Travel Review: High School International Study Tour: Loas and Thailand

DAY 1, THURSDAY 14 MAY: ARRIVE IN BANGKOK

Welcome to Thailand. At Suvarnabhumi Airport, after Customs & Immigration formalities, you will be
greeted and transfer directly to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 2, FRIDAY 15 MAY: ARRIVE IN BANGKOK

Enjoy a good sleep-in. After a late breakfast your guide will meet you at 10:30 AM in the lobby of the
hotel and discuss the day’s exploration. Your hotel is conveniently located close to many of the main
cultural and historic sites in Bangkok. Consequently, today we can avoid one of Bangkok’s major
drawbacks – traffic – with a walking tour. Today will be hot so make sure you bring you hat
We will start at Thailand’s most important national treasure – the Royal Grand Palace and temple of
the Emerald Buddha.
Thai people revere His Majesty the King and are devote Buddhists. Today, to show our respect,
please dress modestly - long pants / skirts and shirts with sleeves. If you wear sandals please wear
socks (in other words, feet covered).
The palace was once the royal residence, but today is used for ceremonial and diplomatic functions.
We will be able to explore the palace grounds and visit the Emerald Buddha Temple, as well as the
many other historical buildings in the large complex, including Vimanmek Palace, the Palace in the
clouds, a favorite of King Rama V’s.
Our next stop will be at Wat Pho – the temple of the reclining Buddha. Build in Ayutthaya Period, the
temple has been a center of knowledge and was the first open university in Thailand. Nearly every
branch of knowledge could be studies here especially traditional medical science. Today the famous
Wat Phou Massage School is still based here. It costs …. Thai Baht for those who want to take a 30
minute massage.
We will then cross the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun – the temple of Dawn. Two remarkable
aspects of this temple are the crown roof proch and prang (Cambodian styled tower). Enjoy the views
from the steps and the busy river traffic.
We will then re-cross the river and make our way back to the hotel to relax. In the evening we will
have dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 3, SATURDAY 16 MAY: BANGKOK – FLY TO LUANG PRABANG – UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE

After breakfast check out and transfer to Bangkok airport for your flight to Luang Prabang.
Surrounded by thickly forested mountains and situated at the confluence of the Khan and Mekong
Rivers, Luang Prabang rightly lays claim to the title as the best preserved town in Asia. This UNESCO
World Heritage Site was the capital of the Lane Xang (million elephants) Kingdom until the midsixteenth
century. It continued at various times as the residence of the Lao Monarchy up until the
early 1970's. During the colonial era it served as the provincial headquarters of northern French
Indochina. The legacy of the European presence - well preserved French architecture and careful
street planning – has blended delightfully with more than 30 gilded Buddhist temples to create a town
rich in atmosphere and history.
Welcome to Luang Prabang! Your NxNE guide will greet you at the airport and take you to your hotel
for check-in.
We start with an enjoyable two-hour stroll around Luang Prabang to introduce the historical and
cultural importance of this scenic town…and you will understand why it deserves the World Heritage
title! We will first climb 350 steps to enjoy commanding views from Wat Phu Sii. This sits atop a
mountain right in the center of town, and provides a wonderful view! Next we will wander along the
shaded banks of the Mekong River and through the cobbled alleyways to get an up-close look at the
town. Next visit Wat Xieng Thong that emphasizes the uniqueness of Luang Prabang, its several
roofs sweeping low to the ground. See also the impressive "tree of life" mosaic on the exterior of the
chapel depicting episodes from the Ramayana.
Tonight dinner will be at one of the many fine local restaurants. If time and energy permits take a walk
through the evening market on the way back to the hotel.

DAY 4, SUNDAY 17 MAY: LUANG PRABANG - SEUANG RIVER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT INTRO

After breakfast, we introduce our community service project with a survey of Seuang River
Community-Based Tourism site - approximately 1 hr drive north of Luang Prabang. This session
will also introduce the principles of Sustainable Tourism for the Elimination of Poverty – a central
theme of our time in the villages.

Our first stop will be at the village where we will be living over the next few weeks. After meeting our
hosts and receiving a welcome from the community we will start to settle into our community stay.
We will tour the village and start to learn about local lifestyles. Bathing, eating and sleeping
arrangements will all be well explained (traditional toilets and bathing Lao village style) and your
guides will be on hand to assist with communications.
Lunch will be served and provide a wonderful opportunity to get to know our hosts better. Meals at the
village are prepared by the villagers and typically include fresh river fish and locally grown organic
vegetables. To ensure everyone is well fed and happy we also provide an assistant-cook and supplies
from town. After lunch we will get started on our project!

