Overview
This immersive Medical & Cultural Experience in Chiang Mai, Thailand is designed for medical, pre-medical, and nursing students seeking both professional development and cultural enrichment. Over the course of 8 days, students will spend their mornings engaged in hospital rotations, gaining first-hand exposure to Thai healthcare systems across a range of departments including General Surgery, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Physical Therapy, and Thai Traditional Medicine. These structured placements provide valuable opportunities to observe clinical practices, interact with healthcare professionals, and reflect on global health perspectives. Afternoons and evenings are dedicated to exploring the vibrant culture and traditions of Northern Thailand — from visiting ancient temples and learning from Buddhist monks, to joining interactive Thai cooking classes, enjoying traditional cultural performances, and wandering through bustling night markets. The program culminates with an unforgettable full-day excursion to an ethical elephant sanctuary set in lush green surroundings, where students will learn about conservation while engaging directly with these gentle giants. Blending healthcare learning, cultural immersion, and conservation, this program offers students a meaningful and well-rounded experience in the heart of Chiang Mai.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 1 – Saturday: Arrival & Welcome
Arrive in Chiang Mai and transfer to your accommodation. Settle in with fellow participants.
Day 2 – Sunday: Orientation & City Highlights
- Morning: Orientation and training session covering Thai culture, customs, health & safety, and hospital program overview.
- Afternoon: Guided city tour, including Wat Phra Singh, Three Kings Monument, and the Old City of Chiang Mai.
- Evening: Group dinner together in town.
Meals - BLD
Day 3 – Monday: Clinical Placement & Cultural Show
- Morning: Begin hospital rotations, with observation/shadowing in units such as General Surgery, Emergency, Pediatrics, Hemodialysis, Out-patient, Physical Therapy, OBGYN (for female students), and Thai Traditional Medicine.
- Afternoon: Visit Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park and the Elephant Parade House for an eco-conservation experience.
- Evening: Traditional Thai cultural dinner and dance show followed by dinner.
Meals - BLD
Day 4 – Tuesday: Clinical Placement & Temple Visit
- Morning: Continued hospital shadowing and exposure in new departments.
- Afternoon: Visit the famous Doi Suthep Temple, located on a mountaintop with panoramic city views.
- Evening: Dinner with the group at a local restaurant.
Meals - BLD
Day 5 – Wednesday: Clinical Placement & Buddhist Immersion
- Morning: Ward rounds, case discussions, and deeper hospital learning opportunities (depending on student level).
Afternoon: Cultural immersion at a local Buddhist temple, including dialogue with a monk. - Evening: Free time to explore Chiang Mai’s bustling night bazaars or riverside cafés before group dinner.
Meals - BLD
Day 6 – Thursday: Final Clinical Placement & Cooking Class
Morning: Final day of hospital placements, with reflections and wrap-up sessions with mentors.
Afternoon/Evening: Thai cooking class led by local chefs — an interactive and fun cultural experience.
Meals - BLD
Day 7 – Friday: Full-Day Elephant Camp Experience
All Day: Travel one hour outside Chiang Mai to an ethical elephant sanctuary surrounded by lush greenery. Learn about elephant conservation, feed them, walk alongside them, and help bathe them in natural streams. Return to Chiang Mai in the evening for a farewell dinner and closing reflections.
Meals - BLD
Day 8 – Saturday: Departure
Enjoy a final breakfast before checking out. Private transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for onward flights. Depart with new medical knowledge, cultural insights, and lifelong memories.
Meals - B
Placement Requirements
Placement Requirements
All group members must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the Thailand Group Medical experience. You should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. All students must provide additional documents such as Resume/CV, statement of motivation, list of preferred departments and letter of recommendation at least 45 days prior to joining the internship. The Group medical experience is open for current students or recent graduates of medical studies program. This includes pre-med, medicine, nursing, public health, pre-nursing students. Students in Pre medical courses such as biomedical science and health sciences are also eligible to join the program.
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Living
Living
Airport Transfer
Airport transfers (bothways) will be provided to the group from Chiang Mai International Airport.
Orientation
Each group shall be provided with a comprehensive orientation on the next day after arrival.The Orientation session covers areas like, local Thai culture, greetings, locations, transportation etc. Groups are also given a half day city tour of Chiang Mai and are given a cultural welcome dinner to make them feel immersed in the local culture.
Group members are provided accommodation in a charming and peaceful guesthouse located in the heart of Chiang Mai. It offers a relaxing retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city while still being close to popular markets, temples, and cafes. The villa is known for its cozy atmosphere, friendly hospitality, and traditional Thai design touches. Twin rooms shall be provided to the group members (same gender sharing basis) and private rooms for the group leaders.
Local Transportation
All local transportation for transfers to hospitals, sightseeing locations and elephant camp are included in the program. The group members will need to use local taxis for any personal commute outside the program itinerary.
Meals
All meals are included as per the itinerary for the group.







Dates
Dates
March
02
09
16
23
April
06
13
20
27
May
04
11
18
25
June
01
08
July
20
27
August
03
10
17
24
September
07
21
October
05
19
November
02
16
December
07
21
January
04
18
February
01
15
March
01
15
May
03
17
June
07
21
July
05
12
19
26
August
02
09
16
23
30
September
06
20
October
04
18
November
01
15
December
06
20
Costs
Duration |
Program Fee
Choose your currency
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1 Week | $1499 |
Please Note: An application fee of is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. A 5% international banking fee is charged for credit card payments of program fee in USD/AUD.
