Village Vitality
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Trip Highlights
- Volunteering and meaningful interaction in Ja Bor, a hilltribe community
- Bangkok tour
- Chiang Mai, Night Market
- Doi Suthep
- Mae Hong Song community
- Hilltribe interaction
- Trekking
- Rafting
Your "Taste of Volunteering" Project
This trip fully immerses you into northern Thai culture. We spend a day at a school where we help the students practice their English. You don’t need special skills to do this – just some enthusiasm and imagination. The focus is on fun and interaction.
We spend a further 3 days volunteering. Tasks will vary, depending on the situation and current needs, but could include:
• Simple construction or maintenance work, e.g. pipe laying, painting
• Teaching English, sports or other subjects at the local school
• Helping with farming - planting or harvesting, depending on the season
Trip Summary
This trip visits Bangkok with its famous Grand Palace of the Emerald Buddha, or ‘Wat Phra Keow’, Chiang Mai and the remote Hill-tribe village, where you will spend the next days learning about life in the community. You explore the fields, forest and mountains and learn about their relationship with the land and learn about the local craftsmen and women, who practice many traditional arts.
On day 7 your Volunteer Project begins and continues for 3 fulfilling days. You can assist with: simple construction or maintenance work, teaching English or perhaps assisting with the farming. Your next stop will be Chiang Mai, where you will learn traditional Thai cooking and visit many different temples and Chiang Mai’s famous Night Market. Your enriching adventure ends in Bangkok where we say our farewells.
This trip visits Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Song Provinces. The focus of the trip is our stay in an ethnic ‘Hill-tribe’ community in Mae Hong Son. We have combined interactive, inspiring ‘Community Based Tourism’ activities, with ‘hands-on ’volunteer activities, all requested by the local community.
The trip will provide a living, learning experience of a Thai family and local community. It will be a fun, authentic experience which empowers hosts and guests by striking a balance between learning and teaching; giving and receiving. At the end of the trip, you and our partner communities will have developed bonds of friendship, mutual respect and admiration.
Trip Description
Day 1- Arrival in Bangkok
(-- D)
You will be met at the airport by a member of our team, and transferred to a pleasant guest-house in Bangkok. In the evening, you will meet your Tour Facilitator. First, there will be an orientation to the program, and an opportunity to ask questions and share expectations for the trip. After the meeting, you will be taken out for a delicious welcome dinner. Enjoy great food, company, views and atmosphere, riverside at one of Bangkok’s famous Chao Phraya river restaurants.
Day 2 – Bangkok – insiders’ view
(B--)
Today, we will begin our journey with a morning canal trip. The canals are the best place in the city to most fully see and appreciate the eclectic blend of traditional and modern lifestyles that typifies Bangkok. We end our boat ride at the famous Grand Palace of the Emerald Buddha, or ‘Wat Phra Keow’, one of Thailand’s most revered sites and a stunning symbol of faith and tradition.
After taking in these essential tourist sites, we will move into the living city. Traveling by a variety of types of public transport, your tour facilitator will show you how Thais negotiate everyday life in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok. In the afternoon, you will have some time to shop, go for a traditional Thai massage or find a coffee corner for a spot of people watching.
In the evening we head off on the classic overnight train to Chiang Mai, and the beginning of a new adventure (NB: train times will affect exactly how many afternoon activities we can do).
Day 3 To Ja Bor, Mae Hong Son Province
(B L D)
Today, we will arrive in Chiang Mai. After breakfast, we will travel directly to the remote Hill-tribe village where we will spend the next week learning about life in the community, and assisting our hosts with community service tasks.
During our time in Ja Bor village, accommodation will be basic but comfortable, and food will be local and tasty. Variety of food depends a lot on the season, but there will be plenty to eat. Tea and coffee are on hand in the morning!
On arrival, we will be greeted by representatives of the local Community based Tourism Group, including our homestay families. We will have a ‘local language and culture’ workshop, before heading to new homes in the hills! In the evening, we will have some time to hone our Thai skills, and get to know the family. It is recommended to bring some photos of home to help cultural exchange. Our team will assist translation and communication with your hosts.
Day 4 – Outdoor Activities
(B L D)
Our hosts are farmers who rely on the natural world to feed their families. Local community guides will take us out to explore the fields, forest and mountains and learn about their relationship with the land. The trek can be long or short, depending on how active you feel, and can include many interesting stops, including caves, herbal medicine forests and viewpoints.
