Chiang Mai Explorer Expedition

Arrive in Thailand

Arrive at Chiang Mai Airport where you’ll meet your GVI leader who will be with you for the duration of your expedition. You’ll start with an orientation discussion about what to expect and an introduction to Thailand.

Thai street market

Markets are an important part of Thai culture. Walk through a vibrant local street market and learn about local handcrafts and Thai street food.

Outcomes:

• Cultural sensitivity

• Communication

Responsible travel practices

Traditional Thai dinner 

A Thai-style welcome dinner will act as an icebreaker for your group as you sample local cuisine together. Settle into your accommodation for the first night in Thailand. You’ll be sharing a room with your group throughout your trip.

Orientation 

Start the day with a health and safety briefing, followed by training where you’ll learn about GVI's local projects and partnerships. As part of your training, you’ll learn how to prepare for your first expedition activities.

Outcomes:

• Health and safety

• Local projects and partners

All staff are trained professionals

Elephant training

Learn about mahouts, elephants and the history of the Karen culture. Receive training on how to collect survey data, analyse elephant behaviour, provide support for health checks, and safely conduct walking surveys with elephants.

Outcomes:

• Conservation issues

• Community development in practice

Practical conservation training

Receive a Karen good fortune blessing

Blessings are a core part of Karen culture. As a new guest to Huay Pakoot village, you'll receive a Karen blessing from an elder of the village. They will tie a string bracelet to your wrist, as part of a tying ceremony, with blessings of good fortune.

Outcomes:

• Cultural sensitivity

• Self-awareness

Community-embedded learning

Elephant monitoring 

Hike through the nearby forest and hills to collect data on elephants. Take part in elephant health checks, and record information about their health and the behaviour you observe. Once you're back at base, you'll learn how to input the data into a local database.

Outcomes:

• Data collection

• Conservation survey techniques

Sustainable project outcomes

Learn basic Pakinyaw

Learn valuable language skills and key phrases in Pakinyaw (the language of the Karen hill tribe) to use throughout your journey. You'll start by learning Pakinyaw greetings before practising a few important Pakinyaw words and phrases.

Outcomes:

• Learn Pakinyaw

• Self-confidence

Permanent in-country staff

Continue elephant monitoring 

Continue contributing to local conservation efforts through elephant monitoring. As a group, you’ll take notes and record data on elephant behaviour, which will be entered into citizen science databases.

Outcomes:

• Survey techniques

• Elephant behaviour

Sustainable project outcomes

Forage for forest medicine

You'll be guided on a foraging walk through the forest by a member of the community and learn how to respectfully harvest and utilise the healing properties of leaves and roots. You'll then learn how to process the plants for herbal teas, salves and other handmade herbal remedies.

Outcomes:

• Cultural sensitivity

• History

Local insights and knowledge

Make traditional Thai food

Using local recipes, you'll learn how to make traditional Karen dishes – like hot curries, noodles and rice – from scratch. Once the cooking is done, you'll all sit and share the food.

Outcomes:

• Cultural sensitivity

• Independence

Trusting local relationships built over many years

Visit the "Roof of Thailand"

Visit Doi Inthanon National Park, named in honour of one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who focused on preserving the forests of Northern Thailand. The park forms part of the Himalayan mountain range and is known as "The Roof of Thailand" as it's the country's highest peak.

Outcomes:

• Cultural sensitivity

• Positive mental health

Local insights and knowledge

Master Muay Thai

Known as the "art of eight limbs", learn the ancient martial art of Muay Thai. Starting with a warmup, you'll learn the basics of shadow boxing and kicking. 

Outcomes:

• Self-awareness

• Positive mental health

Developing global perspectives

Final celebration

Enjoy your last night together with a special leaving dinner where you reflect as a group on your journey, celebrate your achievements and start preparing for your trip home. During or after dinner your group will learn how to continue making
an impact. 

Depart from Thailand

At the end of every expedition, groups reflect on their experiences, the issues they engaged with, and how to apply what they’ve learned. After final packing and goodbyes, your GVI leader will accompany you to the airport for your flight home.