DUP Caravan poster

The Dances of Universal Peace (DUP) Caravan in Thailand 2025

The caravan is designed to bring together an international group of DUP to support the planting of the seed in Asia. This is done through the physical presence, participation and collaboration in the training camp and also through your caravan fee which allows us to cover all your travel expenses, plus supporting the international training camp to happen.

This year, the caravan will take you to explore sacred landscapes, spiritual practices, indigenous villages, and nature’s beauty and the rich diversity of life in Thailand. We will go through 4 different locations from central to northern Thailand. You will experience an “off-the-beaten-path” journey through Thailand that the normal travel tours will not take you to. The caravan will hold space for heart-to-heart connections with Thai locals and among DUP practitioners.

Basic Info

  • Time: November 28th to December 13th, 2025
    Participants should arrive on November 27th at the latest (we recommend coming a few days earlier to explore Bangkok and central Thailand), and can plan to leave from the morning of December 14th to go back home or continue exploring Thailand.
  • The caravan starts in Bangkok City (the capital of Thailand) and ends in Chiang Mai (in northern Thailand).

Itinerary

We will travel through four different locations from central to northern Thailand. Each stop offers a unique experience of Thai culture, nature, and spiritual practice. Read below to see what awaits in each place.

We will meet in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, and begin our journey together by traveling to one of the old capitals in the central region. This area is rich in history, with temple ruins, old city structures, and stories from past kingdoms. It’s a gentle first step to get to know one another, settle into the rhythm of the caravan, and start tuning into the land and culture.

 

  • Date: 28th November
  • Accommodation type: shared houses or shared room in a hotel (in or near the historical city, en route to Thai Plum Village)
  • Tentative activities: meet-up in Bangkok, getting to know Thai culture and each other, travel to the ancient capital, historical walking tour, street food tour

  • Charming traces of the Old Capital, the Buddhist statues and stupas

  • The ruin of pagoda

  • The ruin of the old temple

From the old capital, we travel northeast to visit Thai Plum Village, a mindfulness practice center founded in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. Surrounded by peaceful fields and rice paddies, the village offers a unique glimpse into a way of life rooted in presence and compassion. After a day of mindful walking, eating, and sharing, we’ll head into nature and stay overnight in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand’s first and one of its most biodiverse national parks proclaimed as a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

  • Date: November 29th – 30th
  • Accommodation type: shared room in guesthouses inside or around Khao Yai National Park
  • Tentative activities: mindfulness practice with the sangha at Thai Plum Village; nature immersion in Khao Yai

  • Plum Village practice with sangha

  • Plum Village practice with sangha

  • Plum Village

  • Plum Village

  • Khao Yai National Park

  • Khao Yai National Park

Set along a flowing stream, Wangree Resort in Nakhon Nayok will host our International DUP Camp, in which we anticipate welcoming 100+ campers practicing together. We will live, dance, and grow together for six days in a vibrant, multicultural community. This will be the heart of the caravan, with daily Dances of Universal Peace, workshops, and shared meals. There will be opportunities to connect more deeply through music, movement, nature, and rest.

  • Date: November 30th – December 6th
  • Accommodation type: Shared dorm-style rooms at Wangree Resort.
    There are limited numbers of other options available for upgrade with a fee. See those options here. 
  • Tentative activities: DUP circles, workshops, community meals, Thai massage, nature walks

  • Wangree lobby entrance

  • Well-being garden in Wangree

  • Trees near spa zone

  • Greenery

After the camp, we journey north by overnight bus or train to Chiang Mai, a city once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. Revered for its serene temples, centuries-old traditions, and artistic heritage, Chiang Mai offers a taste of Northern Thailand’s rich cultural landscape. After a brief visit to the old town, we head into the mountains to explore the cloud forests, waterfalls, and winding trails of Thailand’s highest peak.

Our journey continues to an indigenous village in the forested hills. Staying with local families, we’ll experience indigenous practices like natural dyeing, weaving, herbal medicine, and rotational farming. Hosts will share their food, songs, stories, and ancestral wisdom.

We then visit Wat Chom Thong, a respected Vipassana center, for a three-day silent retreat guided by the Thai forest tradition. Surrounded by mountains and stillness, we end with space for inner reflection.

After the retreat, the caravan returns to Chiang Mai and wraps up in the early afternoon. Participants are free to enjoy the rest of the day at their own pace, perhaps exploring the Saturday market or simply relaxing.

  • Date: December 7th – 13th 
  • Accommodation type: shared room in city guesthouse, homestay in indigenous village, Vipassana centre lodging
  • Tentative activities: historical walk, hiking, experiencing indigenous music and food, silent meditation retreat

From Chiang Mai, you can fly out of Thailand through Chiang Mai International Airport, which is located right in the city, or continue your journey around Thailand.

  • View of the indigenous village in the forested hills of Chom Thong

  • Karen cuisine with many dishes based on foraged local vegetables

  • Traditional weaving practice

  • Scenic route to the Inthanon mountain

  • Wat Chom Thong, a respected Vipassana center

  • Gable roof of the temple at Wat Chom Thong

Before or after the camp, you might want to spend a few days exploring Thailand on your own. We will provide some useful introduction and tips about travelling in Thailand in the information package that we will send to you after the confirmation of your participation.

If you need support planning for your trip, feel free to reach out to us at dancesofuniversalpeace.thailand@gmail.com, or ask in the shared Whatsapp Group that you are going to be a part of once you have confirmed your participation.

Here’s a glimpse of the Caravan in Asia

Who can join the caravan?

