Volunteer by the sea

Volunteer by the sea in South Thailand

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 sun-seekers, 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 he 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.

Lam Sak Community A great local initiative and community based tourism project, north of Krabi, by the sea.

A great local initiative and community based tourism project, north of Krabi and 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!

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!