Program Dates: July 6th – August 16th, 2010
Program Fee: $1799 + $275 PADI Scuba Certification
(including all group meals, transportation, accommodation, excursions, etc.)
(excluding flight)
Fundraising Donation: $1000

Building off the success of our inaugural Southeast Asia trip in 2009, Operation Groundswell is proud to offer Operation Groundswell SE Asia Eco 2010.

The trip will begin with a pre-departure orientation in Toronto followed by an in-country orientation in Bangkok. The in-country orientation will help participants to acclimatize by trying local dishes and visiting cultural sites. Highlights will include the “Great Bangkok Scavenger Hunt” and staying on Koh San Road, the epicentre of Bangkok’s backpacker district.

From Bangkok, the group will travel to Koh Phangan, home to the world famous “Full Moon Party”. Participants will spend a week at Shiralea Backpackers getting PADI certified as Open Water Divers. For anyone already certified, Open Water Advanced or Rescue Diver certifications will be offered as well. Once everyone is certified, the group will work on a reef conservation project. Reef conservation is rarely undertaken by any tourist or dive centre, so we view this as a very unique opportunity. Participants will clean up the coral by removing trash in an ecosystem which has been so badly affected in recent years.

From Koh Phangan, participants will return to Bangkok to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After spending a day seeing local sights, the group will fly to Borneo. Home to some of the world’s oldest rainforests, much of the tropical jungle of Borneo was deforested during the past few decades. Thankfully, local NGOs have started forest reclamation projects as well as supporting local communities through responsible and sustainable tourism. Participants will spend time at the Miso Walai Homestay and the Tungog Rainforest Eco-camp. The program includes tree planting, orangutan viewings, biodiversity treks, river cruises and much more. The fundraised money will go towards supporting these amazing NGOs.

After our time in Borneo, participants will begin Independent Travel Time (ITT) – a staple of all Operation Groundswell programs. All participants will be given detailed travel guides and information on the best places to see and how to stay safe. You can travel independently if desired but most participants choose to travel in pairs or small groups. During this time, participants are not under the auspices of the organized program and are entirely responsible for themselves. Participants will be given emergency contact numbers of the trip leaders during ITT for advice and any safety concerns. Most participants will likely choose to travel to mainland Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand during this time.

At the end of ITT, the group will reconvene on Koh Phangan island once again for the relaxing trip debrief known as the ‘Disorientation’ in a chance to summarize our experience and think about the future, prior to flying home.

For more info on how to apply, please visit the Apply page