Come explore all our favorite places in Chiang Mai, Thailand on a 10-day adventure!
“Loop Abroad hit it out of the park (again!) with this Alumni Trip. We had the best time and everyone from the staff to the alumni and friends and family were amazing. We made lifelong memories and had an unforgettable trip. I’m so happy I had this opportunity to join a program again!”
Emily W., 2024
This 10-day program is open to Loop Abroad alumni (students and staff) and their partners, family, and friends. We are SO excited to show you our favorite people, places, foods, and activities in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We first offered this trip last year for our 15th anniversary, and it was such a hit that we’re doing it again! We’re offering this trip at a VERY discounted price in the hopes that it can be accessible for the most people.
PLEASE read the description in the itinerary tab- this is not a veterinary program, and it’s not a course. There’s no lectures, no vet hours, and no college credit. It’s just fun. It also has free time most evenings, which means that dinners (and some other meals) are not included in the price. Unlike a Loop field course, you are allowed to go out in your free time and allowed to drink alcohol if you are of legal drinking age in Thailand.
If you are coming with a partner, friends, or family members, we will room you together. If you are traveling solo, we’ll room you with a roommate of the same gender. If you’d like a solo room, we can accommodate for a small solo room stipend. You’re staying in a hotel in the city with air conditioning, wi-fi, and a pool. It is not super fancy.
Please come on this trip and be cool. Remember how you had someone in your group who complained and it was annoying? Don’t be that person. We’re trying to do something cool here – don’t be the one that messes it up for everyone. We would like to keep running trips like this!
This trip will not have a group flight – you will be responsible for your own airfare into Chiang Mai, Thailand (CNX). We will pick you up at the airport (included) and get you back to the airport for your departure (included).
You can stay and travel on your own after, or skip activities and do your own thing (at your own expense). You will still need to fill out enrollment forms, including the medical form that needs to be signed by a doctor. A COVID vaccine is no longer required by Loop Abroad (though we recommend it!). You will have to take a COVID test 2 days before travel (a home test is fine). PLEASE remember that rules about COVID can change at any time, and if the airline or the hotel or the country changes the rules to require a COVID vaccine or test, we have to follow those rules. There will still be some things you will agree not to do in your free time, including riding a motorcycle or consuming illegal drugs. We’re still trying to get you home safe and sound when your trip is over.
“I loved being able to come back to Thailand after my original program. It has become my second home now and the place where my heard lives. Loop does such a good job at putting programs together so you can really soak up the culture!”
Tyler R., 2024
Who It’s ForAlumni of Loop Abroad or CELA Belize programs (in-person or virtual, students or staff, any location). An alumni enrolling in this trip may also bring their partner, friends, or family members. Please note that many activities are outdoors in hot weather and require participants to be able to walk moderate distances on their own. Please note that some activities may not be accessible to young children. If you have questions about particular activities for your family, please ask!
• Connect with Loop Abroad students and staff from the last 16 years
• 2-day trip to Elephant Nature Park
• Coffee and food tour of Chiang Mai
• Ziplining adventure
• “Grand Canyon” trip (it’s not a real canyon, it’s a water park)
• Visit to the Chiang Dao caves, including a waterfall and hot spring
• Sticky waterfalls (they aren’t really sticky – just not slippery!)
• Riverside dinner cruise
• Orphanage visit in Chiang Mai- your program fee provides them a donation
• Local markets, from J+J’s morning market (great coffee) to the famous Sunday street market
• Thai cooking class and yoga class
• Little stops at our staff’s favorite places in the city, including a pie shop that can put your photo on your coffee, delicious Thai smoothies, and a peaceful park right on the moat in Chiang Mai that Jane’s been trying to get included in our programs for literally 10 years. (Jane is the one writing this – you’re gonna love the park.)
“This alumni trip far exceeded my expectations (and this was my fifth trip with Loop Abroad!). Not only did I get to share an amazing experience with m loved on, but I also met amazing peopel that I hope will now be my friends for life. Loop Abroad never disappoints!”
