Journey Mission as established by your delegation leader Dr. Marcio da Fonseca, DDS, MS: The primary goal is to develop a thorough understanding of dental care in Thailand through interaction with dental counterparts. This will provide a chance to better understand the challenges of health care delivery as the country deals with changing demographics and an increased incidence of chronic disease. Explore how the country is dealing with inequalities in the quality of care as well as general accessibility of care in the public sector. Meetings with representatives from facilities like the Faculty of Dentistry at Chulalongkorn University and the Mahidol University Dental Hospital, Bangkok International Dental Hospital (BIDH) and Chiang Mai International Dental Clinic and/or Faculty of Dentistry at the Chiang Mai University will afford you an opportunity to learn about dental health practices in Thailand. 

As well as peer engagement with dentists, academics and community leaders, you will explore the Kingdom of Thailand located in the center of Southeast Asia. Cultural highlights on this journeys include visits to the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and a tour of Wat Po, the most extensive temple complex and home of the colossal reclining Buddha. Spend time in a local family’s home in Bandoo, to learn about their local traditions. Visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Enjoy a traditional long-tail boat ride to cruise the canals of Bangkok.

Dr. da Fonseca is currently in Thailand and shared this message:

Sawadee krub! I am very excited to lead this professional group and their companions to beautiful Thailand. I was an exchange student in high school from Brazil to the US and fell in love with intercultural experiences at a young age. Since then, I have often traveled internationally both for work and pleasure. It broadens my horizons and helps me appreciate different peoples and cultures. I have been to Thailand many times and lived in Bangkok for several months while on sabbatical from UIC. I believe Thailand is the perfect place for this type of intercultural/interprofessional experience. The people are very warm and welcoming, and make you feel at home right away. The food is exquisite and the culture is very unique and surprising. The country has lush forests, paradisiacal beaches, delicious tropical fruits, and an exotic fauna and flora that you will be able to see first-hand. Thailand has a beautiful blend of ancient temples and modern buildings, with world-class dining, entertainment and shopping. Bangkok is a very dynamic and bustling place, while Chiang Mai is very historical and closer to nature. This will also be a great opportunity to learn about a top-notch dental education system, with state-of-the science schools and research programs. You will have the opportunity to understand how their medical and oral health systems works, and interact with dental faculty and administrators in a very friendly and relaxed format. I hope you can join me in this unforgettable journey!

See you soon!"  

Dr. Marcio da Fonseca DDS, MS  

Chicago Dental Society Foundation Professor

Pediatric Dentistry

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 "Nanda journeys is very special. It gives you the opportunity to follow your passion while making a sustainable difference in the lives of people and places in areas of significant need. The experience not only provides significant opportunity for professional and cultural growth but it makes you a more culturally aware for professional work of all people at home. The logistics, the accommodations, the companionship with like minded colleagues makes the journeys more than an ordinary tour. It is a life changing experience. Can't wait to do it again sometime and somewhere soon. "   

Dr. Dolores Battle

Past president, ASHA and IALP

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Depart today from Los Angeles and make your way to Thailand. You will lose a day crossing the international date line.

Note: Flight times are pending, and gateway may change.

Arrive in Bangkok today. Upon arrival and after clearing Immigration and Customs procedures, the group will be met by your national guide for the transfer to your local hotel.

Depending on arrival time lunch is on your own today.

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok is set on the East Bank of the mighty Chao Phraya River and offers the perfect escape in the heart of Bangkok for travelers. The hotel has onsite dining, fitness center with pool and other amenities like a spa for a comfortable stay.

This evening the group will enjoy a welcome drink and dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: Chatrium Hotel Riverside Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Dinner Dinner

Meet your guide this morning for a tour of some of Bangkok’s highlights. Your first stop will be Wat Po, the most extensive and oldest temple in Bangkok. It houses the third biggest colossal reclining Buddha in Thailand. The gigantic gold-plated reclining Buddha, with inlaid mother-of-pearl housing the soles of 108 good lucks, is highly revered among Buddhists. The temple houses hundreds of chedis, the most important among all being the Chedis of the Kings, mural paintings, inscriptions, and statues that educated people on varied subjects.

