Elephant Week

With this adventure week option you will learn how to ride the Elephants, head off through forests and around the camp on their backs, bath them and feed them. Even go swimming with them.  This week is an unrivaled opportunity to learn about Elephants and connect with your very own.  Just be warned you can ´t take it with you when your week is up!

Thai Elephant Experience in Umphang, Lak Province

From monolithic temple protrusions, to the living, breathing, legendary white elephant herds of the royal order, the faded beer vests of Khao San Road travellers, to the somewhat infamous, green and gold labels of ´Chang´, if there is one symbol that reverberates the mystical and multifarious character of this Eastern land more than any other, it is the Thai Elephant. Historically, the Thai people´s ally in work and war, at once both strong and placid, roaming the jungle smothered hills of a nation curiously similar in spirit and character to these colossal yet graceful beasts, the decline in wild elephant populations all over Southeast Asia has focused modern attention more vigorously than ever on the enduring character, survival and habitats of the Asian elephant.

We´re offering you the chance to really get stuck in; with our week long Thai elephant experience package in Umphang, you´ll be surrounded by trunk and tree from begging to end, living and working ´at the coalface´ with these undeniably inspiring creatures. Nestled in the limestone valleys of Tak Province in North-central Thailand, amidst the low mists of rice paddies (the local labour staple), soaring Burmese mountain horizons to the west, and some of the most traditional, untouched, ´un-touristy´ Thai towns of yesteryear, where the local folk still cast curious glances at western visitors and sizzle up regional dishes from fiery track-side stalls.

Our elephant experience package runs from Monday to Saturday and aims to give you an encompassing introduction to what life is like working with these animals. We try to make sure you get the broadest possible experience by getting you working with elephants of all ages and genders, always in their natural habitat.

Naturally the elephants are free to roam the project grounds during the day, when you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities necessary to providing good care, whilst helping to ensure the stability of the elephants´ lives here.

With rich, thick, natural jungle terrain and forested hills typical to this region of Thailand, we are lucky to be able to maintain an environment very similar to that enjoyed by the remaining few thousand wild elephants in Southeast Asia, and, with only a few elephant sanctuaries so indelibly surrounded by nature, our ability to do this is largely unique throughout the country.

The elephant care at our sanctuary is comprehensive, and we like to get participants involved with all aspects of this. From health-care check-ups and veterinary procedures, to washing the elephants in the natural lake (one of many in the areas surrounding Umphang) on our grounds, or perhaps, simply socialising with these animals, so strangely human in their own way, your responsibilities are wide ranging and aim to give a broad cross-section of elephant care experience.

In addition, with a diet of up to 180kg of vegetation daily, you can see how preparing the elephants´ intake of greens (usually a mixture of locally sourced sugarcane, banana plant or grasses) could represent one of your main daily tasks, while the routine evening ´trek of the elephants´ back to their forest sleeping areas as the pink Thai sun drops behind the distant hill vistas, is something to always look forward to.

You will work directly with experienced native mahouts (elephant carers) who have grown up with these creatures, training them and ensuring their continued survival. Consequently, there are perhaps no people more readily in tune with the elephant mind than native Thai mahouts, and no better people with whom to experience what life with an elephant is like.

Every group will be assigned their own English speaking tour coordinator, who will be able to answer any practical questions you have about the structure of the experience or the practicalities of staying in Thailand.

Other Activities

Umphang is one of the few remaining untouched and remote, natural gems of Thailand. Like Kanchaniburi to the south, it retains the reputation as one of the ´jump-off points´ (no pun intended) for waterfall enthusiasts and, aside from the Thee Lor Sue on the Mae Klong (which is claimed to be Thailand´s biggest, a two day organised trek from Umphang), there are two local falls (Nam Tok Tharark and Nam Tok Pha), with fresh, cool water; a place to distress your post-work muscles and swap elephant stories with your fellow travellers.

You´ll also be able to tick off one of north Thailand´s must-do activities: Rafting. The local medium-speed rivers provide the perfect raft ride through remote jungle scenery, and it´s a great way to spend a day away from the project.

Accommodation during the week

Thailand just wouldn´t be Thailand without its bamboo, jungle shrouded cabins, looking like they´ve just popped up from the earth, just like the waxy banana plants and bending palms around them. During your stay here you´ll crash in one fully equipped with all the necessities of a rural Thai excursion: Mosquito nets, showers, and sun drenched decking for those cold Changs after a long day with the elephants.

You will receive three square meals a day, all healthy and packed full of the rich flavours Thai cuisine has become so famous for. We try and strike a nice balance between western styles and the spiced-up, aromatic local dishes of Umphang, to keep everything nice and varied.

Accommodation is shared with other experience participants, giving you a great opportunity to socialise with like-minded, elephant-loving people.

During the second week you and other participants have the option to go trekking in the jungle and rainforest of the Phutoei National Park, a lush park not often visited by other tourists.

This again will be a unique experience.  You will be roughing it, but in beautiful surroundings. After this experience, you will have a lot to boast about when you go home as you will be sleeping in tents and surviving with the basics – we´re sure you will have a lot of fun!

The trekking option is fully guided by trained national park rangers, so you will be in safe hands but it is certainly an adventure!

Please note this is not for the fainthearted, sorry roughing it and trekking is not for you do not pick this option!

It is quite a ride to get here from the location of the introduction week, but totally worth it! Your time will be spend in the Forest Resort, a luxury new resort and in a newly built dorm accommodation next to the ancient Thai temple.

If you choose the Buddhism & Culture week you will get to know a lot more about Buddhism and Thai culture. During this week you will visit temples, you have the opportunity to ask your questions about Buddhism to the monks, we will teach you about practicing meditation and chanting in a quiet and spiritual environment. Our guide is very knowledgeable and will tell you all you need to know. If you have a real interest in Buddhism & Culture, this is the programme for you!

