Excursions in Thailand

Living in the “culture capital” of Thailand, gives Payap University students the advantage of filling weekends and afternoons with an enormous amount of exploring to do. Temples, elephant treks, and hill-tribe visits make for a truly unique semester.

Included Excursions in Thailand

As part of the required Cultural Foundations of Thai Society course at Payap University, students enjoy two overnight field trips including local Thai and hilltribe villages, as well as a five-day Historic Kingdoms of Thailand excursion.

Optional Excursions in Thailand

Thailand's Southern Beaches

The Education Abroad Network is pleased to offer an optional mid-semester break travel opportunity to the southern islands of Thailand (at additional cost). Students spend time in Krabi, southern Thailand’s access to the Andaman Sea, and will have the opportunity to travel onwards to Ko Phi Phi where the movie, “The Beach,” was filmed. Explore the refreshing waters through the lenses of a snorkelling mask, take some time to visit with the local monkeys, and prepare yourself for a truly magical corner of the world.

Possibilities for additional side trips or excursions are endless:

Plan a quick trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in November at full moon to coincide with the Bonn Om Touk or water festival.
Visit Angkor in northern Cambodia, recognized by the United Nations as one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. The Angkor Archaeological Park contains the ruins of the capitals of the Khmer Empire, which ruled from the 9th to the 15th century, including the Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple.
Visit Vietnam’s largest island Phu Quoc, a sparsely populated treasure trove of hills to explore and beaches to enjoy.
Don’t miss the unspoiled natural beauty of many parts of Laos.

Bangkok: Visit one of Asia’s most fabulous cities, famous for its culture and rich history. In the Ancient Royal District, Ko Ratanakosin is one of Bangkok’s most famous and stunning attractions. For a culinary experience, enjoy cooking lessons from Thai Cooking School where you can perfect Thai cooking techniques & learn about unique Thai ingredients from the local markets. Explore the timeless canals of the Chao Phraya River, or the "River of Kings", which wind through the city, granting a glimpse of old Bangkok.

Lampang Province: Known through Thailand as “Horse Cart City”, it is the only town in Thailand where Horse carts are still used, although nowadays mainly for tourists. The Elephant Conservation Center, which is 30 kilometers by bus, promotes the role of the Asian elephant in ecotourism and provides free medical treatment and care for sick elephants from all over Thailand. For the tourist, the Center offers treks through the forest on elephants and performances of Elephant Bathing rituals in the river with musical ensembles.

Krabi: In southern Thailand, this cluster of islands offers a perfect escape with its pristine beaches and lush landscapes. Soak up the sun on the beach or, if you’re more interested in sport activities, enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling, canoeing, fishing, or playing beach volleyball. Krabi boasts the perfect blend of western amenities in an oriental setting. A short flight from Thailand or Chiang Mai, Krabi is an ideal place from which to explore the southern peninsula of Thailand.

Similan Islands: Southern Thailand’s Similan Islands are granite islands covered with lush jungles and surrounded by brilliant blue waters. The Thai national marine park is recognized as among the best dive spots in the world. Try a leisurely meander in calm pristine waters or opt for more intense currents that swirl around underwater boulders. Both offer a memorable experience of underwater coral tapestries and swarms of small tropical fish only a short distance from the mainland.