What is the Holt Family Tour to Thailand? A trip to revisit Thailand especially tailored for families with children who were adopted from Thailand. The tour provides a wonderful opportunity for the adoptive family and the adoptee to reconnect with the adoptee’s birth country by visiting the region, seeing the sights, learning about the culture, customs, history, and people. It is also an opportunity to visit current child care facilities, meet with foster families and care givers and see, first-hand, the services being provided for at risk families and homeless children. The tour group will be escorted by Holt International and Holt Sahathai Foundation staff.

How long is Holt’s Family Tour in Thailand and when will it take place? The tour will last approximately 8 days with an option to extend the trip by 3-4 days trip and travel with other families to popular Chiang Mai , one of Thailand’s beautiful beaches or possibly to Cambodia. These destinations may change, depending on interest and cost, and the exact locations are still to be determined. Tentative tour dates planned for July 9th - July 17th, 2008. Dates will be set as soon as possible but will be subject to change.

Where will we go? What will we see? This unique family tour will explore regions and cultures In Thailand not customarily visited by Western tourists. We plan to visit the Grand Palace and other sights and local markets in Bangkok, as well as child care facilities. You’ll likely be able to meet with your child’s foster family! We will then travel NE through the Buriram province visiting traditional villages and experiencing the region’s varied folk cultures. The final tour destination will be Ubon Ratchathani province (NE of Bangkok) where we’ll enjoy the local festivities surrounding the Buddhist Candle Festival. The natural beauty, historic sites, unique cultures and customs in this part of the country make for the perfect culmination of the Thai experience.

How much will it cost?
      Air: You are responsible for securing airline tickets to and from Bangkok for all members of your travel party. Airfares can vary greatly from one year to the next due to market shifts, fuel surcharges, fees, as well as the standard airline and seating class variations. Based on 2007 R/T published airfares from LAX to Bangkok, plan on budgeting at least $1,400-$2,000 per person. Holt Sahathai will arrange your domestic flights in Thailand and this cost will be included as part of the land package (see below).
      Hotel: Holt Sahathai will book the hotels for the group in all cities. We are still determining whether or not it will be beneficial to use a local travel agent to reserve a block of hotel rooms for the group. In the past, the most favorable option was for families to pay for accommodations on their own, once in Thailand. We will confirm this decision as soon as it has been made.
      Land package: The land package is currently estimated at about $600-$1000 per person – this is a very preliminary estimate and will likely change. Remember, international airfare or hotel costs are separate. The amount listed above includes the following group arrangements made by Holt Sahathai Foundation: Some meals, travel logistics in Thailand (domestic flights and all ground transportation), group tours and visits to child caring agencies. It does not include personal spending money, optional tour costs and some meals.

Note: Optional tour packages will be arranged by a travel agent once the number of families interested in participating in each optional tour is known. We will provide those cost estimates to you when they’re available. This cost will be in addition to the land package.

Who can participate in a Family Tour? Families who have adopted from Thailand – adoptee should be at least 10 years of age or adult adoptees and their families. Families will have the opportunity to visit their child’s former orphanage, meet a former foster family, or spend time with a Holt Sahathai staff person who knew your child before being adopted.
* If Holt did not facilitate your child’s adoption, please contact the Thailand tour coordinator for more information prior to applying. thailandtour@holtinternational.org