Volunteer With Elephants

Volunteer to Help Elephants at Ethical Sanctuaries in Thailand or Cambodia!

Want an Elephant Experience that doesn't cause harm or suffering to these gentle giants? Well we have great news for you. You can still meet elephants without riding them or seeing them perform. Instead volunteer to help care for elephants that have been rescued from a life of hard work & suffering!

Volunteer to Help Elephants Abroad

Travelling to Asia can conjure up dreams of getting up close to some beautiful Elephants. However, you don't want to support Elephant Riding or performances; so what can you do if you still want fulfill your dream of getting up close to some beautiful Elephants? Well we have good news for you! You can still have an elephant encounter without riding them or seeing them perform! Instead you can volunteer to help care for elephants that have been rescued from a life of hard work and suffering.

With Globalteer you can volunteer with Elephants at Ethical Sanctuaries in Thailand or Cambodia. The sanctuaries are home to rescued Elephants that come from hard lives (in the entertainment & tourism industry, logging or elephant camps). The sanctuaries now provide them with a life as close as possible to their wild relatives. Additionally, they focus on education, conservation an how to protect elephants remaining in the wild.

An Ethical & Responsible Elephant Encounter

As a UK Charity, Globalteer does not support elephant riding or elephant performances which are common in Asia. So you won't find these at the sanctuaries; but you will still get up close to these gentle giants when volunteering with them! The sanctuaries Globalteer work with put the elephants first! Volunteers are there to help them have a carefree life free from the burden of work.

Your elephant experience will have you working alongside elephant keepers! You will assist with tasks such as  walking the elephants into the forest to forage and bathe. Volunteers also feed the elephants and help carry out health checks to ensure they remain healthy and happy. In additional to this you will also help plant and harvest food for the elephants and carry out general maintenance tasks around the sanctuaries so the elephants can have the best life possible!

See our available elephant sanctuaries below for more information! Or fill in the contact form and we'll send you everything you need to know about how to have your own amazing Elephant Experience!

Volunteer to Help Elephants Abroad

Lets Get Started in your Journey Volunteering with Elephants!

  • The benefits of doing this work through Globalteer were many. I worked on the clean water project in Siem Reap... read more

    Justine Auton Avatar Justine Auton
    1/14/2018
  • Would absolutely do it all over again! Amazing! They matched me with the perfect project and went... read more

    Casey Scholl Avatar Casey Scholl
    1/12/2018
  • Would highly recommend them to anyone considering volunteering abroad. A wonderful organisation that's truly dedicated to helping the communities... read more

    Anna Hilbert Avatar Anna Hilbert
    9/30/2019
  • This trip was very well organized by Globalteer. I had the amazing opportunity to volunteer with Globalteer at... read more

    Kayla Lynne Kiteley Avatar Kayla Lynne Kiteley
    1/25/2018
  • Globalteer in Cusco was one of the best summers of my life. This was one of the most life changing experiences i... read more

    Paxton Perry Avatar Paxton Perry
    10/09/2023
  • Each morning I woke up excited and full of energy to meet the other amazing volunteers and start our work! This experience was one of the most rewarding things I... read more

    Robert Bisson Avatar Robert Bisson
    1/12/2018
  • All the staff and volunteers I worked with were very friendly and supportive. My time spent volunteering in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with Globalteer... read more

    Colin Elkington Avatar Colin Elkington
    1/13/2018
  • Accommodation was perfectly chosen and I made friends for life during my month working there. Learnt so much in an authentic and safe environment. Accomdation... read more

    Crystal Avatar Crystal
    2/13/2018
  • The most eye-opening and inspiring experiences I have had. My time spent volunteering in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with Globalteer... read more

    Colin Elkington Avatar Colin Elkington
    1/14/2018
  • Plenty of people you can ask for guidance. Great place to do your internship. Good atmosphere in the... read more

    ragnhild helgesen Avatar ragnhild helgesen
    11/29/2019
  • They are great in every way. I have worked with them twice and I am counting down the days until I return next. Working with Globalteer and Picaflor house is amazing. They're great... read more

    Jeff Bartlett Avatar Jeff Bartlett
    6/30/2017
  • The trip has changed my outlook on life and I believe that this is only the start of my volunteering career! Mid-life crisis? Mid-life adventure? It could have been either.....or even... read more

    Geraldine Parkin Avatar Geraldine Parkin
    2/06/2018
  • It was organised so well and I felt so comfortable throughout the whole process. Late last year I was able to spend a month... read more

    Tiarne Biviano Avatar Tiarne Biviano
    2/02/2019
  • It was a life-changing experience for me, one that I will never forget. I absolutely loved my time volunteering in Cambodia with Globalteer!... read more

    Ann Quinlivan Avatar Ann Quinlivan
    5/31/2018
  • I felt very much taken care of and I met amazing people who worked on other Globalteer projects. Coming from a country with very few organisations that offer... read more

    Eva Deix Avatar Eva Deix
    1/14/2018
  • The Globalteer staff was extremely friendly, helpful, and made me feel right at home. One of the best experiences I've ever had! The Globalteer... read more

    Anna Von Foerster Avatar Anna Von Foerster
    6/30/2017
  • If you go there, you would definitely love it. I stayed in Picaflor House for like one month and... read more