Note : The above price is based on a minimum group size of 10 participants. The price can vary depending on the final size of the group and requirements.
What are you Paying for?
- Pre departure support and communication from Med Trips Team
- Pre departure Info session with Med Trips team
- Airport Transfers from Chiang Mai airport
- Shared hotel accommodation, organized based on gender
- Safe, professionally driven vans for all program-related travel
- All meals as per itinerary
- Orientation and City Tour
- All activities as per itinerary
- Support of bilingual coordinators
- 1 Pair of Medical Scrubs or Medical Lab Coat
- Medical Insurance
- Certificate of participation from hospital and Med Trips
What's NOT Included?
- Flights
- Visa
- Vaccinations
- Insurance
- Personal Expenses
FAQ's
Eligibility and Preperation
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Who can apply for the program?
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Interns need to be a current student or recent graduate of a medical studies program to be accepted in the Thailand Medical Internship/Elective. This includes pre-med, medical school, nursing, public health, pre-nursing students. All participants must be above 18 years of age.
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Are vaccinations or health checks required?
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Yes, students should consult their doctor or travel clinic for recommended vaccinations before travel.
Accommodation and Living
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Can I know more about accommodation and food arrangements?
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In Chiang Mai, interns are provided accommodation in an Intern/volunteer house.
Located in a convenient area in the middle of Chiang Mai city, our intern/volunteer houses are only minutes apart from each other and can accommodate up to 35 people in air-conditioned bedrooms. Both the houses have wireless internet, fully equipped kitchens as well as washing machines for the convenience of the participants.
Breakfast is self-made and participants are provided with all the resources to cook their own breakfast. Lunch is usually at the project site and for dinner, you can go out with other participants and enjoy the Thai cuisine in one of the many restaurants in the city.
For those participants joining group programs, accommodation is provided in a hotel with all meals provided as per the itinerary.
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Can vegetarians be accommodated?
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Yes – please do ensure that you inform the local team about your food preference and they can help you to try the best food available. Also, please do mention your specific food preference in the application form as well.
Program and Learning Experience
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Can I perform medical procedures?
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Due to local regulations and ethical standards, students will not perform hands-on procedures. However, they will observe, learn, and gain insight into patient care, local health systems, and medical practices.
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What are the benefits of doing a Medical internship with Med Trips?
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Some major benefits include:
- Meeting other interns and participants from all around the world
- Get international exposure by observing and shadowing in major hospitals of Thailand
- Being able to work with patients of different cultures and understand cultural dynamics of a new city or country
- Being able to travel during weekends and in the evenings to explore your destination
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What kind of hospital/clinical experience will I get?
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Placements are primarily observation-based but tailored to student level (pre-med, nursing, or medical). Students shadow professionals in departments such as surgery, pediatrics, emergency, physiotherapy, OBGYN, and more.
Travel and Logistics
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How do I get around during the program?
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Interns in the Medical Internship placement are responsible for their daily commute to and from the Intern House and their hospital. Participants should expect to pay anywhere between $1.50 – $5.00 per day for transportation.
Transportation by Song Thaews (Thai-style mini-buses) is normally 20 THB (roughly $0.70 USD) per ride. Therefore, most volunteers spend around $1.50 USD a day on transportation to and from work. Participants also prefer to use taxis booked through Grab as it is convenient to book and use. On the first day of your project, the coordinator will escort you to your hospital placement and introduce you to the administration at the hospital.
For the participants in Group Medical Experience, all daily transportation to and from the hospital is included.
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What are the recommended inexpensive airline options to reach Thailand?
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Although all major carriers fly to Thailand, we recommend the following:
Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Tigerair flights, Dragonair flights, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Air China flights, Thai AirAsia, SilkAir.All interns and groups need to arrive at Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). Chiang Mai has direct flight connections from major international destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Seoul, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Taipei, Hongkong , Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
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Do I need a visa?
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Visa requirements depend on your nationality and destination. We provide guidance during the pre-departure process.
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Is airport transfer included?
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Interns are provided with the airport pick up from the Chiang Mai International Airport by the coordinator or representative. Interns who are already in Chiang Mai will be met by the staff at a designated meeting point decided beforehand.Please note that interns are provided with the airport pickup from the airport between 8 AM and 8 PM only.
For Thailand Group Medical Experience, bothways airport transfers shall be provided to the group members.
Safety and Support
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How safe is Thailand, and Chiang Mai in particular?
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Chiang Mai is considered one of the safest cities in Thailand and is a very popular destination for international students, families, and travelers. The city has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere with a strong cultural heritage and a well-established tourism infrastructure.
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What kind of support will I have?
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You’ll have 24/7 in-country support from our local team in Chiang Mai. In case of any emergencies or problems, the staff will be there to support you and assist you always.
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What about medical facilities in case of an emergency?
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We partner with modern hospitals where English-speaking staff are available. All students are required to have travel insurance that covers medical care abroad.