Community Based Tourism Thailand

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Doi Phumuen is a “Lahu” community and the village is located in the mountain area of Fahhompok, which is a national park in Mae Ai district. Doi phumuen has a slightly cooler but pleasant climate due to the location up in the mountains on the height of 1.200-1.300 meters

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The villagers are called Lahuna or black Lahu, this ethnic group origins from the South of China and arrived at Thailand about 40 years ago.

The community has 46 households and the total population is around 250 people. Most of the villagers are Christian and there is a church in the village. Nowadays the villagers’ main income is from tea, coffee and fruit. Guests can stay in a self-made wooden bungalow.

Activities

- Tea plantation

The tea was introduced by the king to prevent the Lahu community to plant and use opium, coffee and highland fruits are also planted. But the villages live from Assam tea plantation, avocado and plums.

- Cook bamboo rice

Banana leaf are used to wrap the rice in, its closed as a package and put into a bamboo stick later they add water and they boil the rice of the bamboo stick in the fire.

- The Doi phumuen waterfall

2 hours walking from the village but easy assessable by car, this is a nice refreshing stop for tourists.

Day 3 – Baan Kao Dua

The village is settled in the plains of the valley. Most of the houses are Western styles which are made from cement and roman tiles. The people in the community are Northern Thai which is settled in this area more than 250 years.

The community still has rich of ecosystems and natural resources such as natural waterfalls and forests. This is a relaxing place with calm and beautiful scenery avoiding from the disorder in the big city. Guests one-day trip of the community tourism program.

A demonstration garden is an important community learning area for local vegetables, herbs and community forest. Guests will know a variety of local vegetables, herbs and how community people use them for seasonal food, herb drinking water and local products.

Activities

- Trek to the waterfall

Along the trail, guests will enjoy the nature; see wild orchid’s species, listen to the song of nature, learn about community forest, and catch “Hi-so crab” a local crab in the waterfall.

- Taste local food

Guests will enjoy a “Lanna” or Northern style lunch in the forest. See how locals use bamboo for cooking and making the equipment’s for eat or drink such as spoon and bamboo flask.

- Learn local medicinal plants

Kao Dua community has an herbs demonstration garden where guests can learn about local vegetables, herbs and community forest. Taste a tasty herbal drink, support community local products and joy local traditions.[pic 5][pic 6]

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Day 4 – Huai Tong Kor

Huai Tong Kor community is in a wild and remote part of Mae Hong Son province. It’s picturesque village, nestled in heart of the forest, where people still lead a highly self-sufficient life. Experience traditional Karen life, marvel at local sword dancing, enjoy a challenging trek into the mountains, led by local woodsmen.[pic 8]

Huai Tong Kor village was established over 200 hundred years ago, named after “Tong Kor,” a palm leaf. The villagers practice a combination of rotation and terraced paddy farming, as well as raising animals. Villagers use traditional “Mueng Fai” methods for managing water which is a system of tiny canals, through which farmers channel and control water on its way to the fields.

A village blacksmith still uses bellows, anvil and hammer to craft scythes used for harvesting rice; local women weave their own clothes; and the community herbalist is consulted for a remedy if villagers become ill.

Activities

- Challenging trekking

Local woodsmen will lead trekkers through pristine forest, sharing Karen folklore and stopping here and there to snack on wild jungle foods. A trek to Huai Tong Kor can continue to other communities, or include camping.

- Sword dancing

Sword dancing is the best loved art in the community. Local display their swordsmanship and dancing skills to visitors,

- Traditional occupations

Try pumping the blacksmith’s bellows; weaving with the village women or witnessing the communities’ local wisdom managing water through the Mueng Fai system.

Day 5 – Huai Hee

Baan Huai Hee is a small, ethnic Karen community, located in Mae Hong Son. The village lies at the base of Doi Pui, the provinces’ highest mountain. Until recently, the village did not have electricity. In 2000, the government built a solar cell station, which has provided every village household with green power.

The people of Baan Huai Hee are friendly and welcoming. The community is an ideal place to experience the gentle rhythms of daily life among the Karen custodians of the forest. Mountain rice farming sustains the community. Local people plant rice according to a traditional rotation farming system. Vegetables are also grown in the rice fields and collected wild from the forest.

Baan Huai Hee is one of Thailand’s first and most successful CBT projects. The village is also famous for the women’s group, which produces hand-made, natural dyed, traditional Karen weaving.

Activities

- Life on the farm

guests can help their host families to plant or harvest mountain rice and collect vegetables from the fields and forest. Bring fresh vegetables home and cook a typical local dish with your host family.

- Discover Doi Pui nature trail, wild orchids and camping:

The hike to the peak takes a full day, and is rewarded by spectacular sunrises and sunsets. On route, local guides point out flora and fauna, including edible and medicinal plants.