Land of the Free

Volunteer Thailand

A Gapper’s Paradise

When you think ‘gap year’, Thailand is one of the first places that comes to mind. And it’s easy to see why.

Thailand is a tropical paradise, with a coastline like no other, serene Buddhist temples and the vibrant cityscape of Bangkok. But despite well-developed cities and a thriving tourist economy, Thailand’s rural communities are being left behind.

Volunteer Thailand

The gap between rural and urban areas when it comes to achieving the SDGs is growing. While the urban areas grow, the disadvantages in rural areas and among ethnic minorities are becoming more pronounced. At GapGuru, we’re trying to help bridge that gap.

On a GapGuru experience in Thailand, we give you the chance to do far more than simply volunteer abroad. You’ll join our efforts to empower Thailand’s underprivileged rural communities, inspire change and leave your handprint on this stunning country.

Why Gap Year in Thailand?

Why GapGuru?

Extensive Gap Year Experience

Over the past 18 years, we’ve guided more than 6,000 students through unforgettable gap year experiences.

Ethical Gap Year Programs

All our programs work towards the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals and are backed up by our charity, the FutureSense Foundation.

A community of support

You’ll be guided by our GapGuru Advisors and Mentors before, during and after your gap year experience.

Why visit Thailand?

Here it is from the people that have done it before

This was an amazing experience

This was an amazing experience, loved every second even through the challenges. Working on improving the environment and volunteering at the park where so rewarding but also the workshops carried out as a team where great to experience.

I loved experiencing new cultures

This was such an amazing experience that changed how I look at the world and taught me more about what it means to be a global citizen. It also made me realise how much I want to travel in the future.

A wholesome, fulfilling experience

I’d highly recommend this experience to any students. Not only does it look great on a CV but it was tremendous fun to do as well. Overall, a really fantastic experience.

learnt so much and had an amazing time.

Absolutely amazing. Any issues I had in organising the trip, eg flights or vaccines, they told me exactly where to go for the best info. I was completely prepared for my trip, what I would be doing, and the expectations. I learnt so much and had an amazing time.

Your Gap Year in Thailand

All you need to know

Thailand Highlights

Thailand quick facts

Mae Sariang

Mae Sariang is a traditional Thai town that sits on the eastern bank of the Yuam River in the Mae Hong Son province, 40km from the Burmese border. The surrounding Hill Tribes are mostly Karen and Lawa ethnic minorities, formed when these groups migrated across the border from Myanmar.

These hill tribes have historically been cut off from Thai society and face a number of significant social and economic challenges.

Mae Sariang is referred to as the land of nature. It’s a small and quiet town surrounded by lush mountains and green rice fields. The town has a diverse population and is a beautiful area for exploring traditional cultures.
In Mae Sariang, most local people in the town are farmers, planting mainly rice and other crops throughout the year.

Language

There are over 70 different languages spoken in Thailand, and each of the rural hill-tribe villages has its own language!

Thai is the official language of Thailand, with approximately 85% of the population speaking it.

To help you with your Thai, here are some phrases you may use on a day-to-day basis whilst on the

English	Thai Pronunciation	Thai
Hello	Sa-wad-dee	สวัสดี
Good morning	Arun-Sa-wad	อรุณสวัสดิ
How are you?	Sa-Bai-Dee-Mai	สบายดีไหม
Thank you	Kob-Khun	ขอบคุณ
My name is…	Chan–Cheu	ฉันชือ

Thai History and Culture

History

The region known as Thailand has been inhabited for over 10,000 years. Like many nations, its history has been at times both complex and troubled.

One of the earliest identifiable Thai kingdoms was commonly called Lanna, but the historic city of Ayutthaya soon became the effective capital of what could loosely be termed the Thai nation. Ayutthaya was sacked in 1767 leading to the founding of a new capital at Thonburi. This was soon followed by a move across the river to Bangkok, where the Chakru dynasty rules to this day.

Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been colonised by a foreign power. This was in part achieved by smart political dealings with Japan during World War II and later through an alliance with the USA.

When in Thailand, it’s hard to miss the adoration directed at the monarchy, which has been in place constitutionally since 1932. The current King, Maha Vajiralongkorn, is the only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. King Bhumibol Adulyadej was adored by the nation and was the third-longest verified reigning sovereign monarch in world history, after King Louis XIV and Queen Elizabeth II, reigning for 70 years and 126 days.

Culture

Traditions are very strong in Thailand, as is the sense of community. It is important to be curious, but not get frustrated with things that may work differently from what you’re accustomed to.