Reina M., 2024
Arrive Sunday, June 29, 2025. Depart Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
$1,616 USD not including international airfare. This program is not eligible for the alumni discount, the early enrollment discount, or any other discounts.
Program Fee is per-person (regardless of their age) and is for double-occupancy rooms. If you are traveling with someone, we will room you together. If you are traveling solo, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender. You can request a solo room for a $200 single supplement.
Space is limited and is first-come, first-served. Loop Abroad reserves the right to refuse service to anyone – if we are unable to serve you, we’ll notify you of the cancellation and refund your enrollment within 5 business days.
The entire program fee ($1,616 USD) is due upon enrollment. If you have to cancel, here is the cancellation policy:
$1,000 of the program fee is the deposit and is non-refundable and non-transferable. Don’t pay it until you’re sure you want to go! The balance of the fee ($616) is refundable until 60 days before travel. 60 days before travel, the full program fee is non-refundable.
The program fee does not include medical insurance – if you don’t have medical insurance that covers you while abroad, you can purchase travel medical insurance. We can help you find a plan that meets our insurance requirements (approximately $20).
For US passport holders traveling from the US, no vaccines or visas are required.
Please see itinerary tab for details on what is included in program fee. Airport transfers, housing, breakfast, and all listed activities and meals are included. Airfare, non-listed meals, and optional free time activities are not included.
We’re extremely excited to show you what Northern Thailand has to offer. Chiang Mai is home to many of our staff and a very special place in the hearts of all of our students. It’s where we ran our first program in 2010 and the perfect place to celebrate out 16th anniversary. It offers unparalleled cultural experiences in a safe, comfortable environment.
The program hotel is not a luxury hotel but is quite nice and centrally located, and offers air conditioning, wi-fi, and a pool. Chiang Mai has excellent medical care available if you need medical attention during your program.
Housing at Elephant Nature Park (one night) is more rustic and does not have air conditioning, wi-fi, or dependable hot water.
The weather will be hot and humid – expect weather in the 90s during the day and short rain in the early evening on an average day.
Grocery stores and other shops carry most things you would find in America, though brands may differ. ATMs are readily available. The app Grab works like Uber to offer easy, affordable rides during free time, and Grab also has food delivery service similar to Uber Eats.
Western-style clothing is appropriate in Chiang Mai, though shoulders and knees need to be covered for temple visits. Most signage is in Thai and English and most people speak English. You will have an English-speaking tour guide with your group and 24/7 emergency support available.
Program transport is often by red truck, which have an open-air covered back with long benches, and do not have seatbelts.
Day 1: Arrival and welcome dinner. Arrive in Chiang Mai, Thailand! Airport transfer and welcome dinner are included. We will explore the Sunday Walking Street, a street market on Sunday evenings that is often listed as one of the best street markets in the world. Food, music, drinks, souvenirs, art… and lots more food.
During the program, you will stay in a hotel near Tha Pae Gate, a central area in the old city in the center of Chiang Mai. Tha Pae Gate is the start of the Sunday walking street market, and is an area with restaurants, shops, bars, and pretty side streets to explore. (The only exception is the night you will stay at ENP.)
Day 2: Wild Caves day. We will head out of the city today to visit the Chiang Dao caves, which are a beautiful cave system in the mountains of Northern Thailand. We’ll be led by a guide with a gas lantern on a cave tour, and have time to explore the area around the caves as well.
In this area of the country, we can also visit a waterfall as well as a natural hot springs. Then you will get to enjoy the “sticky waterfall”, which is called “sticky” because the rocks have a mineral coating that make it so you can easily walk in the waterfall without slipping. Breakfast and lunch are included.
Free evening in Chiang Mai (dinner not included).
Day 3: Exploring Chiang Mai. Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we will make our way to the top of Doi Suthep (a mountain in the city) to visit the mountain-top temple. Folks who want to hike can hike up the mountain and enjoy a small temple at a stream along the forest hike. Folks who’d rather not hike can ride to the top. You will enjoy beautiful views of the city from this famous temple.
