Building and renovation in Chiang Mai

🏡 A shared home in Chiang Mai
Stay in the participant house in a standard room for four to six people. Rooms have air conditioning, locks, bed linen and access to shared bathrooms with hot showers and western-style toilets. Bring your own towel and mosquito protection. Private rooms for one or two people, with a private bathroom, may be requested separately; availability and any supplement must be confirmed.

Wi-Fi is available in public areas. The house has a dining space, a lakeside area and table tennis, giving you places to relax and spend time with others. Handwashing is possible; paid laundry is separate. Keep shared spaces tidy and follow the house rules.

🍽️ Meals together
Three meals are served on weekdays and two at weekends, with drinking water, tea and coffee. Food is mainly home-style Thai cooking: rice or noodles, vegetables, seasonal fruit and sometimes meat or fish. Vegetarian options are available. Tell the team about allergies and dietary requirements before travel so they can check what is possible.

Accommodation runs from Sunday to noon on the final Saturday. Extra nights and any room upgrade need advance agreement. Ask the team about local transport and keep practical documents and support contacts available offline.

🛡️ Getting ready for practical work
You need basic English, an interest in community work and fitness for manual tasks outdoors. No building qualification is required. The standard minimum age is 18; participants under 18 need advance approval and signed parental consent, while those over 65 need medical clearance.

Before departure, complete the HeyLocals self-declaration in your personal area. This is sufficient for our review of your declaration about criminal records; no separate police certificate or references are needed.

Work under the supervisors’ guidance. Wear sturdy closed shoes, gloves and the protection required for each task. Use tools and materials only after receiving instructions, and speak up if a task is beyond your abilities. Specialist work and work at height require suitable skills and conditions; do not attempt them independently.

Respect people’s privacy and the rules of schools, temples and community spaces. Obtain permission before taking photographs. Drink water regularly, protect yourself from sun and insects and report illness, injuries or concerns promptly.

Arrange insurance covering the activities and ask a qualified doctor or travel clinic for personal health advice. During orientation, learn how to contact the local team and seek help in an emergency. Keep practical details offline. Support does not mean someone accompanies every free-time outing.

🧭 Your first Monday
Meet the coordinators and fellow participants, learn the house rules and discuss practical health and safety. The team reviews documents, introduces Thai culture and teaches some useful words.

A project meeting helps you understand the worksite, the tasks and what is expected. It may include a visit and observation with the coordinator. Explain your experience and any limitations so the team can assign suitable activities.

From Tuesday, follow the agreed programme. Receive instructions before using tools or materials, and stop to ask if anything is unclear. You support the local team rather than taking responsibility for specialist work.

The house also offers a welcome evening on Monday, a rotating cultural workshop on Wednesday and a farewell dinner with karaoke on Thursday. Let the coordinator know in advance if you would like to join Monday or Wednesday. Personal outings remain separate.

✈️ Arriving in Chiang Mai
Fly to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), with a flight scheduled to land between 08:00 and 16:00 on Sunday for the regular pickup. Allow at least an hour for immigration and customs before reaching the meeting point. Share your flight details in advance and tell the team promptly if your schedule changes or you are delayed.

You will receive the exact meeting instructions and support contacts before departure. Keep them available offline. If you cannot find the coordinator, stay at the agreed meeting point and use the contact details provided. The journey to the accommodation usually takes around 30–45 minutes, excluding waiting and traffic.

If you arrive by land or independently
Participants already in Thailand can join the arranged pickup at the airport at 14:00 on Sunday. This is a separate appointment from the flight arrival window. You may also travel to the house yourself on Sunday between 06:00 and 20:00, after agreeing your plan and approximate arrival time with the team. Saturday arrivals and off-schedule pickups require separate arrangements and extra costs.

Your return journey
The programme includes accommodation until noon on the final Saturday. Confirm your departure plan and the cost of your return transfer before booking onward travel. Allow enough time for local traffic and airline check-in. Extra nights and personal onward journeys are separate.

No professional building qualification is required. Basic English, willingness to follow instructions and fitness for outdoor manual work are important. Supervisors match tasks to your abilities.

The standard age is 18 or over. Under-18 participation needs advance approval and parental consent; participants over 65 need medical clearance. Complete the HeyLocals self-declaration in your personal area before departure.

Activities may include painting, cleaning, preparing materials and small repairs. You do not undertake specialist work or work at height independently. Ask the team about any health or support needs before booking.