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.
The biking journey of 30 km goes on quiet roads and stretches along rice fields, canals, orchards, and farmland with a huge variety of crops. In some villages, it seems like time has stood still for many years. People are still farming the land according to old traditions.
Hilltribe Day Tour
In this tour students can immerse themselves in the authentic and hands-on experiences of hill tribe villages in Chiang Mai. The first day trip leads you to the Ban Hmong Mae Sa Noi, learning about Hmong ethnic minority and their daily life, traditions, costume, and more. After this we will visit the textile center and join a batik workshop.
The second day trip takes you to Ban Karen Mae Klang Luang, starting with Pha Dok Siew nature trail, managed and guided by the Karen people. It is a beautiful waterfall trail. During the walk you can ask your Karen guide questions. After arrival in the village we will visit an old house and drink a cup of tea before lunch at Somboon’s restaurant. After this we will visit Somsak’s coffee shop and learn about coffee cultivation. Before ending, a casual talk with Karen villagers about Karen culture and daily life.
Hilltribe Overnight Tour
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.