We will go to a Thai buffet for lunch, and then enjoy some free time in the afternoon in the Nimman area of Chiang Mai. Nimman is home to about 20 side streets full of coffee shops, bakeries, little restaurants, boutiques and stores, massage, spas, and even a large mall with a movie theater and a grocery store. This is a great area to shop, eat, take some great pictures, and enjoy. We’ll go to Charin pie shop, where you can enjoy a piece of pie as well as a coffee with your photo printed on it.
In the evening, we will provide transport to the Night Bazaar so that you can enjoy shopping, eating, and entertainment in this area (dinner not included).
Day 4: Adventure day: Ziplining and Grand Canyon Water Park. After breakfast at the hotel (included), head out to a ziplining adventure in the jungle with a number of tracks. (Please note that ziplining requires significant uphill walks in the jungle and has a safety equipment limit of 250 pounds. Folks who do not want to go ziplining can join a guide at the botanical gardens.) Lunch is provided.
After ziplining, we will head to the Grand Canyon water park. This is effectively a canyon swimming area that has an inflatable water park course. You can relax by the water, swim, or enjoy the full inflatable course.
Free evening in Chiang Mai (dinner not included).
Day 5 and 6: Elephant Nature Park. Breakfast at the hotel (included). An overnight trip to Elephant Nature Park (ENP)! ENP is about 1.5 hours drive outside of the city (drive is in an air-conditioned van with seat belts). Here you can see the over 60 elephants who make their home at ENP. There are also hundreds of dogs and cats, as well as rescued farm animals. This is a beautiful place to spend the day and overnight.
Lunch and dinner on day 5 will be at Elephant Nature Park, and breakfast and lunch on day 6. These included meals are buffet-style and are all vegetarian Thai food.
Elephant Nature Park focuses on learning the story of the elephants and seeing them interact in their natural home. We do not offer elephant riding or bathing, but you will see elephants close-up throughout your time here.
On day 6, we will return to Chiang Mai after lunch. You will have the afternoon and evening free in the city (dinner not included.)
Day 7: Agape and riverside dinner cruise.
After breakfast (included), we will visit an orphanage and learn about the great work they have done, making a donation for the children. We will stop for lunch and then you’ll have some free time in the afternoon. There is lots to do in Chiang Mai, whether you want to hike a mountain, get a relaxing massage, or just try out some more cafes or visit more temples, we can help you make a plan for the afternoon.
In the evening, we’ll go on a riverside dinner cruise in the city (dinner included).
Day 8: Thai markets and cooking class. In the morning after breakfast, we’ll go to J+J’s market, which is a favorite of Chiang Mai locals as well as ex-pats who live in the city. The market is the perfect Sunday morning chill vibe, with art stalls, great coffee and yummy treats. After this quick trip, we’re off to a Thai cooking class! Cooking classes are a great way to learn about Thai ingredients, make some yummy dishes, and have fun. You’ll cook and eat lunch at the cooking class.
You will have a free evening (dinner not included) and can easily return to the Sunday street market if you choose (walkable from your hotel).
Day 9: Yoga, Butterflies, and more. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll enjoy a yoga class (10am) and head to lunch at Bai Orchid and Butterfly farm(lunch included), a beautiful place to take photos. After lunch, head back to the city to visit Art in Paradise, Chiang Mai’s 3D art museum where you can take photos of yourself in interesting scenes.
End the night with a Loop Abroad alumni party and barbecue. We’ll be inviting friends and partners from Chiang Mai to join us for dinner (included) and a celebration of Loop Abroad’s 16 years of making a difference in conservation and veterinary education in Chiang Mai and around the globe.
Day 10: Departure Day. In the early morning, you can join us to bring alms to the monks (a donation of food) if you would like. Breakfast is provided at the hotel, and we will provide airport transfer to your flight. If you aren’t leaving until later in the day, join us on a morning trip to Buak Hard Park for a beautiful place to walk, take pictures, and enjoy some free time. Free afternoon and evening (lunch and dinner not included).
Note
The order of the particular days in the itinerary may change. We will do our best to include all the listed activities, but if something needs to be adjusted due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, we will substitute a similar activity.
