9-Day Running Adventure in Thailand

Hop off the plane and get settled at our upscale hotel. Take your time to relax and recover from many hours of travel. Our hotel has a spa, a large pool, and lovely grounds for recharging.

Join us for the welcome dinner and presentation at 6:00 pm.

Start off on a strong foot with breakfast at the hotel followed by our first run of the week near Akha tribal lands. After the run, we’ll learn about native Akha culture before traveling into town for a delicious lunch.

Following lunch, we travel to Black House Museum and see the famous structure. Black House, also known as Baan Dam, is a unique architectural wonder from one of Thailand’s most famous artists, Thawan Duchanee. After this museum, we visit the Chiang Rai Blue Temple, a stunning fusion of Buddhist elements and unique architecture.

Afterward, take a quick break at the hotel before we head out for an evening tuk tuk tour to explore the local night markets, the Mengrai statue, and the Chiang Rai musical clock tower. We’ll end the tour with a tasty dinner at a restaurant.

Today, your legs get a break from running and we spend the day immersing you in Thai culture and sightseeing. In the morning, we’ll visit the gorgeous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) of Chiang Rai. The temple is rich in symbolism and its white color represents the purity of Buddha. We’ll enjoy lunch as a group before traveling to Chiang Mai for the afternoon.

As we travel, we’ll make a pit stop at the Mae Kachan Hot Springs. Enjoy a quick break to soak your feet in the hot springs before we continue our journey.

When we arrive in Chiang Mai, settle in at the hotel and enjoy some free time before we gather as a group for a tour of the city, its main temples, and the Three Kings Monument. We'll load into songthaews (think, large tuk tuks!) to see this famous walled city. Dinner as a group follows and then you are free to explore the night markets or return to the hotel for a relaxing evening in.

Fuel up on breakfast at the hotel before we travel to Doi Suthep Temple. This revered Buddhist temple sits inside Doi Suthep-Pui National Park and is known for the intricate dragon (naga) handrails that adorn the 306 stairs that ascend to the temple.

After receiving a blessing from a temple monk, we'll head up the mountain to start our run in a Hmong village. Our run today is 10km downhill to stretch our legs. We'll have lunch outdoors and have some free time. This afternoon's activity is a crash course in Thai cooking during a private cooking class. We're making favorites like pad thai, mango sticky rice, and thom yum soup! And yes, you’ll get to eat the food!

Dinner (if you’re still hungry after our class), is on your own. Explore the nighttime bazaar, vibrant nightlife, or unwind with an evening massage.

Today is all about sustainability and conservation. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll travel to the Mae Tang region to visit the soothing and naturally beautiful Araksa Tea Plantation. This plantation preserves centuries-old traditions of Thai tea cultivation and emphasizes organic and sustainable farming practices. You’ll walk the grounds and help collect tea leaves before learning how to brew your own cup!

Our daily run follows our tea experience and leads us to the Elephant Rescue Park. This park is truly focused on conservation and preserving the livelihoods of endangered native elephants. On this small, private sanctuary we will tour the grounds and help caregivers feed elephants, walk with them, and even watch the elephants bathe in the river. Lunch is provided onsite.

In the evening, we’ll travel to our hotel where you can enjoy free time before we reconvene for a private Khantoke dinner, served on wood or bamboo trays, and traditional dancing.

Buckle up, this is a longer travel day; we will board a flight later this afternoon. Before we jump to that, the day starts with our White Pagoda Run. The White Pagoda, or Ban Pong Temple, is a brilliant white beacon sat on top of a hill outside the city. We're running up it's steps, towards a mountaintop, and back down for some aerial views of the city. Then, we break for lunch in a jungle setting.

Now, off to that flight! We’re traveling from Chiang Mai south to Krabi which is known for its beautiful beaches, resorts, and towering cliffs and stone formations! Upon landing, we’ll head out for dinner as a group and recharge from our travels.

No run today! We're heading out to the islands for a full day to explore, snorkel, relax in the sun, and take in some of the most iconic sights of Thailand. We'll get the best the islands can offer while avoiding heavy tourist traffic.

You'll find dinner on your own tonight and have the evening free to explore the area or settle in to see a Muay Thai fight. Muay Thai, also known as “The Art of Eight Limbs,” is a martial arts technique from Thailand. This vigorous fighting style permits punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes, and allows the fighter to use both the fists and shins.

Back at the hotel, we have a range of options from pools and spa services to pamper yourself after a day in the sun.

We’ve arrived at our last full day together as a group. Breakfast is followed by a morning countryside run where we’ll be sure to celebrate at the finish line in style! We'll gather for lunch overlooking a lake and take photos with our medals.

Then, on to our last group activity, kayaking at Ao Tha Lane. This area is popular for its stunning limestone karsts, serene mangrove forests, and captivating sea caves.

Tonight, we enjoy cocktails and our farewell dinner. Sit back, rest your feet, and swap stories from the week's events.

We're sorry to say it but even this adventure must come to an end. You're free to stick around and explore some more on your own or head home to tell your friends and family about your week abroad. Either way, it's not "goodbye," it's "until next time."