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. environmental rules, the park remains impeccable. The difference is that much of the action in any rainforest happens up in the canopy out of sight, For more information, please contact the Department while a coral reef teeming with life is right in front of of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Tel. your mask. +66 2561 0777, +66 2562 0760 or visit www.dnp.go.th. Both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand are rife with dive destinations. The gulf’s Ko Tao certifies Bedazzling Diving more rookie divers each year than any other place in and Superb Snorkelling Southeast Asia. Experienced divers come here for the more adventurous spots like the Chumphon As the underwater capital of Southeast Asia, Thailand Pinnacles or do other certificates in specialties like is justly renowned. The country’s marine life is rich: rescue diving and night diving. A new and more angel fish, blacktip reef sharks, giant clams, great eco-friendly certification is the programme for “green
14 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Muko Surin Marine National Park, Phang-nga
divers” who want to learn more about marine The expert diver who craves even more immersion conservation. in this pastime is urged to get a “liveaboard”. Some of these boats can accommodate up to 20 divers and For those who wish to enjoy all the creature comforts come complete with TVs and air-conditioning. These of upscale travel, and still delve beneath the surface, outings include multiple days onboard with many islands like Phuket and Ko Phi Phi are just the ticket. dives per day and the chance to get to some A multitude of dive shops that double as schools outlying spots like the Burma Banks and the Muko offer a bevy of trips to sites like Shark Point, Anemone Similan National Marine Park. Reef and the Ko Phi Phi Marine National Park. Other daytrips include swimming, snorkelling and island- This nine-island archipelago regularly features on hopping via long-tail boat that are suitable for the lists of the world’s best dive spots. With spots like whole family. Stonehenge and Elephant Rock and fish like jack tuna and dog-faced puffer fish, the sites are a dramatic
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 15 theatre of marine life. Best of all is the incredible range of the sea, was named after Andreas du Plessis de of hard and soft corals, glittering iridescently, and all Richelieu, the only foreign commander-in-chief of the underwater boulders making for swim-throughs, the Thai Navy. This remote rock is a floating home for canyons and cave diving. massive creatures like the whale shark – the world’s biggest fish, which can grow to the size of a city bus Thanks to the fact that most of these islands are – as well as those angels of the underwater world: uninhabited and quite a distance from civilisation, the manta rays that swoop past with wingspans of water and reefs are unsullied and marine life thrives several metres. in super-natural conditions. Also famous for snorkelling, some of the other best On a speedboat, you can also visit for diving and dive sites in the Surin Islands include Hin Kong, snorkelling on daytrips from Phuket. Ko Torinla and Ko Chi.
Another spectacular and nearby destination is the Visitors may also rent tents from the Marine National Muko Surin Marine National Park, an archipelago Park Headquarters on the main island. For a low of five islands. Richelieu Rock, located in the middle impact on the environment, camping is still the chief
Tachai Pinnacle, Phang-nga
16 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand of all the eco-tourism tribes. Weather permitting, along with signs posted about proper waste disposal. every morning and afternoon, long-tail boats depart from the pier in front of the National Park Head- Part of the lure for divers and snorkellers in Thailand quarters for snorkelling trips to some fantastic spots. is the sheer affordability of the daytrips, fun dives and classes, all of which are much cheaper than almost Any island excursion can be combined with a host anywhere else in the Asia Pacific region. Add the easy of other nature-based activities. For example, on of accessibility, good infrastructure and a range of Ko Similan, a four-km walking trail winds past the accommodation options, from five-star luxury to biggest abundance of granite outcrops in this wild basic bamboo-and-thatch bungalows on the beach, kingdom. At night watch the flying foxes glide and it is no wonder why Thailand remains a high between the trees outside the restaurant. water mark for aquanauts.
As a testament to Thailand’s commitment to ecologically For more information, please contact the Department sound travel, the main island has plenty of rubbish of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Tel. containers for different kinds of recyclable garbage, +66 2561 0777, +66 2562 0760 or visit www.dnp.go.th.
Ko Tao, Surat Thani
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 17 Muko Surin Marine National Park, Phang-nga
Muko Surin Marine National Park, Phang-nga Muko Similan Marine National Park, Phang-nga
18 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Muko Surin Marine National Park, Phang-nga
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 19 Elephant Riding, Kanchanaburi
Tremendous Treks
The northern city of Chiang Mai is the base camp for launching treks up, over and around these marvellous mountains and rolling hills. For a sample of the natural delights on offer many tour companies offer daytrips packed with adventures, from riding an elephant to bamboo rafting and taking a trek to visit a hill-tribe village.
