Are you thinking about volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare in Thailand? That’s amazing! Volunteering in Thailand is an amazing way to make your travels more fulfilling and rewarding.
We would highly recommend it to anyone even thinking about volunteering with animals. Here is our experience of volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare and how you can spend your days on the beautiful island of Koh Lanta!
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As a traveller, it can be hard to visit countries with endless cats and dogs living on the street. Sometimes they’re everywhere and don’t always look in the best of shape – hungry, diseases or accidents on the road. It’s a very difficult thing to see and sadly we can’t help them all.
When we first found out about volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare we knew it was something we needed to do. We spent two months on the island of Koh Lanta spending our days volunteering with animals. As our time has sadly now come to an end, we want to share our experience with you to help you plan your volunteering in Thailand trip!
If you’re wondering about volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare and visiting the island soon – check out one of their daily tours! The volunteers share so much information about the welfare centre and can answer any questions you may have. You can also meet the animals!
Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare
Here are a few details about Lanta Animal Welfare and our experience of what it was like to volunteer at the welfare centre on the island of Koh Lanta.
About Lanta Animal Welfare
Lanta Animal Welfare is a non-profit organisation that helps many animals in Koh Lanta and the surrounding area. It was founded by Junie in 2005 and has grown into helping over 15,000 animals whilst being a temporary home for many dogs and cats. They care for injured, sick and homeless animals that are in need of help every day.
The volunteers and staff are incredibly passionate about helping animals live better lives and find future homes. They’re trying their best to raise awareness of how important it is to adopt an animal instead of buying, there’s so many dogs that are waiting for homes everywhere in the world.
Here are some of the best ways to help Lanta Animal Welfare continue to save & rescue animals:
- Daily tours – join one of the daily tours to learn more about the centre
- Donating – help towards the cost of medical supplies and food
- Sponsor an animal – help sponsor a rescue dog or rescue cat
- Fundraising – plan a fundraising event to help the animals
- Flight Volunteer – if you’re leaving Thailand, help a dog or cat find its new home!
- Volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare
Have a look at some of the dogs that are there right now – Dog’s at Lanta Animal Welfare & here’s some of the Cats at Lanta Animal Welfare!
Details about Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare
There are a few types of volunteering positions that you can do at Lanta Animal Welfare.
- General Volunteers – this includes a bit of everything from walking, cleaning, feeding, socialising with the animals & more!
- Host Volunteers – help with the shop & the daily tours to spread awareness to visitors!
- Media Volunteers – if you have a laptop, camera, and editing software and are good with social media, this position could be perfect for you to help the animals become adopted!
All positions will get to spend time with the animals and there are always many dogs that need walks or feeding. Currently, all of these positions need filling and the best way to find out is by messaging Lanta Animal Welfare!
Costs / Contribution
Lanta Animal Welfare asks for a contribution towards the centre when volunteering, this is to help cover the costs of accommodation, facilities and helping the animals. Including on-site accommodation: 1st Month – 6,000 baht / 2nd Month – Free / 3rd Month – 3,000 baht. Already have accommodation: 1st Month – 2,000 baht / 2nd Month – Free / 3rd Month – 1,000 baht
How long can I stay?
To volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare it’s required to be a minimum of 25 years of age.
As it takes a while for the animals to be comfortable with you it’s advised to spend 1-month minimum whilst volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare. It’s possible to volunteer for 3 months and maybe more after you’ve settled in.
Shift Patterns
There are two shift patterns and a well-organised schedule that will be created each week whilst volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare. The shifts are 7am – 1pm and 1pm – 7pm. Usually, every volunteer does a mix of both and gets two days off a week.
How to apply for volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare
The first step is to apply using Lanta Animal Welfare’s website and fill in an application. Someone will reach out to you and let you know more about the opportunity to volunteer.
If you’re already in Koh Lanta, head to the welfare centre and ask to speak to someone about volunteering and meet some of the cats there!
Apply to be a volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare here!
Our experience volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare
So now, we’d love to share our experience volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare and it was all positive! We joined the team of volunteers near the end of the dry season and stayed for 2 months.
We first learned about volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare in 2019 on a backpacking trip, and as we already had travel plans booked we couldn’t stay any more than 3 days on the island. So when we started to plan our trip back to Thailand, we made sure our main goal was to volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare.
