Thailand

Begin your journey to Chiang Mai.

Arrive in Chiang Mai and begin building context through an orientation session and a visit to the Chiang Mai Art and Cultural Center, exploring Lanna history, regional identity, and contemporary life. A short language and customs session introduces key cultural norms and everyday Thai phrases, followed by a group check-in to set intentions for the program.

Travel to the Mae Sa Valley to learn about ethical elephant conservation and the realities of protection and welfare. Participate in hands-on activities including preparing herbal supplements and learning about conservation through observation and dialogue. Students have the opportunity to feed elephants and engage in supervised, respectful interactions, deepening understanding of elephant behavior, habitat needs, and the realities of conservation in Thailand.

Shift into circular economy learning by creating handmade paper from elephant fiber. Conclude the day with an umbrella artisan visit and painting workshop, connecting sustainability to Chiang Mai’s craft traditions.

Participate in an intercultural exchange at a local school, engaging in language practice, collaborative games, and creative activities with Thai students.

Continue into Warorot Market to explore food systems, commerce, and public space. Learn about everyday entrepreneurship before concluding the day with temple exploration in the Old City, using architecture and symbolism to understand lived Buddhism.

Travel to Ban Mae Sa Noi to explore agricultural innovation through the Royal Project’s research farms. Learn how sustainable agriculture supports livelihoods in mountainous regions.

Meet Hmong artisans to explore textile traditions, storytelling, and cultural identity. Visit a forest restoration nursery to examine how community partnerships support biodiversity and long-term environmental recovery.

Travel north to Chiang Dao, beginning with a guided exploration of the Chiang Dao Cave Temple by lamplight. Learn how spirituality, history, and geography intersect in sacred spaces.

Continue to Sri Sangwan “sticky” waterfalls for time in the landscape, followed by a visit to a scenic viewpoint overlooking Chiang Dao, connecting physical geography to regional identity.

Engage with village communities near Chiang Dao to learn about migration, language, and daily life. Participate in a natural dyeing workshop, creating shirts using plant-based pigments.

Walk through agricultural fields and observe traditional weaving techniques through demonstration and dialogue, followed by a community Q&A focused on identity, change, and continuity.

Return to Chiang Mai and engage with the Payap–Yunus Social Business Center, exploring how social entrepreneurship responds to community needs. Examine the principles of social business and impact-driven innovation through discussion and case studies.

Later, visit artisan districts focused on silver and lacquerware, meeting makers who sustain traditional techniques within modern economies.

Begin with a guided market walk exploring ingredients, herbs, and flavors central to Thai cuisine. Continue into a hands-on cooking experience that includes harvesting ingredients from an organic farm.

Prepare and share a traditional meal, connecting food to culture, agriculture, and daily life.

Conclude the program with a closing dialogue reflecting on entrepreneurship, community engagement, and cultural learning. Transfer to the airport and begin the journey home.