Thailand and Japan Service and Adventure

Your adventure begins in the vibrant city of Chiang Mai. After a delicious lunch, we’ll head to our home base. Get settled in, meet your fellow travelers, and dive into an exciting program presentation. As the sun sets, we’ll kick off the fun with a “Baht Builder” team challenge and engaging night games.

Fuel up with a hearty breakfast before heading to start our “Food For Thought” project at a local school in need. Here, you’ll roll up your sleeves and make a tangible difference in the lives of local students. Work alongside your team to build a sustainable Mushroom House and contribute to other impactful service projects. The Thai students will be joining us in our project for a true cross cultural connection.

After a fulfilling day of service, return to campus for a delicious lunch. In the evening, choose your adventure: scale new heights with rock climbing or test your aim with archery. As darkness falls, gather around a campfire for stories, laughter, and new friendships.

Today, we’ll step back in time and explore the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam. Engage in a hands-on Lanna Cultural Challenge, where you’ll immerse yourself in local customs by learning traditional crafts including pottery, cooking, and dance with local experts. After lunch, discover your inner chocolatier at a Chocolate Making Workshop. As the day winds down, wander through the bustling famous Night Market, a feast for the senses.

Return to the local school to complete your service projects with “Food For Thought” and leave a lasting legacy. Plant fruit trees and prepare saplings for a greener future. In the afternoon, we’ll venture into the lush countryside for a Coffee Village visit and a chance to connect with the Hilltribe people. As the sun dips below the horizon, enjoy a picnic dinner and prepare for an exhilarating hike to Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon.

Lace up your hiking boots and embark on a full-day trek through the breathtaking landscapes of Doi Inthanon National Park. This hike is appropriate for all skill levels. Along the way, learn about the region’s unique ecology and local agriculture. Visit vibrant ethnic markets, cascading waterfalls, and stand in awe atop Thailand’s tallest peak. In the evening participate in an exciting “jungle survival” cooking lesson and learn essential jungle survival skills, like bamboo cooking and water filtration. As night falls, enjoy a campfire under a starlit sky and stay overnight in a cozy cabin right in the national park for a truly unique experience and deeper connection to nature.

Put your culinary skills to the test in a Market Cooking Challenge. Divide into teams, learn authentic Thai recipes, and design your own menus. Then, head to the local market to source fresh ingredients and prepare a feast for your fellow travelers. In the afternoon, nurture your green thumb with Sapling Nursery Work  with your “Food For Thought” project at a local school. In the evening, enjoy a BBQ dinner, compete in a Mini Olympics, and reflect on your incredible journey.

Spend the day meeting the most famous animal in Thailand- the elephant! Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary that provides care for these majestic creatures. Learn about the plight of the elephant, work alongside their mahouts (handlers for life) caring for, feeding and becoming friends with our elephants in their jungle sanctuary. Please note, TFT does not support riding elephants and the sanctuary we visit has been carefully vetted to ensure it meets ethical standards.

Coming out of the jungle, we’ll jet down to the most famous island in Thailand, Koh Phi Phi, for a taste of tropical nirvana. Snorkel and dive in the crystal-clear blue waters and relax on the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever seen. The picture perfect sunsets will leave you with memories to last a lifetime. Get in touch with nature as you hike gorgeous scenic trails and take a longtail boat to a beach featured in movies.

Continue the adventure in paradise with a couple of days in Ao Nang, exploring the best of Krabi. Head inland to relax in the the stunning hot springs of the Emerald and Crystal Pools of Khao Phra-Bang Khram Nature Reserve, before climbing to the the top of the the Tiger Cave temple, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the region for jaw-dropping views. Catch a traditional longtail boat to nearby beautiful Railay beach, well known for it’s iconic limestone cliffs that rise right from the sandy beach.

Take it up a notch as you swap the laid back charm of the islands for the organized chaos of the capital Bangkok! Check out the opulent Royal Palace, serene reclining Buddha and the most iconic temple in Bangkok, Wat Arun. Be transported to a bygone era as you explore the vibrant Bang-Pa-In, the old summer palace of the kings. Embrace the sights, sounds and smells of Bangkok as you hunt for bargains along Khao San Rd, enjoy some of the best street food of your life and if you choose, witness an exhilarating Muay Thai performance. Cap off an incredible Thai adventure as you enjoy a delicious fancy final dinner, celebrating an amazing couple of weeks with your new-found best friends!

Our time in Japan begins amidst the bustling streets and sparkling lights of Tokyo. Visit Miyazaki’s animation studio where classics like Princess Mononoke, Laputa, and Totoro were created. Hit up the famous Akihabara area, home to video games, anime, and manga, and shop in the colorful Harajuku District.

Head to the top of the government building for incredible views of the city and stare in awe at Shibuya Crossing, the busiest street crossing in the world! Wander through the world famous Japanese fish market and visit several stunning shrines.

Experience true Japanese culture including a traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

No trip to Tokyo would be complete without tasting everything this bustling city has to offer, including ramen, sushi, and teppanyaki!

Our next stop is the scenic mountain town, Nikko. Nikko is famous for its lush forests, many waterfalls, and beautiful hiking trails. Enjoy a hike in a nature reserve and visit a picturesque waterfall. Cross the iconic Shinkyo bridge and stroll through one of the towns stunning gorges.

After your relaxing time in nature it’s time to hop on the bullet train to our next stop!

Our last two stops bring us to Hiroshima and Kyoto. Hiroshima today is dedicated to bringing peace to the world, a direct result of the destruction the atomic bomb brought to it during WWII. During our time here we will have the special opportunity to meet with a local survivor and hear his or her perspective on this tragic event. Every year our students are moved by hearing such a personal and emotional story, and come away with a greater understanding of the effects of WWII. In past years, our groups have even had the unique opportunity to be interviewed and featured on the local news for our global perspective!

After Hiroshima it’s on to Japan’s cultural gem: Kyoto. This charming city is famous for its beautiful temples and shrines and we will have several days to explore its stunning golden temple, tranquil rock gardens, and ornate palaces. On the way to Kyoto, stop at the gorgeous 700 year old Himeji Castle!

Our time in Kyoto will also be very interactive. After learning about geishas, we will go for an evening geisha walk to spot them strolling about the historical city center. We will experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony and learn exactly what is involved with this ancient art. We will also enjoy a fun and exciting taiko lesson, where we will learn to play these traditional Japanese drums with instructors in a fun and easy to learn format. To cap off our lesson we might even have a drum battle! To enjoy nature, we will hike through a bamboo forest, as well as visit the famous orange torii gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine.

Kyoto will also include plenty of opportunities to shop and play arcade games. Students who are brave enough will also be able to showcase their singing skills at a local karaoke hots

After leaving Kyoto we will have time for one last day in Tokyo to see whatever we may have missed the first time around before heading home. Whether it is shopping, exploring more temples, more arcade time, or getting in a few more bites of our favorite Japanese delicacies, our last day will be the perfect way to cap off an unforgettable journey.