Rustic offers a fantastic chance to explore part of the world most people never see. I couldn't be happier with my experience. I saw an awesome part of the world, met great people and took excellent photos.
--- Ted Sumers
New York, NY
The Andaman Coast – Welcome to a Slice of Paradise
Southern Thailand is renown for being amongst the most idyllic destinations in the world. Blessed with a stunning landscape and rich biodiversity, the extensive coastline is home to innumerable pristine beaches. Coconut groves set the foreground to huge limestone cliffs beyond, and emerald waters gently lap the fine white sand beaches. This land has long been home to diverse, warm hearted people who are a big reason why the area has become the favorite for so many who have come to this special place.
‘Sea Gypsies’ of the Andaman
The Andaman coast is also a host to Thailand’s many different sea gypsy cultures. These kind people who’s lives revolve around the sea, have inhabited this area for hundreds of years. They have their own languages, a colorful cultures, and unique beliefs and traditions which they have preserved against the forces of modernization. Above all, Thailand’s sea gypsy people have an incredible wealth of knowledge about the ocean, its ecosystems, and how to survive comfortably with it. Their indigenous knowledge must be preserved, as few people in the world have such a holistic understanding of the ocean and how to live with it.
Tsunami Aftermath and Preparing for the Future
Thailand’s Andaman coast was completely devastated by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. Some sea gypsy villages fared amazingly well due to their sixth sense of the ocean, but most areas were destroyed. With the aftermath of the tsunami many of these people’s villages were forced to relocate. Land disputes along with the rapid growth of Thailand’s tourist industry and other forces have put great pressure on sea gypsy culture, and their fascinating way of life is fighting an uphill battle.
During this trip we will visit four distinct villages along the Andaman Coast. Our first stop is the rebuilt Moken village of Baan Talae Nok, which suffered major hardships from the devastating tsunami. Families here have managed to rebuild their villages but are still rebuilding their lives - many families have lost their loved ones in the wave who were the main bread earners in the family. To help address these needs, a women’s all-natural soap cooperative have been set up to help these woman earn an alternative income. You’ll work side by side with these women making hand made soap while learning about their remarkable stories of survival.
Our second village is another rebuilt village located near the Khao Lak area, which was hit hardest by the tsunami. The people here are the Moken people, who are amongst the last surviving indigenous peoples who survive almost entirely on the ocean. They have their own language, a colorful culture, and beliefs and traditions, which they have been struggling to preserve against the forces of modernization. In order to help preserve their indigenous culture, the village has set up a basic community center where we will help to paint, furnish, build a bathroom and more to help improve the center.
Next, our journey leads us to the Muslim fishing village on Panyee Island where our main project will be teaching at the local school, where you’ll be able to help smiling children with their English. This is a unique opportunity to share some positive energy with these humble people. Our third stop will be at the Baan Sangka-ooh sea gypsy village on Lanta Island. Here, you’ll be hosted in a home-stay with local families in quaint, simple houses located right on the beach. Head out with the local fisherman on long tail boats and learn how to fish the local way, cast out a net and test your skills. With any luck, you’ll have a few fish to contribute for dinner, and your hosts will show you how to prepare fish the local way on a beach barbecue.
Join us on this exciting two-week Andaman Coast adventure that will acquaint you with one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. The stunning beaches, the warm-hearted Moken people, and the unique service initiatives make this a truly amazing opportunity. Students should expect to work hard on service initiatives every day, make unique connections with local people, and see some stunning places seldom seen by tourists.
Day 1, Tuesday
Relax and prepare yourself for your adventure on world-class Singapore Airlines. Meet other students, watch on-demand movies and unwind. A Rustic Pathways Flight Leader will accompany each of our escorted group flights from Los Angeles, making sure that your journey is easy and enjoyable.
Day 2, Wednesday
Ghost Day - This day is officially 'lost' as we pass the International Date Line. We'll be sure to pick up a free day for you on your way home.
Day 3, Thursday
Sawat di kap and welcome to Thailand! You'll be greeted by a crowd of excited students and staff who have been anxiously awaiting your arrival. After a quick meet and greet session, we’ll be back on an airplane headed to the south of Thailand and Phuket Island, Thailand’s biggest island. After we check into our guesthouse, we’ll go out for dinner and our first taste of Thai food. The seafood in the south of Thailand is fresh and delicious.
