Help conserve Thailand's threatened wildlife and support underprivileged communities and disadvantaged children!

"There aren't even words to describe the experience that I had here in Thailand. It changed my outlook on life so much more than I could have even imagined!" - Taylor Amber, Colorado State University

About ISV's Thailand Projects

A series of conservation and sustainable development issues have been created by the rapid development of Thailand and the inability to house its growing population and support its economic growth. Rural Thai communities are in need of developmental assistance with regard to sanitation and infrastructure development to handle the increases in population. Thailand also faces increased pressures caused by the influx of refugees from Burma. At the same time, Thailand's people and government have recognised the urgent need to support, protect and conserve Thailand's natural resources, particularly its wildlife. Much help is needed in this area. As an ISV volunteer, there is a diversity of opportunities where you can go deeper than being a tourist and actually help conservation and community development efforts in a strategic way. ISV has partnered with a number of local non-government organizations, orphanages and other grassroots groups to work on meaningful projects.

Key achievement for 2008:

Planted 11,676 trees in buffer zones to national parks, forests and mangrove areas to improve habitat for local wildlife such as monkeys and elephants.

Taught English and facilitated children activities with 350 orphans. Many of these children have physical and mental disabilities or are vulnerable Burmese refugees fleeing from political unrest in their home country.

ISV's Projects

ISV has projects spread across the country. By volunteering with ISV in Thailand you could find yourself assisting in any of these areas.

• Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation: Make a difference to Thailand's wildlife!
  Here's your chance to get up close and personal with some exotic wildlife! ISV has several projects located in wildlife rescue centres and wildlife sanctuaries. These include sanctuaries for elephants, monkeys and gibbons. As a volunteer, you will be helping conserve native animals in a relatively natural setting and also teach others about how humans can better interact with these wonderful creatures. Expect to get physical, as tasks vary and can include building and maintaining animal enclosures, fence building, vegetation removal, tree planting, feeding and bathing animals, data surveying and animal husbandry (daily care for animals, ensuring healthy living conditions and effective breeding practice). All of these tasks are directly related to the establishment or maintenance of the sanctuary and the amazing species within it.



• Habitat Restoration: Volunteer in some of Thailand's most unique environment!
  ISV is dedicated to assisting with numerous habitat restoration projects throughout Thailand on public and privately-owned land. Get ready to get your hands dirty and see the results of your efforts by helping to rehabilitate land from dense jungles to rolling hills. The goal of these projects is to help restore important habitats and biodiversity through native revegetation (planting) and tree nursery projects. This is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself rural Thai culture and way of life.



• Marine Conservation: Help improve island environments!
  Marine environments in Thailand are heavily impacted by the increasing numbers of tourists on small islands. As a volunteer, you will play a vital role in the collection of data for the health of reefs and waterways that support island tourism. Prepare to strap on your boots and wade through estuaries, mangroves, beaches and river systems as you look deep into the health of Thailand's waterways. Your projects will also involve an emphasis on the education of locals and tourists about the impacts are the main objectives for these projects. You will be volunteering along stunning coastlines and live amongst Thailand's many traditional villages supported by fishing or tourism.



• Children based programs: Put smiles on children faces!
  Thailand has a large population of homeless and abandoned children who may never get to experience what it means to be a child. ISV's children support projects are located throughout Thailand and combine community support, education, activities with children, and improving infrastructure at orphanages and schools. Be prepared to spend time teaching, creating games and activities, painting murals and repairing playgrounds with children from varied backgrounds. As a volunteer you will provide a positive role model in a caring environment for children who have nothing but the support of volunteers like yourself. Our commitment is to improve the livelihoods of the children and their families.



• Community Support programs: Give a community every day amenities you take for granted!
  As Thailand develops and tries to adapt to the ever changing world, ISV's community support projects aim to assist villages and communities develop a sustainable standard of living. Many villages currently have no running water or electricity – everyday things we take for granted. You will be volunteering to help develop village infrastructure such as running water systems, waste disposal systems, village access roads and signage. You will also help teach English to locals, which will provide these people with a powerful tool to connect them to the rest of the world and perhaps gain revenue from increased tourism. The goals of ISV's community support projects are to improve the village living conditions and assist in community tourism projects.

Project Locations

Projects are spread across the continent of Australia (except Western Australia) and are constantly being updated according to the changing needs of our host organizations.

