Culture and Service in Thailand
What makes touring Thailand so special? This tour is part service, part sightseeing, and 100% life-changing experience. In northern Thailand, the girls will work with local communities on projects related to education, the environment, or community development. Ask yourself: What’s cuter than a happy elephant? Answer: A sanctuary of happy elephants! Observe the gentle giants and help maintain the place they call home. Finally, head to bustling Bangkok as the final stop of this Thailand travel tour to explore winding canals, historic sites, and local flavors.
The physical rating of this program is: Active: 3 (out of 3)
Read our FAQs for this program
Explore the many ways girls can take the lead on this tour
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Day 1: Fly overnight to Thailand
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Day 2: Bangkok
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 3: Bangkok • Chiang Mai
Learn about Thai history at the Museum of Siam
Fly to Chiang Mai
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Day 4: Chiang Mai
Take a tour of Chiang Mai
Visit Wat Ket Karam
Interact with local vendors during a market challenge
Visit Wat Suan Dok
Participate in a chat with local monks
Enjoy a traditional Khantoke dinner
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Day 5: Chiang Mai • Chiang Rai
Travel via Wat Phra That Doi Suthep to the Chiang Rai Region
Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Visit Elephant PooPooPaper Park
Learn about your specific service work during your project orientation
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Day 6: Chiang Rai region
As communities evolve, so do their needs. That’s why we work closely with local nonprofits to better understand each community’s issues. Since projects are determined closer to your actual tour date, here’s what a typical day might look like.
- Explore a community where you’ll work with locals on a service project
- Throughout your stay, you’ll also be immersed in cultural activities, celebrating local customs, and traditions
- Reflect, discuss events as a group, and draw connections between the day’s work and relevant global issues
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Day 7: Chiang Rai region
Continue your service work from the day before
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Day 8: Chiang Rai
Travel to Chiang Rai
Learn about your specific service work during your project orientation
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Day 9: Chiang Rai
Focus your service efforts on the upkeep of an elephant sanctuary
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Day 10: Chiang Rai • Bangkok
Fly to Bangkok
Take a tour of Bangkok
Visit the enormous Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Take a boat tour of Chao Phraya River and the Thonburi klongs
Visit Wat Arun
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Day 11: Bangkok
Take an excursion to Ayutthaya
Enjoy a tour of Ayutthaya's old town
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Day 12: Depart for home
Add 3 more days
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Day 12: Bangkok • Cha-Am
Travel to Cha- Am
Enjoy free time at Cha-Am Beach
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Day 13: Cha-Am
Take a day trip to Kui Buri National Park
Observe elephants in their natural habitat in Kui Buri National Park
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Day 14: Cha-Am • Bangkok
Enjoy free time at Cha-Am Beach
Travel to Bangkok
Explore Bangkok on your own
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Day 15: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly overnight to Thailand
-
Day 2: Bangkok
Meet your Tour Director at the airport -
Day 3: Bangkok • Chiang Mai
Learn about Thai history at the Museum of Siam
Fly to Chiang Mai
-
Day 4: Chiang Mai
Take a tour of Chiang Mai
Visit Wat Ket Karam
Interact with local vendors during a market challenge
Visit Wat Suan Dok
Participate in a chat with local monks
Enjoy a traditional Khantoke dinner
-
Day 5: Chiang Mai • Chiang Rai
Travel via Wat Phra That Doi Suthep to the Chiang Rai Region
Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
Visit Elephant PooPooPaper Park
Learn about your specific service work during your project orientation
-
Day 6: Chiang Rai region
As communities evolve, so do their needs. That’s why we work closely with local nonprofits to better understand each community’s issues. Since projects are determined closer to your actual tour date, here’s what a typical day might look like.
- Explore a community where you’ll work with locals on a service project
- Throughout your stay, you’ll also be immersed in cultural activities, celebrating local customs, and traditions
- Reflect, discuss events as a group, and draw connections between the day’s work and relevant global issues
-
Day 7: Chiang Rai region
Continue your service work from the day before
-
Day 8: Chiang Rai
Travel to Chiang Rai
Learn about your specific service work during your project orientation
-
Day 9: Chiang Rai
Focus your service efforts on the upkeep of an elephant sanctuary
-
Day 10: Chiang Rai • Bangkok
Fly to Bangkok
Take a tour of Bangkok
Visit the enormous Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Take a boat tour of Chao Phraya River and the Thonburi klongs
Visit Wat Arun
-
Day 11: Bangkok
Take an excursion to Ayutthaya
Enjoy a tour of Ayutthaya's old town
-
Day 12: Depart for home
Add 3 more days
-
Day 12: Bangkok • Cha-Am
Travel to Cha- Am
Enjoy free time at Cha-Am Beach
-
Day 13: Cha-Am
Take a day trip to Kui Buri National Park
Observe elephants in their natural habitat in Kui Buri National Park
-
Day 14: Cha-Am • Bangkok
Enjoy free time at Cha-Am Beach
Travel to Bangkok
Explore Bangkok on your own
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Day 15: Depart for home
Interested in leading this tour?
Your experience includes
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Airfare & transportation
Your flights—covered. Buses, trains, cruise ships, ferries and subways—covered. We take care of getting you around so you can enjoy the ride.
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Hotels
Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.
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Regional-style meals
Traditional breakfasts and dinners bring local flavors to life as part of your tour experience. Lunches are left up to you to discover favorite dishes of your own.
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Full-time Tour Director
Your culturally connected Tour Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all on-tour logistics.
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Guided Sightseeing
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from your licensed local guides while they lead you on sightseeing tours.
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Entrances
Step inside the world’s most cherished treasures with your local guide—we’ll take care of lines and tickets.
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Expert Local Guides
Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and global perspective on your sightseeing tours.
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Continuous Support
Your dedicated EF team helps you every step of the way—from recruiting and enrolling travelers to planning and managing your tour.
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Worldwide Presence
EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide so wherever you go, we're there too.
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24-hour Emergency Service
Travelers and their families can count on EF's dedicated emergency service team.
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Peace of Mind Program
Feel secure knowing your group can change their destination or travel dates due to unforeseen circumstances. Learn more about your flexible options at eftours.com/peaceofmind.