So when you are lying on a dreamy white sandy beach, in a paradise setting wouldn’t it be nice to have the body to match. With our cross fit package you can! Four full on cross fit sessions, with professional accredited Cross fitness trainers will whip you into shape so you will not feel guilty about lazing on the beach, and dipping into the Gulf of Thailand will be so much more rewarding.

If you are not familiar with the concept of cross fit, you can join the 4 Foundation classes. These 4 classes will teach you all the basic movements and techniques for CrossFit, so that they are able to do the movements safely and effectively. These classes are similar to personal training as our coach will spend lots of time helping them with the movements.

We run the Foundation classes every day at 10.15am and so they can easily do the Foundation classes in a week.

Please also check out the video below it is the latest fitness craze that has become huge. It’s highly effective high-intensity WODS (work out of the day) mixes hundreds of different techniques and every day is always different. With this option is the perfect way to get into excellent physical shape and get that perfect beach body!

The fit package is the most popular  option. It includes 5 Muay Thai sessions taken over five days. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never done it before, learning the national sport of Thailand in a cool jungle gym is an awesome experience. It is a great way to try something new, get really fit and learn much more about the culture of Thailand.

You will under go a modified non contact training regime in the camp that host monthly Muay Thai fights, a really authentic and cool experience!

Some like to do it in the morning and then hit the beach others like the cooler evening training times.

Probably one of our most chilled out options, you have five sessions working on your well-being, and flexibility with a fantastic yoga package. Set in landscaped gardens surrounded by coconut groves there’s a special feeling about the place.

Just a short stroll from the oceanYou will find a gorgeous yoga Sala, where we have included five sessions are you to get into yoga spirituality and hopefully find Nirvana.

Even if you’ve never tried yoga before this is the perfect place to do it, as everyone is welcome to come and give it a go and it is the perfect activity to take if you want to turn your Koh Tao experience into the ultimate chilled out beach time.

If you want to see what all this scuba diving is all about, with out committing to a full blown PADI course then a Discover Scuba Diving experience is a must. Have you ever wondered what it´s like to breathe underwater. If you want to find out but aren´t quite ready to take the plunge into a certification course, Discover Scuba Diving will let you try scuba to see if you like it. While not an actual scuba certification, during the Discover Scuba Diving experience you´ll learn how to use scuba equipment in shallow water and get a quick and easy introduction to what it takes to explore the underwater world. The discover SCUBA course takes half a day which means you have more beach time to top up the tan :-).

This costs a little more than the Discover Scuba option, but it is a full blow open water course worth over £400. The course lasts 3/4 days  and includes 4 dives in the beautiful Gulf of Thailand. Afterwards you have your PADI Open Water license and can dive anywhere in the world!

This is probably the most Xtreme option, and one of the most rewarding!  Our professional freediver instructors will teach you the basics of Freediving, and accompany you down to depths of 12 metres!

The actual course itself lasts 2 days and included theory and water based instruction. Free diving is about breath holds diving, so no use scuba equipment. This means you are not limited by nitrogen in your blood or depth limits. It takes mental and physical training to become an expert free diver, but our course will certainly get you well on your way there. With beautiful Marine life, soft and hard corals it’s a great way to train yourself to experience the best that the underwater environment has to offer in Koh Tao.

If you’re really lucky you may even get a free diving the whale shark!

Why do we call it Adrenaline Travel? We know that when you push your comfort zone just a little bit you can get the most out of your travel experiences: personal development through overcoming your fears!

The Xtreme Rock Climbing option is the perfect example of trying something exciting and new.

The beginner course is designed for people that are interested in rock climbing and introduces them to the sport. No experience is necessary, but we are sure you will be onto a new addiction once you give it a go.

No matter what action week activity you pick you will also do the adventure day and visit the full moon party, there is plenty going on on the island as well and you have lots of chill time on some of the most amazing beaches! Not a day goes by where you will ever get bored especially when gazing at a bright orange sun setting into the Gulf of Thailand from a pristine white beach.

If you would like to give something back, and counter the effects of tourism on a paradise island then this is the perfect option for you. Our five-day hands-on and educational conservation package,  run in partnership with save Koh Tao land branch, you will be involved in  helping with the conservation efforts around Koh Tao. This could be getting involved in permaculture activities all sustainable development initiatives. This is a genuinely rewarding option, particularly if you are not into the more adrenaline or fitness options and also genuinely demonstrates that you have done something worthwhile with your time out.

The sorts of activities you would be doing include learning how to sow seeds and basic organic gardening techniques. Learning how to compost, well monitoring, creating gardens from reused beer bottles, erosion control work, edible landscaping, installing rainwater tanks, creating a biogas digestor, seed saving, and other similar activities.

Also, if something is happening at the save Koh Tao office related to the marine conservation group, such as working on artificial reef structures or preparing for a community workshop or event, then you would be involved in this as well.

If you are planning on entering the world of journalism, interested in media studies or just want to create some amazing memories of your time on Koh Tao the Xtreme reporter and media intern option allows you to shoot and produce your own movie during your final 12 days in Koh Tao. We will provide you with all the equipment you need to create amazing videos. If you produce a really good one there is even the option for an Xtreme sponsored video, which means we will publish your work on you tube channel and pay you a royalty fee!

You are given free rein in terms of what you want to produce, and an Xtreme Gap Year dedicated videographer will be made available to you to help you with editing your movie at the end of the week. We use waterproof beast vision action cameras so there’s really no limits as to what you can film.

Please note there is strictly limited availability for this option.