

THAILAND
ELEPHANTS AND ISLANDS
An 21-Day Service Learning Program






Thailand

Program Details
Dates: | June 30 – July 20 July 18 – August 7 |
Duration: | 21 days |
Tuition: | $5,895* |
Arrive: | Los Angeles, CA |
Depart: | Los Angeles, CA |
Grade | 9th, 10th, 11th &12th |
*Airfare for group flight from Los Angeles additional
Learn More About Us
Speak with a Director
You May Also Like


Program Highlights
- Let the Sights, Sounds, and Flavors of Thailand Sink in as the “Land of Smiles” Welcomes You
- Explore Ancient Temples and Chat With Buddhist Monks About Thailand’s National Religion
- Lead an English Camp for Children in an Ethnic Minority Village and Help Safeguard their Hill Tribe from Devastating Landslides
- Help Maintain a Nature Reserve for Wild Elephants and Catch a Glimpse of These Creatures From Your Jungle Treehouse
- Earn Your SCUBA Certification while Diving Brilliant Coral Reefs on a Private Island
- Create your own Pad Thai, Curry, Spring Rolls, and Sticky Rice in a Cooking Class Dedicated to Traditional Thai Flavors
- Take a Mud Bath with the Largest Land Mammal, Then Keep the Elephants Happy With Plenty of Hand-Fed Watermelon
- 25 Hours of Community Service
Spotlight Project
Highland Minority Community Service
Ethnic Minorities groups have long been marginalized in the hills and along the borders of Thailand. In the Karen Hill Tribe we visit, mass deforestation has destabilized the hillside, causing yearly mudslides during the long rainy season. These landslides are both destructive and dangerous and have taken the lives of multiple community members. In our time in the rural village, we’ve shored up the hillside with a retaining wall and started improvements on the kindergarten classroom, which was badly damaged in a recent slide. This summer we continue to improve the community’s infrastructure, while also providing a fun three-day educational camp for the local children who are thrilled to learn about other cultures, a lesson rarely delivered in remote hill tribes. During our summer camp, we also teach the local students about personal hygiene and the importance of handwashing and dental care. Our time in the village allows us to form lasting relationships with the local community while proving an impact on future generations.
Program Overview
The “Land of Smiles” welcomes you to experience the best of Thailand. Sit with saffron-robed monks in ancient, golden temples in the moated city of Chiang Mai. Make an impact on a Karen Hill Tribe as you help rebuild a Kindergarten classroom and provide an educational and fun day-camp for the Hill Tribe children. Zipline through the lush northern hills, learn to make your own curries, pad Thai, spring rolls, and sticky rice at a cooking class and shop at the colorful local markets. Learn what makes elephants such an integral part of Thai culture and work with conservationists to secure their future. Walk with these gentle giants through their natural environment, take a mud bath with elephants in a sanctuary, and watch for wild elephants traipsing through the eco-reserve and wildlife corridor you call home. Journey south to explore Thailand’s beautiful beaches and tropical islands. Earn your PADI SCUBA certification by day, and by night enjoy the serenity of an island private to you and all of your new friends, bonded now through endless adventures in Thailand.
Photo Gallery
Program Details
Chiang Mai: The Northern Rose
This ancient city, surrounded by a moat and filled with over 300 temples, is known as the Northern Rose of Thailand and dates back to the 13th century. Full of colorful markets, rich foods you’ll only find in Northern Thailand, and women in long tube skirts and monks in saffron robes, Chiang Mai is the perfect start for understanding the richness of Thailand. Here, you’ll speak directly with monks to understand Thailand’s main religion, Buddhism. You’ll scour markets for the best ingredients to use in a traditional Thai cooking class where you’ll make and enjoy Pad Thai, curries, sticky rice, spring rolls, and more. You’ll head into the hills for an exhilarating zipline and a majestic stroll through Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s most sacred temple.
Northern Highlands: Village Hill Tribe Service
In the northern and border regions of Thailand, various minority tribes still live in small communities where they have managed to retain their own language, customs, mode of dress, and spiritual beliefs. We’ll head to a remote village in the hills of Doi Suthep to meet with a Karen tribe we’ve called family for the past seven years. Here, we will continue ARCC’s work renovating a Kindergarten classroom once destroyed by a landslide and provide a day camp for the children in the community. We’ll teach them good hand-washing and dental care techniques, and they’ll teach us how to plant and harvest rice in the beautiful paddies that surround this special and beautiful place.