Spending two months at Lanta Animal Welfare
When we arrived we were greeted by the team and given our LAW t-shirts, mosquito repellent and electrolytes. We joined a daily tour to learn more about the centre and then got ready for our first shift!
On our morning shifts, we would wake up, walk the dogs, feed the dogs, do some cleaning and then do some socialising with the dogs before finishing. For lunch, we’d sometimes go to Yawee or Aleena’s and then head to a beach for the evening. Koh Lanta has some incredible sunsets. As we stayed on-site we always made time for the cats and loved socialising with them too.
Our afternoon shifts were pretty similar, but the opposite way around. In the morning we often took the time to read, write and research for our trip and this blog! The sun always sets before 7 pm in Thailand, so it’s always dark after an afternoon shift – the perfect time to head out for dinner!
The volunteering work is definitely physical and although you don’t have to be really fit, you need to be able to walk a lot and pick up dogs when needed. It is sometimes emotionally exhausting too, however it really is the most rewarding experience. It’s an amazing way to give back whilst travelling and help many rescue animals in Thailand.
Staying on-site
The onsite accommodation is basic but exactly what you need! There’s a kitchen for volunteers and staff to use with cooking equipment, a microwave and a fridge. There are four bedrooms all with two beds, a bathroom (cold water) and a fan. We loved being so close to the animals and luckily they weren’t too noisy at night – it was also great seeing other volunteers.
We also hired a scooter for two months with Koh Lanta Bike Rentals. Message them on Facebook here or their Instagram here! It’s the best way to get around the island and explore Koh Lanta in your downtime.
Overall volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare was a positive experience for us and if you’re up for a challenge, it’s very rewarding! If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to message us on Instagram – @thesunrisedreamers! We have some more tips about what to pack, other places to stay and what to do in Koh Lanta down below!
Where to stay whilst Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare
Koh Lanta is a long island and it can take some time to get around the island, even on a scooter. We recommend staying near Lanta Animal Welfare as shifts can start at 7am.
Staying On-site – If there’s a room available, staying on-site is the easiest place to stay for a very affordable price. You’re always close to the animals and it’s a great way to hang out with other volunteers.
Mook Lanta Eco Resort $-$$ – A few of the volunteers we met were staying here and it’s a very relaxing place to stay off-site to unwind. It’s best to speak to Lanta Animal Welfare first as they may be able to offer a discount for volunteers. – Here’s their website!
Ok Chawkoh Bungalow $ – Another option for staying off-site are these bungalows down the road. They offer both fan and AC bungalows for a good price. Find them on Booking.com – Ok Chawkoh Bungalow!
Baan Suan Rim Klong $-$$ (Moo 2) – If you’re feeling like you want something more than a cabin or staying on-site. Baan Suan Rim Klong is very close to the welfare centre and has beautiful rooms with a pool for their guests. Find them on Booking.com – Baan Suan Rim Klong!
What to pack for Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare?
Thailand has a tropical climate so it’s good to pack for hot weather and the possibility of heavy rain in any season! When volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare it’s important to have the right gear!
- A good pair of shoes and sandals (you can always buy them in Koh Lanta)
- Rain Mac in a Bag is essential in rainy weather!
- Shorts or trousers you don’t mind getting ripped or ruined
- Suncream (you can get this in Thailand, but it’s better to bring it from home)
- Any dog toys – not essential but the dogs will thank you!
Here are a few more essentials for travelling in Thailand:
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – The easiest way to pack clothes for a trip!
- International Worldwide Travel Adaptor – Perfect for travelling to different countries.
- The Little Bodhi Microfibre Towel – A lightweight travel towel for your Volunteering in Thailand trip.
- Sawyer Mini Water Filter – If you want to reduce your plastic consumption, we highly recommend buying a water filter and bringing a Stainless Steel Water Bottle with you to Thailand.
- Waterproof Bag 20L with Waterproof Phone Case – Amazing for any island trips!
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600 and there’s also a Joby Phone Tripod too!
- GoPro Hero 12 and a GoPro Water Float are two essentials we loved having in Thailand.
- Osprey Farpoint 40l – Dan’s favourite, most versatile backpack. Packing for a long weekend or 4 weeks? This bag has you sorted. And it’s airline carry on friendly!
Take a Thai Cooking Class with Time for Lime
Time for Lime has been showing students how to cook amazing Thai food for 20 years. It was actually the beginning of Lanta Animal Welfare and the success of the cooking school created the funding for the welfare centre to be built.
