SE Asia Package

Southeast Asia Package

28 Days, Save $500!

Combine our Thailand & Laos volunteer trips to experience two countries on one unforgettable journey!

Experience Thailand, the gateway to SE Asia, before crossing over the border into Laos, the best-kept secret in SE Asia.  In Laos, you will travel from the elaborate temples and French architecture of Luang Prabang to the rugged mountainous landscape of Sop Chem village to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary, meditate with monks in a monastery, summit limestone peaks, and empower rural communities every step of the way!  Join GIVE’s SE Asia Package to expand your positive impact and experience everything this beautiful and fascinating region of the world has to offer.

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"GIVE has 100% changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. This summer I went on the Thailand and Laos joint package with original plans of only staying in Thailand. After a week, I was influenced so much by everything I had been learning and experiencing that I could not help myself but to extend my trip to add on the Laos package. BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE HANDS DOWN. I never would have imagined that a trip of only just one month would teach me more than my whole life has taught me up until this day. From all the volunteer work, to the culturally immersive activities, and to just spending time with the village people, this trip has shown me what it truly means to be a global citizen and to enact positive change anywhere in the world. This trip has taught me so many lessons about family, economic status in different countries, social issues, and the world as a whole. I look at life and the world through a brand new set of eyes, eyes that now have shown me where my true priorities lie, eyes that have shown me what my potential is in this world, and eyes that have shown me how much love I have inside of me to give to others. This trip taught me the importance of being yourself, truly striving for what you believe in, and the power of friendship and like-minded ideas. I have not laughed more, cried more, and felt more love and appreciation than I have this past month, in my whole life. I highly recommend to everyone who reads this, please go on this adventure of a lifetime. You will thank yourself for it, your family will thank you for it, and this world will one day truly feel your passions that this trip will ignite."

Rob Sosa, SE Asia Package Volunteer

Why Combine GIVE’s Thailand & Laos Excursions?

Aside from saving $500 and experiencing two unique countries in one incredible journey…

See A Different Side of Southeast Asia

The rolling green landscape and colorful hill-tribe communities of Thailand provide the perfect introduction to this beautiful region, but the wild mountainous terrain and saffron-robed monks of Laos will take your experience to the next level.

 

 

Traveling back in time as you cross the border

Traveling from Thailand to Laos feels like traveling back in time to a bygone era.  The mountains are bigger, rivers are wider, paths are less beaten, villages are more remote and culture is equally as fascinating in this one-of-a-kind adventure.

 

You won’t want to leave the squad

More than half of your fellow volunteers will head to Laos after their Thailand Excursion.  Some will even pay to change their flights while in Thailand so they don’t miss out!  Save money and extend time with your new GIVE family by joining the SE Asia Package.

 

Southeast Asia Package: Thailand & Laos Itineraries 

Trip Length: 28 Days Cost: $3990 (Save $500!)

Here’s a glimpse into all that awaits you in Thailand & Laos

Thailand: Track elephants in the jungle | Take the ultimate leap of faith on a 160-foot bungee jump | Embark on a multi-day bamboo rafting journey | Teach English to local children | Plant the seeds of change on our permaculture project | Immerse yourself in colorful hill-tribe cultures

Laos: Rescue Asiatic black bears from the wildlife trade | Meditate with monks in a monastery | Teach English to local children & work on sustainable agriculture | Explore the rugged mountainous landscape | Immerse yourself in the village of Sop Chem

Thailand Itinerary (Before Laos!)

Day 1

Trip Commencement: Group arrives in Chiang Mai. After a warm welcome and orientation from your GIVE guides, the evening is free to explore the city, try out some amazing Thai cuisine and get to know your fellow volunteers!

Day 2

After breakfast, we’ll dive in to the details of the journey ahead, learn more about Thai culture and then take an introductory Thai language lesson! After the Thai lesson, we’ll travel to a Buddhist Temple to learn about the history of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom, the basic principles of Buddhism and some interesting facts about Thai culture.

In the afternoon, we’ll volunteer with Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration and Research Unit (FORRU), helping with anything from tree planting, seed germination, seedling potting & care, seed collection, weeding and fertilizing at one of their tree nurseries or reforestation plots. That evening, we’ll take a tuk-tuk taxi to the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar to sample some world-famous Thai street food and scope out souvenirs!

Day 3

After breakfast, we’ll take a 4-hour drive north through dense jungles and limestone mountains towards our home for the next week – the hill-tribe villages of Muang Khong. After settling into your bungalows, we’ll meet as a group to discuss all the groundbreaking volunteer projects in store for the coming days.

Days 4-10

Volunteering in Muang Khong: After breakfast, we’ll begin work on our English education, sustainable agriculture and reforestation projects. Volunteer until lunchtime and then break for a couple hours before returning to the project site for the rest of the afternoon.  In the late afternoon, we’ll head out on a variety of adventure and cultural immersion activities before dinner: Thai cooking and language lessons, hiking to panoramic viewpoints, learning to make local handicrafts, trekking through limestone caves, helping farmers prepare their rice paddies, playing sports with locals and exploring nearby villages!

