Vet School Veterinary Service - Loop Abroad

Summer in Thailand
Vet School Veterinary Service

Work with an elephant vet at an elephant sanctuary to care for, learn about, and volunteer with elephants.

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This two-week program puts you alongside an elephant veterinarian dedicated to teaching you a wealth of knowledge and unique skills while helping animals in need. The full two weeks of the program takes place at an elephant sanctuary where you work with an elephant vet providing medical care to the pachyderms and learning techniques

happy elephantWho It’s For

Students age 20 or older who are currently enrolled in veterinary school or have been admitted to vet school and will attend in fall 2018. If you are currently enrolled in veterinary school but are under 20, please contact us about admission. Individuals of any nationality may apply. Fluency in English is required.



  • Work in a small group with an elephant vet
  • Learn the history of Asian elephants and various management and training methods
  • Learn and assist in elephant medical care including diagnostics, treatments, and preventative medicine
  • Fun day excursion included with a magnificent waterfall

Read student reviews on GoOverseas and GoAbroad!

Dates open for applications


April 21 – May 5, 2019
June 2 – 16, 2019
August 18 – September 1, 2019

 apply now

*Subject to 1 days +/- on the schedule, includes travel days. The program dates listed above are the days you arrive and depart Bangkok.

Want to stay for a whole month? Add a two-week program!

Our Vet School Veterinary Service program is a full adventure on its own, but it can also be combined with other Thailand two-week programs back-to-back, including:

Combine two programs for an automatic 10% discount on your tuition. Airfare costs stay the same.



Tuition is $3,850 USD, not including international airfare. Airfare on the group flight from New York is $1,785 round-trip including taxes and fees.

All housing and meals are included in your tuition.

Please note that airfare to and from Bangkok, any independent travel before or after the program, and non-water beverages and snacks are not included in the cost of tuition. Students will also be responsible for any meals and optional activities on departure Sunday.

Elephant Healthcare

Spend time at an elephant sanctuary working alongside our elephant vet to learn about and provide medical care for these animals in need.



We’re extremely excited to show you what Thailand has to offer. Elephants World is a sanctuary for old and injured elephants in Kanchanaburi province. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the country with an outstanding waterfall, as well as the nearby city, within easy reach.



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Elephants World

"At ElephantsWorld, we work for the elephants instead of them working for us!"

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KanchanaburiYour group will travel to the elephant sanctuary together, where you will stay each night.

Throughout the trip, your group will work with your US and Thai elephant veterinarians to provide medical care to the elephants at the sanctuary. Your group may assist with a small amount of husbandry chores if needed, but most of your day will be spent learning about elephants, observing elephants with your vet, and providing hands-on upkeep and medical care to the elephants on the property. Every day will have a lecture-style component as well as hands-on learning labs and other opportunities.

On the interim weekend of the program, we will take a one-day break from work and travel to neighboring Kanchanaburi during the day to relax, visit a beautiful waterfall, tour the city, and enjoy some time off. We will return to the sanctuary in the evening.

The program begins and ends with pickup and drop-off at Bangkok’s major international airport. Students wanting to explore Bangkok on their own should plan their independent travel before or after the program.





You will have the opportunity to touch, feed, and get plenty of up close photos with elephants, but it is important to also allow the elephants to have the freedom to enjoy their natural environment and the company of their elephant friends. It can be even more rewarding to watch the elephants interacting with their natural environment from a distance because this is when their true personalities shine!

Students will always be accompanied by staff who will instruct students in how to safely interact with the elephants.

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"As a vet student, I was looking for a completely unique experience before starting clinics. Loop Abroad and the experience at ENP exceeded my expectations and provided both a medical and cultural experience that can't be found anywhere else."

Lindsey K., Vet School Veterinary Service 2016

University of Minnesota