The trip starts in Bangkok on Tuesday, November 9. Land, get picked up and drop your bags at our hotel on the river. That afternoon is a traditional Thai massage to shake off the flight, then a drink with the whole crew at 7pm and the welcome dinner. We eat together on five of the ten nights. On Wednesday afternoon a local guide takes us through the old town by river boat, ferry and tuk tuk: temples, a flower market and street food. The evening is yours.
On Thursday we fly north to Chiang Mai for four nights. This is the heart of the trip: an afternoon at a sanctuary for rescued elephants, a full day of white water rafting in the hills, our Yi Peng festival day on Saturday, when thousands of lanterns float up into the full moon sky, and a Muay Thai class on Sunday.
On Monday we fly south to Phuket for four nights by the beach: a morning group run, a speedboat day to the Phi Phi Islands, an outdoor spa day with a BBQ lunch, and a farewell dinner at sunset in the hills. The trip ends in Phuket on Friday, November 19.
Every morning starts with fitness programming led by your SYB leaders, before the adventure of the day.
Times and the order of the days can move, and the Yi Peng programme is locked once the official 2027 festival schedule is released.
GETTING THERE:
The trip starts in Bangkok. Fly into Bangkok (BKK or DMK) on Tuesday, November 9, 2027. Flights from the US take about a day, and Thailand is 12 hours ahead of New York, so you will leave home on Sunday night or Monday. Your airport transfer is included. We confirm the pickup windows before you book.
INSIDE THAILAND:
Two flights are included in your trip and we book them for you: Bangkok to Chiang Mai on Thursday (about 1.5 hours) and Chiang Mai to Phuket on Monday (about 2.5 hours). The transfers to and from those flights are included too.
COMING HOME:
The trip ends in Phuket. Fly home from Phuket (HKT) on Friday, November 19, 2027. Check out is at 11am and the airport transfer is included, so book a flight that leaves in the afternoon or evening. Do not book a round trip to Bangkok. Book into Bangkok and out of Phuket.
NOT INCLUDED:
Your international flights to Bangkok and home from Phuket.
Hold off on booking flights until your confirmation email lands.
Yi Peng is the festival of lights in Chiang Mai, held on the full moon of the twelfth lunar month. In 2027 that is expected to be Saturday, November 13 and Sunday, November 14. The old city is covered in lanterns and candles, there are parades, and people float small flower rafts called krathongs down the river.
Sky lanterns can only be released at approved events, not in the city itself. Saturday, November 13 is our Yi Peng day: a festival package with transport, lunch and a local guide, built around the lantern release. Sunday night is free for the old city. The full programme is confirmed once the official 2027 schedule is out, usually a few months before the festival.
Plans change, we get it. Cancel more than 45 days before the trip starts and 100% of what you've paid, deposit included, becomes trip credit you can use toward any SYB trip within 12 months.
To reserve your spot, a 20% deposit is required. It goes toward your total, and the remaining balance is due six weeks before the trip starts.
If you cancel within 45 days of departure, your payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. No exceptions, and we do not offer cash refunds for any reason.
Travel and medical insurance is required, and you must secure it before joining the program. It's the best way to protect your investment if life happens. Worth it.
Three stops. Bangkok for two nights: the old town, the river, temples and street food. Chiang Mai for four nights: the old city, the hills, elephants and the lantern festival. Phuket for four nights: beaches, the Phi Phi Islands and a proper send-off.
Start: Tuesday, November 9, 2027, in Bangkok (BKK or DMK airport)
End: Friday, November 19, 2027, in Phuket (HKT airport)
11 days, 10 nights. The trip does not go back to Bangkok. From Phuket you can fly home or keep travelling.
Included: 10 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners.
The lunches are at the elephant sanctuary, on the rafting day, on the Yi Peng day, on the Phi Phi boat day and the BBQ at the outdoor spa. The dinners are the welcome dinner in Bangkok, two dinners together in Chiang Mai, our first night in Phuket and the farewell dinner in the hills.
Not included: other lunches, the other 5 dinners and other drinks.
Thailand is one of the cheapest and best places in the world to eat. A street food dinner costs a few dollars. Budget about $15 to $30 a day for the meals that are on you.
Three hotels: Riva Surya on the river in the old town of Bangkok, Tamarind Village inside the old city walls in Chiang Mai, and Sunprime Kamala Beach, an adults only resort right on the beach in Phuket. All three have a pool and breakfast every morning.
Shared Spot: a twin room with two separate beds, shared with one other SYB guest of the same gender.
Private Spot: your own room in all three hotels. There are only 5.
Air conditioning, a proper bed, your own bathroom in the room and towels provided. On a Shared Spot you have your own bed in a twin room with one roommate of the same gender. If you want your own space, book the Private Spot.
Yes. Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the world and is very used to travellers. Use normal city sense: watch your phone and bag in crowds, lock your valuables away, and do not rent a scooter without a licence and a helmet.
Your SYB leaders are with you all trip, and hotel staff are on hand at every stop.
The currency is the Thai baht. Cards work at the hotels and at bigger restaurants. Street food, markets, tuk tuks and small shops are cash only.
ATMs are everywhere but charge foreign cards a fee on every withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often. Plan on about $300 to $500 for the whole trip for the meals that are on you, drinks, tips and shopping.
Do not drink the tap water. Bottled and filtered water is cheap and everywhere. Bring a reusable bottle. It is hot and humid, so drink more than you think you need.
The Yi Peng lantern festival, an afternoon in old town Bangkok by river boat, ferry and tuk tuk, a traditional Thai massage, a Muay Thai class, an afternoon with rescued elephants at a sanctuary (no riding), and a farewell dinner at a local spot in the hills above Phuket. All included.
Temples have a dress code: shoulders and knees covered. Pack one outfit that does both.
Every morning, before the adventure of the day, there is fitness programming led by your SYB leaders. On top of that there is a Muay Thai class in Chiang Mai and a group run in Phuket. There is a gym at the hotels in Bangkok and Phuket.
Everything is optional and all levels are welcome.
Yes, and most people do. Between the morning workouts, the flights and the boat day, the group forms fast. By day two nobody remembers who came with who. Friends and couples are welcome too.
US passport holders do not need a visa for a stay of up to 60 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you arrive.
Everyone has to fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days before landing.
Rules change, so check the official requirements for your passport before you book flights.
Yes. Your leaders shoot photos and video all trip and share them with the group afterwards. When the lanterns go up, put your phone away and watch.
If you can walk a few miles in the heat and climb some stairs, yes. Nothing on this trip needs experience.
Muay Thai: a beginner session. You hit pads, not people.
Rafting day: a full day of white water rafting. No experience needed. You need to be comfortable in the water. Guides run it, you get a safety briefing, and you can sit any part out.
Elephant afternoon: feeding and bathing the elephants. Easy.
Phi Phi boat day: a full day out by speedboat. You should be able to swim. Life jackets are on board.
The hardest part is the pace: eleven days, three cities, two flights and some late nights. Everything is optional, so skip a morning when you need to.
