6-week Gap Year program 2021: Thailand Culture and Service

Why choose this 6-week Gap Year program 2021: Thailand Culture and Service?

Use these uncertain times to reflect and focus on what you really want to do next.
Live a life-changing experience while giving back doing service-learning in both a community and environmental context.
Get a true Thai culture experience and return home with your head full of great memories and new friends!

Travel during COVID times

Given the special global circumstances and to ensure the safety of participants and local community members, this program has been developed with great consideration.
This Gap Year Thailand Culture and Service program offers a 6-weeks option to travel around Thailand as part of a small group. Thailand being COVID free requires for all international arrivals to follow a strict 2-week quarantine in an approved hotel. So on arrival, you will spend 2 weeks at a hotel on “quarantine”. Not to worry, we have planned a structured daily itinerary that will keep your days busy enough and will start plunging you in cultural immersion. Once you have completed your quarantine, you will join in a 4-week packed full project allowing you to discover Thailand, its culture and its people! Note that if the current Thai restrictions were to change with a shorter quarantine, or no quarantine, your schedule below would be modified accordingly and you will spend more time in the rural village of Maedtaman described below.

Read all about our project reopening response to COVID-19

The Schedule

March 16th – March 30th: In line with the current Thai Government regulations, for the first two weeks, the group will participate in a quarantine camp at an approved, 3-star, government hotel. Following country protocol, the hotel will provide single rooms, breakfast, lunch and dinner, complimentary Wi-Fi, and TV. You will be required to take 2 COVID-19 tests during your time on-site, and daily temperature checks. While it is inconvenient, don’t worry, we will keep you busy during that time! Plans include:

Online Orientation with Kaya Site Director
Online Health and Safety Orientation
Online Thai cultural workshops
Zoom hangout sessions to meet others on the programs

And once you are out of quarantine, we have an awesome Thai culture and program waiting for you!

March 31st: Our group will head to the airport to take an internal flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We’ll check into our guest house, and explore the old town of Chiang Mai, before enjoying a celebratory welcome dinner.

April 1st: Today we meet the elephants at the elephant sanctuary, where we will spend the day learning all about these amazing animals.

April 2nd: We will participate in an introductory language class, and a cooking class to learn all about Thai vegetables and herbs and then make five Thai dishes of your own!

April 3rd: This is a free day to explore Chiang Mai and surrounding areas. Your program coordinator will have plenty of recommendations for the group to go explore on their own.

April 4th: Today we attend a Buddhist meditation retreat. At the temple we will learn about Buddhism from a monk. You will be able to take a vow of silence and go on the alms round with the monks.

April 5th: Returning from our meditation retreat, we will enjoy the rest of the day, relaxed.

April 6th – 14th: For our next adventure, we will travel to the rural village of Maedtaman and meet our host families. Kaya has worked with the local community here for more than 10 years, on a development initiative that includes conservation of the local environment, community development and teaching English at the local school.
We will dedicate 7 days at the village working on the service projects, immersing in Thai culture, and exploring the area. You will also experience Thailand New Year (Songkran) celebrations in the village, visiting the temple and making merit and pay respect to the village elders. An experience to remember!

April 15th: Today we leave the village, travel back to Chiang Mai to experience the Thai New Year in Chiang Mai where people take part in the world’s biggest water fight as well as traditional celebrations and parades.

April 16th: We will check out of the guesthouse and catch a flight to Phuket, where we’ll check into our hotel.

April 17th: Our dedicated beach day in Phuket.

April 18th-20th: We will take part in a service project in Kuraburi, Phang Nga area. The area boasts two of the world’s ecosystems – jungle and coral reefs. Our group will play a role in protecting the local ecosystems by participating in an environmental conservation and restoration service activities.

April 21st – 24th: We travel by speedboat to nearby Surin Island – a paradise of white, sandy beaches, thick jungles, crystal-clear waters, and some of Thailand’s best coral reefs. We will visit the original Moken inhabitants of this tropical paradise and take a long tail boat trip to the Moken village with a local guide. On Surin Island, we will be staying in a tented accommodation at the National Park headquarters (electricity generated from 6 to 10pm). You will immerse yourself for 2 days in the Moken culture through handicraft workshop, a forest hike, and a snorkeling coral reef exploration.

April 25th: We transfer to Khao Sok National Park and bask in the beauty of a 20 million year old rainforest and immerse in the natural environment while staying overnight in a jungle resort.

April 26th: You will awake to the sounds of nature, have breakfast and then head out for your Jungle Survivor activity. This day course is led by experienced park rangers. As you walk through the jungle, they will point out local resources, flora and fauna and teach you how to make a fire and cook a forest to table meal with rice and curries in bamboo. You will get to enjoy your freshly prepared meal sitting by the river and have time to relax with your group and swim if you wish. In the evening, go on a scheduled Night Safari to explore the jungle at night and learn about the many nocturnal animals and insects that come to life in the dark!

April 27th: After breakfast, you will transfer to Cheow Larn Lake. A guided nature hike will allow you to appreciate the outstanding beauty of this man‐made reservoir with its towering limestone cliffs and jungle‐clad hills. In the afternoon, we will be able to relax, swim from the footsteps of your bungalow or take a kayak out to survey the surrounding jungle and view wildlife.

April 28th: Awake early to catch the best of wildlife viewing in a longtail boat including the hornbills flying in the mist or gibbons playing in the trees. Travelling back across the lake, your boat driver will show you some of the hidden bays and rock formations that make the lake so special.
Once you arrive back at the Rajaprabha Dam, this will conclude your program, and you will transfer back to Phuket airport to catch your plane back home.

What skills do I need to be a Volunteer on this 6-week Gap Year program 2021: Thailand Culture and Service?

