GVI US would be more appropriate.

Take me there!

Professional
Apprenticeship

Coastal Conservation Apprenticeship in Thailand

Get a head start on your career with this six -month coastal conservation internship in Krabi Province.

Durations: 24 weeks
Fieldwork hours50 hrs of fieldwork per week
Participant ratio1:6 staff to participant ratio
2 participant reviews
GVI experiencesIncludes GVI Experiences
Book with confidence
Travel flexibility, because life happens! Modify your booking, even up to 48 hours before departure. T&Cs apply.

Program information

Gain conservation research skills and valuable work experience in the coastal area of Ao Nang, Thailand. You’ll conduct dugong, sea turtle and seagrass surveys, while learning about island conservation alongside local organisations. Our three-month intensive fieldwork training is followed by a three-month work placement, offering opportunities to develop leadership skills and build expertise.

Overview
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
What's Included
Life on Base
Experiences
New
Free time & cultural immersion
Speak to alumni
Parent Info
Arrivals &
Flights
Your Impact
Our Ethics
Program Ethics
Qualifications & Training Options
Support & Safety
careers

Program overview

Our six-month apprenticeship program in Thailand is an invaluable opportunity to kick-start your conservation career. Located in the vibrant Krabi Province, our research station in Ao Nang offers a diverse ecosystem, from lush forests to thriving coral reefs. Here, you’ll encounter various species like dugongs, whale sharks, turtles, hornbills, sunbirds and butterflies.

This apprenticeship guarantees a three-month work placement, following three months of practical training. It’s an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills, with a significant boost for your CV. As an apprentice, you’ll support ongoing conservation efforts, including beach profiling, seagrass surveys, coastline mapping with drones, biodiversity surveys and environmental education workshops. Additionally, you’ll assist in dugong surveys, coral reef restoration and monitoring sea turtle and shark populations. While snorkelling is the primary activity on this program, scuba-diving training is available at an additional fee. 

Conveniently located near temples, national parks, shopping areas and lively nightlife spots, our hub is the perfect base for exploration. During your free time, dive into Ao Nang’s nightlife or immerse yourself in Krabi’s natural beauty. Enjoy rock climbing, kayaking and hiking in national parks like Khao Phanom Bencha and Than Bok Khorani.

This program aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities, Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production, Goal 13: Climate Action, Goal 14: Life Below Water, and Goal 15: Life on Land.

Highlights

 

 

Support ecosystem restoration
Support ecosystem restoration
Contribute to forest, mangrove, and coral restoration as well as population monitoring of sharks and turtles.
Unique coastal habitats
Unique coastal habitats
Live in Krabi Province on the southwestern coast of Thailand, an area known for its natural beauty, limestone cliffs and stunning beaches.
Kick-start your career
Kick-start your career
Participate in three months of intensive fieldwork training to ensure you’re ready to launch directly into your conservation career.
Get a job placement
Get a job placement
Work for a conservation partner for three months to get real practical experience and build a network of industry contacts.
Fast-track experience
Fast-track experience
Join a targeted career-readiness program that’s based on two decades of experience to grow your leadership and career skills.
Career guarantee
Career guarantee
Our comprehensive apprenticeships guarantee a job offer within 18 months upon completion of all program components and meeting eligibility criteria.
Advance your career
Advance your career
Gain international experience, receive four recognised qualifications and get a LinkedIn reference to boost your CV.
Get the edge
Get the edge
We know what it takes to work in conservation – that’s why our apprenticeships qualify for preferential recruitment when applying for GVI vacancies.

Is this program for me?

This internship is specifically useful for someone who has or is actively studying the below subject areas at school, university or college, or has an interest in these subject areas.

  • Ecology
  • Population biology
  • Epidemiology
  • Biology
  • Environmental science
  • Wildlife management
  • Zoology
  • Animal husbandry
  • Botany
  • Ecology and evolution
  • Geology
  • Wildlife biology and conservation
  • Marine science
  • Marine biology
  • Environment management
  • Marine conservation

Activities

Some of the example typical activities you could participate in on this program.