Day 11

Strap in for a 4x4 adventure through the jungle on our way to the Karen hill-tribe village of Ba Kao Lam, home to three elephants we’ll be interacting with the next day – Pooh Noi, Mae Boon Sri and Mae Boon Yeun. That afternoon we’ll learn how to build bamboo rafts with our local guides!

Day 12

Spend the morning interacting with the most revered creatures in SE Asia – Asian elephants.  Support this incredible species in Thailand as a responsible traveler, tracking the elephants through the jungle alongside their mahouts (elephant whisperers), bathing them in the river, feeding them healthy herbal supplements, and learning how your ethical elephant experience is directly supporting Asian elephant conservation. On day 12, we’ll embark on a bamboo-rafting journey down the Mae Tang River towards the remote Lahu Village of Pong Ngan. There we’ll celebrate one final night in the jungle, sharing a barbecue dinner with locals and learning traditional dances around the bonfire!

Day 13

Our bamboo-rafting journey culminates with the fastest rapids and best views yet.  Strap in and enjoy the ride or grab a pole and help steer us towards our final adventure in Thailand… A 160-foot BUNGEE JUMP! (Or drift karts and zorbing if heights aren’t your thing.) After that it’s back to Chiang Mai for one final night of reflection and celebration.

Note: Bungee jumping is not available for our teen trips (ages 16-17) due to the policies of the bungee provider. Instead our teen groups will experience a zip-line through the jungle canopy!

Day 14

Trip End: All good things must come to an end.  Soak up your last few hours in Thailand before heading home, OR add-on GIVE’s Laos Volunteer Program to round out your SE Asia experience!

 
**THIS IS A SAMPLE ITINERARY WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

 

Fly from Thailand to Laos with your group!

(flights not included in trip cost)

Laos Itinerary (after your Thailand trip!)

Day 1

Trip Commencement: Group arrives in Luang Prabang. After a warm welcome and orientation from your local guides, the evening is free to explore the Night Market and get to know your fellow volunteers!

Day 2

Wake up early to take part in the world famous Alms Ceremony, a Buddhist tradition of waking up before dawn to provide monks with fresh food for the day. After breakfast, take part in the ultimate cultural orientation by discussing Buddhist culture and practices with local monks! Monks will then teach us about the ancient practice of meditation and lead us in a brief exercise. Later that morning we’ll tour the UXO Museum for a sobering look at the history and lingering effects of the Second Indochina War (Vietnam War) on the people of Laos.

After lunch, we’ll head to the Tat Kuang Sii National Park to behold one of Laos’ greatest natural wonders – a 200-foot cascading waterfall feeding a series of smaller falls and turquoise blue pools. We’ll spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the falls and relaxing in it’s pools.

Day 3

Spend a full-day learning about wildlife conservation efforts in Laos and working hard to construct new enclosures for the Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary, a 60-acre sanctuary that will ultimately house more than 150 Asiatic Black Bears, along with macaques, leopard cats and other animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade in Asia.

Day 4

After breakfast it’s a 3.5 hour van and 1.5 hour long-tail boat cruise to our main destination, Sop Chem – a rustic, riverside village surrounded by limestone cliffs and dense jungle, and our home for the next week! We’ll spend the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring the village and learning more about our project initiatives here.

Days 5-11

Start early each morning with a locally prepared, delicious breakfast. After breakfast, we will begin education and permaculture projects around 9:00 AM. You will work hard until lunchtime, when you will break to have a filling lunch and relax for a couple hours before returning to the project site for the rest of the afternoon. In the late afternoon, we will wrap up volunteer work for the day and then head out on a variety of cultural and adventure activities, like fishing with locals, brewing rice wine, playing sports with local children, taking part in traditional ceremonies, exploring nearby caves and waterfalls, learning to make local handicrafts, or just relaxing and watching village life unfold.

On the final night in Sop Chem, locals will hold a traditional Baci Ceremony for us – wishing us good fortune and safe travels on all future journeys. This is an incredibly meaningful and special tradition to take part in.

Day 12

After breakfast we’ll begin our long-tail boat journey down the Nam Ou River towards the town of Nongkiaw, where we’ll trek through tropical jungle and bamboo forest on our way to the one of the most stunning viewpoints in Laos! Option 2: Never leave your hammock…

Day 13

Enjoy a laid back morning of herbal steam baths and Lao massage. After lunch, we’ll drive back to Luang Prabang for one final night of celebration and reflection on an amazing trip!

Day 14

Trip End: All good things must come to an end. Soak up your last few hours in SE Asia before flying home OR add-on GIVE’s Elephant Experience to trek deep into the jungle with elephants!

*This is a sample itinerary which is subject to change.

Trip Dates & Fees

What’s Included

  • All accommodations within Thailand and Laos, which have access to basic amenities and security
  • All ground transportation within Thailand and Laos
  • Your awesome local and GIVE guides
  • All meals throughout your trip (country specific exceptions)
  • All of your epic adventure and cultural immersion activities
  • Funding for volunteer projects
  • Drinking water 24/7

What’s Not Included

  • Flights to and from Thailand and Laos and all associated air taxes, ticket fees, and any country entry and exit taxes.
  • Medical and travelers insurance
  • Passport and visa (specific to your citizenship)
  • Vaccinations (specific to host country)

Ready to start your adventure?