A race around a local area with a number of famous or infamous cultural landmarks and curious places to find and discover, each one identified and pinpointed on the map by solving a mysterious and fiendish puzzle. As they explore, teams will get the chance to locate and visit the most exciting, beautiful and interesting locations around the area. They can earn points and win the game by exploring these cultural hotspots and providing the right answer to questions and completing cultural challenges.
- To improve communication within the team
- To practice planning and organisation
- To consider leadership skills
- To focus on team synergy and individual roles
- To get to know each other and have a fun and enjoyable time
- To manage time and complete team challenges together
In the Cultural Discovery, teams travel by public transport or minivan with driver and are provided with a map of the area and an instruction sheet with a series of cryptic location clues, questions (Local Cultural Riddles) and challenges (Cultural Activity Challenges). Teams must solve the clues to find the locations, answer the questions and complete the challenges in order to collect points. Scoring is reviewed during the event de-brief and the team with the most points is awarded with a prize.
There are two types of challenges; ‘Cultural Riddles’ and ‘Cultural Activities’.
Cultural Riddles: These are questions offered at culturally interesting locations, they are related to the location and must be answered in order to receive points.
Cultural Activities: These are local cultural experiences related to the culture, are instructed by professionals in the field and must be completed in order to receive points. Example challenges are boxing and dancing.
The clues point to the locations on the map for teams to visit and the questions and challenges must be completed at the location. All teams are provided with the same clues, questions and challenges but they must solve them themselves.
Teams sometimes have to wait for another team to finish a challenge, if you don’t wish for teams to wait, we offer different routes for all teams as an add-on option.
Below is one example challenge instruction as provided to the teams during the activity:
Thai dancing – ‘Rum Thai Rabam’
“All members of the team must complete a speed bump challenge by joining a Thai dancing class for about 10 minutes before performing their own show in the Theatre. Your facilitator will hand you your next route envelope when your Thai dancing instructor has approved your performance”
Cultural Activities List:
- Muay Thai Boxing – Teams will be shown the traditional Wai Kru and learn a series of Muay Thai moves. They will practice and then choose one person to spar in the ring with the master boxer!
- Thai Music Playing – Teams will observe a traditional Thai song played by professionals and then learn how to play these Thai instruments and replicate the song.
- Pot Making – Teams create their own design pot from clay by watching and copying the techniques from a master in the art
- Basket Weaving – Teams are shown how to weave a basket from natural materials provided to then create their own handicraft
- Silk Making – In this activity teams are taught the steps and techniques for making silk in a traditional way from the extraction of the raw silk to dissolving in boiling water and finally by feeding into the spinning reel
- Thai Puppet Dancing – Teams will watch professional puppet dancers performing a show to then learn the basics of this art and putting up their own show
- Thai Dancing – Teams must observe and then recreate the dance routine performed by Thai dancers to the best of their ability
- Umbrella Painting – Teams receive their own umbrella and follow the basic techniques from their instructor to paint their own creative design
- Coconut Milk Making – In this traditional activity, teams first grate the flesh from a coconut to then squeeze it through a sif and collect it in a bottle until it’s full, the fresh milk is ready to drink!
- Flower Garland Making – Teams will be shown how to thread a traditional flower garland. Their task is to make the flower garland and hang it around the necks of everyone in the team.
- Temple Quest – Teams visit a well-known temple. Their task is to search the location and find answers to multiple questions about this location and receive a blessing from a monk.
- Thai Street Stall – Teams receive a list of local snacks and drinks they need to buy and consume on a local street stall market during the race.
- Fruit Shake Making – Teams are tasked to find specific types of fruit and prepare them into a shake following a recipe
- Papaya Salad Making – Teams must observe how to make traditional ‘Som-Tam’ – Thai papaya salad, then they need to recreate the dish and present it to the master for tasting and judging
- Takro – Teams receive a lesson in Takro, the popular Thai ball game, in which they learn how to keep the ball high within the team. They’re then challenged to keep it high for a period of time or kicks
- Kite Flying – Teams will be shown how to make a traditional bamboo kite. Their task is to make their team kite and then make it fly for 1 minute
- Batik Painting – Members of each team learn how to paint following the traditional Batik painting method and create their own piece of art
- Thai Sweet Making – Teams are tasked to first observe and then recreate a traditional Thai sweet desert
- T-Shirt Painting – Teams are equipped with T-shirts and paint and instructed to create a design related to the location or a theme
The cultural discovery locations often change depending on the duration of the event, but often include temples, waterfalls and sites of local myth and legend.
The locations for the event are pre-selected, however teams must design their own route.
Teams can earn points by finding the locations, answering the questions correctly and completing the challenges successfully as well as bonus points for budget returned, time back and photo tasks if any. Scoring is done during the event debrief and the team with the most points is the winner.
Insurance and instructor supervision at all times is an important safety factor, and in the event of an emergency of team member withdrawal, transport and medical backup will be standing by.
The event briefing takes place at the starting point of the race, usually in a meeting room or lobby of the client’s hotel or a restaurant. The group is separated into teams and introduced to their facilitators, then the lead facilitator gives an introduction of the event including (safety) instructions and objectives for the activity.
During the debrief, the facilitator discusses the event challenges and asks each team questions to assess their performance before announcing the winning team (if applicable).
Briefing and debrief usually take around 15 minutes each but can be extended for more in-depth analysis of team performance.
The half day program is up to 4 hours and includes up to 6 locations and the full day up 8 hours and includes up to 10 locations.
Market Barter – Thai Shopping game
Lunch or dinner in a local restaurant
T-shirts with your logo
Banners / Flags / Caps Gifts for all participants
Photographer or Videographer
Conference room rental and AV set up
09.00 am – Event brief by lead facilitator
09.15 am – Teams start to unravel the clues to find the locations, plan their route and travel to the first location
Teams have 2.5+ hours to visit as many clue locations as possible, answers as many questions, complete as many challenges and aim to acquire as many points as possible for their team.
12.00 pm – Teams must head to the finish
12.30 pm – Event de-brief, awarding ceremony and group photo
01.00 pm – End of the program
Max People
Hours
Challenges
People per Team
Below are three options for the Cultural Discovery with different inclusions and rates all tailored to best match your budget and requirements. The Bronze option is a fixed program with few inclusions but the Silver and Gold packages include extra benefits and allow selection of some or all challenges. On the pricing page we offer further optional extras. The full day activity will have up to double the number of challenges.
All options include
One Western lead event facilitator
Ice-breaking activities
One bottle of water per person, first aid kits, rain coats
BRONZE
5 Cultural Riddles
One facilitator per 40 pax
*By foot and no facilitators with teams
SILVER
3 Cultural Riddles
2 Cultural Activities
One facilitator per 10 pax
Bronze inclusions+
+Market Barter challenge
+Transportation or budget for transport
+Prizes for winning team (local handicraft or medals)
+Free photos taken by facilitator
+Pre-event meeting
GOLD
2 Cultural Riddles
3 Cultural Activities
One facilitator per 10 pax
Silver inclusions+
+Trophy for winning team
+Team flags to keep
+Colored headbands to use