No specific qualifications are required other than enthusiasm for the experience, patience during your mandatory quarantine, and a flexible attitude willing to embrace the beauty of a new culture!

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RECRUITING FOR SPRING 2021

WHY JOIN THE PROJECT

To get away at this stressful time and gain experience

To participate in a culturally immersive program in Thailand

To make new friends while traveling

PROJECT TESTIMONIALS

"Yesterday I met Rachelle at her project and she is having lots of fun! Rachelle feels very integrated in the project and in the community of volunteers. She told me that she loves it there and she is sharing cute pictures of animals with me every week. Also, last week a new baby monkey was brought ...

Rachelle B.

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"I'm working closely with the staff as well as the other volunteers. I'm seeing animals I'd never heard of and working with them which is amazing" ...

Oscar K.

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Where will I spend time in Thailand?

About the location

During your first two weeks, you will be staying in Bangkok, in a government-approved 3-star hotel with all the basic amenities you need to make those 2 weeks as enjoyable as possible.

Once you are able to transfer, the group will head to Chiang Mai to spend some time there where you will get the opportunity to explore the old town and the surrounding areas. There is plenty to do and see from the market held into the old town, to the night bazaars and the many temples, museums and rural-villages nearby.

During your time in the rural village of Maedtaman, you will experience the true Thai life! The village is about an hour away North of Chiang Mai. It is a much simpler and relaxed pace of life, where you will learn to go with the flow.

For the group’s next adventure, we will head to Phuket, the biggest island in Thailand. Well known for its magnificent coves and bays, it is a great area filled with white sand beaches and is known as the world’s finest beach destination!

Your next stop will be Surin Island, also a paradise of the fine white sandy beaches, but also thick jungles, crystal-clear waters, and some of the best coral reefs in Thailand. The area is composed of a group of five islands in the Andaman Sea between Myanmar and Thailand. It is home to the Moken community. There, you will learn about the brightly colored “Spirit Poles” and Moken homes, built on wooden stilts directly on the beach. You will have the opportunity to participate in a handicraft workshop and learn the traditional art of Moken weaving. You will get the chance to use forest Pandanus leaves to weave a natural bracelet and keep it as a souvenir to show your friends back home upon your return. You will also have a chance to do a forest hike where your Moken guide will highlight useful plants, including medicinal herbs, edible species, and those used in construction of traditional houseboats. You also go on a snorkeling coral reef exploration with a Moken guide to see the underwater life of the sea gypsies, how they have adapted to living in the water, and why they love it. Watch as your Moken guide spots sea turtles and sharks swimming in the waters. Your guide will take you to a wonderland of colorful tropical fish and allow you to witness the impressive Moken swimming techniques.

Then, the group will head to Khao Sok National Park and bask in the beauty of a 20 million-year-old evergreen rainforest and immerse in the natural environment. The area is well known for the huge limestone mountains, deep valley, exciting caves, wild animals and breathtaking lakes.

One of the most interesting areas of the national park is Cheow Larn Lake, where the group will be heading next. This man‐made reservoir has outstanding beauty with its towering limestone cliffs and jungle‐clad hills. This will be the perfect place to take longtail boards, enjoy a Thai style lunch of local vegetables and fresh fish from the lake, and immerse yourself with nature.

Accommodation

Throughout your 6-week Gap Year program 2021: Thailand Culture and Service program, you will experience a variety of accommodations along the way to immerse you in the country and have different perspective:

Bangkok – single room in a 3* hotel with complimentary Wi-Fi and TV
Chiang Mai – double room in a guesthouse with complimentary Wi-Fi
Rural village – double room in a local host family
Phuket – double room in a local hotel with complimentary Wi-Fi
Surin Islands – tented accommodation with bedding provided at the National Park Headquarter. Electricity generated from 6-10pm
Khao Sok National Park – double room in a jungle resort
Cheow Larn Lake Spend – double room in a floating accommodation on the lake.

Details & Costs

Duration: 6 weeks
Cost: £6830 / $7995 for 6 weeks
Requirements: Age 18+
Location: Variety of locations within Thailand
Working hours: 8 hours a day of activities
Project availability: Spring - March 16, 2021
Arrival day: Tuesday

What is included

Accommodation: shared room of maximum 1 other volunteer
Meals: 3 meals per day.
Airport: scheduled pick up and drop off from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport
On the ground transportation: all transports between locations including flights within the program
Access to personal online Kaya Community account including:
– Pre-departure information pack for Thailand
– Fundraising Guide
– How to Manage your Money Abroad Guide
– Learning Reflection Guide
On the ground training: cultural and safety orientation, project induction, cultural immersion modules, cooking class, meditation retreat, trekking, Surin National Park entry fees, Moken experience, Khao Sok National Park entry fees.
Support: 24-hour local support with a team leader.

What is not included

Flights to/from Thailand
Insurance
Visas
Covid-19 PCR tests (prior to arrival)
Police/Government Background Check; US and UK citizens will be processed through Kaya (admin fee applies). All other nationalities must provide local police check.
Routine or country-specific vaccination if applicable

Pictures from our 6-week Gap Year program 2021: Thailand Culture and Service

Easy 4-step application process

APPLY ONLINE

Click here to apply online and pay your application fee to apply for your space on your chosen project. Our advisors will then contact you to guide you through the next steps.

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW

Once we’ve received your application, we’ll review your details and be in touch to arrange your informal telephone interview with your Kaya Placement Advisor.

CONFIRMATION

Following your interview, we will provide you a placement offer. Once you are ready to confirm your placement and dates, you can pay your confirmation fee to book and secure your space.

GET PREPARED

When you have confirmed your project dates we'll send you your Welcome Pack and lots of other helpful information to assist you with preparing for your placement.

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