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Welcome to your program
This two-week program puts you alongside elephant veterinarians and professionals dedicated to teaching you a wealth of knowledge and unique skills while helping animals in need. Students will go on long hikes to observe elephants in their natural habitat.
This page will take you through everything you need to know about your program. You should READ every section. We've linked additional information under each topic as needed.
Housing
The housing at Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary (BEES) is local Thai style living with cots on the floor with bed linen, mosquito nets, and fans. There is currently no Wifi at BEES. Free wifi is available at Rantong Elephant Sanctuary, but the wifi may not be dependable and the connection may not be strong.
Food
During the city week students will eat at a variety of Thai places and American style restaurants. At ENP students will have a variety of vegan food only.
Flights
Please book your travel to arrive in Chiang Mai by 1:00 PM on the arrival Sunday of your program and to depart from Chiang Mai after 3:00 PM on the departure Saturday of your program. Please book your travel to arrive at Chiang Mai International Airport (airport code CNX).
If you are traveling additionally on your own in Thailand, please plan your personal travel for after your Loop Abroad program so that we can assist you with Thailand entry requirements. Loop Abroad will bring you to the airport with the group after your program ends to sign out. After that, you are not on a Loop Abroad program and are responsible for yourself.
BEWARE that flights with more than one stop in China require a Chinese transit visa. We advise against booking flights with more than one stop in China; if you choose to do so, you are responsible for ensuring that you meet any visa requirements. Failure to meet visa requirements may mean that you cannot board your flight at home or your connecting flight in China.
Packing
The only items you are required to bring are those on the “required” lists. General required items (like your passport) are found on the ALL PROGRAMS packing list above. Program specific required items are found below under the REQUIRED section. For the rest of the items, you are welcome to use your discretion. There may be items missing from this list that you’d like to bring, and there may be items on this list that you don’t want to bring. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Required for this program
Clothes appropriate for working in hot weather, outside, dressed modestly. BEES is located in a remote village and has less tourist traffic, and therefore more modest dress is appropriate. You should cover your knees and shoulders at all times. Tee shirts and long shorts or capris are a great choice. Scrub pants or hiking pants are an excellent choice. If you choose leggings, you should wear a top that covers your bum, such as a long tee shirt. The dress code at Rantong is a bit more relaxed, but modest clothing is best.
Mosquito repellant (at least two full cans. We suggest something with DEET.)
One outfit you can wear to visit a Buddhist temple where your knees and shoulders must be totally covered. Lightweight loose-fitting pants (like scrub pants,Thai pants, a long skirt, etc) and a t-shirt works great!
Suggested for this program
Extra Socks- expect your feet to get wet on some days
Long-sleeved shirt (you should bring at least 1 long-sleeved shirt to cover your arms for certain chores)
Rain boots (required for hikes in the forest with the elephants at BEES for snake protection, but there are some on site that you are welcome to borrow)
A pair of work gloves or gardening gloves
Any items you wish to donate (elementary-level books in English, simple no-battery toys, school supplies of any kind, baby supplies, and first aid items are always needed and appreciated. Used items are welcome. If you want to raise money to purchase donations, please contact Loop Abroad – it may be more efficient to arrange purchasing items in Thailand)
FAQ
Please try to keep your bag light - if you are flying domestically in Thailand, the domestic flight checked-bag limit is 20kgs (44lbs) - you will be responsible for transporting it through the airport. If your bag exceeds weight limits on any of your flights, you will be responsible for overage fees. You are NOT allowed to bring a hair dryer, hair straightener, or personal fan using a cord (cannot be safely plugged into 220V electricity in Thailand).
WIFI: Students will have WiFi at some program locations but in larger groups can be slow. If you are interested in a travel phone plan, please talk to your phone provider before your program starts.
Bedding: We will provide you with sheets, pillow and blankets.
Towels: Towels will be provided but wash cloths will not. We recommend brining a luffa.
Laundry: Loop Abroad will pay to have your laundry done once. Laundry will be done approximately mid-trip and may take a few days. You can have laundry done at additional times at your own expense – approximately $1 per pound.
Outlets: You can use a regular 2-prong American plug. Some 3-prong outlets are available. You may find it helpful to have a 3-to-2 adapter like this for plugging in your laptop (if you are bringing one) in some locations. (Usually you can buy at the hardware store for about $1.)
Dress Code: There will be at least one occasion where you will be asked to have "temple clothes." This is nothing fancy! Just clothing that is loose and modest -- no yoga pants or low-cut tops. Your shoulders and knees must be covered for this activity. You will need a minimum of 4 srub tops for surgery day.
Money: Most students spend around $200 USD on a two-week program. You’ll likely want to buy things like souvenirs, laundry, snacks or drinks. So you don’t NEED any money, but you’ll want to bring enough that you can buy some things to bring home. We HIGHLY recommend contacting your bank and ordering Thai Baht before leaving for the program. There will be an ATM where students can withdraw money, and there is an ATM transaction fee each time.
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