The Best Ecotourism Experiences in Chiang Mai

Headquartered in the outskirts of Chiang Mai — with new branches operating in both Phuket and Koh Samui — this wildlife sanctuary is home to a number of happy, playful elephants that have all been rescued from their previous lives of captivity in the logging or tourism industries. The centre’s expert staff educate visitors on the lesser-known controversies surrounding the use and treatment of the kingdom’s most revered animals while offering opportunities to engage with the resident elephants in their natural day-to-day environment, including bathing, playing and of course, lots of eating!

This national park is home to Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon, countless waterfalls and expansive wilderness. In 1969, the park caught the late king’s eye, when the region was experiencing increasing deforestation, poverty and opium production. To empower local communities, King Bhumibol Adulyadej instituted his Royal Project Doi Inthanon which enabled hill tribes to develop economies of cash crops as alternatives to opium, providing them with the modern agricultural techniques and equipment necessary to ensure their sustainability. Today, the area is a productive region full of fisheries, plant breeding and multiplication labs, rice terraces and fruit orchards, all of which can be visited by tourists between treks to hidden waterfalls and of course, summiting the iconic peak.

This coffee plantation is led by young members of the local Akha hill tribe producing Akha Ama Coffee, an operation that has improved standards of living in the local area since its inception. Visitors can participate in the centre’s signature offering, A Coffee Journey, a three-day excursion into the Akha region’s culture and traditions.

Combining nature and culture with a dash of mystery and intrigue, Jim Thompson Farm is a great family-friendly eco-attraction in Nakhon Ratchasima. Many people may have heard of Jim Thompson, the American Thai silk expert who famously disappeared without a trace when walking in Malaysia’s Cameron Highlands. The farm tells the story of Mr. Thompson and provides insight into the production of delicate Thai silk. Silkworms and weaving looms aren’t all you’ll see here, though; the large farm has an organic vegetable and herb garden (where you can pick your own fresh produce), an impressive field of giant pumpkins, a maze and more.

One of the best zipline courses in Asia — and the only one that flies with wild gibbons — Flight of the Gibbon has been a crowd-pleaser for years but has recently upped its attitude toward sustainability. The company, based just outside Mae Kampong, already held a respected presence for its management programs that reintroduce captive gibbons to the jungle but has expanded its scope to recognise its impact on the local community. Throughout areas like Mae Kampong, large adventure or tour operators often erode local cultures by replacing or undermining local economies and locals may need to leave to find employment or abandon traditional practices. Flight of the Gibbon, instead, employs much of its staff directly from the local community, even creating positions for those like traditional musicians, chefs and masseuses. To engrain the integrity of the local culture, the company also sets up projects with local artisans and craftsmen to help them continue their trade, which would otherwise be lost in many cases.

This international community outside of Chiang Mai focuses on permaculture and entirely sustainable living. Visitors can learn about their processes through permaculture introduction and design courses, the construction of earthen buildings and demonstrations of its medium-scale water harvesting system. The area is situated in low-lying hills that are framed by rice paddies and national forests and tends to be a diverse “forest of food” with more than 40 varieties of fruit trees alone.