Please note: These are ALL great projects with significant conservation, community development and educational value in phenomenal locations with highly-regarded organisations. Please be flexible with your project preferences as project availability is specific to departure date.

More on ISV's Projects

Each project is two weeks in length and is run in collaboration with well-established conservation organizations such as non-profits, local non-government organizations and community based organisations. Each volunteer project team will be supervised and directed by professional, English speaking staff from the host organization and ISV Project Leader. Projects are based in various locations, from locations in the far north to the remote areas close to Burma and other regions along the coastal parts of Thailand. The size of the volunteer team will consist of 10-15 people, depending on the project.

Please note: certain projects only operate on specific program dates.

No prior experience in environmental or community related fields of study is required in order to participate. Accommodations vary with projects, ranging from basic local style huts and dormitory style accommodations to home-stays with local families. Meals (3 per day) will be provided during the project and will reflect the local cuisine.

ISV's Two Week Adventure Tour

Participants will travel throughout Thailand's northern and southern regions, exploring the cultural capital of the North in Chiang Mai, historic and enchanting temples, hill tribe communities, primary forests, wild rivers, limestone caves and islands, stunning beaches, an elephant sanctuary, national parks, and the Nation’s capital city, Bangkok. You will have the opportunity to participate on activities such as:

• Snorkeling around Koh Phi Phi
• Rock climbing, rappelling and cave exploration in the deep spectacular caverns in the north of Thailand.
• Sea kayaking beautiful islands and hidden Caves around Phang-Nga Bay
• Feed and bath elephants at an elephant conservation park
• Two day hill-tribe jungle trek, hiking in the jungles and to Hill Tribes in Northern Thailand
• Gain an insight into the culture and tastes of Thailand at a cultural dinner and show.
• White Water Rafting the Mae Taeng River
• Thai cooking school
  
• Explore the beautiful Khao Sok Lake and spot a variety of wildlife

Note: See ISV’s Tour Itinerary (below) which specifies the Program’s Included Activities and those provided in the ISV Optional Activity Package.

Adventure Tour Locations

"Through ISV's amazing program I was able to experience so many aspects of Thai culture. The staff truly helped make my trip one I will never forget. The effort applied for the trip to run so smoothly was apparent day after day. Thank you ISV, my life has forever been changed in a positive way!!" – Brittany VanGundy Ohio University

Adventure Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive to Khao Sok: Travel by bus from your volunteer project to Khao Sok National Park, featuring beautiful waterfalls, thick rainforest and an amazing array of wildlife including wild elephant, leopard, and over 175 bird species.  Enjoy a free night to enjoy the sounds and sights of Khao Sok National Park.

Day 2 – Khao Sok (Khao Sok Lake Tour): Free day to explore the beautiful Khao Sok National Park. Hike through the jungles to one of the many waterfalls. Enjoy a full day of exploring the inner most jungles of Khao Sok National Park by boat. Journey through the hidden inlets, visit the islands and spot gibbons at play while enjoying the sounds and sights of this magnificent area. In the evening return to the accommodation to take in the rainforest sounds at night. 

Day 3 – Khao Sok to Railay Beach: Travel to the Andaman Coast where you will take a long tail boat from the mainland to get to the peninsula of Railay. After checking into our accommodation, join your ISV Tour Leaders as they take you on an afternoon guided exploration to some of the most amazing sights Railay Beach has to offer, including a beautiful hidden cave. Finish the quick tour of Railay with a visit to our climbing school to be fitted with your climbing gear for the following day’s climbing activity. This evening, relax as you sit on the beach and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Day 4 – Railay Beach (Snorkeling Koh Phi Phi): Travel to the islands made famous by the movie "The Beach" - Koh Phi Phi. Experience the amazing reef environments which are known as one of Thailand’s best diving and snorkeling areas. Some of the highlights you may expect underwater are sea anemones, schools of batfish, barracudas, trevallies and giant groupers.  Here, we will snorkel at two locations and for those that are keen to try it, scuba diving is available at an additional cost. Enjoy a free evening to soak up the atmosphere of Railay and prepare for the following two-day Sea Kayak adventure.

Day 5 – Railay Beach to Koh Yao Noi (Sea Kayaking): Today we will sea kayak around Ao Phang-Nga, featuring beautiful limestone cliffs, odd rock formations and islands rising out of the sea like inverted mountains. We’ll spend the day exploring the beautiful islands and caves once used as hideouts for pirates.

