Thailand
Teaching & Service in the Thai Highlands
Travel to the mountainous northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in Thailand, home to lush forests, endless mountain ranges, and tremendous ethnic and cultural diversity. Foster connections with local youth as you teach conversational English lessons and contribute to ongoing construction projects at elementary schools in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai District, and assist with other service projects in the community as needed. Experience northern Thailand’s distinct highland cultures and traditions while staying in a small community on the Kok River near the border with Myanmar, home to the Thai, Shan, Ahka, Karen, Lahu, and many other ethnic groups. Learn about Buddhism through offering morning alms to monks and visiting temples, make delicious dishes in a Thai cooking class, participate in a day exchange program with local high school students, and cap your program by exploring the dynamic cities of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, northern Thai cultural hubs.
- Highlights
• Bike admidst ruins of the ancient Lanna Kingdom
• Learn how to make delicious Thai dishes such as pad thai and khao soi
• Visit Chiang Rai’s Wat Rong Khun and other magnificent Buddhist temples
Itinerary
This itinerary represents our best projection of the group’s schedule. However, we may implement changes designed to improve the quality of the program.
Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your program leaders in Los Angeles, and fly together to Chiang Mai, Thailand. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.
Begin your program in Chiang Mai, where you will stay in a quiet neighborhood surrounded by ancient Lanna structures and picturesque temples while becoming acquainted with your surroundings and getting to know your peers. Enjoy panoramic views of the city from Chiang Mai’s beloved mountain, Doi Suthep, and visit evening markets and walking streets to sample delicious street food and try out your Thai language skills with local vendors.
Travel north into the mountains to a local community nestled near the border with Myanmar. With guidance from your leaders and local facilitators, prepare English learning games and basic conversation lessons to teach local elementary school students in small groups. When not teaching, get your hands dirty by helping with ongoing construction projects at the schools such as laying the foundation for a new canteen, making bricks for future projects, or giving the walls a fresh coat of paint. In the afternoons, trek through the lush landscape with your group, visit a local handicrafts market, go for a dip in the swimming pool, or participate in activities such as archery, volleyball, or team-building games with your leaders and local facilitators. Share your experiences through photographs, writing, or video, and develop a narrative about your time in the community.
Travel to Chiang Rai via riverboat to explore this diverse, charming city in Thailand’s northernmost province known for its rugged natural beauty and remote highland communities. Learn how to make your own eco prints alongside a local artist, hike to a beautiful waterfall in the jungle, and participate in an enriching cultural exchange day program with local students at a high school in the city center. Visit the exquisite Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple, and explore Chiang Rai’s bustling Night Bazaar and evening market streets.
Wrap up your time with a final evening in Chiang Mai presenting your independent projects and reflecting on your adventures as a group.
Fly from Chiang Mai to Los Angeles with your group and a leader, then continue on to your final destination. To learn more about how we organize travel, click here.