June 29: Departure Day, New York to Chiang Mai
Group Meeting:
At 10:30 PM, meet your leader and fellow students at the Cathay Pacific check-in counter (outside of security) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). This is the official start of your Putney program!
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Cathay Pacific flight #845 departing New York (JFK) at 1:30 AM on June 30, arriving in Hong Kong (HKG) at 5:15 AM local time on July 1. The group will continue on from Hong Kong (HKG) on Dragonair flight #232 departing at 8:00 AM local time and arriving in Chiang Mai, Thailand (CNX), at 9:50 AM local time on July 1 (21 hours, 30 minutes en route).
July 1–3: Chiang Mai
Settle into our accommodations and have an in-depth orientation to Thai culture. Enjoy a bicycle tour around the neighborhood with our friendly guesthouse owner. Our accommodations sit amid ruins of the kingdom that preceded the famous ancient city gates nearby, and the remains of stupas, temples, and residential structures are still scattered throughout the charming area. Offer lotuses to the spirits that reside in these structures alongside local residents. Spend an afternoon chatting with monks at a nearby temple, then take a meditation class. Make your own pad thai or tom yum koong during a traditional Thai cooking class on an organic farm, or try your hand at traditional muay thai boxing before attending a real match. Stroll the famous night markets full of hill tribe handicrafts together with your group.
July 4: Chiang Rai
Journey north to the city of Chiang Rai and spend a day in the countryside. Take a traditional long tail boat with local guides and trek to a waterfall for a refreshing swim and picnic lunch. Continue onto a nearby Lahu Hill Tribe village, and learn about their traditional farming practices and weaving techniques. Wander a night market famous for handicrafts, then visit the iconic Wat Rong Khun, or “white temple” the following day. Visit the Hill Tribe Museum, and learn about the incredible array of cultures and languages that exist in this region of Thailand.
July 5–7: Chiang Mai
Return to Chiang Mai and stop in at the 3D Art Museum. Spend a day at an elephant nursery and conservation center in the mountains surrounding the city. Visit with baby elephants and their mothers as you observe them in their natural habitat. Bathe, feed, and walk with the elephants in the forest before they take their afternoon mud baths. Speak with the mahouts, or elephant caretakers, about their relationships with the elephants, the reverent status elephants hold in Buddhism and Thai culture, and how their livelihoods are changing with the evolving Thai economy.
July 8 & 9: Sukhothai
Begin your journey south and visit the ruins of the Sukhothai Kingdom, now home to nearly 200 ruined temples, structures, and moats dating to the 13th century. Take a bicycle trip through the countryside to visit local workshops and family farms, before exploring the ruins with a guide. Gaze up at Phra Achana, an enormous Buddha whose golden fingers alone are nearly six feet long, or photograph the majestic Wat Mahathat at sunrise.
July 10 & 11: Suphanburi
Spend the day at a local high school collaborating with students. Host a morning of English vocabulary games, then conduct mock interviews for graduating seniors. Attend a class, join lunch in the cafeteria, then learn to write your name in Thai script from Thai peers. Explore the famous Dragon Descendants Museum, stop in at the province’s iconic temple, and stroll the downtown after school.
July 12 & 13: Koh Samet
Spend two days swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Koh Samet. Explore the different remote coves around the island, and relax on white-sand beaches.
July 14–16: Bangkok
Delve into Bangkok’s vibrant bustle, visiting the Grand Palace and the city’s incredible temples. At Wat Pho, examine a famous reclining Buddha figure that stretches more than 140 feet. Glide along the city’s waterways in a river ferry and meander through a lively night market. Gather as a group for a final dinner to share stories of your adventures.
July 17: Return Day, Bangkok to New York
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Cathay Pacific flight #750 departing Bangkok, Thailand (BKK), at 11:10 AM local time on July 17, arriving in Hong Kong (HKG) at 3:00 PM local time. The group will continue on from Hong Kong (HKG) on Cathay Pacific flight #846 departing at 6:45 PM local time, returning to the International Arrivals Area of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 10:35 PM on July 17 (22 hours, 30 minutes en route).
July 17: JFK Airport Hotel
One of your trip leaders will stay overnight with the group. If you have reserved and paid for a hotel room, we will send you an email two weeks prior to departure with details about the hotel reservation.