Cultural Heritage & Traditional Arts
Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Chiang Rai, Thailand
14 Days / 13 Nights
Explore Thailand’s rich cultural traditions through performing arts, martial arts, crafts, and heritage storytelling.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, students will:
1. Understand the historical roots and cultural significance of Thai performing and visual arts.
2. Gain hands-on experience with Thai classical dance, shadow puppetry, Muay Thai, and silk weaving.
3. Explore how culture is preserved and passed down across generations and communities.
4. Reflect on cultural identity, craftsmanship, and their role in sustaining heritage.
5. Develop cultural sensitivity and creative appreciation through immersive engagement.
By the end of the program, students will:
1. Understand the historical roots and cultural significance of Thai performing and visual arts.
2. Gain hands-on experience with Thai classical dance, shadow puppetry, Muay Thai, and silk weaving.
3. Explore how culture is preserved and passed down across generations and communities.
4. Reflect on cultural identity, craftsmanship, and their role in sustaining heritage.
5. Develop cultural sensitivity and creative appreciation through immersive engagement.
Package Include:
Local accommodation or resort stay
Ground transportation
Meals (as per itinerary)
Professional facilitator or guide
Collaboration with a local university
Local expert speaker
Sightseeing excursions
All trip logistical arrangements
Packages Itinerary:
Day 1
Arrival in Bangkok & Cultural Orientation
- Airport pick-up and hotel check-in
- Welcome briefing: Overview of Thai culture & artistic heritage
- Evening river cruise and group dinner
Day 2
Temple Art & Classical Thai Dance
- Visit Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace to study temple murals and sacred art
- Workshop at an arts institute: Introduction to Thai Classical Dance
- Try basic movement techniques and costuming
- Reflection: The role of dance in Thai ceremonies and storytelling
Day 3
Thai Music & Khon Mask Making
- Gamelan and Thai traditional music appreciation session
- Try basic Thai percussion instruments
- Mask-making workshop (Khon masks used in royal drama)
- Visit to Thai Arts & Culture Museum
Day 4
Shadow Puppetry (Nang Talung)
- Visit a puppeteer studio or cultural center
- History of shadow puppetry in Southern Thailand
- Design and cut your own puppet
- Mini-performance & storytelling activity
Day 5
Traditional Theater & Costume
- Attend a traditional Khon performance
- Behind-the-scenes access to costume design and makeup prep
- Learn how mythology is expressed through stage art
Day 6
Travel to Ayutthaya & Heritage Immersion
- Morning transfer to Ayutthaya (approx. 1.5 hrs)
- Explore ancient ruins and temple complexes
- Guided session on art influences from the Ayutthaya period
- Sunset reflection on impermanence in traditional arts
Day 7
Local Craft & Pottery Workshop
- Visit a traditional pottery village
- Learn Thai clay techniques and design motifs
- Group activity: create and paint a clay item
- Cultural dinner hosted by a local family
Day 8
Muay Thai & Martial Arts Culture
- Travel back to Bangkok
- Visit a Muay Thai training camp
- Learn the history and philosophy of Muay Thai as both art and sport
- Try beginner techniques in a safe, supervised session
- Reflection on discipline, movement, and culture
Day 9
Travel to Chiang Rai & Community Introduction
- Morning flight to Chiang Rai
- Settle into eco-lodge or community homestay
- Introduction to Northern Thai Lanna culture and music
Day 10
Traditional Lanna Weaving & Textiles
- Visit a women weaving cooperative
- Learn to use backstrap looms and natural dyes
- Cultural exchange: weaving as storytelling and identity
- Create a small handwoven piece to take home
Day 11
Bamboo & Hill Tribe Crafts
- Visit local village (e.g., Akha or Karen communities)
- Learn bamboo basket weaving or embroidery styles
- Dialogue on cultural preservation and generational teaching
- Optional forest walk with cultural guide
Day 12
Thai Folk Music & Cultural Exchange
- Participate in a folk music workshop (Lanna instruments like salo or sueng)
- Cultural exchange with local youth or artists
- Group creativity circle: design a short performance integrating what you have learned
Day 13
Closing Project & Farewell
- Morning: collaborative art project or exhibit (dance, mask, textile, etc.)
- Presentations/reflections on key insights
- Closing circle & certificate ceremony
- Farewell dinner with cultural performance
Day 14
Departure
- Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport
- Depart with cultural mementos and reflective journals
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