Thailand Phang Nga Challenger Expedition - Sample Itinerary

Arrive in Thailand

Arrive at Phuket Airport where you’ll meet your tour leader who will be with you throughout your expedition. You’ll start with an orientation discussion about what to expect and an introduction to Thailand.

Challenge your taste buds

Learn a few key Thai phrases to order food while walking around a local street market. As part of your activity, your group will discuss the correlation between language and privilege.

Outcomes:

• Self-awareness

• Cultural sensitivity

Local insights and knowledge

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 and training

Start the day with a health and safety briefing, followed by training where you’ll learn about our local projects and partnerships. As part of your training, you will learn about turtle conservation and prepare for your first expedition activities.

Outcomes:

• Health and safety

• Local projects and partners

All staff are trained by professionals

Navigate an evacuation route

Visit the International Tsunami Museum and learn about tsunami warning signs, hazard zones, safe evacuation, and basic first-aid and CPR skills. As a group, you'll navigate the evacuation route via the blue and white signs to the tsunami warning tower.

Outcomes:

• Communication

• Environmental awareness

Permanent in-country staff

Team Challenge

Applying teamwork and planning from the previous day, your group will work together to assist with cleaning turtle tanks and turtles. Learn to set goals as a group, assign roles and work together to contribute toward local conservation efforts.

Outcomes:

• Teamwork

• Planning

Ethical conservation practices

Lead a beach clean

After a brief intro to biodiversity, you'll take turns leading your group on a beach clean. You'll learn the importance of working with others, delegation, trust and communication as a group.

Outcomes:

• Leadership

• Communication

Long-term project work

Continue team challenge

Continue to contribute to local sea turtle conservation by assisting with cleaning turtle tanks and turtles, treating any wounds that turtles may have with antibacterial and antifungal medical ointments, and collecting morphological data.

Outcomes:

• Sea turtle monitoring

• Teamwork

Locally driven, collaborative projects

Culinary team building

Working as a team, you'll take turns to help with the preparation of local Thai dishes – cutting and preparing vegetables and making delicious rice. Learn about the strengths and weaknesses of your group and how best to support one another.

Outcomes:

• Teamwork

• Self-awareness

Authentic local experiences

Hike and camp out in the jungle under the stars

Spend your days hiking through a national park. In the evening set up camp by the waterfalls and learn how to cook with bamboo utensils. Fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle and wake up to the call of the gibbons and wild pigs nearby.

Outcomes:

• Navigating wilderness

• Resilience

Proven emergency protocols

Khao Sok National Park

After spending the night camping in one of the oldest (160 million years to be exact) and greenest forest ecosystems in the world, you’ll continue to hike through the national park and travel via traditional long-tail wooden boats.

Outcomes:

• Biodiversity surveys

• Environmental awareness

Ethical conservation practices

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 the dinner your group will learn how to continue making an impact. 

Thailand’s beaches  

Spend your last morning relaxing on an idyllic beach with white sand and crystal-clear water. You can choose to spend your time lazing on the sand, or swimming and getting active in the water.

Outcomes:

• Positive mental health

• Self-awareness

Responsible travel practices

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 tour leader will accompany you to the airport for your flight home.