The caravan is oriented to the global Dances of Universal Peace (DUP) family. No matter where you live, how much experience you have (from brand new DUP beginner to senior international teacher and trainer). 

You will be expected to come with an open mind to connect with the local culture and be ready to share your culture with others. The caravan is a combination of cultural exchange activities, music exchange, Buddhism practice, walking and hiking in nature, learning local craft from some ethnic groups in Thailand. Please bear in mind that this is not designed to be a conventional tourism trip, but more an in-depth spiritual experience through culture and nature.

How much does it cost?

The caravan ticket for this year is THB 36,000 THB or ~USD 1,090 (according to exchange rate in April 2025, which may change at the time you make the payment) per person. The ticket includes: transportation, 3 meals per day (vegan and vegetarian options available, accommodation, all organized activities and tours. It doesn’t include: your travel insurance, your tickets to and back from Thailand, souvenirs, and other activities outside of the plan.

Note: accommodation will be arranged based on the common living conditions of the area, which means sometimes the default accommodation is staying in shared dorms hosted by local families. In some places, you can pay more to upgrade your stay if needed. More information will be provided once you register.

Register Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are our answers to some frequently asked questions. If you don’t find what you need here, please feel free to contact us via email at dancesofuniversalpeace.thailand@gmail.com

What is the connection between the Caravan and the International DUP Camp?
  • Both projects are a part of the Beyond Initiative (BI). BI is not meant for expanding or franchising the practice. It’s here because these dances are good medicines for this time, for people who are creating alternative future, with planetary consciousness where humans are a big family. A South American can drink from the sweet honey of Buddhism.
  • The caravan itself is one important aspect of the BI besides other aspects like workshops, gatherings, weekend retreats, etc. With caravan, we are bringing dancers from the West to other countries, with the experience that they have from dancing for much longer. You are bringing your own energy and enhance the diversity of the circle.
  • With what you pay for the caravan, you’re making it more accessible for Asian participants to come to the camp. We want to make sure people can come from various different Asian countries, for free or at reduced price if needed. The contribution from caravan will be used to cover the cost for all logistics and activities, and the extra will be for this purpose of the camp. By paying for the caravan, you become a direct sponsor for the camp. And we are truly thankful for this gift.
  • The training camp will happen inside the caravan, so you will also participate in the camp. Thus, if you sign up for the Caravan, please DON’T sign up for the Camp, to avoid confusion for the organizers.
  • We won’t take you to the common tourist destinations. Thailand is very developed in terms of tourist infrastructure, and you will have no difficulty exploring Thailand on your own. But we want to show you a Thailand that tourists don’t see. You will be taken by the local friends to go off the beaten path.
What language(s) will be used in the caravan?

The main language for both the caravan and the camp is English, and all camp participants signed up knowing that. We will need to be mindful of our different levels of fluency in English while communicating. When we interact with the local villagers, we organizers will be your interpreters, and we will also have some local interpreters to make sure the nuances of their traditions will be best translated.

What will the food be like in the Caravan? Will it be a good reflection of the local cuisine in Thailand?

Thais are very proud of our diverse food culture, and what we eat in the Caravan won’t reflect all the different aspects of our local cuisine. However, wherever you visit, you will get to try the most authentic local dishes, all with fresh and flavorful local ingredients. If you are a foodie, we would recommend you to spend more time in Bangkok before the Caravan starts or in Chiang Mai after the Caravan finishes to try different food varieties of the country.

The popular dishes you have had abroad may not reflect what we actually eat in our daily life. During the Caravan, we will make sure you experience real homemade style meals, which is very important in our culture. In some parts of the trip, you will get to cook with the local people and learn the stories behind their food.

Vegan and vegetarian options will always be provided to those who need them, and we will do our best to make sure the dishes reflect the local culture. Your allergies will also be considered when we prepare food options.

Will we be dancing every day?

We will try to dance as much as possible, but we don’t necessarily dance every day. We will be flexible with the space we have and the weather. The dance is definitely an important practice of the trip, and you will also be learning other practices like Theravada Buddhism, or some local communal practices in the villages we visit.

Will there be dancing to local music?

Yes, as much as we can, but not in all locations. For sure we will dance to local music in the ethnic villages.

What will be the level of physical activities?

It varies.

There are that we ask the whole group to join, and they require the same physical level as the DUP, so you will move but not exhaustively (e.g, learning Buddhist meditation in a monastery, historical walking tour, etc). We believe most people won’t have difficulties following these activities, and you are always welcome to take care of your physical needs.

There are also some small group activities, since we don’t want to go in a whole big group of over 20 people all the time. That can include hiking or trekking in the forest, learning to cook with local people, learning the traditional textile craft, playing with children, etc. You will be able to pick the activities that you feel comfortable with. We will provide more details before the trip.

What is the deadline for registration?

Please confirm your participation in the Caravan by 31st August 2025 at the latest. The sooner you buy your tickets, the better because we have limited space, and it would help us tremendously in logistics preparation.

Presenting the ticket receipts is the way to confirm your participation in the caravan. So, in case you cannot provide the tickets now, but you want to confirm with us that you will be on the trip, just let us know and keep us updated about your situation.

You can pay for the caravan when you arrive in Thailand. We work based on trust; if you say you are coming, we trust you. Be mindful that if you say you are coming and end up not coming, all the money spent on the accommodation and logistics won’t be reimbursed. This is sensitive and we trust you will support us to manage the budget well.

Where will we gather at in Bangkok?

We will gather in a place reachable with convenient public transports in Bangkok. The exact address will be provided later in the info pack.