2026 Thailand

At a time when Europe was struggling through the Dark Ages and America was yet to be visited by Columbus, the cultures of Southeast Asia were thriving. In the north of what is now Thailand, the Lanna kingdom was well established, with Chiang Mai (founded in 1296) as its capital. To the south, the capital of Siam, Ayutthaya (founded in 1350), rivaled European cities in its splendor until the Burmese sacked it in 1767.

Bangkok is now a stunning, 21st-century city and an exhilarating attack on the senses. Sukhomvit’s malls and gleaming skyscrapers are just a veneer of modernity for a city firmly rooted in ancient Buddhist beliefs and traditions. We’ll watch saffron-robed monks on their morning alms rounds, with clouds of incense rising above the Grand Palace’s golden spires, and long-tail boats gliding along the Chao Phraya River at dusk, revealing Bangkok’s underlying sense of calm and the spirit of old Siam.

We’ll also see impressive palaces and temples of the Chakri dynasty, established by Rama 1 in 1782. A short trip to Ayutthaya will reveal a wide range of temple architecture, from the Khmer, Burmese, and historical Thai styles.

Traveling north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, we’ll encounter a distinctive mix of Burmese, Chinese, Tai (Lao) influences that inform the Lanna style. Chiang Rai is a quiet, provincial city of temples nestled in the mountains of the Golden Triangle. During our short stay, we will visit several important and aesthetically varied wats, as well as nearby projects related to the historic cultivation and contemporary eradication of opium.

Chiang Mai was founded in 1253 as the first capital of the Lanna kingdom and has become a dynamic and modern city. It successfully combines its rich history and traditions with an exploding economy. We’ll experience the city’s cultural riches – bustling markets, fantastic handicrafts, delicious food – and its natural treasures, including the stunning mountainside temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.

We’re working on all the details, please check back soon!

Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.

This tour starts in Bangkok and ends in Chiang Mai. You can view – and print or download if you wish – the most up-to-date itinerary here.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Michon and David Weeks are experienced group leaders, of both student and adult study travel programs. In their most recent adventure they led twenty St. Olaf students on a 2020 semester-long Environmental Science program in New Zealand and Australia. In 2015 Michon was the assistant leader for a St. Olaf January interim in Italy and Germany (Catholic Rome and Lutheran Wittenberg). David and Michon have led many church youth and adult travel experiences including wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota, hiking in Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Christo Rey Border Immersion in El Paso and Juarez (service and education), Common Hope in Guatemala (service and education).

Michon is Associate Professor of Practice in St. Olaf’s Department of Art and Art History, where she has been teaching since 2012. Her teaching focuses primarily on drawing, painting, and mentoring senior art majors with their final projects. She taught previously at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN. In her own studio, Michon creates paintings and drawings of familiar objects transformed in unique ways. David has served as pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, MN since 2013. One of his favorite ministries is “Faith on Tap”, in which church members meet at a local bar to discuss current events. He previously served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Watertown, St. Stephen Lutheran in Marshall, and Big Bend/West Bank Lutheran in Milan (all in Minnesota). 

Michon and David both graduated from Iowa State University in 1984. Michon later earned her Master of Fine Arts at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and David earned his Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. 

Michon and David are blessed with three grown sons and three daughters-in-law, all of whom enjoy travel. Isaac and Jill relish international bicycle touring, Peter lived in Japan for four years and Christian toured Norway with the St. Olaf Choir. When traveling Michon and David especially enjoy outdoor activities, indulging in the best local ice cream and local brew, and visiting art museums. Michon and David are excited to connect actively with the world by leading this St. Olaf Alumni and Family Travel Program. 

Expect a feast for all your senses!

Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, often over uneven ground. You should be capable of walking a mile or more at a time and up to five to seven miles per day, often over uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling,of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and be a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

The tour price is $3,011 per person, based on double occupancy. For single occupancy, add $528. Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully. We try to strike a balance between nickel-and-diming you once on the tour and allowing you some freedom in your price point (for meals, for example). A variety of modes of transportation tends to be pricier than a single bus throughout the tour. Highly rated guides are essential and should command higher wages.

Inclusions: discussions led by Michon and David Weeks, a full-time guide, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the tour (except initial and final airport transfers), internal flight, gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Thailand is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare, airport transfers, any passport and visa fees, any recommended immunizations or vaccinations, baggage and trip cancellation insurance, alcoholic beverages, including at group meals, laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature, expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities, lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on tour itinerary.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour.

Deposit due:                      $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:       $450 until February 28, 2025. If the deposit is made after February 28, 2025 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:     $1,500 on March 1, 2025
Refund if you cancel:      $750 if you cancel before October 31, 2025

Balance due:                      November 1, 2025
Refund if you cancel:      None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver (in draft stage).

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Check your passport: ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour end date (or your return date, if you decide to extend your stay overseas) and at least one blank page. No visa is required for stays of less than 30 days.

Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, a safety overview, and more.

Hold the dates of January 6–17, 2026. See some tips on Booking Your Flights, but do not book non-refundable flights until we can confirm the tour is a go.