When it comes to treks, there are different routes for different levels of fitness. Some are suited to both children and older folks. Other routes should only be undertaken by trekkers in excellent condition. Rest assured that none of the trekking guides will push you faster than you can go.
Most of the groups are composed of seven or eight trekkers and a local guide who can often speak several hill-tribe languages. After driving up into the mountains, the trek begins in earnest. Most of the time you’re walking for around four or five hours a day with breaks for lunch and coffee and plenty of chance to admire the stunning scenery of forests and waterways, birds and beasts. Thanks to a cooler climate the north has a bounty of different crops like strawberries and many different species of plants and flowers not seen elsewhere.
20 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand What makes these excursions all the more exotic are activity. the stopovers and overnight stays at hill-tribe villages. Some of the main groups of highlanders in Thailand In the north, there are main points of departure for are the Akha, the Karen, the Hmong, the Lisu and Lahu. treks, such as the beautiful town of Pai in the Mae Each of them has their own distinctive costumes and Hong Son province, and the quaint city of Chiang Rai customs. Depending on the trek or the time of year, up in the Golden Triangle. visitors may be treated to folkloric performances of Kanchanaburi’s parks also offer a tremendous song and dance, or see some astounding festivals. number of different treks, from visiting World War II sites and waterfalls to museums and even hill-tribes. The villages are friendly and relaxing places. Some Many of the treks sport options like elephant riding, visitors go for a refreshing dip in the streams or play bamboo rafting, camping and even fishing. with the local kids, while others delight in observing village life from up close and personal. With the help No matter what kind of trek you go on, one thing is of the tour guide/interpreter, chatting with local assured: it will be one of the high points of your trip leaders, medicine men and blacksmith opens up to Thailand. new horizons of experience and communication. Buying local souvenirs like jewelry and textile is also For more information, please contact the Department on the itinerary and filling your memory card with of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Tel. memorable images of the villagers is another popular +66 2561 0777, +66 2562 0760 or visit www.dnp.go.th.
Thong Pha Phum National Park, Kanchanaburi
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 21 Wat Chan Royal Project Foundation, Chiang Mai
22 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Mountain Biking and lessons in nature appreciation. The guides are great sources of information about wildlife, fruit and Easy Cycling orchards, the names of flowers, local legends and culinary specialities. The man or woman of action in search of heart- pounding excitement is guaranteed more than a few The cool season from November through January is challenges. Up north mountain biking is the way to the optimum time for hitting the roads up north. go. These winding roads and switchbacks, combined During the hot season from February through April with off-road trails, make for adrenaline-boosting the mercury can rise to 40 C. Falling between those tours, which may last from a few days to a week. two extremes is the monsoon season bringing rainfall that muddies dirt trails. As always, there are family-oriented options on much milder slopes. If the going gets too steep, don’t sweat. The casual cycling enthusiast intimidated by steep Except for the long strenuous tours, the operators mountains does not have to put the brakes on their have escort vehicles to give the winded and the hobby. So many different towns and parks have weary a ride to the top. bicycles for rent that there’s no end to freewheeling in all four corners of the country. History buffs take Along with these mountain-biking tours departing note. Exploring the ancient cities of World Heritage from places like Chiang Mai, Pai and Chiang Rai, Sites in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya on a bicycle is comes a variety of value-added bonuses: stopovers a visual pleasure, steeped in history, atmospheric at hot springs and waterfalls and hill-tribe villages. ruins and towering Buddha images. This mode is It’s not only about the cycling; there are many other perfect for those who like to cycle alone or in small avenues to explore, combining athletics with culture groups at a leisurely pace.
Kanchanaburi Prachinburi
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 23 Hat Ton Sai, Krabi
Even on the outskirts of Bangkok cycling tours wind through some surprisingly rural and pastoral parts of the city. Seaside resorts along the gulf coast, such as Cha-am, Hua Hin and Pranburi also make for easy- going jaunts on two wheels.
For those who fit in the mid-range of mountain-bikers Khao Sam Roi Yot (“Mountain of 300 Peaks”) in Prachuap Khiri Khan province is replete with lime- stone mountains, mangrove swamps and caves.
Whichever tour option you prefer it’s good to know that cycling is the most environmentally sound form of transport.