A visit to Bangkok is not complete without paying a visit to the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple. The Temple is commonly known as Wat Phra Kaew and is part of the Grand Palace. It was built according to traditional Thai belief from Sukhothai reign, the first capital of Thailand, to have a temple for royal ceremonies in the compound of the grand palace and houses the most revered Buddha statue of each era. The magnificent buildings of the Grand Palace yield a feeling of the grandeur Thai architectural style. Constructed 220 years ago by the command of King Rama I, the founder of Bangkok, it was once the residence of the Royal Family before Chitralada Summer Palace was turned into the permanent home.

Enjoy lunch at the Supatra River House Restaurant for your first authentic Thai dishes in Thailand.

You will board a typical long-tailed boat that will take you through Bangkok’s waterway into the complex network of Thonburi canals. You will enjoy picturesque sights and scenes of traditional Thai canal life with houses on stilts, hidden temples, floating groceries, and water taxi.

On the return journey, you can admire and photograph the imposing sight of the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), whose 259 feet spire with magnificent multicolored porcelain-studded towers has become the most remarkable visual identity of Bangkok, with the Chao Phraya River in the foreground.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight: Chatrium Hotel Riverside Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast professional members of the group will departing for a day of meetings with representatives from facilities like the Faculty of Dentistry at Chulalongkorn University and the Mahidol University Dental Hospital. Discussions will focus on dental health in Thailand, overview of the healthcare system specific to oral health, access to care, training for dental professionals in the country and other topics of mutual interest.

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant this afternoon in between meetings.

Accompanying Guests:

Today guests will depart early for a visit to Ayutthaya by Road including a long tail boat ride. This excursion takes you to Bang Pa-In, the former Royal Summer Residence of King Rama V. A number of impressive buildings can be found in the palace complex consists of a quaint mixture of European and Thai architecture. Continue by road or river to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the former Thai capital for 417 years and one of Thailand’s major tourist attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen around the city and Ayutthaya Historical Park, which was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong. A total of 33 kings of five dynasties ruled the kingdom until it was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. Lunch will be served and continue to cruise the waterways around Ayutthaya by long tail boat, taking in the incredible sights of the city. Drifting along the river you will pass local communities, traditional Thai style houses and more famous monuments. Return to Bangkok by road.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight: Chatrium Hotel Riverside Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast professional members of the group will continue their exchange with local dental professionals including a visit to a local treatment facility like the Bangkok International Dental Hospital (BIDH) and time to talk to representatives from a local dental society or the government.

Accompanying Guests:

Today accompanying guests will depart for a Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tour. Start our early with a visit to the Railway Market, witness the train running through the heart of the market while vendors begin to move their goods away from tracks. On the way stop for a short visit to a local coconut farm, see how they produce different products, try for example freshly cooked coconut palm sugar. There are countless floating markets throughout Thailand, but the Damnoen Saduak is the most famous. Situated 110 km from Bangkok in Ratchaburi province, you will take a long tail boat ride through the canals and witness the local communities along the riverbank, before visit the floating market at Damoen Saduak. At the market, you can walk around and see colorful clad merchants paddle along congested canals in sturdy canoes laden with fresh fruit, vegetables, local foods, and tourist souvenirs to sell to shoppers on the canal banks. Buy some local snacks, enjoy the view of the many boats find their way along the canals and locals interact with tourists. There is lots of activity and bargaining is part of the fun of the sale. Lunch will be provided this afternoon before returning to the hotel.

Dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight: Chatrium Hotel Riverside Hotel (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Head to the airport this morning for your flight to Chiang Mai. Lunch is on your own this afternoon.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and greeted by your local driver and transferred to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. The Sanctuary team who will then introduce you in the basic activities of their organization. Information includes elephant welfare programs and the natural habitat and behavior of elephants. They will brief you on your visit and what to expect.

Elephants are always searching for food and to satisfy their hunger you will feed them with different kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables which are placed in baskets near to the meeting point. After the snack you will go on a short sunny walk to water edge to take a muddy bath with your new grey friends. You will have the chance to scrub and clean the elephants while they take a break enjoying their relaxing massage. Now, it is time to get back to the camp, take a shower and savor delicious Thai food, freshly cooked by the team. As the trip comes to an end the guides will show you how to transform elephant poop into sustainable paper out of you can create the perfect souvenir of the trip. The time has come, say goodbye to your new friends and head to your hotel for check in.

