SAMUT SONGKRAM

Khlongkhlone Coastal Experience

Cruise pristine coastlines, monkey around with the crab-eating macaques, go “coast boarding” (basically wakeboarding in very shallow, muddy waters), hang with fishermen, chill on bamboo platforms three kilometers offshore while enjoying fresh seafood—oh, and plant mangrove trees to help restore local ecological systems. Suntan guaranteed.
Destination: Khlongkhlone district, Samut Songkram
Itinerary: Meet at Victory Monument at 7am to take a van to Samut Songkram. Spend the day helping locals replant mangrove trees and exchange knowledge about environmental conservation before returning to Bangkok at 7pm.
Price: B2,530 per person/day
Contact: 085-833-9218, www.bangkokvanguards.com

BANGKOK-SANGKLABURI

Freedom to Walk

Freedom to Walk is a 15-day, 370-km walk from Bangkok to the Three Pagodas Pass in Sangklaburi that supports efforts to combat human trafficking. This year, the campaign hopes to raise B3,000,000. Each day, in addition to the walking, volunteers will be informed about human trafficking-related issues and learn about the lives of local communities along the way. Volunteers are expected to raise awareness and funds within their communities but are also promised free food and accommodation. The walk can be done in whole or in part.
Destination: Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi.
Itinerary: The walk heads off on Nov 3 from Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and finishes at the Three Pagodas Pass in scenic Sangklaburi.
Price: Free/16 days.
Contact: www.freedomtowalk.org

CHIANG RAI

The Mirror Foundation’s homestay in Chiang Rai

A Chiang Rai homestay offers people a chance to learn the different cultures and ways of life of various tribal villages. Hilltribe guides are employed to lead visitors on a trek to different villages. The tour starts in the afternoon to accommodate travelers whose planes land later in the day.
Destination: Chiang Rai
Itinerary: The tour starts at 1pm at the pick-up point (TBA). After a video orientation at the foundation office, visitors are driven to Ban Jalae museum and trek up to Ban Yafu, where they’ll spend their nights. On the second day, guests get acquainted with their surroundings with help from local guides and swim at the waterfall. On the last day, guests trek up to the mountain’s viewpoint, and enjoy an elephant ride before making their way back to Amphur Muang, Chiang Rai, for departure.
Price: B5,300 per person and B4,000 for a group of 3-4 persons/3 days, 2 nights
Contact: ecotours@themirrorfoundation.org

CHIANG MAI

Elephant Nature Foundation

There are a number of famous elephant camps close to Chiang Mai that let you book a day visit to learn about the elephants and help the staff feed and bathe them. Try Maesa Elephant Camp in Mae Rim (053-20-6247, www.maesaelephantcamp.com) or, our favorite, the Elephant Nature Foundation (053-27-2855. www.elephantnaturefoundation.org), which is nestled in Mae Taeng Valley and is a real conservation center that offers a natural environment for injured or abused animals to recover. Do try and avoid elephant centers that offer rides on the animals.
Destination: Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai
Itinerary: After getting picked up at your hotel at 8am, your day at the camp starts with a bit of an education, learning about the individual elephants and how they were rescued. But the real fun is to be had learning how to bathe and feed the elephants. B2,500, lunch is provided. Sleep over and you’ll get to follow the elephants into the neighboring jungle and fields in the morning. B5,800, dinner is provided.
Price: B2,000/half day
Contact: 053-27-2855. www.elephantnaturefoundation.org

NEPAL

Restoration Works International

Formerly known as Cultural Restoration Tourism Project, this organisation seeks to create economic and social benefits for local communities by restoring culturally important sites. Volunteers and locals work side by side to restore significant landmarks and exchange cross cultural understanding. In addition to restoration, RWI joins hands with local craftsmen to create jobs within the community and ensure a successful and accurate renovation. In short, save an old temple, make friends and get your hands dirty.
Destination: Chhairo, Nepal
Itinerary: Volunteers take a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and spend a night in Pokhara before walking to Chhairo, passing through the village of Marpha for orientation and inspection of the restoration site. Visitors then get to work alongside locals to restore the buildings and explore the area. On the eleventh day, volunteers walk to Jomsom where they spend a night before going back to Kathmandu.
Price: B91,228/12 Days
Contact: www.restorationworksinternational.org

LAOS

Organic Farm

Located north of the Song River in Phoudindaeng village, 4km from Vang Vieng town center, the Organic Farm is the hub for several community projects including chemical-free mulberry tea farming and goat cheese production. The Organic Farm welcomes volunteers who can help out either working on the farm or teaching English to kids in the village. There are mud huts for cheap stays, as well as a restaurant serving Lao and international food prepared from fresh ingredients on-site.
Destination: Vang Vieng, Laos
Itinerary: Your daily itinerary is quite flexible, depending on the activities you are participating in. For example, if you are teaching English, there are classes on Mon-Fri 10:30-11:30am, Mon-Thu 5-7pm and Fri 5:30-6:30pm. You can spend your available time learning and helping the locals collect mulberry leaves or produce goat cheese. Oh, and cool off by tubing along the Song River afterwards.
Price: 30,000-250,000 kip (B120-1,000) per night, depending on how fancy your accommodation is.
Contact: www.laofarm.org