Rock Climbing
For the hardy adventurer in search of a natural high, Krabi province is hard to top. The cliffs around the peninsula of Rai-le (Railay) Bay have been staked out with rock-climbing routes galore, from the simplistic to sheer Spider-man territory. Known as the oldest continually inhabited part of Thailand, millions of years ago Krabi was part of a gigantic coral reef that stretched all the way to what is now Borneo. That accounts for all the limestone crags.
It’s not a dangerous sport, as ropes and safety precautions ensure that a fall only results in a few scrapes and bruises. All the rock-climbing shops offer lessons, too. Best of all, the routes on these limestone crags are embellished with some stunning vistas of sea, surf and golden crescents of sand. Abseiling in Sa Keao
24 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Hat Railay, Krabi
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 25 Bamboo Rafting, Kanchanaburi
Other alternatives include parts of the MuKo Phi Phi National Park, the Khao Yai National Park and, more recently, routes have been opening up in Chiang Mai. Climbing walls in Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar and in Bangkok are great places to learn the ropes.
For a different way to rock, try “bouldering” on Ko Tao. This form of free climbing is only beginning to peak in popularity and the island has a few schools and maps to get you over the hump and off the rocks.
Whitewater Rafting & Sea Canoeing
The seasonal rains and lightning storms that put a damper on some outdoor activities from May to October only enhances whitewater rafting as the rivers surge, swell and run rabid from their mouths. For the dedicated rafter or kayaker, the rains add an element of danger to their white-knuckle adventures, turning a voyage into a rush of endorphins.
Muko Phi Phi, Krabi
26 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Ko Tachai, Phang-nga
Close to Bangkok, and ideal for weekend getaways, days to navigate. A major attraction for most rafters the Nakhon Nayok River is a wellspring for this and kayakers is to travel into the very heart of the popular sport. It’s good for beginners and inter- unspoiled wilderness, where few other tourists, or mediates. So is the central province of Prachin Buri. even locals, have gone before. In the evening, If you really want to go off the deep end and pitching a tent out in the jungle and eating dinner get away from it all, Nan Province has become beside a bonfire with sparks flying and the wood an adventure capital. Located some 670km north crackling, is enough to make anyone feel like an of Bangkok, and sharing a border with Laos, almost explorer from bygone days, or an Indiana Jones. three quarters of the province is covered with verdant mountains and tropical forests. Moving south, Phang-nga Bay, in the Andaman Sea, is one of the world’s most stunningly natural In Nan, the Nam Wa Rivers delivers some shivery phenomena. Rising out of the sea for hundreds of thrills and potential spills. The section of the river meters are limestone karsts in shades of grey, cream between Nam Pu and the village of Hat Rai is classed and ochre. The bay is studded with them. It’s possible 3+, or moderately difficult. Another part running to sail through here on a chartered luxury schooner around Mae Charim has such gushing rapids, small or go on a multi-day sea-canoeing excursion. falls, rocky obstacles and “sweepers” (S-shaped turns in the river) that it rates between 4 and 5. That’s in the For daytrips, many tour operators offer tours of the very difficult range and to tame such a wild waterway bay with a stopover at James Bond Island – the makes for an extremely exhilarating challenge. island once served as the villain’s hideout in The Man with the Golden Gun – in addition to exploring sea The easy part of the river can be traversed in about caves. Entering these caves on small kayaks paddled five hours, while the tough part takes about three by a local guide can only be done at low tide. Even
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 27 Rafting in Amphoe Umphang, Tak so it’s a tight squeeze. Just wait until the caves open include a number of tangents, from camping and up into lagoons with monkeys, kingfishers, and water trekking to fishing and doing a homestay in a Karen like melted down emeralds, surrounded by towering village. Of these two waterfalls, Thi Lo Su is the largest cliffs of limestone. Rarely will you see so many smiling one in Thailand. Some of the whitewater rafting trips awestruck faces. to visit this three-tiered cataract are truly exciting.
Another remarkable place to go rafting is around the For more information, please contact the Department waterfalls of Thi Lo Su and Thi Lo Re in Umphang, Tak of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Tel. province, where these outings in the great outdoors +66 2561 0777, +66 2562 0760 or visit www.dnp.go.th.
