2019 Thailand 18 Day Elephant Conservation Expedition
Dear Families, Friends, and Travelers – Welcome to the 2019 Thailand 18 Day Elephant Conservation Expedition! We have created two webpages dedicated to this exciting program so that travelers are as informed as possible throughout the process. The first page, Pre-Enrollment, is meant to share exciting details, highlights and pertinent info that participants will want to know before enrolling. Once enrolled, the Post-Enrollment page, is meant to prepare travelers for participation on the adventure ahead.
Please be sure to review the information on the appropriate page thoroughly and we can't wait to start our enriching adventure!
| Travel Dates: | July 10, 2019 - July 27, 2019 |
| WTT Contact: |
|
| Program Tuition: |
$4,990 USD
- or -
$4,890 USD with discount if paid in full
Airfare not included in program tuition
|
| Estimated Airfare: | $1,200 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family.
Program Tuition: $4,990
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:
$4,890.00
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:
$91.64
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Thailand Conservation Expedition
There is a reason that Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia. It’s impressive geography ranges from forested mountains and thick jungles, to white sand beaches with towering limestone cliffs, to lush green rice paddies that extend to the horizon. With amazing food to friendly people, Thailand has become increasingly modern, yet many Thais also pride themselves on maintaining their traditional culture, values, and lifestyle. Discover for yourself what makes Thailand so unique and experience first-hand what this enchanting destination has to offer!
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!
Volunteer at an elephant sanctuary
Visit the Mae Chaem Elephant Sanctuary (Burm and Emily)
Stay on a houseboat in Sai Yok National Park
Stroll through a Bangkok flower market
Explore Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok
Explore the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary
Visit the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| January 1, 1970 | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2019 | USA - Thailand | Fly from USA to Bangkok, Thailand. | Airplane |
| July 11, 2019 | Chiang Mai | Sawaddee ka! Welcome to Thailand! We'll arrive in Bangkok for a connecting flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, we'll rest after our long day of travel and hold an orientation meeting and cultural introduction. | Payap Dormitories |
| July 12, 2019 | Chiang Mai | We will wake up bright and early to enjoy breakfast at a traditional market. Afterwards we'll head outside of the city to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center and the Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, where we'll learn about medical care and conservation efforts for elephants. | Payap Dormitories |
| July 13, 2019 | Chiang Mai | Today the students will break from their normal "elephant activities". We will do some sight seeing in Chiang Mai by visiting a famous temple. Also, we’ll learn the art of Thai cuisine. After a delicious Thai cooking class, you will get to experience a traditional northern Thai meal and performance. | Payap Dormitories |
| July 14, 2019 | Mae Cham | The group will be picked up early from the dorms and will head to an elephant sanctuary in Mae Cham. We will stop off at a few beautiful waterfalls along the way. Upon arrival we will meet rescued elephants, cats and dogs! | BEES Dormitory |
| July 15, 2019 | Mae Cham | Today the students will get to experience being a mahout for the day. We will walk with the elephants through the forest, prepare their treats, and help bathe them in the evening. | BEES Dormitories |
| July 16, 2019 | Mae Cham - Chiang Mai | We'll spend the morning saying goodbye to our new friends before heading back into Chiang Mai. | Payap Dormitories |
| July 17, 2019 | Bangkok | We'll take an early flight to Bangkok and spend the day exploring the capital with a longtail boat ride through the small canals of Chao Phraya River. We'll visit the famous religious temples of Wat Pho and Wat Arun. | Bangkok Guesthouse |
| July 18, 2019 | Kanchanaburi | Today we'll travel to Kanchanaburi. We'll have lunch meet your homestay family at Chong Sadao and learn about elephant conservation and what the community is doing to help. In the afternoon, we will float along the river and take a short hike to visit OurLand, a privately own nature reserve near Salakphra Wildlife Sanctuary. | Homestay |
| July 19, 2019 | Kanchanaburi | With Bring the Elephant Home Foundation, we will work in the tree nursery, visit a local school, and help the villagers build a check dam. | Homestay |
| July 20, 2019 | Kanchanaburi - Sai Yok National Park | Today we'll team up with local community members and students in a tree planting event to help sustain local farmers and provide a larger habitat for the wild elephants. In the afternoon, we will say goodbye to our hostfamilies and head to Sai Yok National Park. We'll swim in the river, bathe in a waterfall and sleep in a houseboat underneath the stars. | House boat |
| July 21, 2019 | 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. | Yoko River Kwai Resort |
| July 22, 2019 | Kui Buri National Park | We will wake up bright and early and head to Kui Buri National Park. Once we arrive, we'll go on a tour of the park and have our first opportunity to see elephants in the wild! | Kui Buri Guest House |
| July 23, 2019 | Kui Buri National Park | After an early morning safari tour, we'll begin our service project, working alongside park rangers to help construct check dams and watering holes. In the late afternoon, we'll take a tour of the surrounding farm plantations and relax at our guesthouse. | Kui Buri Guest House |
| July 24, 2019 | Koh Talu | Today the students will break from our "elephant activities", we will head south to Koh Talu and spend our last few nights learning about marine biology conservation efforts. | Talu Island Resort |
| July 25, 2019 | Koh Talu | Snorkel and kayak, take part in coral and sea turtle conservation, and go squid fishing! | Talu Island Resort |
| July 26, 2019 | Bangkok | On our last full day in Thailand, spend the afternoon relaxing on the island before we make our way back to Bangkok. If we have time, we'll visit one of Bangkok's famous malls, see a Thai movie, buy any last minute souvenirs, and have our last meal together! | Bangkok Guesthouse |
| July 27, 2019 | Bangkok - USA | Say your goodbyes to Thailand, we're off to the U.S! | Your bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
The Bangkok Christian 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.
Talu Island Resort
Talu Island Resort is a 3-star establishment that prioritizes ecotourism and the cleanliness of the island. This resort hosts a variety of activities and experiences such as coral and sea turtle conversation activities. Free Wi-Fi access throughout the building keeps everyone feeling connected. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
Sai Yok House Boat
The entire group will spend one night on their own private house boat in the Sai Yok National Park, a truly unique and Thai experience! Accommodations will be rustic and simple, but comfortable and unforgettable! A sleeping pad, pillow and light blankets will be provided. After floating down the river, the boat docks during the night. The boat also comes with a private bathroom. Life jackets are provided.
Yoko River Kwai Resort
Located in Kanchanaburi, Yoko River Kwai Resort is a fun tropical themed hotel located just minutes from Elephant Haven. The three star hotel is very comfortable and all rooms are equipped with air conditioning and Wi-Fi. Students will be grouped by gender and divided between double, triple or quadruple rooms depending on availability. Breakfast will be provided by Elephant Haven each morning.
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
This being my first experience with an international trip for my child I have nothing to compare it to. However I feel Walking Tree did an excellent job from conception to completion with informing me on costs, what to expect, safety concerns, and sharing the experience through their blog. While I was worried about how safe my child would be on a trip… on the other side of the world, she told me that she felt safer than school safe.
Stephanie
Parent of Brigid, traveler on Japan Cultural Journey
Your Adventure Includes
Group Airfare Not Included
In order to give our travelers the flexibility for choosing the best itinerary and payment (cash vs mileage, vs rewards) for their particular situation, we do not include airfare in our program tuitions. Please visit this link for more details.
Program Tuition Excludes: Airfare to destination country, Travel insurance, baggage fees, airline minor 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!
Use the promo code FAIRFALL through the end of 2021 and save 10% off wholesale cases prices.
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.