    PICKLE SMART Avatar PICKLE SMART
    8/31/2019
  • Globalteer employ members of staff who themselves have a passion for travelling. Having chosen to spend three-weeks volunteering on a Cambodia Community... read more

    Nathan Crook Avatar Nathan Crook
    1/25/2018
  • The staff working there are dedicated but also good fun. What an amazing experience! We spent a week with this... read more

    Hercules Moriarty Avatar Hercules Moriarty
    9/22/2018
  • I had the privilege of working as an Intern in Peru with Globalteer I had the privilege of working as an NGO Assistant... read more

    Milly O'Connell Avatar Milly O'Connell
    10/04/2023
  • Well organised, really helpful and welcoming staff. I had an amazing experience volunteering with Globalteer earlier this... read more

    Jessica Robinson Avatar Jessica Robinson
    1/12/2018
  • The whole experience was fantastic from start to finish. All the Globalteer staff made me feel really welcome. I spent a couple of weeks volunteering at the Helping... read more

    Holly Bygrave Avatar Holly Bygrave
    7/26/2018
  • Globalteer were there every step of the way to help facilitate everything. Such a rewarding experience. Candice and Globalteer were there every... read more

    Peter DiFrancesca Avatar Peter DiFrancesca
    7/10/2017
  • I think it speaks volumes for the quality and impact of the experience, that I returned for a second trip! I first volunteered at Picaflor House Children's Community Project in... read more

    Katharine Hughes Avatar Katharine Hughes
    2/28/2018
  • 100% recommend to volunteer with them Globalteer is a great charity that will help you every... read more

    Elise Mousset Avatar Elise Mousset
    10/03/2019
  • The staff really made me feel welcome. I had a great experience with Globalteer in Peru. The... read more

    AJ Rodney Avatar AJ Rodney
    11/05/2017
  • I would most definitely recommend Globalteer to anyone who is interested in volunteering. My experience with Globalteer was amazing and I've volunteered with... read more

    A.N. Barry Avatar A.N. Barry
    1/14/2018
  • Could not fault the hard work these people put in to support people less fortunate than myself. Great experience in Peru, couldn't fault the hard work these... read more

    Mark Catling Avatar Mark Catling
    6/30/2017
  • I met a fab group of people and they made the trip even better! I had the best time volunteering, especially with a background... read more

    Hope Wilson Avatar Hope Wilson
    1/16/2018
  • Wish others would also be as lucky as I am to have such an amazing experience! I can’t stop talking & thinking about this amazing experience... read more

    burcu eren Avatar burcu eren
    1/10/2019
  • Anyone wanting to volunteer I would 100 percent recommend Globalteer!!!! I had the pleasure of volunteering with Globalteer at Picaflor... read more

    Katrina Baxter Avatar Katrina Baxter
    7/04/2017
  • All the Globalteer staff I have worked with have become friends and I value their support and encouragement. I have volunteered with the Globalteer Cambodia Community Project in... read more

    Sally Bateman Avatar Sally Bateman
    1/17/2018
  • Accommodation was perfectly chosen and I made friends for life during my month working there. Perfect mix of authenticity and safety. Stayed with the best... read more

    Crystal Moniz Avatar Crystal Moniz
    2/13/2018
  • Had a great time and was happy to support such a worthwhile project. Having done lots of research on volunteer projects, I decided... read more

    Diego Alonso Avatar Diego Alonso
    11/13/2017
  • Great program, great volunteer opportunities, would recommend to anyone. I volunteered for a month with Globalteer in Peru and... read more

    Eli Joshua Echt-Wilson Avatar Eli Joshua Echt-Wilson
    3/15/2019
  • It was a huge eye opener and I would do it again in a heartbeat! I volunteered with Globalteer in Cambodia last year and I... read more

    Fiona Mehmet Avatar Fiona Mehmet
    1/16/2018
  • If you’re considering getting involved, just do it! I guarantee you won’t regret it. I had an AMAZING experience volunteering on two different projects... read more

    Jess Robinson Avatar Jess Robinson
    1/12/2018
  • Great organisation making a real difference. Great organisation making a real difference in Peru.

    Nick James Avatar Nick James
    12/20/2017
  • Everything was well organised from day one and any special requirements were met with ease. Volunteering with Globalteer at Picaflor House was an incredible experience... read more

    Hannah Verity Stone Avatar Hannah Verity Stone
    6/30/2017
  • I had an amazing time and look forward to volunteering with Globalteer again in the future! I volunteered with the Peru Community Project out of Cuzco... read more

    Lauren Franklin Avatar Lauren Franklin
    6/30/2017
  • I would really recommend them to anyone... Great company who genuinely want to improve the lives of... read more

    Evie Rollinson Avatar Evie Rollinson
    12/26/2019

If you would like to to have an ethical elephant encounter abroad, then choose to volunteer to help elephants!

The Thailand Elephant Sanctuary gives safe haven to rescued elephants so they can live a life as close as possible to their wild relatives. Without the sanctuary these lovely animals would otherwise be roaming the streets, suffering terrible conditions at working elephant camps or being exploited by the tourism industry.

The Cambodia Elephant Sanctuary is based at the head of a beautiful jungle valley in Eastern Cambodia. The sanctuary provides rescued elephants with the most natural living environment possible. The project also works tirelessly in elephant conservation to protect Cambodia's remaining wild elephant population.