Na Nirand Boutique Resort is a charming hideaway nestled in the heart of Chiang Mai. The hotel has onsite dining and a bar as well as a spa/pool. They are just five minutes from the night market and a short drive to the airport.

Overnight: Na Nirand Boutique Resort (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Today continue your professional program with visit to facilities like the Chiang Mai International Dental Clinic and/or Faculty of Dentistry at the Chiang Mai University. Permission and coordination pending, we hope to create an opportunity to offer a free clinic to the local people or children in the area for simple oral exams and donation of supplies to the families.

Lunch is on your own this afternoon at a local restaurant.

Accompanying Guests:

This morning guests will visit the charming city of Chiang Mai, which remains the principal religious center in northern Thailand. The moat bounding the historic center is still intact, but the walls were largely destroyed during the World War II – although their impressive four gates remain. Take a one seat trishaw, pedaled by a strong driver around the old city area. You will pass markets and see the lives of locals who line the busy central road. You visit Wat Pra Singh or Monastery of the Lion Lord, founded in the 14th century to house the ashes of King Kham Fu. The complex is composed of several buildings of varying architectural and artistic merit that form this famous temple. You may have opportunity to attend the monk blessing ceremony and speak with one of the monks. Enjoy some free time this afternoon or perhaps take part in the free clinic experience if you choose.

Dinner will be provided at a local restaurant this evening.

Overnight: Na Nirand Boutique Resort (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

This morning the group will enjoy a morning visit to a local family for time to interact as well as for lunch.

After breakfast, head south to Bandoo in Hangdong district. The home you will be visiting belongs to the Raunkaew-Yanon family, who arrived in the area possibly by elephant back almost 150 years ago. The family is typical “Lanna” Northern Thailand family, continuing the traditions of many generations in building their homes of teak wood and maintaining the natural surroundings in manner now rarely seen in Chiang Mai province.

You will experience the simple Lanna way of life by a warm welcome in their Teak Wooden home learn about their traditional way of living, including a walk through the family orchard with many types of fruit such as banana, mango & coconut, whilst the garden is filled with typical Thai herbs and organic vegetables for cooking. You will have the opportunity to join in on preparations and cooking today. The visit is designed to give you a real experience and understanding of family life outside the big cities including learning about their traditions and homes as well as the relationship between their religion and ancestors.

Return to the hotel where dinner is on your own this evening.

Overnight: Na Nirand Boutique Resort (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Check out of your hotel and head back to Bangkok today via flight. On arrival you will be transferred for check-in at your hotel. 

Lunch is on your own this afternoon if not provided on your flight with the afternoon free for personal time to relax and explore independently. 

Chatrium Residence Riverside at Wat Phraya Krai, Bang Kho Laem provides complimentary shuttle boat services to the nearest BTS Skytrain for all its guests if you choose to go out to explore. Bangkok is one of the world’s finest shopping destinations so there’s a bounty of places where you can indulge in some retail therapy. One of the most renowned and unique shopping experiences in the city is at Asiatique the Riverfront which is nearby. Their shopping promenade runs along the waterfront and has Bangkok’s tallest Ferris Wheel, known as Asiatique Sky.

Enjoy an evening dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River to say farewell to your new friends. Enjoy fine dining and lovely views along the river.

Overnight: Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok (or similar)

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Say farewell to Thailand and travel back to Los Angeles today. Depending on your departure time, lunch is on your own arrangement this afternoon.

Included meals: Breakfast

Professional Delegates: Costs associated with your journey may be tax deductible as a reasonable and necessary business expense.  

Please note: All itineraries are subject to change based on availability of hotels, flights and hosting organizations at the time of finalization of booking. Comparable meetings and activities will be arranged should an itinerary change be necessary. 30 days before departure, a finalized itinerary will be available and reflect final details. 

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Continue your explorations of Thailand with a short beach getaway! Unlike Phuket, Krabi is not as crowded and more laid back than Koh Samui. It is said that there are around 150 islands and islets along the Krabi coastline, many are just a small rocky outcrop erupt vertically out of the sea without landing access, creating picturesque scenery when looking out from mainland. Besides beautiful beaches and islands, the inland have natural hot springs, emerald pool, magnificent viewpoint and sea caves.

