MAE U SU SERVICE AND ADVENTURE

Throughout history, Thailand and Burma (Myanmar) have shared close ties. Indeed, much of the Lanna culture that predominates in northwest Thailand has its roots in the multiplicity of ethnic groups that have migrated from Burma to Thailand over the past eight centuries. Our service and adventure program will introduce you to one of these groups, the Karen hill tribe people.

Your stay at a local village house in Mae U Su will allow you to experience the Karen way of life, traditions, and a culture that is based on agriculture and weaving. Some days, you will learn how to weave traditional clothes and accessories. Other days, you will work in the fields, helping to plant and/or harvest seasonal subsistence crops. There will also be time to teach and play with students at the Mae U Su primary school, and to provide food and accommodations to the elderly and poor people of the village.

Our itinerary also includes a walking tour to U Too Tha, a tiny village near the Thai-Burma border that is home to only ten families. Time seems to have stood still in this tiny enclave. People sit by the river, languidly casting for fish or just watching the water drift by. Here, too, we will donate food and help with accommodations, as many of the residents are exceptionally poor. We will also meet with the village headman to learn about projects that are underway or planned.

2023 Departure Dates

Dec 9 – Dec 15, 2023

Itinerary

Day 1

8:00 amBreakfast at Chiang Mai hotel and pack bags to be taken to Mae U Su village.
9:00 amDepart for Mae U Su village.
1:00 pmLunch at Tak
3:30 pmArrive at Mae U Su village.
6:00 pmHave dinner
7:00 pmtalking about service program for the next day

Day 2
7:30 amHaving Breakfast
8:30 amStart service work
12:00 pmLunch at Mae U Su village
1:00 - 4:30 pmContinue to work on service
6:00 pmHaving dinner
7:00 pmMeet with Head of a village
Day 3
7:30 amHaving Breakfast
8:30 amStart service work
12:00 pmLunch at Mae U Su village
1:00 - 4:30 pmContinue to work on service
6:00 pmHaving dinner
7:00 pmFear factor time
Day 4

7:30 amHaving Breakfast
8:30 amStart service work
12:00 pmLunch at Mae U Su village
1:00 pmGo to the town and buy Veg and Meat
2:00 pmBack to cook at the village then give to old people house
4:00 pmGame activities with villagers
6:00 pmHaving dinner
7:00 pmDiscuss about visiting for tomorrow

Day 5

7:30 amHaving Breakfast
8:30 amVisit Mae U Su Temple and hiking to the cave
12:00 pmHaving lunch behind the cave
1:00 pmHiking back to the village and take a rest
2:30 – 4:30 pmLearn waving traditional Karen bag and clothes
6:00 pmHaving dinner
7:00 pmKaren traditional dance

Day 6

8:00 amHaving Breakfast
9:00 amPack bags to go back for Chiang Mai
3:30 pmArrive at Chiang Mai to check-in at the hotel
5:30 pmDinner and walk around inside Chiang Mai night Bazar
9:00 pmBack to hotel

Day 7

On day 7 farewell and say goodbye to all the teachers and students.