Tours for Chiang Mai, Thailand
USAC encourages every student to participate in the tours/field studies; however, they are optional and have an additional fee. Destinations may change at the discretion of the Resident Director.
The following are possible destinations, view term calendars for specifics.
Chiang Mai Countryside on Bicycle
Exploring the natural beauty of Chiang Mai countryside on a zero-waste and sustainable way of traveling. Starting the tour with a 30-minute train ride from Chiang Mai to Lamphun. The biking journey of 50 km covers rice fields, fruit orchards, ancient cities, canals, and wooden craft village. Lunch will be at a local village along the Ping River.
Hilltribe Day Tour
Summer term only
In this tour, you can immerse yourself in the authentic and hands-on experiences of hill tribe villages in Chiang Mai. The first day trip leads you to Doi Pui Hmong Village, where the very first settlement of Hmong Chiang Mai took place. Visits to church, school, and community center will allow students to hear about Hmong and their preserved traditions in northern Thailand.
The second day trip takes you to Chiang Dao, where Palong or Dara-ang resettled centuries ago. The shaman of the village will perform a welcoming ceremony and allow you to engage in their activities; i.e. rice harvest and pounding, cloth weaving, blacksmith, dance, and language.
Hilltribe Overnight Tour
Fall, Spring, and Yearlong terms only
This tour complements the Highland Ethnic Peoples and Social Transformation in Northern Thailand course. Anyone may sign up for this tour, however, students enrolled in the 3-credit Highland Ethnic Peoples course are particularly encouraged to participate.
The tour is composed of two separate overnight trips. The first trip will allow you to learn about Hmong and Karen peoples, living in the lower mountains of Doi Inthanon National Park. The location of the tour is Ban Mae Klang Luang, where both tribes resettle peacefully for centuries. Fall students will have the opportunity to plant rice, while Spring students can harvest the fully grown rice from the terrace rice fields. Coffee plantation and weaving are important industries of the community which you can engage. Overnight stay at the Karen family house, where you can get firsthand experiences of how Karen people live. The next day activities will take you to immerse yourself in the Hmong Khun Klang community and their roles in the Royal Project.
The second overnight trip takes you to Chiang Dao, where different hill tribes live peacefully together over the centuries. The first part you can learn about the Lisu and Akha tribal villages. Then, spend the evening and night at the Palong or Dara-ang village in Mae Chon. The shaman of the village will perform a welcoming ceremony and allow you to engage in their activities; i.e. rice harvest and pounding, cloth weaving, blacksmith, dance, and language.