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Home-stay program Um-Phang

Karen Hilltribe village at Ban Pa-Do-Tha

1 - 4 weeks

This home-stay program is developed for dual purposes. It gives you the opportunity to experience the Thai culture in an authentic and inexpensive way. You can learn about the traditional life of the Karen people, you can experience English teaching and you can learn about farming and about the nature and its inhabitants in Um-Phang. The local people benefit as their children are being taught English, which gives them good opportunities for future jobs. Besides that, they can use your help with farming and general house activities

About the area

Ban Pa-Do-Tha is a large old Karen village in the district of Umphang. It is located on the edge of the Mae Klong, 7 kilometers away from the city Umphang. For a cost of living, the local people take care of elephants that are being used for several means of transportation; they do hand weaving and grow rice and chili on the farmlands. The Karen villages have been built from natural materials only. Country life in Ban Pa-Do-Tha is somehow blessed with a wonderful balance of nature. The mountainous area is rich of streams, irrigation canals, rivers, rice fields, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. Ban Pa-Do-Tha village basically consists of a number of small groups of houses (villages) with farmlands in between. There is always a stream or river nearby and at the center of each village you will find a monastery (Wat). Buddhism still plays a big roll in the every day life of the Karen people.

Um-Phang is located near the Eastern Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the richest forests of the country. The forest is a home for many wild animals like wild elephants, leopards, languor's, bison's, bears, tigers, apes and many others. It is also habitats many species of butterflies and birds including the rare hornbill. The area has many different and gorgeous waterfalls, from which the Tee Low Soo waterfall, Thailand's most beautiful one, is the highlight.

Program

We will pick you up in Bangkok and we travel by bus to Um-Phang. We continue the travel to our final destination by local truck. At Um-Phang, you will learn about the ethnic minority groups that inhabit the area as well as the social and political situation in Burma. You'll learn about the history of the Karen people, about their customs and religion and about the role that tourism plays in their current lives.

On a day-to-day base, you are expected to teach the local children English and to help out with farming and home activities. As most children do not speak any English yet, you have to be a little creative with teaching methods (or you must already speak the Thai language!). Evening time and weekends can be spent freely. You can stay at the village, visit the city Um-Phang or explore the beautiful area around the district of Um-Phang. Some of the highlights here are caves, gorgeous tempels and the beautiful Tee-Law-Soo waterfall. We can arrange local guides to join you on these nature trips. At the village, you can experience the warmth and hospitality of the local people, as you become part of the extended family with whom you live. The local people will also help you to master the basics of the Thai language.

Accommodation and sanitarian

Accommodation is very basic. You will stay at the bamboo house of a local family. You will receive a handmade mat to sleep on and clean bedding. If you do not like to sleep on a hard underground, you may want to bring a sleeping bag to put between you and the mat. We will provide you with a mosquito net. The villages are not very developed. The bathroom consists of an “Asian” toilet. There is no shower, but cold clean water is available to wash yourself with. If you prefer, you can also shower in the fresh and clean river near the village.

Food

Your ‘home-stay’ family will take good care of you. You will be served a variety of Thai local dishes 3 times a day. If you get hungry in between you can always ask for a snack, which is no problem. Cold water, tea and coffee are freely available, soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased in the village.

Requirements

If you want to join this challenging program, you have to meet a few basic rules:

· Basic knowledge of the English language (non native speakers are also welcome)

· Minimum age of 20 years

· Willingness to teach English to local people, help out with farming and with house activities

· Minimum stay of 1 week s

· A normal level of fitness, you should be able to do some hiking and work on farms without health problems

· You need to respect the Thai culture, be open-minded and have a social attitude towards the local people.

The program includes:

· 2-Way transportation from Bangkok to Ban Pa-Do-Tha

· Local transportation at the village

· All fees for participating in the Home-stay project

· Accommodation at the Home-stay project

· All meals and coffee, tea and water during your stay

· Supervision

· Advice on personal travel requirements

. Insurance

How to join this program?

Please sent us the booking form together with a letter of motivation and some background information about yourself. We will then contact you for further procedures. If you have any questions, please contact us first by email [email protected].

Home stay program Price per person

1 week
Additional weeks, price per week

Um-phang,
1 to 4 weeks
$ 389.00 $ 289.00

Reservations

€ 324.00 € 248.00