By Peter Richards, Thailand Community based Tourism Institute (CBT-I).

Some of the UK and Thailand’s most highly acclaimed responsible tour operators have been working hand-in-hand with local Thai community members to develop new community-based tourism (CBT) programs. This ground-breaking initiative has given the tour operators and local Thai community members a unique chance to meet each other in person, sit down together to compare their different roles, experiences and needs, and to design new tour programs together.

CBT activities, led by local hosts and community guides, are based on special elements of daily life which local people feel proud of and wish to share with guests. CBT programs are designed to support social and environmental projects, build local skills, and give voice to local people.

Now, inspiring new trips have been developed, suitable for the special needs, tastes and styles of a spectrum of guests. These trips were facilitated during the CBT SPRING Partnerships Project, by the Thailand Community based Tourism Institute with funding from the Travel Foundation and Tourism Authority of Thailand (UK).

Each of these hand and heart-crafted trips offers you incomparable insights into local life, while directly supporting local community and conservation work.

Join a small group of like-minded travelers: Travel to the heart of Southern Thailand on the East Coast Rainforest and Island Safari by The Adventure Company.

Local guides will lead you on a boat journey through pristine mangroves and down the ‘coconut trail’! You’ll be inspired by your hosts’ conservation efforts which have turned this area into Thailand’s most successful example of mangrove forest restoration. You’ll enjoy warm hospitality, delicious food and an amazing experience of southern Thai arts, crafts and culture. This trip also visits the emerald jungle of Khao Sok national park, with time to relax on the beach on Phang Ngan and Samui islands. From November to April, the trip visits another fantastic community project in Ban Talay Nok on the Andaman coast. >>Learn more & book this trip

Take your family on an amazing cultural journey and broaden your kids’ horizons with the Jungle and Beaches family trip by Exodus.

This trip takes your family to the cool, forested hills of Mae Kampong village in Chiang Mai. Enjoy an overnight stay with a friendly Thai family. Stroll through pristine forest along the nature trail, join your hosts picking tea, and enjoy a picnic lunch at a pretty waterfall. Your family can even try their hands making local crafts, and watch a traditional dance performance. This creative 15 day program also spends time in Bangkok; visits the Bridge over the River Kwai town of Kanchanaburi, the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya and the Northern Rose of Chiang Mai; ending with 2 relaxing days on the beach! >> Learn more & book this trip

Join the “Village Vitality” tour on a cultural exchange and community service program by Hands Up Holidays.

This program introduces guests to hilltribe families living in the misty mountains of Mae Hong Son, a magical northern frontier province. Here, guests have the chance to live with a local family, visit a sacred cave, be inspired by local crafts, and learn about how and why the community joined hands to set up a community-based tourism program.

To give something back to your hosts, guests have the chance to assist simple construction work, teach English or even assist with farming. The trip also visits the cultural capital of Chiang Mai, the bohemian town of Pie, nestled in a valley of verdant rice paddies, and the bustling Bangkok metropolis. >>Learn more and book this trip

Visit World Legacy Award-winning Koh Yao Noi Community on a tropical island cultural immersion organised by the creative Symbiosis Expeditions.

Spend time living with local fisher families and experiencing warm Muslim hospitality. Join the fishers casting their nets into the azure Andaman sea, try your hand at tapping rubber, and enjoy the most scrumptious sea food imaginable! The local conservation efforts will amaze and inspire you. Contact Christopher Gow chris@symbiosis-travel.com to learn more and book this trip.

Swing to the rhythms of local life with the colourful Lahu people of Ja Boo See and enjoy cool mountain breezes.

Visit the fields and forest with local guides. You can also try your hand playing local bamboo instruments, and enjoy preparing and eating traditional Lahu dishes. A range of different trips can be organised through Go Differently, a specialist in family, culture and volunteer programs. These include Hilltribe Honeymoon – “Definitely not JUST for honeymooners but this itinerary would certainly be a very special way to relax but also enjoy a bit of adventure after your big day…”

A range of different trips can be organised through Go Differently. Contact Nikki Bond nikki@godifferently.com for more information.

Join a challenging adventure in the jungle and mountains of southern Thailand, combining trekking, camping and a community visit! All Points East‘s adventure & culture trip offers a challenging trek with arts, music and fascinating cultural exchange.

Contact Mark Ord at markord@hotmail.com to learn more and to design a tailor-made program based on the needs of individuals or special groups.

Experience cultural exchange and fair trade in action on a very special visit through Meet the People‘s Northern Thailand program. This 15 day trip combines sightseeing with in-depth cultural exchange and opportunities to meet Fair Trade producers. During the trip. guests visit an Akha hilltribe community, in the scenic Doi Wawi area of Chiang Rai. These trips are suitable for active seniors, with travelers in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s enjoying a fun, safe, cultural experience and a once in a lifetime learning opportunity. Contact Lizzie at info@skedaddle.co.uk to learn more and book this trip.

For more information about community-based tourism in Thailand, please contact Peter Richards, Marketing Support & Development Coordinator: Peter@cbt-i.org

Photos by CBT-I