Protéger les tortues marines en Thaïlande
Les volontaires observent la faune marine en mer
Vous prendrez le bateau une fois par semaine
le nombre de tortues a considérablement diminué au fil des ans,
Voyage solidaire sur une petite île non touristique en Thaïlande
Vous vivrez de façon spartiate dans un cadre naturel magnifique.
Outre le monitoring des tortues marines, notre partenaire travaille sur de nombreux projets de protection de la biodiversité.
Vous ferez des patrouilles, à pied, sur plusieurs kilomètres de plage
Vous achèterez votre nourriture sur site ou à proximité.
La plupart des volontaires logent dan un bungalow partagé sur le plage.
Protect sea turtles in Thailand. Get involved in an eco-solidarity stay on a non-touristy island to study sea turtles, from egg-laying to hatching. You will also take part in the NGO’s other projects: monitoring of reefs and seagrass beds. All eco-volunteering programmes for sea turtles here.
Study and Protection of Sea Turtles in Thailand
Our partner is an NGO that has been running a sea turtle conservation program on the island of Ko Phra Thong, Thailand, for more than 24 years. Its team studies and protects sea turtles from the nesting season on the beaches, between December and February, through to the hatching of the eggs in February and March. All beaches are monitored daily to locate nests, which are then protected until they hatch. The NGO has identified three turtle species on the island: the leatherback turtle, the olive ridley turtle, and the green turtle.
Research on Reefs, Seagrass Beds, Waste, and More
Please note that the number of turtle nests has significantly decreased over the years, meaning that ecovolunteers may not encounter any during their stay. In addition to sea turtle monitoring, our partner is involved in numerous biodiversity conservation projects. The team gives presentations to tourists about sea turtles and organizes beach clean-up activities. During these clean-ups, waste data is collected. The team also conducts research on coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Team members regularly travel to Lion Village, home to a museum dedicated to environmental conservation, in order to involve the local community in their projects. Environmental education activities are also organized in schools.
Turtle Protection, Coral Reef Research, Beach Clean-Ups, and More
You will take part in a scientific research and conservation program coordinated by the on-site team. You will participate in beach patrols (15 km) on Phra Thong and Ra Islands, early in the morning and sometimes during the day. You will also observe the behavior of turtles feeding in the water during daylight hours.
Other conservation activities may also be scheduled, such as:
- Coral reef surveys using mask and snorkel along transects;
- Gardening work or restoration of the Community Conservation Center (painting or small maintenance tasks);
- Beach clean-ups;
- Fundraising activities;
- Tree planting and other environmental initiatives.
Example of a Volunteer’s Day
- 6:30 am: Patrols lasting 2 to 3 hours along monitored beaches (between 5 and 10 km long).
- 9:00 am: Breakfast followed by analysis of weather conditions.
- 9:30 am: “Rock watch” observations. Two volunteers go to the observation point overlooking the sea to look for sea turtles, dolphins, or other wildlife. If you are not participating in the “rock watch,” you may have free time to swim or walk along the beach.
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Lunch.
- 2:30 pm: Second “rock watch” session / various maintenance or conservation tasks.
- 7:00 pm: Dinner.
Please note that this schedule is only an example and may vary depending on weather conditions and ongoing projects. Other activities may also take place on-site, such as preparing educational materials for schools, guiding visitors, or birdwatching.
Once or twice a week, you will take a boat trip to visit the beaches of Ko Ra. This requires jumping from the boat and swimming to the shore, and doing the same on the return trip.
The project team is made up of permanent staff members, interns, and ecovolunteers. The size of the team varies depending on the number of volunteers during each session, with a maximum of 12 participants. You may sometimes work in a very small team.