Kanchanaburi: Elephant Jungles
Just 100 years ago, Thailand was home to over 300,000 wild elephants. Now, fewer than 4000 roam in ever-dwindling patches of jungle. Habitat and food loss, as well as the popularity of trekking camps, are to blame for these numbers. However, many local conservation organizations are working to create solutions to save elephants, a national symbol in Thailand. We’re here to help. Our elephant conservation journey begins at a respected nature preserve and wildlife corridor tucked away in the lush Thai forest. With the help of scientists and conservationists, we build dams for permanent water sources, create natural salt-licks in the jungle, and plant native trees to help elephants and other important wildlife species. We spot wild elephants from the treehouse and even spend a day playing with elephants in a no-ride sanctuary that protects captive elephants while they live out their lives free from chains. We leave with a good understanding of Thailand’s struggle to maintain wild elephant populations while taking care of past captive populations.
Island Paradise & SCUBA Certification
Reefs teeming with exotic fish and soft corals lure us to Koh Nang Yuan, a small island kept private at night for only those staying in its inviting bungalows. In the island’s warm, crystal clear waters, we become PADI Certified Open Water Divers or upgrade to PADI Advanced Open Water Divers. (All students wishing to SCUBA dive must pass a diving physical and cannot have used an inhaler or suffered from asthma in the past three years. For those not wishing or unable to dive, alternative water activities are available.) While on the island we gain a new perspective of this rich culture and soak up the island sun while enjoying our new friendships on the most beautiful beaches of Thailand.
Bangkok: Ancient Meets Modern
Before final goodbyes, explore one of Southeast Asia’s largest cities, where ancient traditions meet modern skyscrapers. Little old ladies sell noodles from carts in colorful markets while speed boats shuttle men and women to business districts along the Chao Phraya river. Practice Thailand’s martial art, Muay Thai, then enjoy a traditional Thai massage. Spend your final night on a chartered boat enjoying your last Thai tastes while floating past the sparkling Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the Rama VIII bridge. Leave with an understanding of why Thailand is called the “Land of Smiles.”
Program Reviews
“This trip is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I wish I could do it again right now. Between the things I learned, the friends I made and the places I went, I can’t think of any better way to spend my summer.”
— Emma VL., Katonah, NY, ARCC Student“The Thailand trip gives you great opportunities to learn more about yourself while helping others. It really gives you a look into different perspectives of the culture here.”
— Chelsea W., Haddonfield, NJ, ARCC Student“I really like the people on this trip. The people are what make a trip and ARCC always has good people applying to it.”
— Hunter B., NYC, NY, ARCC Student“The ARCC trip opened my eyes to the diversity and adventure that await in new countries. The language and social barriers are easily – and quickly – torn down. It’s life changing.”
— Kelsey H., Reno, NV, ARCC Student“The people were so unbelievably great that I enjoyed every moment. The leaders, the kids were great and I am so happy I came on this trip. I really enjoyed the community service and EVERYTHING. It was outstanding.”
— Benny G., ARCC Student
Group Journal Excerpts
Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their summer program with ARCC:
Culture in Thailand!
After a rustic night of stargazing at the orphanage, we were happy to learn we had a half an hour more of sleep the following day. In the morning, we boarded the “tuk-tuk party bus” which drove us two hours to spend a refreshing night with Buddhist monks. On the way, we stopped off at…Read more
English Teaching in Kanchanaburi
We may not be experts in Thai, but yesterday we helped 100 kids to become experts in English! We are here at the orphanage and enjoying our second English service project. We had games, postcard making, and even a limbo contest with all the students from the orphanage and surrounding school. Read more Today we…Read more
Common Questions
What is the packing list for this program?
Each program has a specific packing list that has been designed to fit the program’s activities, length, climate and cultural differences. Please click here to view the Thailand: Hill Tribe Impact packing list.
What is the weather like in Thailand?
