THAILAND: ELEPHANTS, EDUCATION,
AND CULTURAL EXPLORATION

We begin this trip with a Thai proverb, '“Tham dee dai dee” meaning: "If you do good things, good things will happen for you," as we travel to Thailand for 21 days of Elephant conservation, teaching English, cultural immersion, and outdoor adventure.

ACTIVITIES

• Adventure: Climb to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Snorkel in Koh Samet

• Hike: Side by side with elephants through the jungle

• Explore: Thae Pae Gate, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Suan Dok, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, Doi Pui Tribal Village and National Park, and Chiang Mai Night Markets

• Cultural Experience: Teachings from Buddhist Monks, Night Bazaar, City tours exploring temples and monuments

• Classes: Thai Cooking

SERVICE

A Certificate of Community Service indicating the total number of hours worked, and a group Presidential Volunteer Service Award will be issued upon successful completion of the program. Service work could include some of the following:

• Teach English to local children in elementary schools in Bangkok.

• Participate in elephant care and conservation in the Himalayan foothills outside of Chiang Mai. This could include washing elephants, feeding and exercising them, as well as other tasks around the center including grass planting, earthmoving, cleaning enclosures, and other maintenance jobs.

WHAT IS INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED IN TRIP TUITION

The trip tuition listed above includes accommodations, activities, meals, and group gear. The tuition does not include personal gear and clothing, travel insurance, spending money, and travel expenses such as airfare to and from the start and end of the program, additional in-country flights, unaccompanied minor fees, and baggage fees.

ACCOMMODATIONS AND SHOWERING

The group will be staying in a combination of private lodges and rustic hotels throughout the program. Rooms in lodges and hotels will be divided by gender, and participants will sleep slumber party-style – rotating available beds nightly and sharing beds as needed.

In an effort to save time and conserve water resources in the areas we are traveling, participants will have access to showers every 1-2 days even when showers are readily available in private housing accommodations. Western-style toilets are available at the accommodations.

FOOD

All meals on this trip are planned and prepared by our in-country community partners. There may be opportunities to assist in food preparation depending on the preference of the partner.

Expect to eat meals that are consistent with the culture we are visiting. While other food options may be available, we will be sharing meals with our community partners, and eating what they eat as part of our cultural exchange. Meals are often filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Authentic Thai cuisine has many of the same flavors as Thai food outside of Thailand, but often differs in its composition; i.e. smaller portions, more grain, and less meat.

We will learn all about Thai cuisine during a Thai cooking course!

We are able to accommodate all dietary requirements and preferences.

TRAVEL

Families are individually responsible for travel arrangements to and from their program destination.

However, due to limited flights to Thailand, RLT requires that all participants meet at the San Francisco Airport (SFO) in California and then fly to Bangkok, Thailand (BKK) together as a group. RLT plans to offer travel coordination assistance in the Spring when we release these program-specific details. If it would be more convenient for your participant to book another flight, please contact the office for assistance. It is imperative that no one make any travel arrangements until RLT directs them to do so. There is also a round-trip internal flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, which will be an additional cost for families apart from tuition. For more details, please contact the office.

ADDITIONAL IN-COUNTRY FLIGHT

For this program there is also an internal group flight that will be booked by RLT that is additional to the trip tuition. On day 12, the group will travel together from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by plane, and then at the end of the trip, will return to Bangkok once more before departing for home. These flights are purchased by RLT and invoiced to families; you do not need to take any action to book this portion of the travel. 

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS

For all international travel, we require participants to have a passport that is valid for a minimum of 6 MONTHS past the end date of your participant's RLT trip. If your participant's passport is due to expire within those 6 months, please work on updating your participant's passport as soon as possible upon enrollment. According to the State Department, routine passport renewal will take 10-13 weeks and expedited processing, which costs an additional $60, will take 7-9 weeks. It is your responsibility to ensure your participant's passport is up to date and meets these requirements. We encourage families to familiarize themselves with the U.S. Department of State website for all up-to-date and accurate passport recommendations.

VISA REQUIREMENTS

A tourist visa is not required for U.S. citizens entering Thailand for fewer than 60 days.

As The Road Less Traveled is a U.S.-based company, we provide guidance primarily based on visa requirements for U.S. citizens. For those with citizenship from other countries, it is your responsibility to seek out the most up to date guidance on visa requirements. We are happy to provide any paperwork or support for documentation that is needed in the process of seeking out visas in those situations.

TRAVEL INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Road Less Traveled does not provide its own insurance. However, we require participants to purchase travel insurance through a third party for all international programs. For additional details, please visit our FAQ page or you may contact a member of our team at info@theroadlesstraveled.com or 773-342-5200.

VACCINE & MEDICATION INFORMATION

Please note that travel to Thailand typically includes a recommendation for additional vaccinations and medications. We encourage you to review the CDC website for the most up-to-date information and consult with your physician or a travel nurse before trip departure. More information will be provided to enrolled families from our Admissions Team in the Spring.

TECHNOLOGY

As part of the RLT experience, our trips are electronic-free. While it is encouraged to travel with cell phones, leaders will collect phones and any other personal devices after all participants arrive on the first day. It can feel tough initially to not have access to your phone, but it really helps everyone in the group to connect and have a really great trip experience. This includes phones, iPods, tablets, gaming devices, music devices, smartwatches, etc. All electronics will be held by RLT leaders, kept safe and dry for the duration of the trip, and returned at the end of the program. All cameras, go pros, etc. are acceptable and can be kept with you! If you do not have a camera, please note that leaders will also be taking photos throughout the program, and these photos will be shared through an online gallery.