Time for Lime is still the biggest supporter of Lanta Animal Welfare and all profits go towards the caring and rescuing process for all cats and dogs. Here’s Time for Lime’s Facebook for more details!
Taking a Thai cooking class with chef Noi was one of our favourite experiences in Thailand as we love the food so much! Volunteers also get a discount to join one of the classes! We created, fresh spring rolls, morning glory, Khao Soi and caramelized sweet potato with rice – everything was incredible!
Best restaurants in Koh Lanta, Thailand
We loved the food on Koh Lanta so much that we wrote a dedicated article about all our favourite restaurants whilst volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare. Check out our Vegan Restaurants in Koh Lanta guide! For now, here are some of our favourite restaurants:
The Angels Restaurant $ – You must try their Khao Soi dish if you’re volunteering in Thailand! They have so many delicious dishes and the people who own the restaurant are so lovely (The Angels Location)
Aleena’s Restaurant $-$$ – As much as we love Thai food, having Aleena’s down the road was our saviour for all our sandwiches, wraps and cake cravings! Their menu is amazing! (Aleena’s Location)
Yawee Restaurant $ – Only a short walk away from Lanta Animal Welfare is Yawee! One of our favourite restaurants in Koh Lanta. Try their crispy tofu, it’s incredible! (Yawee Location)
Spring Rolls $ – Another amazing spot in Koh Lanta for Thai food, it’s a must if you’re volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare! (Spring Rolls Location)
What to do in your spare time at Koh Lanta
There’s so much to do on Koh Lanta to spend your days in between volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare. We’ve created a 3 day Koh Lanta itinerary full of ideas and also a 2 week South Thailand itinerary to do before or after your visit to Koh Lanta. Here are a few things to do in Koh Lanta:
- Visit Mu Ko Lanta National Park and go for a drive around the island!
- Join Noi in the Time for Lime Thai Cooking Class.
- Go on an Island Hopping Tour to Koh Chuek, Koh Muk, Koh Ngai and Koh Ma.
- Visit the many beautiful beaches in Koh Lanta!
- Plan a diving trip! We recommend booking with Lanta Diver and exploring Hin Daeng / Hin Muang or Koh Haa. Here’s a breakdown of prices!
- Check out Coco Grove Resort and buy a drink to use their pool!
- Browse around Koh Lanta’s Old Town
Weather in Koh Lanta, Thailand
The weather in Koh Lanta is tropical and sometimes unpredictable. As you’re thinking of volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare there isn’t really a best time to go to the island – the animals need you all year round. The most popular time to visit Thailand is between November and April but for volunteering in Thailand or volunteering with animals, you can do this any time of year!
The pros of visiting in the dry season are there’s a higher chance of sunny days and all restaurants will be open. However, the pros of visiting in the wet season are the chance to have beaches all to yourself, to support the centre when it needs visitors the most and there will still be many sunny days anyway!
Helpful links for volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare 2025:
- Lanta Animal Welfare’s Website
- Apply to volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare
- Arrange a scooter hire for your time on the island with Koh Lanta Bike Rentals
- Plan a diving day on your days off with Lanta Diver
- Check other options of where to stay in Koh Lanta on Booking.com or Hostelworld
- Donate to Lanta Animal Welfare
- Sponsor an animal at Lanta Animal Welfare
- Message Lanta Animal Welfare to find out more!
Switch to more eco-friendly travel products before your trip to Thailand! The earth needs all the help it can get. Check out these 18 Great Eco-Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap!
Check out our other Thailand Posts:
- The Best 2 week South Thailand Itinerary (2025)
- 3 Day Koh Lanta itinerary: Best Things To Do (2025)
- 11+ Best Thailand Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Visiting Thailand (2025)
- 3 Day Koh Samui Itinerary: The Best Koh Samui Guide
- Top 8 Vegan Restaurants in Koh Samui, Thailand 2025
- Ultimate Vegan Restaurants in Phuket – Vegan Food Guide in Thailand
- Koh Lanta Vegan Guide: Best Vegan Restaurants in Koh Lanta 2025
- Or browse our travel blog for more inspiration!
That’s the end of our Volunteering at Lanta Animal Welfare, Koh Lanta, Thailand (2025)! Have the best time helping animals in need and if you need any more help planning your trip – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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Love all the photos, especially Taro. Such a lovely thing for you to do for the cats and dogs. They look really happy to be cared for by you both.