Cultural Exchange with the Thai Hill Tribes
16-Day Guided Program in Chiang Rai with Community-driven Project
In partnership since 2005
Located in the far northern part of Thailand, Chiang Rai is known as the “Gateway to the Golden Triangle” – the meeting point of Thailand, Burma and Laos. Mae Yao is a sub-district in Chiang Rai, a rural area populated by around 12,000 people, 80% of whom are highland ethnic minorities, also referred to as “hill tribes”. This is a collective term for the distinct groups who migrated to Thailand towards the end of the 19th century, having been pushed out of their native homes in Tibet, Burma and China by civil war and political pressures. Xperitas partners with a community-based nonprofit committed to supporting peoples of this area to make a better life for themselves while still retaining their cultural identities.
Thai Hill Tribes Cultural Immersion with Service Project
Overview
Thai Hill Tribes Cultural Immersion and Service
Pricing*Additional gateway cities are available: contact us for pricing.
Depart for Bangkok.
Welcome to Thailand! Your Xperitas Team Leader will greet you at the airport in Bangkok. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy your first group dinner and team meeting.
Included Meals: Dinner
Hop on a short flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. Meet community partner hosts and rest up at a guesthouse.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer to your host family stay. Under the leadership of the local leaders, collaborate on a project such as classroom construction, bathroom construction for elders, or infrastructure projects. Build relationships with community members by working alongside them on the project. You’ll also get to explore the area by going on trekking and sightseeing excursions. Each day, enjoy traditional meals with your host family and reflect on your experiences in team meetings and the group journal. On your last day, have a final celebration with community members.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Say goodbye to your host family and new friends and and return to the guesthouse in Chiang Rai.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Fly from Chiang Rai to Bangkok. Transfer to your hotel in Bangkok and enjoy some free time before your farewell group dinner and final team meeting.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Bangkok for your flight home.
Included Meals: Breakfast
“I went into this not knowing what to expect or what the experience. I have never traveled out of the country without my parents and it was amazing to do something like that independently. I got very close to the group and I never really went into it with a specific goal. Once we got there I began to realize that a goal of mine was interacting with the community and making a connection as well as being helpful at the work site. I believe that I accomplished the goals and made the experience even better.” — Student