Our service project’s goal is to rebuild a house for one of the villages poorest families. Upward of 80%
of villagers live in poverty and 40% are in absolute poverty. 40% of single-women headed household are in this poorest-of-poor group. We will rebuild the house with the villagers help to make sure that the family is safe, warm and dry!
Villagers provide land, labor and some local materials. The local tour operator provides project
management and tourism marketing expertise. Participating service groups provide donations and
volunteers. The project is owned and operated by the villagers.
Participating volunteer groups providing donations are directly assisting the Seaung River
communities become independent stewards of their own tourism resources.
(NB: the exact nature and scope of the project will be adjusted according to the donation provided by
the volunteers- large or small you will experience first-hand the effects of your support)

DAYS 5 – 6, MONDAY 18 – TUESDAY 19 MAY: SEUANG RIVER COMMUNITY PROJECT WORK

Over the next two days we will continue to work with our village hosts on the community service
project.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accom: Seuang River Village Home Stay

DAY 7 – 9 WEDNESDAY 20 – FRIDAY 22 MAY: SEUANG RIVER TREK – SCHOOL VISIT – BAMBOO RAFTING –
LUANG PRABANG

This morning after breakfast we will pack light packs with the essentials for the next three days as we
set off on a trek through the mountains and upland communities that lie between the Seuang River
and Ou River.
The communities we will be visiting compose a variety of upland groups and languages, cultures and
housing styles will vary from one to the other. Each day we will be walking between one mountain
valley to another through a mixture of forested and upland slash and burn farming areas.
During breaks, meals and overnights we will stop in remote villages of varying sizes. The sleeping
arrangements will be simple but adequate.
Each day we will walk approximately 5 – 6 hours.
We will finish our trek before lunch on the third day and have
lunch at the village Ban Sop Jak. Here we can also visit the
regional high school and have a chance to conduct activities
with the students (teaching English, songs, games, etc). This is
a fun time for all and especially for the Lao students to meet
those from another country / culture / language.
After a lunch we will split into teams to design, build and float a
raft - made only from natural materials! (bamboo, vines and
simple paddles) - to the next village Ban Napo. The Lao
students will join us to help in the use of various tools and
bamboo construction techniques - another wonderful opportunity
for communication and cultural exchange! Planning and team
work will be important in this challenge – and you will have a
good time as you float down stream (life jackets provided).
We now have to say goodbye to our hosts with a traditional Basi Su Khouan* ceremony.
Basi is Pali for "ties of thread," and su khouan is Lao for "defending the spirit or soul." A group will
perform the ceremony to mark a recent or upcoming event such as a birth, marriage, departure for a
trip, or arrival from a trip. The group gathers around a centerpiece made from banana leaves on a tray
with offerings to the spirit or spirits. The master of ceremonies is a male village elder who chants to
the participants' spirits. The ceremony is a group event that bonds the community together and
demonstrates the persistence of animist beliefs in Lao culture.
After saying goodbye to our hosts, we drive back to Luang Prabang and return to our hotel in town for
nice hot shower, dinner and a good night’s rest!

DAY 10 SATURDAY 23 MAY: LUANG PRABANG – ELEPHANT PARK PROJECT

This morning after breakfast we will take a short ride out of town to the Elephant Park Project. The
Elephant Park Project is located next to the “Lao Spirit Resort”
about 15 km out of town and in the middle of a wonderful
mountainous surrounding.
We will split into smaller groups to gain a better perspective of the
amazing nature and creatures on this 1 hr. Elephant ride. A
stunning landscape, quietness, and the lush nature gives you a
relaxed stay on the back of the protected Elephant. You will make
your way through small forests and along the Nam Khan river up
to/from the amazing Tad Sae waterfalls (different trail in dry
season January-August). At the waterfall or the river you can
hang out for some swimming and bathing in the refreshing cool
water.
Lunch will be served either on the magnificent waterfalls or on the
mountain view veranda of the “Lao Spirit Resort”.
In the afternoon we will return to Luang Prabang for some time to
relax at the guest house before going out for dinner at a popular
local-style BBQ restaurant.

DAY 11, SUNDAY 24 MAY: LUANG PRABANG – BANGKOK - PHUKET

This morning after an early breakfast we will transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok and then
connecting onward to Phuket.