Meet your fellow high school student travelers and one or more of your leaders at the Los Angeles Airport, and fly together to Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.

Settle into your accommodations in a beautiful Thai teak house in the capital of old Siam, Ayutthaya, a city teeming with ancient structures and temples. Get to know your fellow students, leaders, and On Assignment team as you visit the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum to learn about Siam history, bike amidst remnants of the old capital in Ayutthaya Historical Park, and venture out to capture sunrise over the prang (reliquary towers) and Buddhist monasteries of this historical city.

Travel to Thailand’s first national park, Khao Yai, and trek through the area’s lush, tropical forests and grasslands with local guides. If you’re lucky, spot an elephant in the wild, or perhaps an arboreal gibbon swinging through the tree canopies. Spend the evening stargazing and bonding with your group at your accommodations right near the park entrance. Return to Ayutthaya for one last night before heading to Chiang Rai province in the far north of the country.

Fly to Thailand’s northernmost province, Chiang Rai, to discover a completely different region famous for its mountains and rich cultural diversity. See the jaw-dropping Wat Rong Khun, known as the “White Temple,” designed by famous Thai artist, Chlermchai Kositpipat, and the magnificent statue of Guanyin, Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, keeping watch over the hills of the province. In the evenings, head to Chiang Rai’s bustling “walking street,” where community members from the villages in the surrounding hills come to sell beautiful fabrics and trinkets.

Go on a day trip to Mae Salong, home to Santi Khiri Village, which was settled by defected Chinese soldiers belonging to the Kuomintang Army in the 1940s and ‘50s. Roam the hills of this unique mountain town, sampling the region’s famous oolong tea and learning about the various highland peoples who make up this community.

Head a few hours south to the largest city in the north of Thailand, Chiang Mai. Hike to a beautiful forest temple on your way to Doi Suthep via a former pilgrimage trail, and learn about the Buddhist concepts of merit making and meditation from practicing monks. In the evenings, relax by Chiang Mai University’s famous Ang-Kaew Reservoir where community members and university students gather to exercise and hang out, or explore the bustling night markets inside the Old City walls.

Explore the city's many fresh markets and street food vendors, and stop in to see Wat Chedi Luang, an elaborate Buddhist temple where the City Pillar Shrine is located. Then, depart on a journey westward, perhaps making a pitstop inside Doi Inthanon National park, otherwise known as the “Roof of Thailand,” resting at over 8,000 feet above sea level.

Continue north from Doi Inthanon to a Karen community nestled in the hills near Mae Chaem District. Spend time learning about the tribe’s long standing relationship with elephants, making traditional meals with your local hosts, and experiencing daily life and chores. Cap your stay by trekking to find the community’s elephants, most of which are retired from the tourism industry, as they roam free in the jungle.

Return to Chiang Mai to reflect on your experiences and present your On Assignment project to the group. End the program with a nice, final dinner to celebrate your time in Thailand.

Fly from Chiang Mai to Los Angeles with your group and one leader.