local school children in Thailand about the importance of wild elephants to their ecosystem, these trips make the wonders of our world, and our responsibility to protect them, abundantly apparent.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Eat AMAZING Thai food!!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary
Stay on a houseboat in Sai Yok National Park
Explore Bangkok, one of the world's great cities
Explore Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok
Tour the Grand Palace of Bangkok
Visit the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers and given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | USA - Thailand | Fly from the USA to Bangkok, Thailand | In Flight |
| 2 | Bangkok | Sawatdee ka! Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand! We will hold an orientation meeting and cultural introduction, and then rest after our long day of travel. We'll have some free time in the evening to explore the neighborhood around our guesthouse, soaking up the new sights, smells, and sounds! | Bangkok Guesthouse |
| 3 | Bangkok | Today we will spend the day exploring the busy and bustling capital city with a longtail boat ride through the small canals of Chao Phraya River , and visiting the famous religious temples Wat Pho and Wat Arun and colorful flower market. | Bangkok Guesthouse |
| 4 | Salakpra | Today we will head to Kanchanaburi Province. We will partner with the organization Bring the Elephant Home, and learn about wild elephant conservation, the farmer/elephant conflict in the area, what action is being done to help, and how we can contribute! | Homestay |
| 5 | Salakpra | After eating a traditional Thai breakfast in our homestay community, we will have a busy day working in the tree nursery, helping the park rangers to build a check dam in the wildlife sanctuary, and visiting a local school. | Homestay |
| 6 | Salakpra - Sai Yok | Today we will team up with local community members and students in a tree planting event, to help sustain both local farmers as well as to provide a larger habitat for the wild elephants. In the late afternoon, we will head to Sai Yok National Park, where we will spend the night camped on a houseboat, swimming in the river and sleeping underneath the stars. | Houseboat |
| 7 | Kanchanaburi | After an early morning boat cruise, we will make our way to an elephant sanctuary close by. We will meet the elephant herd, feed them delicious treats, and bathe with them in the river. | Elephant Haven |
| 8 | Kanchanaburi | Today we’ll spend time walking with your new friends in the forest, preparing their food, taking care of them, and helping with an ongoing reforestation project. | Elephant Haven |
| 9 | Kanchanaburi - Kui Buri | Today, we’ll wake up bright and early and head to Kui Buri National Park. Upon arrival, we will tour the park and have our first opportunity to see elephants in the wild! | Elephant Haven |
| 10 | Kui Buri | After an early morning safari tour, we will begin our service project, working alongside park rangers to help construct check dams and watering holes. In the late afternoon, we will tour the surrounding farm plantations and relax at our guesthouse. | Kui Buri Resort |
| 11 | Kui Buri - Bangkok | After a leisurely morning, we will start the drive back to Bangkok. We’ll have time in the evening for last minute shopping and delicious street food! | Bangkok Guesthouse |
| 12 | Bangkok - USA | Say your goodbyes to Thailand, we're off to the USA! | In Flight |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe. We vet and inspect the accommodations to ensure they uphold the ethos of our programs, are great values for our travelers and nice places to rest after enriching days of travel.
The Bangkok Guesthouse
Bangkok Guesthouse is centrally located as it’s walking distance from Bangkok’s Skytrain, market places, restaurants and other street food vendors. Bangkok Guesthouse can accommodate 2-3 students per room. Some of the amenities include private bathrooms, air conditioning and hot water. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Elephant Haven Thailand
Students will stay in a comfortable, air conditioned hotel that is located right next to the Elephant Sanctuary. Staying at the Elephant Haven offers students a once in a lifetime experience to interact with these magnificent creatures. Each room is equipped with a TV, private bathroom and hot shower. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the common areas keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
I was comfortable that the trip my daughter was on was safe, educational, interesting and fun. She made life long friends with her host sister. An exceptional life learning experience.
Carolyn
Parent of Alicia, Traveler on 2018 Program to Chile
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
Need to Raise Money? We Have You Covered.
Walking Tree Travel is proud to team up with Equal Exchange, a worker-owned cooperative that distributes organic coffee, tea, sugar, bananas, avocados, cocoa, chocolate bars, and more. There is no limit to the amount you can earn, so the sooner you can start, the better!
Learn more here.
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.