Visitor Info · Bang Phra, Thailand
What to know before you arrive.
We do not try to ruin your stay with a lot of useless rules. That we take the time to write them down, and go through them again on arrival, should tell you we take them seriously, and why they exist.
This page covers what to expect as a course participant, volunteer, intern or apprentice at Daruma: our house policies, then the questions we get asked most. Here for the Permaculture Design Course itself? Start there, then come back here before you book.
Before you arrive.
How long should I stay?
There is no fixed minimum, but longer stays work best. Every volunteer takes real time and staff effort to coordinate, and needs a little while to settle into the routine, both the work and the community side of it, before we find the jobs that suit them.
Do I need a visa?
Volunteers come on a tourist visa or visa-free entry. How long you can stay depends on your passport, and Thai visa rules change often, so please check the current rules with your nearest Thai embassy or at thaievisa.go.th before you book.
When should I arrive?
Before sunset, so you can find your way around before dark and a staff member is free to meet you. Please plan around delayed transport rather than cutting it close: arriving on the last bus that might land 30 minutes before sunset means someone has to stay late for you.
Monday or Tuesday arrival is preferred, Wednesday is fine. If Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday is genuinely your only option, expect to work half days that weekend, with your first full day off the following weekend.
What will I be doing each day?
Volunteers work six hours a day, starting early, around 6am. On top of that is a modest amount of community time that doesn't count toward the six hours: helping clean shared living spaces and pitching in with meals and clean-up. It isn't a lot, but it keeps the community running and everyone takes part.
What should I wear?
Comfortable, practical clothes for a working school and farm. Long sleeves are often more comfortable than less: keeping the sun off is a better way to stay cool than taking clothes off. Boots aren't required, but a wide-brimmed hat is worth having.
Thailand's norms around modest dress differ from many visitors' home countries, including at our natural swimming area. Please dress accordingly, and ask if you're ever unsure.
What are the house rules?
A short list, explained again on arrival:
- No smoking anywhere on the farm or in any building, at any time. Smoking outside the gate is fine, except when the school's children are arriving or leaving.
- Be on time. Daruma runs on a lot of moving parts, and being where you're expected keeps it from turning into chaos.
- Alcohol in moderation is fine, as long as it never gets in the way of your work or your course, and never looks out of place at a school.
- Hitchhiking isn't illegal here, but our small community worries when they see a foreigner doing it: almost everyone locally knows we're from Daruma or Mosaic School. Take a tuk-tuk or motorcycle taxi instead. It supports the local drivers too.
The campus, day to day.
Everyday questions.
What are the accommodations like?
Volunteers stay in a mix of dorms and tents. Dorms are segregated, some rooms are private or have a double bed, and there is one four-person dorm. Which you get depends on when you come and who else is here, so ask us when you write. Course students choose their room when they book (see accommodation).
Beds, mosquito nets and fans in the rooms, with showers and bathrooms a short walk away. Shared spaces include a kitchen, library, meeting room and living room. Lockers are provided, bring your own padlock if you'd like one.
What should I bring?
A towel, toiletries, bug spray, sunscreen, a torch or head torch, a refillable water bottle and a padlock for your locker. Proper shoes rather than flip-flops, work clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and clothes that are appropriate for a school. A light rain jacket from May to October, and any medicine you need (plus travel insurance). The farm can lend gloves, boots and a hat, and the local market covers most other basics at reasonable prices.
What's the food situation?
The kitchen runs on a cook-as-you-go, clean-as-you-go basis for volunteers and interns (course participants eat catered shared meals; see the course pages). Staples are provided for volunteers to cook shared meals: rice, fresh fruit and vegetables, canned goods, meat and dairy, plus a full set of cooking gear, including a rocket stove. Tell us about dietary restrictions in advance so we can stock accordingly. Foraging from the grounds is fine too, as long as you know what's safe to eat.
Is there internet and phone access?
Yes. There is internet on campus, and it is pretty good (except when it breaks, which happens), plus computers you can use. The one house rule: no phones in the school café or at dinner. For your own data, a SIM from the 7-11 near the farm works well (TrueMove is the easiest to top up locally).
Is laundry available?
Yes, laundry is possible on site.
How do we get around?
Bicycles can be borrowed from the farm for short trips, like the supermarket. We can also give you numbers for the local taxis and tuk-tuks.
Ask us directly.
Can't find what you need here? Get in touch and we'll answer before you book.