Volunteer by the sea in South Thailand
Content 1. Information aboutthe south 2. Projects
What does the South have to offer?
Volunteer by the beautiful Andaman Sea and explore diverse cultures in amazing nature!
An awesome cross culture experience awaits you, as you will be immersed in a melting pot of Buddhist and Muslim, ethnic Thai, Chinese, Malay and Mokken (socalled sea gypsies) cultures, living together in harmony!
You can teach in Krabi town at a school or temple or on Ao Nang, a charming island, popular tourist destination and gateway to the famous Phi Phi islands. Volunteer on Koh Lanta at a school for marginalized Muslim and Mokken students. Or you could help a local community to attract more eco-tourists. Support marine life conservation in the Andaman Sea and volunteer on Phuket Island, one of the most popular travel destinations in the world!
What does South Thailand have to offer? Volunteers of all ages, professionals, families and retirees all find a place and a role in South Thailand! South Thailand has stunning natural sights: shining beaches for sunseekers, crystal clear water for snorkelers and divers and challenging limestone cliffs for adventurous climbers.
The surrounding waters contain almost 1,000 different fish species of all colors and sizes! There are fearful barracudas and sharks, giant manta rays, moray eels and the highly poisonous, but beautiful, dragon fish. You can spot the rare sea turtles nesting on the beaches and dolphins swimming in the clear blue seas! Lucky divers may even spot the impressive (but harmless!) whale shark on their adventures. The dugong, or "sea cow" unfortunately is almost extinct due to large scale and unsustainable fishing methods. This factor and the continual negative effects of mass tourism, are all threats to marine life.
Openmind Projects’ qualified volunteer divers and marine biologists continue to contribute to the protection of this rich but endangered marine environment. They get a chance to dive along the Andaman coast from the Myanmar border in the North to the Malaysia border in the South and often go where tourists do not!
Places to visit and projects to volunteer at in South Thailand
Krabi The town center in Krabi has the atmosphere of a small beachside town. Strung out along mangrove shores and surrounded by jungle and islands, this is nature and culture without mass tourism.
What to do in Krabi Take a boat trip to the nearby islands over the mangroves and spot sea eagles, monkeys, crocodile- looking water monitors. Of course, as it is a mangrove, you will come across many mosquitoes too! You can visit an island with the huge cave and walk straight through the mountains, ending up on the other side! Kayak around the mangroves and say hello to crab-eating monkeys, who have a fondness for stealing bananas. Climb the 1,256 steps to the top of the Tiger Temple with an amazing view over the town, taking in the sights of the sea and islands.
The unique Seashell Graveyard, is a must! Located between Krabi and Ao Nang, the area looks like chunks of concrete but is actually fossilized shells which are about 40 million years old! Don’t miss out on buying some great souvenir black pearls from the locals! Railay Beach is a famous backpacker destination that offers rock-climbing activities for the more adventurous, or a great place to chill out for those wanting to relax.
Ao Nang (Nang Beach), with its beautiful white beaches is a major tourist destination, only 20 minutes from Krabi town. The Phi Phi Islands are worldfamous, beautiful and popular with all kinds of travelers, so it can get quite crowded! Krabi and Au Nang offer great eating options, with many restaurants of catering to all tastes: Thai, Malay, Indian, Western. Don’t miss the Krabi riverside night market, get a bargain, eat cheap and like a local. For volunteers wanting to experience the night life, Krabi and Au Nang comes alive after the sun goes down and local nightspots spring up. There are busy bars and cafes, nightclubs, discos and sometimes even the odd karaoke bar.
Laem Sak Community A great local initiative and community based tourism project, north of Krabi, by the sea.
As an Openmind Volunteer, you can help local people to earn an extra income. Teach English to adults and eager students as well as participating in and supporting fun activities for tourists like trekking, fishing and team building. This is a place ideal for volunteer families, career-breakers and retired volunteers who want to enjoy nature and culture away from busy tourist spots.
Koh Lanta Islands The two largest are Lanta Noi (small) and Lanta Yai, (big). Koh Lanta is a melting pot of Buddhists, ThaiChinese, Muslims and Sea People cultures. Don’t miss the Old Town area, where you can step back into history! Koh Lanta Yai is where the most of the tourist attractions are, and also where volunteers can teach at a school for Muslim and Mokken students, located very near the Old Town and the Chao Le (sea people) village. If you are lucky enough, you may even be there when they offer a boat to the sea gods!
Koh Lanta offers a quieter life, but with stunning jungles, beaches, small islands, mangroves, coral reefs and marine life. Koh Lanta is popular with families and older tourists. Openmind Projects volunteers are invited to help the underprivileged Muslim students and the unique Chao-Le, Sea People community at a local school near the Old Town. This old town feels like it has stood still in time! Enjoy a taste of old Thai culture, with a distinct Chinese feel: with original wooden Chinese shops and houses. The population is Thai-Chinese Muslim and Sea Gypsies living in this unique island. Staying in the Old Town is a wonderful and different experience to the hectic tourist spots so it is perfect for volunteers looking for time-out to relax. During the high season, October- February, the town sees a lot more travelers who flock here too!