Day 4, Friday
After a great night's sleep, we'll grab a light morning breakfast and have a general program orientation and a few activities to get acquainted with one another. Then, we'll grab our things, jump into our vans and head up north to Baan Talae Nok. On our ride, we’ll be driving past some of the hardest hit aress of the 2004 tsunami and we’ll be able to stop along the way to check out some of the big boats which are still washed way up on shore. When we reach the village, we’ll meet and greet our host stay families and then get a tour of the village. We’ll also get to go to the beach as well today and play with some of the local children.
Day 5 - 7, Saturday - Monday
The next few days are spent at Baan Talae Nok village. Here, our days will be spent touring different places in the area, hanging out with the locals, as well helping out on several service projects which include beach cleanups, teaching English, working at a woman’s soap cooperative and guide training as well. We will be cooking and eating with our families and there will be cultural activities at night.
Day 8, Tuesday
Rising early, we'll enjoy our last day with our homestay family. In the morning, we’ll finish up our projects and then spend some final quality time with our families. After lunch and goodbyes, we’ll pack up the vans and head south to beautiful Phang Nga Bay. On the way, we’ll stop at some scenic points as well as a lovely beach to break up the long drive. Tonight we’ll sleep in a guesthouse in the lovely town of Phang Nga.
Day 9, Wednesday
Rise and shine! Today is an early morning as we pack up and head to the boat pier. We’ll then pack up some long tail boats and take a boat tour through Thailand’s largest mangrove forest. Ride through caves and past towering limestone cliffs jetting out of the clear waters. Our destination today is the quaint Muslim fishing village on tiny Panyee Island. After settling into our guest house, we’ll take a short walking tour around the village. Walk past fisherman repairing their boats, woman in the colorful market selling their goods and then on to the school where we will be teaching at in the morning. During the evenings, there’s lots of people at the school playing sports. Jump right in and start making some friends! Tonight we will be going over some classroom teaching advice for tomorrow’s service.
Day 10, Thursday
Don’t be late for school! Another early morning as we catch the flag raising ceremony and start the day with all of the other students at the small island’s school. Prepare your lesson plans, team up with another student and jump into a classroom. You’ll be playing a lot of games with the students that make teaching easy and learning fun. Tonight, we’ll have a challenging and exciting game of futsol against the island’s famous futsol team. After you clean up, tour the village with your new friends, shop in the local market and enjoy the magnificent colors as the sun dips gently into the bay.
Day 11, Friday
Good morning! Yes, its early, but this is normal wake up time for the people who live here, as the day's first light arrives, the village is already in full swing. After some morning tea, hot cocoa and a simple breakfast, we pack up our things and jump on another boat to the mainland. On our boat ride we’ll pass some untouched ancient cave paintings that have been there for hundreds of years. Once on the mainland, we’ll meet our drivers again and pack up the vans. Our next destination is Lanta Island further south along the Andaman Sea. On the way, we’ll be passing jagged mountains, Buddhist temples and some natural hot springs as well. Tonight we’ll be staying in a guesthouse located right on the beach.
Days 12 - 14, Saturday – Monday
After a nice breakfast at the beachside restaurant, we’ll jump into the vans and head to the other side of the island to the Baan Sangka-ooh sea gypsy village. This village is located right on the beach and the people here live simply. Life runs in conjunction with the rhythms of the ocean as the main source of income and food comes from fishing. The next couple of days, we’ll be living with home stay families and running some service projects around the village. These projects may be helping to repair fishing nets and cages, painting and repairing long tail boats, helping to sort the day’s catch and more. We will also get a chance to hit the waters with the local fisherman and try our luck at fishing. Cast out a net and see what you get. We’ll be learning old fishing techniques that have been passed down from generation to generation. They may make it look easy, but its harder than you think. Now take that catch of the day, sort it with the women of the village and then lets learn how to prepare it during a beachside barbecue! These are just some of the things that we’ll be doing while we’re in the village.
Day 15, Tuesday
After a nice breakfast, its time to say goodbye to our host families and new friends in the village. After we pack up the vans, we’ll go with some of our village friends to the other side of the island to the Koh Lanta National Park where we’ll see some stunning seaside views, dense jungles and hopefully be able to spot some monkeys and other wildlife as well. Then it’s back to the mainland up to the town of Krabi. Let’s wind down, relax and get some traditional Thai massages, you’ll be sure to sleep well tonight.
Day 16, Wednesday
Today we’ll wake up early and head out on an Andaman adventure as we board speedboats and tour four different islands. There will be a chance for swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach and enjoying the view of the amazing crystal clear blue waters. After lunch, we’ll head back to the mainland once again to board an overnight bus to Bangkok.
