The Chai Lai Orchid

our Vocational training program and Elephant hotel

Travel for good

Daughters Rising understands that job training and employment are key to fighting the intergenerational poverty that puts young women at risk of trafficking. Because tourism is the largest industry in Thailand, it was only natural that our vocational training program be focused on hospitality. 10 years ago when we were looking for vacant hotels to start our program, we fell in love with a space that also was home to 9 beautiful Asian elephants, and saw an opportunity to create both a safe space for at-risk women and ethical tourism with elephants. And so the idea for the Chai Lai Orchid Elephant Hotel was born!

Paid to learn

At Chai Lai, all of our hotel staff are at-risk ethnic minority women and Burmese refugees. Trainees are paid a living wage to learn all aspects of the hotel industry. Over the course of approximately 9 months, trainees learn housekeeping, concierge, cafe management, English and Chinese language, basic computer skills and accounting. Our graduates have gone on to management positions at Chai Lai, to work at 5 star hotels in Chiang Mai, to become trekking guides, and even to start their own trekking companies and homestays!

community-centered tourism

We also believe that tourism can be a force for good. While other tourism companies send profits back to large corporate offices, every penny of our work goes back into our local community and to fund Daughters Rising’s initiatives. In addition to staying in our hotel we also offer incredible treks and tours, all of which are run by local indigenous guides from the Karen Hill Tribe. These treks offer not only once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, but help preserve indigenous culture by educating guests on how to live in harmony with nature the Karen way.

Meet some of our amazing trainees & program graduates!