Day 1
Study Focus: Geology of geothermal springs

AM: Depart Chiang Mai airport by mini van (120 km) to Pong Duet National Park stopping along the way for lunch and a swim at beautiful Mok Faa waterfall.

PM: Driving high into the foothills of Northern Thailand we arrive at Pong Duet Geothermal Springs where we will study the geology of the region, hike a forest trail past many geysers, and soak in the sublime hot pools by candlelight under the stars.

(Dinner & Overnight: Pong Duet National Park Lodge)

Day 2
Study Focus: Montane Forest ecology

AM: Following breakfast and the possibility of a morning soak in the hot springs, we depart by mini van (1.5 hours) for Pai. Along the way we will stop to study the unique plant communities that colonize these foothills of the Himalayas.

PM: Following a lunch in the community of Pai, we explore the countryside by bicycle, and then drive on a short distance to Cave Lodge. In this beautiful natural setting we will enjoy a casual family-style dinner and a group sharing circle around the fire.

(Overnight: Cave Lodge)

DAY 3
Study Focus: Cave geology and cave fauna

AM: After a great breakfast at the lodge, we set off on foot and by bamboo raft to study Tham Lod, a spectacular cave passage with a river running through it. Tham Lod has huge chambers filled with spectacular limestone formations, 1,600 year old prehistoric burial coffins and cave paintings.

PM: Returning to the lodge for lunch, there’s time to enjoy a refreshing swim in the Lang River before setting off on a trek to a nearby hill tribe village. We return to Tham Lod in time to watch an incredible wildlife spectacle at sunset. More than 300,000 Fork-tailed and Pacific swifts swirl into the massive exit chamber of Tham Lod just before an equal number of insectivorous bats exit it. It’s an awesome spectacle!

(Dinner & Overnight: Cave Lodge)

DAY 4
Study Focus: River hydrology and riparian zones

AM: It’s a big day for adventure as we eat a hearty breakfast then set off to the put in point for our two day river rafting expedition down the Khong River. The trip passes through 45 km of pristine wilderness with gorges, waterfalls, lots of wildlife and the best rapids in Northern Thailand.

PM: Lunch is served on the riverbank, and then we float our way through fun rapids and quiet river pools, learning principles of river hydrology, observing effects of river erosion, and observing the flora and fauna of the riparian zone. Towards late day, we set up our camp and enjoy dinner and stories around a campfire under the stars.

(Overnight: River Camp)

DAY 5
Study Focus: Stream macro invertebrates

AM: We wake up to bird songs, grub up, and rejoin the flow of the river. By mid day we’ve joined the Pai River and rafted nearly to Mae Hong Song.

PM: Following lunch on the river, we will be transferred to Golden Pai Resort for time to relax and swim at the poolside of this delightful 3-star nature resort. Late afternoon finds us slopping along the shores of the Pai River netting and identifying the rich invertebrate life found in northern streams. We’ll then make a short excursion into Mae Hong Song to enjoy the splendor of sunset from the top of the highest temple, and take in a great local dinner before returning to the comfort of our lodge.

DAY 6
Study Focus: Northern rural communities & environmental impacts

AM: Breakfast served at our resort is followed by a full day of unique adventures. We shift gears a bit today to focus on the human landscape. How do people in this region interact with their environment in both positive and negative ways? We will visit a sesame oil production operation that is as old as the hills, study rice farming methods (both lowland and hill “swidden” cultivation). We will visit a refugee Chinese community that fled the revolution and ride ponies through their tea plantations. We will see examples of health tourism with a geothermal mud pack facial, and look at the transportation links Mae Hong Song has with the outside world.

PM: Following lunch, we catch a late afternoon flight back to Chiang Mai where we enjoy a traditional Lanna-style Khantoke dinner and dance performance.

DAY 7
Study Focus: Waterfall micro climes & cloud forest

AM: We set off early after breakfast, driving 80 km to Doi Inthanon National Park and the highest summit in Thailand. Along the way we will take in the spectacular 250 meter high Mae Ya Waterfall and study the rich array of flora that flourishes in this perpetually wet micro clime.

PM: Following lunch beside the waterfall, we head to the very summit of Doi Inthanon (2,565 meters high) to hike an elevated visitors trail through the amazing cloud forest. Few people in Thailand ever experience this amazing ecosystem laden with mosses, orchids and epiphytes. Returning to lower elevations and our lodge for the night, we enjoy a special dinner and ceremony to mark our final night of the trip together.

DAY 8
Study focus: Himalaya birds

AM: We’re up early, armed with binoculars, and out in search of birds even before breakfast. Doi Inthanon boasts the greatest diversity of birds in the Kingdom with over 400 recorded species. Most of these species are native to the high Himalayas but are found nowhere else in Thailand. Each birding team will report on their sightings during breakfast before we start heading back down the mountainside.