Beyond the Tourist Thailand

  Thailand

• All Other Areas in Thailand: 
Nong Khai

Description: CNN recommends 8 volunteer organizations in their Be the Change Initiative. Open Mind Projects is one.

Whether you have been to Thailand before and want to experience this magical country again in more depth, or just want to do and see more than most people who visit it, Beyond Thailand, behind the scene has been created for those who want to combine culture and nature.

Begin with a two-day introduction in NongKhai, learn about Thai culture and learn some Thai out of Bangkok, in the old Thailand by the Mekong River. Then, travel for 3 hours along the Mekong River to a pristine Thai nature and stay two days and two nights at Kham Pia village by the Phu Wua Mountains, Accommodations with local host families to get a close encounter with life in a village and with nature and maybe wild elephants. Meals are included. You will be completely surrounded by rural life and natural beauty by the Mekong River. You can relax, go wild elephant trekking in the mountains with local guides spend time meditating, learn about rice growing, fishing, Lao/Isan cooking, in short experience local village life like it has been for hundreds of years.

Highlights: Day 1
We pick you up at the Udon Thani airport and transport you to your hotel in NongKhai where you can settle, have a cool drink, fresh fruit and take a swim in the pool by the Mekong River. Our guide will meet you there and take you on a leisurely Tuk Tuk (local 3 wheel taxi) walking tour of this Indochinese town by the Mekong River. We can customize the itinerary based on your personal interests.

We recommend a trip to the famous and awesome Sala Kaeow Koo temple and sculpture park, with gigantic Nagas (river serpent, underwater god), Hindu gods and Buddha's. Then also the famous royal temple Wat Po Chai with its golden Buddha, once stolen from Laos and maybe to Wat Prathatvittaya with its temple school for poor boys. If school is in session you might enjoy visiting the young novices and there is also a chance to practice meditation.

Discover the amazing Indochinese market, Tha Sadet, by the Mekong is a must. Shop for Thai silk, mutmee textiles, Lao black silver, ceramics and other handicraft at prices much lower than in Bangkok! Have lunch by the river. Enjoy Thai, Lao, Chinese or Vietnamese food. Nongkhai is a truly Indochinese town with many ethnic groups living side by side. We can recommend some of the numerous restaurants to enjoy during your visit. Try the best grilled chicken in the world at a street corner and have the national dish SomTam, spicy papaya salad and the local sticky rice, Khao Niaow. Our guides will join you for an easy-going introduction to NongKhai's local nightlife too. Listen to Thai rock or folk music. We can arrange for you to watch a local Thai/Isan/Lao music/dance show and for you to join the dancing too.

A must is of course to get a Thai traditional massage in a relaxing environment with soft Thai music in the background.

Day 2
Rise early! You must not miss the early morning routine of Buddhist monks that silently walk through town collecting food offerings from the local people. Unless you are tempted by the smell of local food along the streets, return to your hotel by the Mekong River for a hearty breakfast and a fresh swim in the pool. Afterwards your guide will take you to see more of NongKhai that you did not have time for on your first day.

Visit some of the other venerated temples in NongKhai. Later, take a break at one of the many open-air street restaurants or by the river. We can arrange for you to visit a project where young people are being trained in traditional or modern handicraft. Another alternative is to try Thai boxing at a training camp for young boxers but be careful. They may look small and thin but are very fast and strong! A trip to the spectacular Friendship Bridge linking Laos to Thailand should also be in your agenda. Maybe you want to cross the border. It will cost you 30 USD. We can also arrange one or more day trips to Laos.

Return to your hotel relax

Day 3
Depart in the morning for a 3.5 hour trip along the river, to a remote eco-village, Kham Pia, below the Phu Wua Mountains and the Mekong River. Along the way we stop, have some refreshments at the famous rock temple, Hin.... where the river is at its deepest, with many whirlpools and said to be the gateway to the Naga, the underwater god.

Afterwards, we continue downstream the Mekong with spectacular natural scenery. Arrive in time for lunch by the river at BungKhla near Kham Pia village. Enjoy the local Isan/Lao cooking, including many local specialties. Then off to Kham Pia and your host families. Later in the afternoon you will walk around the village, meet people, watch the local village activities, and visit the little school if you want. If you have never seen rice growing close up, you may want to join the local people as they work with their crop to see how it is done. There are plenty of other activities available.

In the evening lunch and local entertainment, maybe testing the local home brews!

Day 4
Days begin early in the village. Enjoy local style breakfast with your host family or at the visitor's center, wooden sala (pavilion). Then join a mountain jungle walk to search for wild elephants or medicinal plants. If you have good boots and strong legs you can trek up the mountain, through the forest to visit and rest by remote waterfalls. If you prefer to relax, go to the river, have a local massage you can do that too, follow the slow flow in an Isan village.   

Return to village, take shower, a massage and then we go to enjoy the sunset, a cool drink and dinner by the Mekong.

Day 5
After an early breakfast we go to the wildlife sanctuary HQ to learn about the state of wild life and nature protection here and in Thailand and then a 4.5 hour return to NongKhai, Udon Thani, with a stop in Bueng Khan town for lunch, unless you want to stay longer. We see you off to the airport. If your flight is late in the day, you will have a chance to see a bit more or do a bit of shopping. You may actually want to spend one more night in NongKhai or Udon Thani. There is much more to see and plenty to do.

There are several daily and direct flights Udon Thani Bangkok.

Contact us for price per person for an all inclusive package in dollars/euros/pounds/baht.

Cost in US$: Depends on size of group

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Thailand Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of max 10

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

Open mind projects's Mission Statement: Open Mind Projects is a bridge to knowledge and cross-cultural understanding, bridging digital and knowledge divides between rich and poor. Open Mind Projects arranges placements for international volunteers to schools, Orphan Homes, other institutions and projects, in Thailand and Laos. Open Mind Projects cooperates with these schools and institutions with learning ideas, technology and international volunteers. Schools and other learning/youth institutions in developing nations are understaffed and under resources. New information technology and international volunteers help offset this advantage. Open Mind Projects wants to facilitate valuable cross-cultural experience, personal development, for volunteers and local childeren and students. An opportunity to learn about other cultures while making local and international friends, within an affordable backpacker budget.

Year Founded: 2001