Asia » Thailand + India: Seeking Nirvana

Thailand + India: Seeking Nirvana ™
These programs range from four to six weeks and represent the pinnacle of the GLA experience. These in-depth programs give students the opportunity to experience two different countries. Staff in each country engage students in discussion to link common themes woven throughout the program. Through these comparisons, students can contextualize the issues and attributes of a particular region versus simply visiting one country.

Discover the wisdom of ancient civilizations while immersing yourself in the vibrant cultures and landscapes of today.

Highlights

Discover the Taj Mahal and giant Reclining Buddha
Hike through Himalayan villages & green rice paddies – Watch video
Enjoy a Thai massage and be treated with Ayurvedic medicine
Reflect in the temples of the Dalai Lama & Wat Pho
Volunteer to help Tibetan refugees and hill tribe orphans

Overview

Thailand and India are home to some of the most vibrant cultures in the world. Through deep exploration of both regions from Himalayan mountain peaks to mythical temples, you’ll be exposed to an unmatched medley of incense, night markets, palaces and rice paddies. We’ll work with the Tibetan exile community in India and the children of hill tribe refugees in Thailand. We’ll also visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Taj Mahal and Ayuthaya, and tackle white water rafting, camping, jungle trekking, and elephant riding along the way. By volunteering and learning firsthand from grassroots leaders, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the complexity, dynamism, and cultural richness of each country.

Watch video: Overview of the India part of the program

Community Service

In Thailand, you will volunteer at an orphanage helping refugee hill tribe children – who trace their roots to Burma and Laos – by teaching them English, building new facilities, and playing soccer. We’ll also work at a home for single mothers that have been exiled from their homes and communities. In India, you’ll work at a summer camp for children, doing arts and crafts, sports, and other activities. You’ll also work on project to help different indigenous groups generate income.

Watch video: GLA student playing sports with the kids.

Hands-On Learning

We’ll experience Thai, Indian, and Himalayan culture. In Thailand, meet NGOs doing groundbreaking work, learn Muay Thai boxing and how to cook a delicious Thai meal, and understand Buddhism’s influence on Thai culture and society. You’ll also work at an elephant camp and gain hands-on experience bathing, training, and caring for elephants. In India, explore issues in environmental sustainability and traditional Ayurvedic medicine and the country’s role on the global stage.

Adventure

The journey begins in Bangkok and ends in Delhi. We’ll visit the longest reclining Buddha in the world and Ayuthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand. Then we’ll head to our Home Base near Chiang Mai, where we’ll go white water rafting, trekking in the jungle, and zip lining. In India, we’ll see the Taj Mahal and then head up to Dharamsala in the Indian Himalayas. During one weekend, we’ll hike out to a rural village and live among the Gaddi people. We’ll spend another weekend exploring Dharamsala and significant places related to Tibetan Buddhism.

Lodging

In Thailand, the Home Base will be a small hotel near Chiang Mai and in India, it will be a large house in a residential part of Dharamsala. Students will live in gender-segregated shared rooms and enjoy home-cooked meals. For Delhi and Bangkok, we will stay in a comfortable hotel. In Agra, we’ll spend a night at a royal palace converted into a hotel.