1000 TREES or Thailand Educational Travel for International Schools is owned and operated by Sawat Upasuk and his wife Nathalie.

Sawat was born in 1971 in Sri Saket, which is located in the north east part of Thailand. His love of nature, farming and exploration started at the grassroots level as his large family were buy trade rice farmers. Migrating from Sri Saket, Sawat ventured to Chiang Mai as a monk and continued on as one for an

additional 4 years. He left the monkshood to pursue a yearning desire to become a certified and professional trekking and tour guide where his energies consumed the greater part of 12 years. As well, Sawat managed a guesthouse in the old city center of Chiang Mai for 4 years in partnership with Nathalie. He now owns, operates and manages the Thai Farm Cooking School which has celebrated its fourth anniversary and continues to grow in popularity as it was the first to introduce organic cooking as a viable alternative which made it a totally unique experience. His personal passions include folk music, string guitar and not surprisingly farming.

Nathalie was born in 1976 in Antwerp, Belgium. She graduated with a BA in Communications, majoring in Press and Media. While in school Nathalie was instrumental in launching a televised youth program project. As well, she was a freelance journalist for a health magazine. After graduation, Nathalies experiences lead her in pursuing a career working in the field of group travels catering to young people. This in turn landed her an intriguing offer to work for a Belgian tour operator as a tour leader in Thailand, which is ongoing to this day. Being multi-lingual, she as well took to the challenge of teaching French to a five year old child on a one to one bases. Nathalie managed a guesthouse in the old city of

Chiang Mai for 4 years in partnership with Sawat. Nathalie divides her time in assisting Sawat with the Thai Farm Cooking School, tour leading Belgian tourists, as well as caring for their two daughters Demi (5) and Emma (2).

Their passion for organizing and guiding tours combined with the enthusiasm and spontaneity of young students who are allowed to experience another countries culture is why they have established 1000 TREES. What could be more interesting or enthralling than to see students learning and exchanging ideas about each other country ? Imagine all that you have been taught in school and then given the opportunity to experience it first hand. Students can enjoy themselves while expanding their horizons and opening their minds to new ideas, information, challenges, friendships and everlasting and cherished memories.