Day 6 – Koh Yao Noi to Chiang Mai: Today we will fly into the visually striking Northern Capital of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Unwind with a free night out in this vibrant city and visit the famous night markets.

Day 7 – Chiang Mai (Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Cooking School): Today is a free day to explore the ancient temples and streets of Old Chiang Mai and/or take a cruise up the Mae Ping River. Visit Doi Suthep, a 1676 m (5028 ft) mountain peak that offers stunning views over Chiang Mai. Near the summit, you may visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the north’s most sacred temples. For those with the optional activity package you will enjoy an traditional Thai massage at our beautiful massage spa, followed by an evening learning how to cook up to five local Thai dishes with our Thai Cooking School.

Day 8 – Chiang Mai to Mae Taeng (Elephant Nature Park): Today visit an elephant conservation park. Gain an understanding of the issues relating to elephant tourism in Thailand. View Asian elephants in their near natural environments as they roam free throughout the park. Getting close and personal with the elephants; assist with the mornings feeding and bathing of the elephants, or assist in walking them to the elephant haven, a beautiful jungle setting where the elephants roam free at night. You will stay in the beautiful Lisu Lodge nestled in the valley of Mae Taeng. Experience the friendly hospitality and hill tribe culture of this authentic accommodation.

Day 9 – Mae Taeng (Jungle/Hill-tribe Trek): Today you begin an overnight journey into the jungles of Northern Thailand. You will journey by foot, hiking through the hillsides and local villages. Visiting a number of different hill-tribe people you will gain an insight into the lifestyles of these cultures.

Day 10 – Mae Taeng (Jungle Trek – White Water Rafting): After breakfast, you depart the village, further travelling by foot, passing by a waterfall for a quick swim. Later, we will travel to our rafting company, who will take you on the high adrenalin white water rafting on the Mae Taeng River (Class III and IV rapids). Following the fun and excitement of the white water rafting, you will travel back to Chiang Mai.

Day 11 – Chiang Mai (Free day): Enjoy a free day taking in the sights, sounds and surrounds of Chiang Mai. You may which to continue your adventurous travel with a trip to Doi Inthanon for a day of canyoning; rappelling down waterfalls, jumping into deep pools and sliding down natural rock slides.

Day 12 – Chiang Mai (Rock Climbing, Rappelling and Cave exploration): Spend the day learning to rock climb, exploring the cave systems through some tight holes and rappelling into a massive cavern that opens up to an alternate exit point. It will be a first for many people as we also zip across a Tyrolean traverse (zip-line) to a rappel that takes us into one of the large caverns. Our expert instructors will keep you challenging your fears with the reward of a great accomplishment.

Day 13 – Chiang Mai to Bangkok: Today is a free day to explore the rest of Chiang Mai; visit the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam, and enjoy the shopping at the handicrafts villages and Thai Silk Village. Or simply relax and explore the temples surrounding Chiang Mai. This afternoon we depart Chiang Mai to travel by overnight sleeper train to the buzzing and steamy capital of Thailand Bangkok.

Day 14 – Bangkok (Sights and Temples; Siam Niramit): Today is a free day in Bangkok to explore the many temples, busy streets, markets and river life.For those with the Optional Activity Package you will explore the capitals Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha plus traveling by long-tail boat through the old waterways (khlongs) of Bangkok. This evening we will enjoy the spectacular stage performance of Siam Niramit. Discover the traditions, culture and tastes of Thailand through the stage show, exploring the Thai Village and a pre show meal.

Day 15 – Bangkok (Departure): The adventure ends! Time to return home.

Accommodations:   All accommodations have been carefully selected for their comfort and ideal locations. Accommodations range from nice tourist class hotels to jungle bungalows.

Meals: Most meals are provided by ISV. Meals during times of sightseeing will be the responsibility of participants.

Activities: ISV includes a minimum of five activities in the program price to make your experience unforgettable. Activities are subject to change but may include activities such as snorkeling the tropical waters around Koh Phi Phi, rock climbing and rappelling at Railay Beach, Thai cultural dinner and dance performance, Northern overnight hill-tribe trek and two day sea kayaking in Ao Phang Nga.

Volunteer Project: ISV will send you the Project Overview for your assigned volunteer project along with your ISV Participant Travel Manual approximately 30 days prior to departure.

Optional Activity Package (OAP)