Thai time

People in Thailand are very relaxed about time, and punctuality is not as important as it is in western cultures! Expect some things to change last minute due to timing and other logistical challenges.

Thai Greetings

When communicating with people in Thailand it is polite to greet them with ‘Sawadee’ followed by ‘kah’ if you’re female and ‘krub’ for males.

If speaking with elders, it is polite to address them with a ‘Wai’, which is placing two palms together, with fingertips touching the nose.

Culture Shock

Culture shock can happen to anyone experiencing a new culture for the first time. It’s the shock your mind and body go through when your daily life changes and you have to get used to a new routine and way of life.

When in Thailand, you’ll be faced with a close to an endless stream of new experiences. We’ll do what we can to prepare you before you leave the UK, but the only way to truly understand a local culture is to immerse yourself in it.

Head to our Gap Year Advice section to find out more about culture shock, how to recognise it and the best ways to handle it.

The Community

During your time in Thailand, you’ll be working with children and their families from Mae Sariang.

Many of the families in Mae Sariang face significant disadvantages. Most are farming families who live under the poverty line, and have limited access to quality education, healthcare and income generation opportunities.

The children generally have very limited English skills and vocabulary but are eager to engage and try. Energy, body language and other creative ways of communicating can go a long way!

All of our programs have been built in partnership with our charity, the FutureSense Foundation. All are long-term and work towards achieving the UN’s SDGs to create lasting change. You’ll be a part of that change, impacting the lives of the people across the Mae Seraing community.

During your time with the people of Mae Sariang, you’ll forge relationships that will last a lifetime. You’ll never forget the people you share this experience with.

Where you’ll be staying

You will be staying in dorm-style accommodation close to the centre of town. The rooms are dorm style and you’ll be sharing with 2-3 other gappers, likely in bunk beds. Keep in mind that the beds and pillows will be a bit harder than you’re used to at home.

There are fans in the rooms and mosquito nets available.

The accommodation has shared bathrooms that include a western toilet, shower and sink, and there are plenty of nice spaces where you can relax in your spare time.

The house is safe and regularly cleaned, however, the amenities won’t be what you’re used to at home. Be prepared for things like putting toilet paper in a bin rather than flushing it or having the bathroom facilities in a compound a few meters away from the main house. This is all part of the challenge of embracing the local culture and understanding the way that many people in the world live their daily lives!

Meals

Meals are served family-style and are vegetarian to ensure that we can provide you with safe food and also reduce our carbon footprint.

Please ensure that any additional allergy or dietary requirements have been communicated to us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements with our housekeeping team.

Breakfast

We keep breakfast simple to give you time in the morning. Expect toast, jam and eggs with coffee and tea.

Lunch

Lunch will either be back at your accommodation or will be a packed lunch that you will take with you to your project.

Dinner

At your accommodation, dinner will be served usually with rice or noodles as the staple ingredients. Our house cook will prepare delicious Thai meals (never too spicy) and might occasionally sneak in some western dishes.

Your Typical Day

Though each program is unique you’ll follow a similar routine regardless of what you’re doing.

You’ll wake up around 7:00 am for breakfast, then head out to your project location around 8 am for morning activities. Your workshops will last around 2-3 hours then you’ll stop for lunch.

After that you’ll head back to the house for some cultural activities, a daily debrief and some time for planning.
The evenings are for group bonding activities run by your in-country team learning about Thai culture. The evenings are also time for exploration where you can get out and discover Mae Sariang!

If you’re based in a hill-tribe village for part of your program, prepare to entertain yourself in the evenings! We recommend bringing playing cards, a good book and downloading some movies onto your phone or tablet.

Weekends

Your weekends are yours to spend as you like, but we’ll work with you to create an unforgettable itinerary.

You might stay in Mae Sariang and explore the local area (see ‘Things To Do’ section below), or head further afield to Chiang Mai, where you have the chance to meet elephants and explore the incredible night bazaar.

There are so many ways to spend your free time so if you want any help organising activities, let us know before or during your stay and we’d be delighted to help.

Budgeting

Although all meals are included in your programme, whilst you are in Thailand you’ll want to buy snacks and try the local foods.

Here’s a list of a few standard items to help you budget for your trip, however, approximately £5 per day should be adequate for your time in Thailand.

