July 6: John F. Kennedy International Airport Hotel
One of the leaders will stay at the hotel with students who arrive the day before departure. 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 and instructions on how to meet your leader.
July 7: Departure Day, New York to Chiang Mai
Group Meeting:
At 7:00 AM, meet your group leader and fellow students at the Cathay Pacific Airlines check-in counter (outside of security) at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). This is the official start of your Putney summer!
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Cathay Pacific flight #841 departing New York (JFK) at 10:00 AM, arriving in Hong Kong (HKG) at 2:00 PM local time on July 8. The group continues on from Hong Kong (HKG) on Dragonair flight #232 departing at 3:25 PM and arriving in Chiang Mai, Thailand (CNX) at 5:20 PM local time on July 8 (20 hours and 15 minutes en route).
July 8 – July 14: Chiang Mai
Settle into our accommodations and have an in-depth orientation to Thai culture. Spend the next few days exploring the city and ziplining through the rainforest canopy. Learn about Buddhism by chatting with monks at a nearby temple, and make pad thai or tom yum koong during a Thai cooking class. Try your hand at traditional muay thai boxing or stroll the night markets in the ancient city.
Spend two days trekking in the mountains of the nearby Chiang Dao Valley. Hike to several Akha and Karen hill-tribe villages, which still retain their varied weaving, music, and art traditions stemming from the ancient Lanna Kingdom. Along the way, hike through terraced rice paddies, swim in the famous limestone Huay Hoi waterfalls, and float down a local river on a traditional bamboo raft.
After the trek, head into the countryside to visit an elephant conservation center and work with elephants and their mahouts, or keepers. Learn about threats to the elephants’ habitat and talk to mahouts about their unique bond to the animals and their important significance in Thai culture.
July 15: Sukhothai
Once the capital for the Sukhothai Kingdom, the site is now home to nearly 200 ruined temples and buildings from the 13th century. Gaze up at Phra Achana, an enormous Buddha whose golden fingers alone are nearly six feet long. Photograph the majestic Wat Mahathat at sunrise, and bike along the old city walls, stopping for lunch at a small cafe to escape the midday sun.
July 16 & 17: Suphanburi
Spend the day at a local school teaching English to Thai middle school students. Attend a class, learn to write the Thai alphabet, join a soccer practice, or conduct mock interviews with Thai high school students to help them practice their English. Explore the famous Dragon Descendents Museum, stop in at the province’s iconic temple, or stroll the downtown.
July 18 – 20: Koh Samet
Spend two days snorkeling, swimming, and relaxing on the white-sand beaches of Koh Samet. Hike from cove to cove on jungle trails through the island’s interior.
July 21 & 22: 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 meeting to share stories of your adventures.
July 23: Return Day, Bangkok to New York
Group Flight:
The group will fly on Cathay Pacific flight #754 departing Bangkok, Thailand (BKK), at 12:40 PM on July 23, arriving in Hong Kong (HKG) at 4:25 PM local time on July 23. The group continues on from Hong Kong (HKG) on Cathay Pacific flight #846 departing at 6:45 PM, returning to the International Arrivals Area of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 10:35 PM on July 23 (21 hours en route).
July 23: John F. Kennedy International Airport Hotel
One of the leaders will stay at the hotel with students. 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.