Day 1:  Monday, October 30, 2023

Arrival in Krabi & Get Settled

Check out of your Bangkok hotel this morning and head to the airport for your domestic flight to Krabi. Upon arrival at Krabi Airport, you will be met and greeted by a local representative and transferred to your resort for check-in and the remainder of the afternoon free to explore and get settled on their gorgeous property of Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort. 

Lunch and dinner are on your own today. Satisfy your cravings with delectable delights at Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort. From flavourful Indian dishes to authentic Thai and Italian cuisine in stunning tropical settings or with views of the ocean, mealtimes are an experience. A modern and stylish swim-up pool bar set in the cooling waters of the Malati Infinity pool may be more to your liking! Experience cocktails, lunchtime favorites, and relaxing music, all while waist-deep in the outdoor pool.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 2: Tuesday, October 31

James Bond Island Day Tour by Longtail Boat 

“Vodka Martina shaken, not stirred” finds its home in the famous James Bond Movies, as well as the impressive James Bond Island which was a filming location during Roger Moore’s time. Explore this beautiful island and it’s sweeping environment by the traditional long tail boat including one of the most unique and beautiful football fields in the world in order to get into touch with the spirited ambience.

An unforgettable journey through one of the most unique marine settings in the world! This tour provides an opportunity to explore undisturbed nature. Start the perfect day with a cruise around the towering limestone karst islands in the famous Phang-Nga Bay. Discover the sea caves and tunnels. We stop at Hong Island (translated to Chamber Island), an open-air, cliff-lined cylindrical tidal lagoon connected to the outside world through caves in which we will slip through it by our guided canoe. Simply lie down in complete comfort and safety on the canoe and enjoy the serene moment listening to a song of a bird chirping. Inside the chamber is surrounded by mangrove forest so you will have a chance to get up close and learn more about the ecosystems of these “secret” places. Also included is a guided tour of Ping-Ngan and Tapu Island where the classic James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed. But put aside how it made famous, the island itself is very scenic and a great photo opportunity, you will wonder at this natural curiousity. Round up the tour at Koh Panyi, inhabited by fishermen who built their houses on stilt. What attract tourist here is probably not the village but the floating football field – the island inhabitants are so inspired by the like of Pele and Zico that they refuse to accept a cheap excuse as a complete lack of flat surfaces to hold them back from practising the 'Beautiful Game', and went as far as building their own playground on the sea water.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch 

Day 3: Wednesday, November 1

Free Day to Relax or Explore Independently

Today is free at leisure or enjoy the resort’s facilities with lunch on your own. 

Located beside the Cocovida Pool, the bar serves a range of popular snacks including tapas, pizza, burgers as well as “BeWell” healthy options. The superb drinks selection features speciality rum cocktails and mocktails, a choice of fine gins and craft beers. A great location to enjoy refreshments whilst relaxing poolside, the bar is also the ideal place to start the evening off, with cool sea breezes and fabulous sunsets to admire.

Dinner will be provided at your hotel this evening. Enjoy stunning views over the Andaman Sea. Spice up your evenings with an extensive menu of Indian delights and weekly themed nights. Dine al fresco or in the contemporary dining room for a memorable meal with friends.

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4: Thursday, November 2

Departure Day

After morning free at leisure and check out from your hotel (normal check out time is 12:00 hrs), you will be met with our local representative and transferred by private vehicle to Krabi Airport to board your onwards flight back to Bangkok. 

PROGRAM INFO

Date & Length: 4 days, October 30 – November 2, 2023

Extension Cost: $1499 / Single Supplement $499

Inclusions: Flight from Bangkok to Krabi and back to Bangkok, group transfers and baggage handling, bottled water and cool towel on transfer and sightseeing day, most tips, meals and activities as mentioned, accommodations based on double occupancy. 

Not Included: Hotel incidentals, drinks at provided dinner, and meals not mentioned. Tips to maids and porter.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort 5*

https://www.dusit.com/dusitthani-krabibeachresort/

Please note: All itineraries are subject to change based on availability of hotels, flights and hosting organizations at the time of finalization of booking. Comparable meetings and activities will be arranged should an itinerary change be necessary. 30 days before departure, a finalized itinerary will be available and reflect final details.

Review and download Booking Terms & Conditions HERE