£1.00 = 43.8 Thai Baht*

Sweet treats


Dairy Milk Chocolate 39g	140 Baht
Kitkat 35g	23 Baht
Dark Chocolate 35g	25 Baht


Oreo 133g	30 Baht
Kinder Bueno 39g	36 Baht
Homey 120g	15 Baht

Savoury snacks


Ritz 80g	15 Baht
Cheese Crackers 40g	8 Baht
Salted Peanuts	30-50 Baht
Mango Sticky Rice	20-40 Baht
Crisps	20-30 Baht
Fried Banana	15-30 Baht
Sausage	30-50 Baht
Meat Stick	30-50 Baht

Drink & Fruit


Bananas	40-70 Baht
Mango 1kg	30-40 Baht
Apples 1 pack	20-40 Baht
Orange 1kg	30-40 Baht


Coca Cola 325ml	15 Baht
Energy Drink 325ml	13 Baht
Water 750 -1500ml	9-14 Baht
Soda Water 325ml	8-10 Baht

*Correct as of October 2022

Your support

Our Gap Year programs have the best of all worlds: independent, impactful travel with a support network that’s there whenever you need it.

During your stay in Mae Sariang, you’ll be in the care of our dedicated Thailand GapGuru Mentors. They not only ensure you never feel too far from home but they’re also there to help you make the most of your time in Thailand.

Our Thailand team are based in Mae Sariang where they live and work in the community year-round. They’re there for you every step of your journey and will be on hand to help whenever you need it.

James

Country Coordinator

James is from Pa-Pae hill tribe and of Lawa ethnic decent. She speaks many languages including Lawa, Lanna, Thai and English!
James enjoys socialising over a shared meal or some games as a fun and relaxed way to learn more about other cultures.

Being from a hill tribe and having completed a degree in Education, James is aware of local challenges and enjoys supporting the work of the Thai hub.

Mork

Partnership Coordinator

Mork grew up in Mae Sariang and has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology. She’s interested in different cultures and is always looking to engage with and learn new things from people from other places.

Mork manages the Health Programs within the Thailand Team and supports volunteers to ensure they have a great experience while supporting local communities.

Thailand Program Pricing

Having been doing this for as long as we have, we’ve got the experience to know exactly what makes an incredible gap year experience. As a result, we’ve made our Thailand gap year program format and pricing simple.

Our programs in Mae Sariang run for a minimum of four weeks. You can add additional weeks in Thailand or combine another one of our destinations to see more corners of the globe.

If you’re interested in including some independent travel, let us know and we can help you organise it around your programs.

Prices Include

Safe Accommodation
3 x nutritious meals (Mon –Fri)
All pre-travel materials
Training & orientation
Pre-travel, in-country & post-travel care
In-country transport
Airport pick-up & drop-off
GapGuru Mentor

What we can help you with

We know that sorting this stuff out can be hard so we’re more than happy to help!

Things to do in Thailand

Thailand Bucket List

Explore Mae Sariang

Mae Sariang might be a rural area, but there are still plenty of amazing things to see and do in your free afternoons and evenings! The Thailand team will be hosting activities that you’re welcome to join, like movie nights, card games, trivia, yoga, cooking classes, language lessons and visits to the market.

If you’d like to do your own exploring, our team will be able to help direct you to temples, rice fields, lakes and more.

Mae Sariang

Doi Mae Ho Tribal Welfare and Development Centre

Here you can find stunning Mexican sunflower fields that bloom from November to December and spread over more than 2km. You can take a short hike to a scenic viewpoint where you can even arrange to spend a night under the stars.

You can also visit the nearby Karen village and learn about their way of life.

Doi Mae Ho

Doi Inthanon National Park

This national park is located 2.5 – 3 hours away from Mae Sariang and 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai. It’s home to Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon, and boasts amazing trails, beautiful gardens, stunning waterfalls and ancient temples.

Try to get there early in the day as there’s a lot to see!

Doi Inthanon

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is about a 4-hour bus ride from Mae Sariang and a truly amazing city to explore. If you want to spend your weekend here you’ll be able to catch the bus on Friday afternoon and have all day Saturday as well as Sunday morning to explore. Then you can catch the bus back to Mae Sariang on Sunday afternoon and arrive in time for dinner! Our team will be able to help you arrange everything for your weekend when you arrive in Thailand, so you don’t need to do any planning before you go. Chiang Mai has a huge range of accommodations to fit any budget – from quirky hostels to more decadent hotels with spas and pools.

Chiang Mai

Bangkok

Thailand’s capital city has attracted millions of tourists for decades. Bangkok is a large, bustling metropolis and is often the starting point for many gap year travellers exploring South East Asia.