 

Fieldwork training
Fieldwork training
Learn how to identify species and conduct surveys so that you can contribute to data collection and conservation activities.
Lead conservation surveys
Lead conservation surveys
Take the lead in surveys and learn how to use standardised data collection protocols.
Fast-track training
Fast-track training
Complete various courses, including Impact and Ethics, Intro to Project Management, Effective Communication and Leading Teams for Impact.
Leadership responsibilities
Leadership responsibilities
Take on additional responsibilities such as entering data, writing reports and summaries, updating species lists and fieldwork checklists.
 Personal project
Personal project
Work on an individual project that aligns to your personal interests. For example, analysing target species data or monitoring coastal pollution.
Mentorship
Mentorship
Meet weekly in a small group with other interns and an experienced mentor to receive project guidance and feedback on your leadership style.
Work placement
Work placement
In the second 12 weeks of your program, you’ll engage in a work placement to gain more experience and keep making a difference.
Forest restoration
Forest restoration
Help restore coastal ecosystems and address development impacts. Join community activities: nursery work, seed collection, monitoring.
Biodiversity surveys
Biodiversity surveys
Gather forest data on species and their behaviour, conduct bird surveys and help study stumptail macaques’ population dynamics and behaviour.
Mangrove restoration
Mangrove restoration
Learn the fundamentals of CBEMR: Community-based mangrove restoration with engagement, education and ecosystem practices.
Mangrove management plans
Mangrove management plans
Participate in our project, which supports communities in the adaptive management of their natural resources while also bolstering local livelihoods.
Mangrove ecosystem surveys
Mangrove ecosystem surveys
Collect information about mangrove trees, including what types there are, how many there are and where they are located.
Seagrass surveys
Seagrass surveys
Participate in surveys (snorkelling or on foot) to document the health of seagrass meadows, which are crucial habitats for many marine species.
Habitat mapping
Habitat mapping
Help map coastal areas with drones, assess seasonal changes in habitats due to climate change and human impacts through georeferencing.
Dugong surveys
Dugong surveys
Conduct surveys on dugong feeding trails and dugong presence using aerial imagery.
Coral reef restoration
Coral reef restoration
Engage in reef impact assessments, set up and monitor experimental reef nurseries, conduct biodiversity surveys and map reef biophysical parameters.
Turtle and shark monitoring
Turtle and shark monitoring
Assist in building a photo portfolio of sea turtles and sharks from snorkelling or scuba-dives for population monitoring through pattern recognition.
Contribute to MARsCI
Contribute to MARsCI
The Marine science Citizens Initiative in Thailand uses citizen science to track discarded fishing gear impacts, informing policy decisions.
Sustainable waste management
Sustainable waste management
Learn about permaculture and sustainability, help research plastic pollution, aid in waste management and support education.
Community outreach
Community outreach
Support coastal conservation through awareness campaigns, community outreach and promoting sustainable practices for holistic marine conservation.

Skills

  • Data collection
  • Data entry
  • Environmental education
  • Marine conservation
  • Population ecology
  • Public awareness

Partners

Some of the partners we work with on base.

The Royal Thai Navy Sea Turtle Conservation Centre
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources
Trash Hero
Phuket Marine Biological Centre
eBird
iNaturalist

Program details

 
Included in your program, at no extra cost.

Make the most of our unique programs with these exclusively curated local adventure and wellness experiences.

Offered once a month, expand your adventure with GVI Experiences. These are just some of the activities offered on your program!
Learn to make traditional Thai and Burmese food
Learn to make traditional Thai and Burmese food
Visit the Buddhist temples of Ban Nam Khem
Visit the Buddhist temples of Ban Nam Khem
Practice traditional Thai yoga massage
Practice traditional Thai yoga massage
Master Muay Thai self-defence techniques
Master Muay Thai self-defence techniques
Raft along the Sok River
Raft along the Sok River
Hike to hidden waterfalls
Hike to hidden waterfalls
Visit an untouched mangrove island
Visit an untouched mangrove island
Sleep in a floating river bungalow
Sleep in a floating river bungalow
Connect with our alumni
Want to connect with some of our past participants about their adventures? Get in touch with hundreds of friendly ambassadors all over the world who would be more than happy to answer any questions.
Connect with us
Open Day Image
Join our Virtual Open Day!

Zoom webinar : Tuesday 13 May 2025 18:00 BST | 13:00 EDT

Join our open days to also get the chance to chat with our alumni. Sign up to book your spot now. We have limited availability.
Sign up for free
Testimonial bg
Testimonial bg

Want to live a wilder life? Talk to us!

During office hours, we'll get back to you within a few minutes.

By submitting this form, I consent to contact via phone and email, as per GVI’s Privacy Policy.

You might also be interested in these programs