28 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai Homestays and Agro-Tourism
As many travellers yearn for more “boutique” In an agrarian heartland like this, where rice remains experiences on the road and getting off-the-beaten the largest export, agro-tours are equally as diverse. path, they are searching for holidays that give them They do share quite a few similarities with the insights into the local culture they’ll never get from different branches of voluntourism, eco-tourism and a guidebook and more meaningful trips that allow homestays. So it’s worth researching to study up on them to interact more with locals. For these reasons all the possibilities. voluntourism and its different facets like homestays and agro-tourism are becoming big deals in Thailand. To look at three widely praised projects that have won awards for their dedication to cultural and ecological Learn how to make a red ant egg salad. See a temple conservation, we will start with the isle of Ko Yo, fair in a rural community and get a few impromptu located in the Songkhla Lagoon, which features dancing lessons in ramwong. Tour the local markets. waves of distinctly southern artistry, a benevolent Have your fortune told by a Buddhist monk. Stay with climate, and agro-heavy tours of beauty. a host family and learn how Thais really live, work, play and eat. Start the morning by taking a long-tail boat to watch the fishermen trawling for net profits, before relishing Maybe you’ll lend a helping hand with the rice a seaweed salad for breakfast. Found in the lagoon, harvest and drive the “iron buffalo”. Maybe you’ll help the seaweed is rich in vitamins, making for a tasty and to build houses for the less fortunate or apprentice healthy snack. Afterwards, the time is ripe for visiting with a silk-weaving artisan or a Thai cook. Perhaps the orchards of jackfruit, sapodillas and mangosteens, you’d like to be a Buddhist monk for a week or an or head for the Thaksin Khadi Institute and Study English teacher. Center, which is a repository for southern finery. For lunch there’s a choice selection of succulent seafood All over the country, homestays have sprouted up, restaurants on the island. White snapper, a local from the Muslim villages of the south to the hill-tribes delicacy, is the perennial flavour of the year. These fish living in the mountainous north, catering to almost are raised in floating baskets that are also included on every kind of working or cultural experience you tour itineraries of the island. could possibly imagine.
Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 29 Only eight km from Phuket, Ko Maphrao seems like it’s a world away from the biggest, richest and most developed island in Thailand. Awash with folkloric traditions and old-world charms, Coconut Island’s locals have opened their homes and hearts to visitors who want to take in life from a real islander’s perspective. On land, the locals harvest coconuts, tap rubber trees, and make riotously colourful batik products. Visitors can join in, too. By sea, the locals operate the main supply lines for much of the fresh seafood on Phuket. So you can also help local fishermen catch spider crabs, or see how they breed lobsters and fish. The staff of the Agricultural Green Leaf Foundation Conservation Tour Club guides visitors on walking tours and arranges mountain bikes. For sun-basking Founded in 1998, the foundation aims to promote and drowning your urban worries in the cobalt-blue sustainable and eco-friendly travel, through working sea, the island overflows with beaches. with partners such as the TAT, the Thai Hotels Association, the United Nations Environment On the island, there are no bars or pubs. The tallest Programme, the Demand Side Management Office of structures stand no taller than the coconut palms. the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and Bikinis are prohibited. And the environmental the Association for the Development of Environ- protocol is strict: No littering and no collecting of mental Quality and Metropolitan Water Works seashells or coral are permitted. These caveats aside, Authority. Besides organising training seminars on the atmosphere on the island is relaxed and friendly. environmental conservation, energy efficiency Altogether, there are 30 rooms for home-stays with and responsible travel, the foundation’s Green Leaf local families. They take visitors on educational Program for hotels is a major step forward in daytrips to watch the fishermen and farmers in developing green standards for the tourism industry. action. www.greenleafthai.org
As with other agro-tourism hotspots, the island is a jumping off point for many other adventures such Green News as scuba-diving, snorkelling, boat trips and enjoying the natural world in all of its infinite wonder and One of the best online resources for current news incredible variations. about eco-tourism, new activities, home-stays and award-winning projects is the TAT Newsroom at www. On the opposite side of the South is the village of Ban tatnews.org. Khiri Wong in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. It gets high marks for being a town where the historic community lives in tune with the rhythms of nature. The community’s Ecotourism Club is a pioneer in Thailand for environmentally friendly travel. The village is also famous for its fruit orchards of mangosteen, rambutan and durian. If you have time, definitely opt for a home-stay.
Take your pick from verdant mountains to tropical islands, from trekking to kayaking, from cultural odysseys to bird-spotting tours, they are all available, along with many more colourful and invigorating options, in great, green Thailand.
30 Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand Wild Adventures in Great Green Thailand 31 Chiang Mai
Printed in Thailand by Promotional Material Production Division, Marketing Services Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand for free distribution. www.tourismthailand.org E/MAY 2018 The contents of this publication are subject to change without notice.