The Chao Phraya River runs through the centre of Bangkok and water taxis allow tourists to hop on and off along the river to explore some of the spectacular sights. You’ll find incredible temples, fascinating museums and bustling markets.
You could add a few days either side of your Thailand GapGuru experience to fully take in this extraordinary city.

Bangkok

The Thai Coast

One of the main things that draw gap year students and adventure seekers to Thailand is the stunning exotic beaches. You’ll find a spectacular coastline like nowhere else in the world and discover your own tropical paradise. From the largest and most popular beach, Phuket to the lesser known spots like Koh Lanta.

Thai Coast

The FutureSense Foundation

Be a part of something bigger

When gapping with us, you’ll be supporting our partner charity, the FutureSense Foundation.

Through our programs and initiatives, the FutureSense Foundation works towards achieving a ‘Fairer World’, a world in which each person has the opportunity to meet their aspirations for a better future.

On your gap year, you’ll see first-hand the work that the FutureSense Foundation does and be a part of our long-term, sustainable programs.

Thailand volunteer programs

How do you want to make your impact?

On our programs, you’ll be immersed in our community development projects to help increase our impact in the area. That could be through health promotion workshops, teaching conversational English and life skills to school children, planting trees with the community, or building new classrooms.

However you want to leave your handprint, we’ve created the best programs to help you make the most of your time in Thailand.

Health & Wellbeing

Help bring awareness of vital health issues to improve the lives of the children and adults of the Mae Seraing community.

Education

Work with local schools to deliver workshops on a range of topics, from conversational English to Environmental Awareness.

Climate Action

Work with children and adults to raise awareness of climate change and turn that awareness into action.

Expression

Become an activity leader to inspire the local children to express themselves through creative arts and sport.

How it works

The GapGuru Way

At GapGuru we have the experience to keep things simple for you. With close to two decades shaping over 6,000 trips, we know exactly what makes an impactful, meaningful and memorable gap year. Simply choose your start date then follow these three simple steps:

STEP 01

Choose where you'll make your impact

Pick from five incredible destinations, electing the number of weeks you want to spend in each. You’ll be playing your part to help create a brighter future for some of the most disadvantaged communities around the world.

STEP 02

Decide how you'll make a difference

Select from four activity types that have been designed to be as impactful as possible. All of our programs are built off the back of the FutureSense Foundation, ensuring you’ll be a part of creating lasting change for our communities.

STEP 03

Choose your add-ons

Select additional programs to add to your gap year experience. These can be in the same country as your core activity or in any of our other unique destinations across the globe.

What to know more about Gap Years in Thailand?

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Contact Us Todays

Chat to our Gap Gurus

If you have any questions at all about what to do, where to go, or how to plan your gap year, get in touch with our GapGurus today. With nearly two decades in the business, we’ve probably had the question before!

Need Gap Year Advice?

Whether you’ve already booked a gap experience with us or are still looking, get in the know about everything ‘gap year’. Our comprehensive Gap Year Guide covers everything you need to know, from why you should take a gap year, to information for parents, travel tips, and more.

Volunteer Thailand

A Gapper’s Paradise

Volunteer Thailand

Why Gap Year in Thailand?

Why GapGuru?

Extensive Gap Year Experience

Ethical Gap Year Programs

A community of support

Why visit Thailand?

Here it is from the people that have done it before

This was an amazing experience

Sarah

I loved experiencing new cultures

Mia

A wholesome, fulfilling experience

Harrison

learnt so much and had an amazing time.

M. Gray

Your Gap Year in Thailand

All you need to know

Thailand Highlights

Thailand quick facts

Mae Sariang

Language

Sweet treats

Savoury snacks

Drink & Fruit

James

Mork

Prices Include

What we can help you with

Things to do in Thailand

Thailand Bucket List

Explore Mae Sariang

Mae Sariang

Doi Mae Ho

Doi Inthanon

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Bangkok

Thai Coast

The FutureSense Foundation

Be a part of something bigger

Thailand volunteer programs

How do you want to make your impact?

Health & Wellbeing

Education

Climate Action

Expression

How it works

The GapGuru Way

STEP 01

Choose where you'll make your impact

STEP 02

Decide how you'll make a difference

STEP 03

Choose your add-ons

What to know more about Gap Years in Thailand?

Related articles

Contact Us Todays

Chat to our Gap Gurus

Need Gap Year Advice?

Contacts

About GapGuru

Useful Links

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