September 2027 – 10 days
Register your interest for 2027 and we will contact you when confirmed details including finalised dates and prices are available.
Step away from Thailand's well-trodden tourist trail and immerse yourself in a slower, more restorative way of travelling. This unique journey combines mindful exploration, urban green spaces, local food culture and evidence-based insights into health and human behaviour. Accompanied by Â鶹´«Ã½ journalist Grace Wade, discover how lifestyle, environment, community and science intersect to shape the way we live.
Begin in Bangkok, where hidden green oases, riverside communities and innovative urban spaces reveal a different side to the Thai capital. From there, travel north to Chiang Mai, a city renowned for its deep-rooted spiritual traditions, forest temples, community agriculture and rich cultural heritage. Throughout the journey, enjoy encounters with local residents, practitioners and experts to offer insights into daily life and regional culture.
Accompanied throughout by health reporter for Â鶹´«Ã½ Grace Wade, whose work explores the latest research on nutrition, longevity, mental health, exercise, sleep and disease prevention. During the tour, Grace will deliver a series of engaging evening talks that connect cutting-edge scientific discoveries with the experiences encountered each day. Her expertise will provide a fascinating framework for understanding health, human behaviour and quality of life from both global and local perspectives.
This tour is ideal for travellers seeking a richer and more meaningful experience of Thailand. It will appeal to those interested in health, science, mindfulness, culture, sustainability and slow travel, as well as anyone looking to explore Thailand beyond its famous landmarks.
In partnership with Intrepid Travel.
Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok and meet the group
Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. While Thailand's capital is often associated with its temples, markets and busy streets, this tour focuses on a different side of the city – one shaped by community life, urban green spaces and local culture.
This evening, gather with your fellow travellers for a welcome dinner featuring seasonal Thai cuisine and an introduction to the journey ahead.
After dinner, Â鶹´«Ã½ journalist Grace Wade presents the first of her evening talks.
Day 2: Bang Krachao – Bangkok's "green lung"
This morning, cross the Chao Phraya river by local ferry to Bang Krachao, a vast area of protected greenery often described as Bangkok's "green lung". Despite being located at the heart of the metropolitan area, this large riverine island feels a world away from the city centre.
Explore Bang Krachao by bicycle, following elevated pathways through mangrove forests, fruit orchards, coconut groves and small villages. Along the way, learn about the area's ecological importance and how local communities have worked to preserve its distinctive landscape amid rapid urban development.
Visit community markets and local initiatives that promote traditional crafts, sustainable agriculture and conservation before enjoying lunch featuring regional ingredients.
This evening, Grace discusses what researchers have discovered about the relationship between nature, human behaviour and physical and mental health.
Day 3: Green Bangkok – parks, biodiversity and the future city
Today, explore how Bangkok, one of Southeast Asia's largest cities, is reinventing itself through ambitious green infrastructure projects and public spaces designed to improve quality of life. Begin at Dusit Central Park, an innovative development that seeks to integrate nature, public space and urban living in the heart of Bangkok. Continue to Benjakitti Forest Park, a striking transformation of former industrial land into wetlands, cycling paths and wildlife habitats that now support both biodiversity and recreation.
Later, visit Queen Sirikit Park, one of Bangkok's most attractive botanical spaces, known for its lotus ponds, arboretum and extensive collections of native and ornamental plants. As you explore the park's gardens and lakes, gain insight into Thailand's plant diversity and urban conservation efforts.
Day 4: Food culture, traditional knowledge and Thai daily life
Food lies at the heart of Thai culture, and today offers an opportunity to explore how ingredients, traditions and community life come together around the dining table. Visit a local neighbourhood market alongside a culinary expert who will introduce the herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables that form the foundation of Thai cuisine. Learn about traditional uses of plants in cooking and everyday life while observing the rhythms of a market that serves local residents rather than visitors.
Later, take part in a hands-on cooking experience focused on regional Thai dishes. As you prepare and share lunch, gain a deeper appreciation of how food traditions are passed between generations and adapted over time.
Day 5: Bangkok to Chiang Mai by sleeper train
This morning is free for further exploration of Bangkok before transferring to the historic Hua Lamphong Railway Station. Board an overnight sleeper train for one of Southeast Asia's classic rail journeys to Chiang Mai.
As the train leaves Bangkok behind, watch the changing landscapes unfold, from the fertile plains of central Thailand to the forested hills of the north. Travelling by rail offers a slower and more immersive perspective on the country, revealing scenes of everyday life rarely experienced by visitors travelling by air.
Dinner is served on board, providing an opportunity to relax and reflect as the train continues north through the night.
Day 6: Arrival in Chiang Mai and northern traditions
Arrive in Chiang Mai this morning and transfer to your hotel. After breakfast and some time to settle in, begin an introduction to the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
Explore lesser-known neighbourhoods, local gathering places and community spaces beyond the city's most visited attractions. Along the way, learn about the region's distinctive history, architecture and traditions, which continue to shape daily life across northern Thailand.
Meet local residents and cultural practitioners who share perspectives on life in northern Thailand and the preservation of regional customs in a rapidly changing world.
Day 7: Wat Umong and forest traditions
This morning, visit Wat Umong (Suan Phutthatham), one of Chiang Mai's most atmospheric temples. Founded in the 14th century, the temple is set within a peaceful forest environment and is renowned for its ancient brick tunnels, shaded pathways and contemplative surroundings.
Explore the temple grounds while learning about the role of forest monasteries in Thai Buddhism and the importance of these spaces as centres of learning, reflection and community life. There will be an opportunity to meet a local practitioner who will discuss Buddhist perspectives on attention, contemplation and daily practice.
Spend time wandering the wooded grounds, where resident birds, quiet ponds and centuries-old trees create a striking contrast to modern urban life.
Day 8: Rural Chiang Mai
Travel into the countryside surrounding Chiang Mai to explore the agricultural landscapes that have sustained communities here for centuries.
Visit small-scale farms and community-led agricultural projects where traditional knowledge and modern environmental approaches work side by side. Meet local farmers and learn about rice cultivation, seasonal crops and efforts to preserve biodiversity while responding to changing environmental conditions.
Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch prepared using locally grown ingredients before exploring how food production shapes culture, economy and landscape throughout northern Thailand.
Day 9: Traditional knowledge, community life and longevity
Northern Thailand has long been associated with traditional knowledge surrounding plants, food and healthcare. Today, explore this rich heritage through visits with practitioners and specialists who continue to preserve and share these traditions.
Learn about medicinal plants commonly used throughout Thailand and visit gardens where many of these species are cultivated. Continue with visits to community organisations and social enterprises supporting lifelong learning, cultural preservation and intergenerational engagement.
Through conversations with local residents, gain insight into family life, ageing and social change in contemporary Thailand.
Day 10: Departure from Chiang Mai
Enjoy a relaxed final morning in Chiang Mai. Depending on departure arrangements, there may be time for a final stroll through a local neighbourhood or a visit to a café before saying farewell to your fellow travellers.
