Join our elephant Research/Data Collection and enjoy Thailand!

United States

5

The shelter was so great! No phone service was nice and relaxing, so was hiking out. Seeing elephants was so cool. Had a fun time at night playing games and watching movies, my homestay cooked a bit extra for me too. It's a really awesome week.

7 days ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for sharing your experience 🤍 We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the slower pace, the hikes, village life, and of course spending time observing the elephants. It’s great to know you felt well looked after by your host family too. We hope you can visit again in the future!

United States

5

I would recommend this opportunity to anyone looking for a truly ethical the shelter & cultural immersion. The staff is incredible- passionate, intelligent, and kind. Thank you Cristina, Emily, Lucía, Aislinn, Rose, and Kanda! I spent two weeks at the shelter and was sad to leave at the end. I would love to return in the future!

10 days ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience 🤍

We’re really glad you felt the ethics, community, and spirit of the project, and it means a lot to hear that your time with us was meaningful. It was a pleasure having you as part of the team, and you’ll always be welcome back. Wishing you all the best, and we hope to see you again in the future!

Germany

5

One of the few truly ethical sanctuaries in Thailand. It is an incredible experience to see elephants living freely in the wild. But it is above all the local community that makes this project so special. If you are willing to embrace a simple lifestyle and keep an open mind, this experience will enrich you deeply.

about 1 month ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re really glad you enjoyed your time with the elephants and the community, it means a lot to us. You’re always welcome back at KSES. 🐘🌿

Canada

5

Tess and I had a fantastic experience at the shelter. The staff were welcoming and very receptive to any questions we had regarding volunteering or the village itself. The work we did felt meaningful, while maintaining a priority for ethical conservation that should be emulated everywhere. We stayed in the village surrounded by the locals and enjoyed the delicious food cooked for us every day. Everyone greeted us with a smile and we felt we were a part of something truly special. My only regret is that we didn't stay longer.

3 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for your kind words, and for all your help during your stay, especially with the cat, who’s doing great now! We’re really glad you and Tess enjoyed your time here and connected with both the project and the village. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we hope you’ll come back one day to spend a bit more time in the forest with the elephants💚🐘

Colombia

5

This was my very first volunteer experience, and it couldn't have been better! Cristina and the team made me feel welcome from day one. Each day was a new adventure—spending time with the elephants and working alongside the community. It truly makes you realize how valuable it is to support organizations like this, which not only help preserve the ecosystem but also bring lasting benefits to the local community.

3 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for your words! It was such a pleasure having you with us, and you were truly an amazing volunteer. Your enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication made a real difference for both the elephants and our community projects. We hope your experience inspired you as much as you inspired us! We would absolutely love to welcome you back and see you again at KSES in the future.

Canada

5

Sam and I are so glad that we did this! It was a really neat opportunity to live remotely, unplug, and get up close (but not personal!) with elephants in an ethical way, the elephants being free to roam in the wild and do all the things that elephants do. The staff were so friendly and it was clear they really cared for the elephants and cared about the research they do to aide their conservation. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone who loves elephants, research, or even just unique experiences and an adventure!

3 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much, Tess! We’re really happy to hear that you and Sam enjoyed your time with us and appreciated seeing the elephants living freely in their natural environment. It was wonderful having you both here and seeing your enthusiasm for our work and the community. Thank you for being part of our efforts and for spreading the word about ethical experiences with elephants, we hope to welcome you back one day for another adventure in the forest! 💚🐘

United States

5

This was awesome! Getting immersed in a rural village like Ban Naklang was so beautiful, and I learned so much even though I was only there for a week! I highly recommend!!

6 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for your wonderful words and for all your help during your time with us! We’re so glad you enjoyed the experience and connected with the village. We truly hope you can come back one day! 💚

United Kingdom

5

Me and my partner have just returned from our 1 week at KSES, and we already want to return! We loved seeing the elephants returned to their natural environment, it was truly a privilege watching these beautiful animals interact with each other and the world around them. It was an honour to be welcomed so warmly by the Karen people and to learn about their lives and their language (Da Blue!!!!). The work that KSES does is so important and we are grateful to be able to have helped in any way towards their goals of educating and returning elephants to the wild. Thank you so much to the team!

7 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much, Lydia! It was truly a pleasure having you and Dylan with us. We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed your time observing the elephants in their natural environment and connecting with the Karen community. Your support and enthusiasm mean a lot to us and to our mission. We hope to welcome you back one day!! Da Blue! 😊🐘

United Kingdom

5

I spent a week here at the shelter and it was definitely the best week of all my travels! The welcoming I received from both the Karen village and the amazing staff and interns was warmer than I could have imagined! The hike to the elephants every morning was beautiful and the ability to watch these once captive elephants roam through the forest, rivers and hills was very powerful. The experiences here are once in a lifetime and the work being done is incredible! I wish I could have stayed longer - thank you so much for having me here!

7 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much for your beautiful words! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we're so glad you felt at home in the village and enjoyed your time in the forest. Watching the elephants return to their natural behaviours in the forest is truly special, and we’re glad you could be part of that. We wish you could’ve stayed longer too, you’re always welcome back! 💚🐘

United States

5

The work being done at the shelter is so important and inspirational. The elephants are well taken care of with the freedom to roam as they would in the wild. It was so cool to observe them and learn more about their behaviors, diets, and the crisis happening at the shelter parks all over Thailand. It was incredible to see them be able to just be elephants. The gibbon program is also amazing, although we didn't see too many gibbons. The Karen people are incredible as well!! So welcoming and generous. We got to cook with them and learned how to weave and make coffee with them. Forever grateful!

10 months ago

Cristina replied

Thank you so much, Emily! We’re so happy you enjoyed your time with us and connected with our work to give elephants the freedom to live more naturally. It’s always rewarding to share their world and raise awareness about the challenges elephants face in Thailand. We're also glad you enjoyed spending time with the Karen community and learning their traditions, it’s such a special experience. We truly appreciate your kind words and support! Hope to see you back here one day! 🐘💚

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