2025 SMA Thailand Conservation Expedition
| Travel Dates: | June 6, 2025 - June 17, 2025 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: | $5,173 USD |
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Thailand Conservation Expedition
With world class food, 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!
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
Visit the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6 | USA - Bangkok | Our adventure begins with an international flight from the USA to Bangkok, Thailand. | Airplane |
| June 7 | Bangkok | We're still flying most of today! The group arrives in Bangkok this evening. Sawatdee ka! Welcome to Thailand! We will check in at our hotel, have dinner and get a well deserved night of rest after our long journey. | 56 Surawong Hotel |
| June 8 | Bangkok | After breakfast, we will gather for our orientation meeting and cultural introduction, which will prepare us for the days ahead. We will spend the rest of the day immersing ourselves in the vibrant energy of Bangkok. Our adventure begins with a scenic long-tail boat ride through the charming canals of the Chao Phraya River. After a delightful lunch, we will visit the renowned temples Wat Pho and Wat Arun, known for their stunning architecture and historical significance. In the afternoon, we will visit Museum Siam to explore the history, culture, and development of Thailand. Tonight we partake in a delicious dinner of Thai food before returning to our hotel to rest and prepare for another day of adventure tomorrow. | 56 Surawong Hotel |
| June 9 | Bangkok - Kanchanaburi | Today, we will travel to Kanchanaburi Province. Here, we will collaborate with the organization Our Land to learn about their vital wild elephant conservation efforts. We’ll gain insight into the challenges of the farmer-elephant conflict, discover ongoing conservation actions, and explore how we can contribute to the local community. We will float in the river and visit Ourland, privately own nature reserve. We will dock near Ourland and take a short hike while learning about nature on our way to Ourland. We will have dinner this evening before checking into the hotel. | Aurora Resort Kanchanaburi |
| June 10 | Kanchanaburi | After a traditional Thai breakfast, we will embark on a day dedicated to conservation and coexistence projects. Our highlight for today will be building a check dam in the wildlife sanctuary alongside with the locals. These projects are essential to maintaining healthy ecosystems where both humans and animals can coexist. In addition to the service work, we’ll learn about beehive keeping, a crucial aspect of sustainable agriculture, and work in the tree nursery on an on-going reforestation project. | Aurora Resort Kanchanaburi |
| June 11 | Kanchanaburi | After another morning with Our Land and work in the tree nursury, we will pack our essentials and head to Sai Yok National Park. There, we will spend the night camped on a houseboat, enjoying the serenity of the river, swimming, and sleeping under the stars. | Sai Yok House Boat |
| June 12 | Kanchanaburi | Following an early morning boat ride, we will make our way to Elephant Haven, a nearby elephant sanctuary. We will meet the elephant herd, feed them delicious treats, and observe their natural behaviors as they bathe in the river. After checking into our hotel, we will explore downtown Kanchanaburi and visit the historic River Kwai Bridge. Our evening will feature a Thai cooking class and dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the night market for some shopping and local experiences. | Aurora Resort Kanchanaburi |
| June 13 | Kanchanaburi | On our final day in the Western region of Thailand, we will visit Somboon Legacy, a hands-off elephant sanctuary. We will engage in various tasks such as preparing fruit salad for the elephants, planting trees, exploring an interactive elephant museum, and observing elephants bathing with their mahouts in the river. This experience will deepen our understanding of elephant behavior and sanctuary operations. We will conclude our day with a discussion and farewell dinner at Our Land to say goodbye to our new friends. | Aurora Resort Kanchanaburi |
| June 14 | Kanchanaburi - Kui Buri | We will wake up bright and early and embark on our journey to Kui Buri National Park. Upon our arrival, we will explore this stunning park, renowned for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. We will have our first chance to see elephants in their natural habitat, an unforgettable experience that will deepen our appreciation for these majestic creatures. The lush surroundings and the thrill of wildlife spotting will create a perfect start to our adventure. | Baan Rai Kong Mun – Kui Buri |
| June 15 | Kui Buri | After an early morning safari tour, we will engage in a meaningful service project, working alongside dedicated park rangers to construct check dams and watering holes. This hands-on experience will not only contribute to the conservation of the park but also allow us to learn about the vital role these projects play in preserving wildlife habitats. In the late afternoon, we will take a tour of the nearby farm plantations, where we will gain insight into local agriculture and sustainable practices. As the sun sets, we will relax at our charming guesthouse, reflecting on the day's adventures and the impact we are making. | Baan Rai Kong Mun – Kui Buri |
| June 16 | Kui Buri - Bangkok | After a hearty breakfast, we will travel back to Bangkok. We’ll enjoy lunch at the Or Tor Kor fresh market, renowned for its high-quality produce and local delicacies. Our afternoon will be spent shopping at the bustling Chatuchak Weekend Market (JJ Shopping Mall), where we’ll find unique souvenirs and gifts. We will end our day with a farewell dinner at a restaurant near the airport. After our meal, we will head back to our hotel to prepare for our early international flight tomorrow. | 56 Surawong Hotel |
| June 17 | Bangkok - USA | Say your goodbyes to Thailand, we're off to the U.S! | Your own bed! |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
56 Surawong Hotel
56 Surawong Hotel is centrally located as it’s walking distance from Bangkok’s Skytrain, market places, restaurants and other street food vendors. 56 Surawong Hotel can accommodate 2-3 students per room and everyone will have their own bed. Some of the amenities include private bathrooms, air conditioning and hot water.
Aurora Resort Kanchanaburi
Aurora Resort Kanchanaburi features an outdoor pool and an on-site restaurant. It offers cosy rooms with air conditioning. Free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the entire resort. All rooms are artistically designed and feature a satellite TV and a DVD player. Free toiletries are provided in the en suite bathrooms. Facilities at the resort include bicycle rental, luggage storage and laundry service. Guests can stroll in the garden to relax.
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.
Baan Rai Kong Mun – Kui Buri
Baan Rai Kong Mun is a comfortable lodge located near Kui Buri National Park surrounded by nature and wildlife. This hotel offers air conditioned rooms with private bathrooms, TV and a mini fridge.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
We wanted our 16 year old son’s first experience traveling without the family to be a positive one. We wanted a true quality program and are so glad his school chose Walking Tree. Everything went absolutely smoothly on the trip. Our son has told us again and again how wonderful, informed, friendly, and absolutely critical to the success of the trip the Walking Tree staff was.
Tina
Parent of Leo Narbonne, traveler on Peru Service Adventure
Your Adventure Includes
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on the itinerary.
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.