Eco-Tourism 8
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Amazing Tastes of Thailand Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Muko Similan Marine National Park, Phang-nga Nan Mot Daeng Rafting, Phatthalung 4 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand CONTENTS Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 6 Eco-Tourism 8 National Parks 12 Bedazzling Diving and Superb Snorkelling 14 Tremendous Treks 20 Mountain Biking and Easy Cycling 23 Rock Climbing 24 Whitewater Rafting & Sea Canoeing 26 Homestays and Agro-Tourism 29 Green Leaf Foundation 30 Green News 30 Elephant Riding in Sangkhlaburi, Kanchanaburi Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Thailand’s marvellously diverse geography has been In the Kingdom, there is an array of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ embellished with mountains in the north, tropical adventures. Treks in the picturesque, mountain-studded islands in the south, national parks rich with rainforest, north may be steep and arduous or less strenuous wildlife and birds galore in the central region, and outings on gentle slopes. Both include overnight rivers both rampaging and gentle which criss-cross stays with exotic hill-tribes like the Karen, Hmong and the country. Lisu. National parks provide suitable opportunities for the whole family to go for a hike, have a picnic That bio-diversity has given rise to an assortment of beside a burbling stream and thrill to the sight of wild adventures and wild times. These excursions are for elephants, hornbills and deer. all ages. Many fall into the category of eco-tourism, which has been diligently promoted by the Thai Rafting is another sport that can be enjoyed by the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand rookie or the experienced veteran. Cruising down a (TAT) for more than 20 years. Some could also be gentle stream, surrounded by foliage and chattering classified as “voluntourism” meaning that visitors birds, on a bamboo raft is a mild safari of sightseeing. volunteer for brief stints as rice farmers or fishermen For the intrepid, white-water rafting is full of chills or English teacher. and potential spills. Many other activities like mountain- biking, rock-climbing and scuba-diving can also be undertaken at a variety of levels. 6 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Pang Ung, Mae Hong Son That is the reason why Thailand has become a training has so many repeat visitors. No matter how good you ground for sports enthusiasts in all of these fields, get, or how much you see of this impeccably natural who can get an easy start and work their way up wonderland, there are still more peaks to climb, more to mastering the more difficult skills that come with coral reefs to mesmerize, and many more adventures the turf. It is also one of the reasons why the country to make your wildest fantasies into exciting realities. Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 7 Muko Surin Marine National Park, Phang-nga Eco-Tourism The fastest growing sector of the travel business for Styrofoam containers used to hold food, in all national the last decade, ecologically minded tourism now parks, have worked wonders. Similarly, campaigns accounts for about 25 percent of the industry. That’s undertaken by the TAT, such as “Green Heart” have the official word from the International Eco-tourism helped to educate both locals and visitors about the Society (TIES) – www.ecotourism.org - a global NGO real roots of environmentally sound practices. Planting with more than 2,500 members in 85 different countries. the seeds of knowledge in the young will help ensure that the forests, mountains and waterways are kept Long the nucleus of eco-tourism in Southeast Asia, clean for future generations. The authorities have also Thailand has been going green for decades. Many advised visitors that when visiting smaller islands and initiatives by the Thai government, such as banning communities with inadequate waste disposal facilities, to please take their garbage, such as batteries, cigarette butts and plastic containers, with them. The most frequently reiterated catchphrase about this tourism sector is “sustainable development”. For many tour operators in the Kingdom that means limiting the number of tourists on any one trip so as to minimise the impact on the environment, keeping the noise down so as not to disrupt the sleeping and feeding patterns of wildlife, along with staying in traditional dwellings (electricity not included) made of natural materials. (There are many more upscale options with five-star comforts, too.) 8 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Equally as important as conserving the wilderness, and the Gulf of Thailand have teamed up with international and wildlife however, is to help maintain the livelihoods organizations and universities to implement wastewater of the locals and to sustain their traditional lifestyles. and energy-saving systems like solar panels to generate Many tour operators in