Phuket The island of the million tourists! The major lure to Phuket is of course the sea, sun and fun. All the major beaches offer diving, snorkeling, wind surfing and sailing. The beaches and Phuket town offer excellent shopping and eating, all just a walk away from the busy tourist streets! Today Openmind Project volunteers mainly help marine research centers to protect endangered marine life, diving, sea and beach surveys.
Our volunteers are also supporting projects in Trang, further south and closer to Malaysia, at the Had Chao Mai Research center. Phuket was badly affected by the tsunami in 2004 as the giant waves killed thousands of people, including tourists, locals and Burmese guest workers. Openmind Projects and volunteers were helping local communities together with Rotary at that time.
Are you interested? If you're keen to volunteer in South Thailand, make friends with local people and discover the beautiful blue waters and stunning beaches of Krabi, please apply online and we will recommend projects and destinations for you!
READ ABOUT WHERE YOU CAN VOLUNTEER IN THE SOUTH
1. LAEM SAK COMMUNITY (KRABI) 2. THAI MARINE RESEARCH CENTRE (PHUKET) 3. WAT PHO RIENG SCHOOL (KRABI) 4. MAI KHAO BEACH ECO- AND AGROTOURISM PROJECT (PHUKET) 5. BAN NONG KOK SCHOOL (KRABI)
LAEM SAK COMMUNITY KRABI PROVINCE
#COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM #COMMUNITY RESORT
#TEACHING ENGLISH #COMMUNITY CENTRE #TASKS FOR VOLUNTEER MONDAY TO FRIDAY #BULUN ANDA BABA RESORT
BULUN ANDA BABA RESORT
Task for volunteer Monday - Friday In the morning Teaching English at primary school 1.30 hour or go to join a trip with local people. In the afternoon Teaching English to local people (work with Thai who speak English very well). In the evening from 5 to 9 pm.
There are many interesting attractions nearby, and in their free time volunteeres can; Kayak to visit caves (Big Skull Devil Cave with more than 200 paintings insides). Island Hop by longtail boat Visit Krabi Town and Aonang Beach which are a 40 minute drive away.
It would be appreciated if the volunteers can help with. Teaching English to local people who are participating in tourism and also to students at a local primary school. Helping with camp (English, Science, Team Building, recreation activities, music and band). Helping our homestay in escortingguests.
Location
Lame Sak Community
Krabi
Location at Laem Sak community :From Krabi town to Laem Sak about 50 km.
Thai Marine Research Center
If you're looking for an amazing marine and coastal volunteer placement untouched by tourism yet near the bustling tourist spots and gorgeous beaches of Phuket Island, then this project is for you! You will be heavily involved in saving coral reefs and marine wildlife (including sea turtles and tropical fish) as well as the threatened mangrove forests. There is a special mangrove nature trail just outside the park office. Wildlife also includes many species of shellfish, birds, and the large Asian water monitor lizard.
Project type: and Ecotourism Country: Location: Phuket Airport Accommodation:
Marine Conservation Thailand Phuket Island- near Guesthouse
Openmind Projects is helping the Thai National Park & Marine Research Center organize coral reef surveys to assess the impact of tourism on this fragile environment. We welcome qualified volunteers to help with this important project.
Location
Location at Thai marine Center Co.,Ltd. :From Phuket town to Thai marine 12 km.
WAT WAT PHO PHO RIENG REING SCHOOL SCHOOL
WAT PHO RIENG SCHOOL IN Â KRABI
It has mixed levels: kindergarten, primary and high school, and it has 363 students. eachers stay at the school. Volunteers can stay at the school guesthouse.
LOCATION LOCATION
Location at Tombol Krabi noi , Ban Pho Rieng : From Krabi town to Wat Pho Riang School 16 km. Moo 3 Tambon Krabi noi, Muang District, Krabi Province
Mai Khao Beach Ecoand Agrotourism Project
This Eco and Agrotourism Project lies on the spectacular shores of the Andaman Sea on the north coast of Phuket Island.
With major tourist resorts not far away pressures to develop this area threaten traditional ways of life as well as the stunning and diverse natural environment. Local residents, however, want to promote their own community based ecoand agrotourism and need volunteers who can help them!
A conservation project works to protect and propagate threatened beach plants. Organic farming brings attention to sustainable agricultural development. Local handicrafts, the production of chili and fish paste, and the special sand spa treatments provide income for local people. And, of course, learning to catch the local 'tschakatschan' on the beach and cook them, eat them!
Volunteers can help to carry out and further develop these initiatives. A major task will be to help the local community to receive and take care of tourists, which means teaching English to the locals, young and old! Teaching English at the school is important too.
This project gives volunteers the opportunity to learn about Thai life and organic farming while supporting community based ecotourism, helping local people rather than major tour operators Volunteers stay with a home stay family who also provides their meals.
Location
Location at Mai Khao :From Phuket town to Mai Khao about 30 km.
BAN NONG KOK SCHOOL A CHARMING PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SOUTHERN THAILAND ISAN