Most of Thailand, with the exception of the mountainous regions in the north, can be described as hot and humid. Day-time temperatures in the summer months usually fall in the mid-80’s, with an average humidity of 66% to 82%. In the northern hill-country temperatures can fall into the 50’s, and it can get quite chilly in the evenings. Though it is not the rainy season during our summer program, it can rain frequently throughout the month of July in the regions we visit.
What are the service projects like?
ARCC has been operating programs in Thailand for many years, and we have built close relationships with a variety of individuals, small communities and organizations who enjoy hosting ARCC student groups. On this program, we spend time living and working in a remote hill tribe village. The specific service projects that each group will work on depend on what is most needed in the community at the time. Projects could include building a bamboo bridge for safe access to the school in wet season, a village meeting house, a playground, or making renovations to a school. We also participate in an elephant service project at a nature preserve and elephant sanctuary and teach English to local schoolchildren.
What kind of health precautions should I take before traveling to Thailand?
Thailand is a relatively clean and safe place to travel. However, ARCC does recommend that you take some health precautions before your trip to Thailand. When you enroll in the program, you will receive more complete information on pertinent travel vaccinations and immunizations. Please also refer to the Traveler’s Health section of the CDC website. Our leaders carry a full first aid kit, and are all certified Wilderness First Responders (WFR).
Where will we sleep?
During this program we sleep in a variety of accommodations: small hotels, a community center, dorm style bungalows, a monastery and overnight trains.
What is the transportation like once we are in Thailand?
We use a variety of transportation on the Thailand: Hill Tribe Impact program. We travel by train in overnight sleeper coaches and by private busses.
What is the food like?
We will have the opportunity to sample traditional Thailand cuisine such as noodles (like Pad Thai), curries, springs rolls and fresh fruits. We will also be taking a cooking class to learn how to cook all of our favorite dishes!
How much spending money should I bring?
For Thailand: Hill Tribe Impact, ARCC recommends that you bring an additional $150 of spending money. You should bring this money in the form of cash (small bills are best) and also bring an ATM/debit card with you. Thailand uses the “baht” as currency and there are approximately 32 Thai baht to every US $1.
As with any international program, we strongly recommend talking to your bank about its international withdrawal policies to avoid any surprise fees or card cancellations.
Do I need a passport?
Yes, all students traveling to Thailand need to have a valid passport. Please make sure the passport expiration date is at least six months after you travel. Passport applications are available at the post office. If you do not already have a passport, you should apply for one as soon as you enroll in this adventure. It normally takes six weeks to process a passport application.
Do I need a visa?
No. US and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for this program (unless you plan on staying in Thailand before or after the program).
What is the time difference between Thailand and the USA?
All of Thailand falls within a single time zone. While on your program in Thailand, the time will be 11 hours later than New York (Eastern Time), 12 hours later than Chicago (Central Time), and 14 hours later than San Francisco (Pacific Time).
Do I really need to bring a backpack, or can I bring a rolling suitcase on this program?
Although you will not be doing traditional backpacking on this program, it is important that you bring a backpack as your main piece of luggage. During the program the group will be navigating through airports, on and off buses, up and down stairways, and taking short hikes on unpaved paths. The group will be able to move much more efficiently if everyone is carrying their belongings on their back.
What kinds of goods and supplies can we bring to donate for the people we meet?
We have the chance to live amongst some people who have the very basics for survival. With education being a tool to better their lives, basic school supplies are welcomed with open arms. Pens, pencils, notepads, and books are widely accepted. Soccer balls are also an incredible way to cross the cultural border and share smiles. Because of limited space on our vehicles ARCC would ask that every person to bring no more than a gym bag of goods to donate.
You May Also Like


19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, OR 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC
Contact Us
19800 Village Office Ct.
Suite 200
Bend, Oregon 97702
(415) 332-5075
Email ARCC