Day 17, Thursday
Arrive to Bangkok in the early morning and transfer to Bangkok’s sleek new airport. Transfer to your next Rustic Pathways adventure, or say your goodbye’s and board the flight home. Kap kun kaaap and safe travels where ever you may be going!
1. Where will kids be staying on this program?
This trip will mostly be staying in local village homestays. Most homestays will be divided into boys / girls houses (boys in one house w/ the family and male leader, girls in another house w/ a female leader). In between villages we will be staying at small guesthouses along the way.
2. What is the ratio of staff / guides to students?
This trip has a capacity of 15 students. There will be 2 western staff (1 male, 1 female) as well as one local staff.
3. What kind of food will the kids be eating? What if my child has certain diet retrictions?
Kids will be eating a lot of local food in the villages. This will mostly be seafood dishes and rice, but we will also be preparing Thai foods that the kids are comfortable eating. We can usually cater to most dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, lactose intolerant, etc.).
4. Will kids be able to do laundry?
Yes. Student can either try to wash their clothes the local way in the village, or we will also have laundry stops during our days between villages.
5. Will kids have a place to store their bags if they do another program? How will they pick these up?
Yes. We usually pick up their extra bags when they arrive in BKK and deliver them to the students when they connect to their next program.
6. How much spending money do you recommend?
We usually recommend about $150 / week. This money can be used to buy souvenirs in local markets. They will also need money for internet, laundry, phone calls home, massages and snacks for road trips.
7. Where is the closest hospital?
The closets major hospital with western style facilities is located on the island of Phuket. If we are on another island, we would visit the local clinic first, but if we had to evacuate someone, boats leave every hour.
8. Will kids have access to internet / phones?
Yes. In between villages we will stop at internet. Although students are allowed to have cell phones, they are not encouraged to use them. Staff will all have cell phones which students can use to call home at reasonable rates.
9. How will the weather be?
Although it is rainy season in Thailand during the whole summer, the weather is still very nice. If it rains, it will usually rain hard in the late afternoon for 30-45 minutes and then stop and be sunny again. The weather in Thailand is also very hot and can be humid at times too.
10. Are there a lot of bugs?
This trip does not have a noticeably large amount of bugs, but students should always bring some bug repellent just in case.
11. What kind of service will the kids be doing on this trip?
Service projects will vary from village to village, but we will be able to participate in a variety of different projects. Example service projects are: beach cleanups, working at a widowed women’s natural soap cooperative, helping to build up community centers, building bathrooms, working in community gardens, repairing fishing equipment and teaching at local schools.
VENTURE along Thailand's Andaman Coast through tsunami effected regions and see how life has changed
HELP paint boats, repair nets, make fishing baskets and organize beach cleanups
WORK alongside and help widowed women from the tsunami in a soap making cooperative
LIVE with traditional sea gypsy families along the beach who have their own unique languages and cultures
LEARN ancient fishing techniques passed down from generation to generation and then help cook the catch of the day on a beach barbecue.
TEACH and play games with the children at local schools
SHARE in the remarkable stories of survival from tsunami survivors
»Ages :16 and up »Length :From 17 days from the USA.
14 days when following another Rustic Pathways program »Cost :$2,195 + $225 »Hours :Up to 65 service hours awarded »Departures :Escorted flights from Los Angeles »Airfare :Airfare is not included in the above cost
Departs Tuesday
Returns Friday
July 15
August 1
July 29
August 15
SPACE AVAILABILITY COLOR INDEX: Updated Daily. Check back for latest updates.
SOLD OUT: No space available.
VERY LIMITED: 1 - 2 spots available.
LIMITED: 3 - 5 spots available.
Most Rustic Pathways trips interconnect,
allowing you to design your own perfect
summer program.
COMMUNITY SERVICE 
‘Sea Gypsies’ of the Andaman
Tsunami. Some sea gypsy villages fared amazingly well due to their sixth sense of the ocean, but most areas were destroyed. With the aftermath of the tsunami many of these people’s villages were forced to relocate. Land disputes along with the rapid growth of Thailand’s tourist industry and other forces have put great pressure on sea gypsy culture, and their fascinating way of life is fighting an uphill battle. 
Our second village is another rebuilt village located near the Khao Lak area, which was hit hardest by the tsunami. The people here are the Moken people, who are amongst the last surviving indigenous peoples who survive almost entirely on the ocean. They have their own language, a colorful culture, and beliefs and traditions, which they have been struggling to preserve against the forces of modernization. In order to help preserve their indigenous culture, the village has set up a basic community center where we will help to paint, furnish, build a bathroom and more to help improve the center.
