Thailand and Vietnam Service and Adventure

As the group flight takes off, the program officially begins!

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.

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.

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. For the adventurous traveler, snorkel the reef with harmless reef sharks! 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!

Celebrate a new stamp in your passport as we head to Vietnam!

Get ready to experience Vietnam off the beaten path. Mai Chau is a hidden gem and one of the most stunning destinations in Vietnam filled with the idyllic sounds of birdsong and bubbling streams, limestone mountains, and fields of glowing green. This picturesque countryside is our home for several days while we complete our community service project.

We’ll stay in a bed and breakfast and receive a warm welcome from the local Vietnamese family who owns it. Their home is nestled on a small lake hemmed in by rolling hills. After rewarding days of service in the village community, we’ll enjoy home-cooked meals with recipes that have been cooked in the family for generations and relax in this serene setting.

Community service projects include small construction projects like bathroom or kitchen renovations. These updates significantly increase the quality of life for a family in need. Students will get the chance to meet the families and see the positive impact of their hard work.

After a few days in the calm countryside, we’ll return to the hustle of Hanoi, one of the most ancient capitals of the world. Here, you’ll find ancient pagodas and French-colonial architecture side by side, and delight in a true multi-cultural experience where Russian, French and Chinese influences collide. We’ll treat ourselves to delicious Vietnamese cuisine, browse the shops and explore the dynamic art scene.

From Hanoi, we’ll head to the former capital of Vietnam, Ninh Binh! Here you’ll venture on a boat ride down the Trang An River, a unique Vietnam experience that many tourists miss. This landscape is dominated by mountains wearing coats of lush greenery. The steep, vertical limestone cliff faces tower over river visitors, and unlike traditional mountain ranges where the slopes gradually connect, each mountain stands in isolation creating a unique and dramatic vista to admire. We’ll also hike to the top of Mua Cave for panoramic views of the Ninh Binh valley.

No trip to Northern Vietnam is complete without embarking on an overnight cruise through legendary Ha Long Bay. Vietnam folk-legend tells the story of a dragon that carved the bay with its tail on its way to the coastline. The bay is a collection of island towers topped with rainforests and shrouded mist. We’ll charter our own boat to sail through the emerald waters of the bay, exploring caves and marveling at the unique limestone formations that protrude from the sparkling sea.