2023 NWC Thailand Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: | June 13, 2023 - June 25, 2023 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
|
| WTT Contact: |
|
| Program Tuition: |
$2,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
|
| Estimated Airfare: | $1,100 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family.
Program Tuition: $2,990
Pay in Full
$2,990.00
due today
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 bright green rice paddies that extend for miles. Thailand has become increasingly more modern, as you’ll see during your visits in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, yet the Thais also pride themselves on maintaining their traditional culture, values, and lifestyle. Come discover for yourself what makes Thailand so unique and experience first-hand what this enchanting country is all about.
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
Stroll through a Bangkok flower market
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, 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.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 14 | USA - Thailand | Fly from USA to Bangkok, Thailand | Airplane |
| June 15 | 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! | 56 Surawong Hotel |
| June 16 | Bangkok | Spend the day exploring the busy and bustling capital city with a longtail boat ride through the small canals of Chao Phraya River, visit the famous religious temples Wat Pho and Wat Arun. | 56 Surawong Hotel |
| June 17 | Salakpra, Kanchanaburi | Today we will head to Kanchanaburi Province. We will partner with the organization Our Land, 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! | Community Cabins |
| June 18 | Salakpra, Kanchanaburi | After having a traditional Thai breakfast in our homestay community, we will have a busy day working in the tree nursery, helping the park rangers build a check dam in the wildlife sanctuary, and visiting a local school. | Community Cabins |
| June 19 | Salakpra - Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi | Team up with local community members and students in a tree planting activity aimed to help sustain both local farmers as well as 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 |
| June 20 | Kanchanaburi | After an early morning boat cruise, we will make our way to Elephant Haven, hand-on elephant sanctuary, close by. Meet the elephant herd, feed them delicious treats, and observe their behaviors while they bathe in the river. | Legacy River Kwai Resort |
| June 21 | Kanchanaburi | We will visit Somboon Legacy, hand-off elephant sanctuary. Prepare elephant fruit salad, plant some trees for elephants, visit an interactive elephant museum, and observe elephant bathing with their mahouts in the river. | Legacy River Kwai Resort |
| June 22 | Kanchanaburi - Bangkok - Phuket | Today the group will depart from the western part of the country and head back to Bangkok to catch a domestic flight to the southern region of Thailand. We will travel from Kanchanaburi back to Bangkok by van and then we will fly from Bangkok to Phuket. Upon arrival to Phuket, we will settle in our hotel. If time allows, we will do some sightseeing of Phuket in the late afternoon/evening before heading for dinner. | Kui Buri Resort |
| June 23 | Phuket - Phang Nga | Today we will spend our day exploring the blue waters and characteristic limestone rock formations of the famous Phang Nga Bay by boat. Our boat tour will take us to several islands in this bay. Along the way, we will get to do some kayaking to explore one of these beautiful islands. | Kui Buri Resort |
| June 24 | Phuket | After a long week of conservation work, we will have a relaxing beach day in Phuket. After lunch the group will have time to do some final souvenir shopping and exploring the streets of Phuket. Tonight we will also have our final dinner and reflection in Thailand before heading back to our hotel to prepare for our international departure tomorrow. | Kui Buri Resort |
| June 25 | Phuket - USA | Say your goodbyes to Thailand, we're off to the U.S! | Airplane |
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.
Thai Thai Sukhothai Guesthouse
Thai Thai Sukhothai Guesthouse is surrounded by nature. The rooms are spacious and clean, with all the comforts and a pleasant layout. This guesthouse offers 3-star accommodation with private bath, WiFi, and air conditioning. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender and availability.
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.
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.
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai hotel is a beautiful estate within walking distance of Chiang Rai’s City Center. They offer comfortable guesthouses with modern amenities 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.
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
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: Premiere 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.