Thailand establish “long-term electricity and construct bungalows made from natural relationships” with the villagers. Helping local kids to materials that reduce the need for air-conditioning. get a better education and have better access to Some of these resorts also grow their own rice and health care are responsibilities that come with the vegetables. During their stay, interested visitors are territory; seeing that the money is divvied up fairly encouraged to get some hands-on experience in among different villagers is another one. Indeed, TIES farming. also defines one of the main tenets of eco-tourism as providing “financial benefits and empowerment for Furthermore, the tour operators are very active in local people.” organizing clean-up missions of beaches and the seabed and coral reefs. Offshoots of the same tree, voluntourism and community- based tourism feature itineraries like exploring mangrove Whether it’s a trek or a scuba-diving trip or excursions forests via long-tail boat while watching macaques for rafting or bird-watching, eco-conscious travellers swing through the trees and mud skippers (an should be prepared to ask the tour operator about amphibious fish) crawling along the banks, as well as these areas of concern. home-stays where visitors stay with a host family and learn everything from making batik to tapping rubber Another good reference point is going on-line to look trees or planting rice on organic farms. up the winners in the TAT’s annual awards for eco- tourism and sustainable travel. These tour operators Working towards international standards of sustainability have set the “green standard” in their areas of expertise, and cost-effectiveness is the reason why some of the making many positive impacts on their communities. biggest resorts on the islands in the Andaman Sea In a tourist sector flooded with so-called “green washing” these companies are the real deal. Ko Muk, Trang Elephant Riding, Lampang Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 9 10 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 11 Namtok Thi Lo Su, Tak National Parks With more than 80 national parks and many more There are far too many of them to highlight here, but non-hunting sanctuaries and forest reserves, Thailand looking at a sample will show you the cornucopia of is a nature lover’s nirvana. From national marine parks choices on offer. The country’s oldest and most straddling each coast and dotted with postcard- visited national park is Khao Yai. It has also been perfect islands, to tracts of rainforest and mountainous granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. hinterland in the north, these parks are paragons of Located some 175 km northeast of Bangkok and bio-diversity with rich eco-systems. Perfect for family covering some 2,000 square km in four different outings, picnics and strolls through the forest, provinces, the park is a lair for elephants, wild cattle, or kayakingand boat trips, the green lungs have a gibbons and Malayan sun bears (look for their claw generation-spanning appeal. prints on the trees where they go in search of beehives, their favourite dessert). 12 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Doi Mon Chong, Chiang Mai With more than 200 different species of birds, Naturally, all the national parks have their own including the majestic, low-flying hornbills easy to peculiarities and specialities. In the south, Khao Sok spot when flapping by or in their nests through National Park has limestone cliffs, the world’s biggest binoculars, Khao Yai (which means “Big Mountain”) is flower (the Rafflesia Arnoldi), gentle kayaking tours one of the country’s best bird-watching retreats. on the river and floating raft houses made from latticed bamboo and without electricity. Sometimes The park is resplendent with greenery from three visitors are awakened by the “mating songs” of different types of forest - moist, mixed deciduous gibbons. The male and female, who mate for life and and dry evergreen - that make up its gorgeous are monogamous, sing duets every morning to mark topography, brightened by flowers like rare orchids their territory. Watching their agile acrobatics as they and enhanced by more than 2,000 plant species. swing across the upper canopy of the rainforest is a natural circus. Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 13 Ko Yak, Muko Chang Marine National Park, Trat For a real maritime marvel immerse yourself in the barracuda, manta rays, and the world’s biggest Ang Thong Marine National Park in the Gulf of fish – the gigantic yet gentle whale shark. Thailand. Only Ko Paluai is inhabited; all the locals are sea gypsies who still fish for a living. On some Watching these creatures dart in and out and around daytrips, however, lunch is included in the village. iridescent coral formations is a great pleasure. Often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” coral reefs are Since the authorities and tour operators observe strict the second most diverse ecosystems in the world.