Useful Information for Volunteering with Elephants: Thailand

Come with an open mind and realistic expectations. Life on a volunteer project is simpler and slower than at home: shared rooms, basic facilities, heat and humidity, and a culture with its own customs. Everyone feels a little out of place at first, and that is normal.

Before you travel, read the programme information we send you. When you arrive, the local team introduces you to the project, the house rules and local customs, and they are there to talk to if you feel homesick or unsure. Most volunteers find the first few days are the hardest, and the rest flies by.

We accept participants aged from 16 and above. Participants under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. There is no upper age limit however, we recommend participants to check with the program options that are available.

We should always be healthy and maintain our fitness. However, it depends on the project you choose and you should always be ready to work.

Nothing formal. Pack modest, practical clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. On teaching and kindergarten projects, wear neat, casual clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. On construction and conservation projects, wear hard-wearing clothes and closed shoes you do not mind ruining, plus a hat and light long sleeves for the sun. Vest tops and short shorts are not allowed while you are working.

Away from the project, dress with respect for local customs, especially in villages and at religious sites. Your coordinator will tell you about any local rules when you arrive.

Arrival transfer is included, but departure transfer from the hotel to the airport is not. This can be added as an optional extra within your account.

Please arrive before 2:30 PM, so you have enough time to make the last transfer at 4 pm.

Yes, the dress code is seen as a show of respect to the culture, temple and monks that often live in the temples. Men should wear long pants and no cut-off sleeves. Women should wear trousers, a long skirt, or dress that extends fully below the knees and covers their shoulders - the knees should be fully covered. Tank tops and low cut shirts should also be avoided by both genders.

We have spent more than 10 years travelling Thailand in order to find you the best possible experience at the absolute lowest price! We also sell our tour directly to you through our website, not through a travel agency, which cuts out a major expense incurred by other tour companies.

Possibly. It depends on your health, your vaccination history and the rest of your travel plans, so get personal advice rather than relying on a checklist. Book an appointment with your GP practice or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you travel, as some vaccines need more than one dose or time to take effect.

TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) keeps up-to-date health advice for Thailand and every other country we visit. Thailand also asks for proof of yellow fever vaccination if you arrive from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

Yes, please! There are many laundry services in Thailand that offer washing services at very reasonable prices. Just hand your laundry to the staff, and you can usually pick it up the following morning. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even go for the bucket wash. The price is right.

Not much! We suggest at least £10 / US$15 (or equivalent) a day for spending money. Meals that aren't included are very cheap in Thailand, and your accommodation, transport and the activities listed as included on this page are already paid for.

Budget more if your trip has free days when you'd like to add optional trips (island hopping, a cooking class, an elephant sanctuary and so on), if you plan to bring home lots of gifts, or if you like a big night out. You can spend less on a tight budget, but this average works well for most travellers.

Both work, and most travellers use a mix. Thailand's currency is the Thai baht (THB). ATMs are easy to find in the cities, towns and islands we visit, but Thai banks charge a flat fee on foreign cards, typically around 220–350 THB per withdrawal, on top of anything your own bank charges. Taking out larger amounts less often keeps the fees down, and if the machine offers to convert the amount into your home currency, choose to be charged in baht.

Cards and phone payments are accepted in most hotels, shopping centres and larger restaurants, but street food, markets, taxis and small shops are usually cash only. Exchange booths at the airport and in tourist areas take all major currencies; airport rates tend to be weaker, so change only what you need there. Let your bank know you're travelling so it doesn't block your card.

We have a minimum age requirement of 18 years old to join the tour. Group members aged 16-17 years old are welcome to join the tour but only with a family member that will act as their guardian whilst on tour. Aside from that, no age requirements at all! While our target age is 20-45, what matters most is mindset. If you’re looking for a backpacking-style experience, with hostel-style stays, local transport, and optional evening activities - you’re welcome to join us.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof of your policy to your group leader upon arrival (on your phone or printed). You can get a quote and purchase your travel insurance here.

We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.

We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.

Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.

Call your group leader using the number sent in your welcome email. They will assist you.

We are a licensed tour operator based in Bangkok (TAT Licence No. 11/12642), and our team plans and supports every trip we sell.

• You book directly with us, with no agency in between, so prices are clear and there are no hidden charges.
• Our group tours are for like-minded travellers, mostly in their twenties and thirties.
• You travel with local guides and coordinators who know the country inside out.
• We also offer volunteer programmes without admin fees, and private tours at honest, transparent rates.

Thailand is warm all year, so there's no bad time to go, just different trade-offs:

• November to February is the cool, dry season across most of the country and the most popular time to travel.
• March to May is hot, often 35°C or more in Bangkok and the north.
• June to October is the rainy season in Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi), where seas can be rougher. Rain usually comes in heavy bursts rather than all day.
• The Gulf islands (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao) follow a different pattern, with most of their rain from October to December.

Our Thailand weather guide goes month by month.

Tipping isn't expected in Thailand, but it is appreciated, especially in tourist areas where wages are low. Some simple guidelines:

• Restaurants: round up the bill or leave 20–50 THB. Check first whether a 10% service charge has already been added.
• Massages: 50–100 THB is a kind gesture.
• Taxis and tuk-tuks: rounding up to the nearest 10 or 20 baht is plenty.

Tipping your guide or driver at the end of a trip is entirely up to you.

Yes. Almost all hotels, hostels and cafés in Thailand have free wi-fi, although it can be slow or patchy in remote spots such as national parks and smaller islands.

For data on the move, pick up a tourist SIM from one of the network counters in the arrivals hall (you'll need your passport to register it) or set up an eSIM before you fly. Mobile coverage is good across the country and data is inexpensive.

Thailand is one of the most visited countries in Asia and the vast majority of trips are trouble-free. Take the same care you would anywhere, with a few local points:

• Never leave drinks unattended. Drink spiking happens, and cheap spirits can contain methanol, which can kill even in small amounts.
• Big party nights such as the Full Moon Party are where most assaults and thefts happen, so stick with your group.
• If you hire a scooter, wear a helmet, make sure you're licensed and insured, and never hand over your passport as a deposit.
• Drug laws are severe. Cannabis is restricted to medical use with a Thai prescription.

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the far southern provinces near Malaysia and within 20km of the Cambodian border; none of our Thailand trips go there. Read the latest FCDO travel advice for Thailand before you go.

Not at all. Thai is the official language, but English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and tourist areas, and your guide or trip coordinator is always there to help. Learning a few words goes a long way, though. Try sawasdee (hello) and khop khun (thank you), and add krap at the end if you're a man or ka if you're a woman to sound polite.

Thai people are famously relaxed and welcoming, and a little respect goes a long way:

• Never make negative comments about the Thai royal family. It is a criminal offence as well as deeply offensive.
• The head is considered sacred and the feet the lowest part of the body, so don't touch people's heads, and don't point your feet at people or at Buddha images.
• Take your shoes off before entering temples and homes (look for shoes left outside the door).
• Women shouldn't touch monks or hand things to them directly.
• Keep your cool: losing your temper in public is frowned upon and rarely gets results.