Day 5 – Traditional wisdom inside the community
(B L D)
Today, we will explore inside the community. Local guides will introduce us to local craftsmen and women, who practice many traditional arts including bamboo and textiles weaving and producing local musical instruments.
The community teachers will let us try our hand at local crafts, too.
In the evening, we will meet with the community group to prepare for our first community service activities at the local village school tomorrow.
Day 6 – Activities with local students
(B L D)
Today, we will visit the School early in the morning, as the children join together to sing the Thai national anthem. Later, we will divide into small groups, responsible for our own ‘learning stations’, designed to help the students practice their English. You don’t need special skills to do this – just some enthusiasm and imagination. The focus is on fun and interaction.
We eat lunch at the school, before enjoying a ‘sports exchange’ between our group and local youth. You may be lucky enough to learn a Hill tribe sport…
Day 7-9 – Volunteer Project (B L D)
During these 3 days, we will be involved in a volunteer project. Tasks will vary, depending on the situation and current needs, but could include:
• Simple construction or maintenance work, e.g. pipe laying, painting
• Teaching English, sports or other subjects at the local school
• Beautifying important local sites like temples or shrines
• Conducting environmental surveys with local youth
• Creating media in English for the community based tourism club
• Groups with special skills may be able to make a short documentary, produce a CD Rom…
Day 10 – White Water! (B L D)
Today, we will say farewell to our friends in the village, and set off on the next leg of our adventure. We travel to a nearby ethnic Chinese village where we will set off for an afternoon of white water rafting. There will be a short safety briefing, before we head off down river in our rubber rafts (grade 2-3 rapids, suitable for inexperienced rafters, but guests should be able to swim). We will eat lunch en-route, before arriving at beautiful Susa waterfall, where there will be time to swim and relax. Tonight, we will camp overnight in tents.
Day 11 - A slice of Pie (B L -)
Today, we trek through the forest from Susa waterfall back to the Chinese village. This 3 hour interpretive nature trail is lead by community guides, who will show us the local flora and fauna, and explain how plants are used for food and traditional medicine. When we arrive back at the village, we enjoy a classic Chinese meal – village style. A culinary experience not to be missed!
In the afternoon, we drive to the nearby bohemian oasis of Pie, a small town which is a colourful mix of highland and lowland Thai peoples. Pie attracts independent travelers from around the world, but has stayed off the mass-tourist trail, and so retained a unique, local charm. There are lots of delicious dishes to enjoy. We will stay in a small, locally owned bungalow resort.
Day 12 – To Chiang Mai (B - -)
Today, we depart from Pie and head back to Chiang Mai. We should be in Chiang Mai by lunch-time, so there will be plenty of time to explore this fascinating cultural center, almost 4 times older than Bangkok. Tonight, you will be free to chill out and take some time out on our own…
Day 13 – Chiang Mai & Cookery School (B L D)
Today, we will learn traditional Thai cooking. After trying our hand at making various delicious dishes, we will have the chance to eat them, too in a sumptuous lunch! In the afternoon, the group will be free to explore. There are many different temples to visit, and Chiang Mai’s famous Night Market. It is also possible to ride elephants at a reputable elephant camp (optional).
Tonight, we will meet up for a fantastic farewell dinner… mmm!
Day 14 – Chiang Mai - Bangkok (B- -)
Today, a minivan will be available for the group to visit the famous Wat Doi Suthep temple, perched on a hill overlooking the city. This temple is a symbol of Northern Thai culture, and is steeped in myth and legend.
This evening, we will take the overnight train back to Bangkok.
Day 15 – Bangkok – Departure Day
Today, we will return home! The group will have day rooms to have a shower and pack our bags. Transfers are included to the airport.
Don’t forget:
• Old clothes for trekking and work
• Strong shoes for walking
• A warm jumper for the hills
• Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Modest clothes for temple visits and every day in the village
• A day back-pack
• Photos to show your host family where you come from
• A small, thoughtful gift for your homestay family (something typical from your home - the thought counts more than the price)
Extension Trips
Thailand - Extension 1: Laos
Thailand - Extension 2: Cambodia
If you like this trip, you may also be interested in:
China - Along the Silk Road
Indonesia - Way of the Dragon
India - Taste of India
India - Ultimate India in Style