Dates
10 January 2026 to 30 March 2026
Minimum stay: 2 weeks
Fees
- 2 weeks: €670
- Plus €84 for boat transfer
What’s included in the fee
- Accommodation (shared bungalow) in a local bungalow site
- Drinking water
- Training / awareness session on conservation work
- Local transport on the island during project activities
- Assistance with organizing and planning transfers to/from the island
- Support with organizing local excursions, including Ko Surin National Park
What’s not included
- Return boat transfer*: €84 (to be paid in cash on the island)
- Food and drinks (affordable meals available nearby)
- Pick-up at Phuket or Ranong international airports
- Flight tickets
- Travel insurance
- Vaccinations
- Visa
- Minimum age: 18 years old
- Families accepted with children over 8 years old (special family rates available)
- Skills and conditions
- Strong motivation: you must be prepared to walk long distances (up to 15 km) in hot and humid conditions
- Friendly attitude and ability to work in a team and live within a small Thai community
- Willingness to stay on a remote tropical island with limited comfort: no nightlife, no shops, no television, and no typical Western amenities
- Health and safety
- Any health issues must be disclosed before booking
- There is no hospital on the island
- Travel insurance covering accidents and medical expenses is mandatory
- Cultural respect
- You must respect Thai culture and traditions throughout the project
- Volunteers are expected to respect the local community’s culture and religion by wearing appropriate clothing, covering shoulders and legs
- During beach patrols or outside the village, swimwear and shorts are permitted
Accommodation
The project offers two different accommodation options. Most of the time, you will stay in a local bungalow located near the beach. When travelling to a village, you may stay with a local host family.
Accommodation is basic, in single, double, or triple rooms. Be prepared to use bucket showers and sometimes local-style toilets. Electricity is provided by generators and is mainly available in the evening. Wi-Fi is available but intermittent.
Food
Food and drinks are not included in the program fee. However, on-site, a local provider sells Thai meals throughout the day. In addition, there are two restaurants and a pizzeria nearby. Drinking water is provided free of charge.
Please note that cooking inside the bungalow is not allowed, and there are no grocery shops in the surrounding area.
Location
Phra Thong Island (approximately 100 km²; 15 km long and 7 km wide) is located about 5 km off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. It lies 200 km north of Phuket, in the Khura Buri district of Phang Nga province. It is part of a group of three islands close to the mainland: Koh Kho Khao, Koh Phra Thong, and Koh Ra. Three villages are located on the island: Thapa Yoi, Thung Dap, and Pad Chok (Lion Village). The eastern coast of the island is covered with mangroves and features fine sandy beaches. Tourism remains limited, which helps preserve a rich biodiversity.
Climate
Phra Thong Island has a tropical climate with intermittent rainfall throughout the year. There are two main seasons: the rainy season (April to November) and the dry season (December to March). The average temperature is 28.7°C.
Arrival on site
- There are several options to reach Phra Thong Island. You can fly to Bangkok, then continue to Phuket or Ranong, and take a bus to Khura Buri. From Phuket, the bus takes about 4 hours to reach Khura Buri. Upon arrival, you will need to take a taxi or motorbike taxi to the pier, where you will take a boat. Naucrates can help organize your transfer to the pier.
- From Phuket, you may also take a taxi directly to Khura Buri. Please check with Naucrates for costs.
- Another option is to take a bus from Bangkok (Southern Bus Terminal) to Phuket and get off at Khura Buri. The journey takes about 11 hours, and only VIP buses are recommended.
- It is also possible to take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, then continue by bus to Khura Buri.
- You will join a team dedicated to sea turtle conservation on a remote island, far from Western comforts and luxury.
- You will discover an incredible variety of wildlife and plant life while living on a tropical island.
- You will collect waste on the beaches while also conducting scientific research on plastic pollution.
- You will learn about Thai culture by living in close contact with the island’s local community.
- You will help protect mangrove forests, coral reefs, and sea turtles.
About the Partner NGO
ur partner is an Italian NGO that has been running a research and conservation project focused on sea turtles, mangroves, and coral reefs on Phra Thong Island since 1996. It works in collaboration with the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). The project is registered with the National Research Council of Thailand. Alongside its scientific work, which has helped develop and implement conservation strategies for sea turtle populations during the nesting season, the NGO also runs community-based programs. These activities are mainly focused on raising awareness about biodiversity conservation among local communities. Awareness-raising efforts are also carried out with tourists.
