Activities : Ang Ka Luang Karen Village: Local Lifestyle Study Route

Many hill tribe villages living in the area of Doi Inthanon National Park always welcome visitors who would like to visit and study their culture and lifestyles.

There are two hill tribes-Hmong and Karen living in the Doi Inthanon National Park area for generations. Visitors are welcome to visit the villagers at Ban Hmong Khun Klang, Ban Karen, Pa Bong Pieng, Pha Mon, and Mae Klang Lueang, in order to learn about their lifestyle. Interesting activities are visiting the rice fields along the hills and drinking tasty fresh coffee.

To visit the villages, please contact the National Park's office in advance at Tel: 08 1881 7346.

Data from Tourism Authority of Thailand

Activities : Flight of the Gibbon

It is located at Mae On District, about an hour from Chiang Mai. For about three hours, you will be taken on an adventure, winging above and soaring across the forest tracks and streams far, far below. Glide through an ingenious system of platforms, sky bridges and cables spanning hundreds of meters between towering timbers in a rainforest as old as 1500 years. Each group goes with two specially trained guides. Each flyer wears a certified harness and is never unclipped from a cable. The cables are so strong that coupes can even swing together. You will be taken on a short trek to a nearby waterfall, which flows year round, but especially cascades with frothy force during the rainy season. After the excitement, enjoy a delightful meal of local cuisine in a small wooden restaurant set above a fast flowing stream. You should definitely make reservations before heading up. This is quickly becoming one of Chiang Mai’s highlight attractions and the number of flyers per day is limited.

For more information, please contact Tree Top Asia, Tel: 08 9970 5511, E-mail: info@treetopasia.com, www.treetopasia.com

Data from Tourism Authority of Thailand

Activities : Eco-Tourism

Thailand is fortunate in its prime location for tourism in terms of such natural attractions as beaches and mountains, cultural and historical sites which reflect the glories of Thai civilization, and a sophisticated infrastructure, allowing visitors easy access to all these treasures.

The government's policy on tourism for the past years has been gearing towards more and more sustainable tourism development with emphasis on community participation, safety of tourists and non-exploitation. The term “eco-tourism” has been widely used to describe a form of tourism in natural areas that is based on the knowledge about and responsibility towards the ecological system of the area.

At present, the number of real eco-tourism visitors is still minimal. Mostly, those tourists are included in other types of tourism such as nature-based tourism, agro-tourism, cultural and historical tourism and health tourism. Most of such tourism areas are in natural parks and specific historical-cultural areas.

The national parks system in Thailand was previously cited its growing importance to the eco-tourism industry. With most parks easily accessible by road, there exists excellent potential to expand the number of visitors who use them.

In the case of the Maekong River, the nature-based tourism potential particularly applies to Northeast Thailand, an area that the TAT has identified as a priority for tourism development. The national parks in close proximity to the Mekong River include sites of prehistoric, archaeological and natural significance. As the Mekong region increases in its exposure and popularity, these parks will experience an increased number of visitors in search of quality eco-tours.

One marine eco-tourism, the last 30 years saw the country establishing 18 marine national parks as well as more than 70 terrestrial ones. Many of the activities available on and around Thailand's crystal seas are environmentally sound. Sea canoeing, windsurfing biking, walking, swimming, snorkeling and sailing are, when practiced as they should be, perfectly respectful of nature. Diving, the most popular water sport in Thailand, can be just as green.

Thailand has a great opportunity to promote eco-tourism, especially when compared to other countries in the Asia region. The kingdom enjoys such benefits as easy access, sophisticated infrastructure and myriad tourist attractions and activities.

Data from Tourism Authority of Thailand