A Taste of Thailand

Summer Experience 16 June 2018 to 30 June 2018 Taste of Thailand is a culinary adventure around What’s it all about? Thailand, visiting three key places that have their own cultural influences over their local cuisine.

We aim to not only to have you sample as much delicious Thai food as possible but have you get hands on using woks, pots and pans while sourcing all the fabulous ingredients at local markets.

You will learn to prepare and cook flavoursome and fragrant dishes from Thailand but along our journey you will be fully exposed to the culture and beauty of this amazing country. Bangkok, known locally as Krung Thep, is bustling city Bangkok with more to do than a single trip will ever allow. Nevertheless, we will try. We have picked out some gems to visit and taste, such as, Yawarat or China Town, famous for street side restaurants with little plastic chairs and tin tables that sell the most delicious seafood and then a visit to the complex tastes and smells of the floating market. The floating market is home to an abundance of ingredients and delicious foods that make it hard to choose what to have first.

While in Bangkok, we’ll also visit some popular tourist attractions including the Reclining Buddha and Silom Night Market. Chiang Mai is located in the north, bordering lush green mountains and home to some of Thailand’s best Chiang Mai dishes including Kow Man Ghai and Khar Moo.

Chiang Mai city which has wonderful markets and street food that attracts locals and tourists alike from all over the country Thailand’s second largest city, with a population of just under 1m. You will have the chance to enjoy professional cooking lessons and we will cook for each other on a daily basis using locally sourced ingredients. The local mountains provide opportunities for some adventurous leisure activities including trekking and quad biking. Sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and sunset Koh Samui dinners. This is where we will spend the tail end of our trip, Thailand’s largest island, Koh Samui. Koh Samui has plenty to see including temples, giant buddhas and beautiful vistas but we will spend most of our time perfecting our ingredient knowledge at local markets, visiting local fishermen for the best seafood and cooking Thai feasts for lunch and dinner.

We’ll spend time each day at the beach relaxing or playing beach games, or perhaps taking a dip in the pool but on the last night we’ll enjoy a beach dinner during sunset at a local restaurant. Date Itinerary

DAY 1 Saturday, 16 June Transit to Bangkok Full Itinerary Transit to Chiang Mai DAY 2 Sunday, 17 June Arrive in Chiang Mai evening

DAY 3 Monday, 18 June Chiang Mai

DAY 4 Tuesday, 19 June Chiang Mai

DAY 5 Wednesday, 20 June Chiang Mai to Nong Khai

DAY 6 Thursday, 21 June Nong Khai

DAY 7 Friday, 22 June Nong Khai to Bangkok

DAY 8 Saturday, 23 June Transit to Koh Samui

Day 9 Sunday, 24 June Koh Samui

DAY 10 Monday, 25 June Koh Samui

DAY 11 Tuesday, 26 June Koh Samui

DAY 12 Wednesday, 27 June Transit to Bangkok

DAY 13 Thursday, 28 June Bangkok

DAY 14 Friday, 29 June Transit Home The school, in conjunction with our security team and the American Embassy, have conducted detailed risk assessments so that we can best prepare for a safe trip. Sean Ross, the trip leader has previously Health and Safety lived in Thailand and has extensive knowledge of the country and is fluent in Thai.

We strongly recommend that you visit your GP and notify them of the trip, they may have personal advice relevant to the following information.

There are some health and safety items we would like to make you aware of before you consider signing up to the trip:

- It is important that all participants are up to date with regular vaccinations, with a particular emphasis on tetanus as it is recommended. - A typhoid vaccination is recommended for those that may be categorised as vulnerable. Both oral and injection vaccinations are available. - Mosquitoes in Thailand can carry Malaria, however this trip is visiting three locations that have low risk of Malaria within Thailand. - We strongly recommend that anyone with severe allergies such as a nut or seafood allergy consider not attending this trip as it can be very difficult to accurately assess whether food contains these very common Thai ingredients. Trip Summary Culinary adventure in ● Depart 16 June 2018 and return 30 June 2018 Thailand ● 14 nights ● 3 destinations - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui ● Interests - culinary, culture, language, leisure ● Cost - Approximately £2800 - £3200 ● All expenses are included ● Travel type - Flight, train and bus ● Accommodation type - Hotel, hostel and villa ● Medication - no mandatory vaccinations ● Visa requirements - Most passports receive visas on arrival for 30 days or less ● Chaperones - Sean Ross, Muktar Ali & Francesca Marr

Required essentials Any questions?

Adventurous palate

A backpack Please contact Sean Ross with any questions

Common sense [email protected]

02074491282