I always mention this every time I write about responsible tourism. Taking a vacation should be more than just relaxation, sightseeing, and shopping. It always has to come with a purpose so that we are able to live life to the fullest and know how to share the meaning of our discoveries.
As tourists, being able to contribute in preserving and uplifting the livelihood of local communities gives us a sense of fulfillment where fame and fortune can never give.
The outdoor activities demonstrate the “real life” even amidst the materialistic world. This is what we would want our children and the next generation to experience. Otherwise, they will never ever have the same privilege we had in the many years to come.
There are many astounding places in Asia where you can experience a meaningful farm tour or coffee-brewing adventure. However, Chiang Mai in Thailand has caught my attention when Channel News Asia recently featured about its sustainable farm tourism.
Chiang Mai has a reputation for ethical and sustainable ecotourism practice applied by all farm ventures. Its recycling measures are indicative of their respect and care for the wildlife. And therefore, it is a destination where we can entrust our whole well-being as we learn from the locals and support their best practices.
Chiang Mai is 700 kilometers and the largest city north of Bangkok. It is also the second city after Bangkok. Seasoned nomads consider Chiang Mai as a delight for outdoor adventures, a learning haven for traditional practices, a paradise for design enthusiast and handmade advocates, and many other holistic must-do and must-see opportunities you can practically learn from. It is also the best place in Thailand where you can experience the best of both worlds in perfect harmony for the ones who are in love with history and those who fancy modern cultures.
I recommend and share the following links to the five notable farm itineraries in Chiang Mai. It opened my mind broadly and heart hugely about achieving the true purpose of traveling with the aim of personally immersing myself in these places soon.
Here we go now. Capture the adventure of your lifetime in this section specially for coffee lovers like me. I have always known Thais for crafting its local coffee exceptionally well. Every sip on a cup of coffee is a sacred motion for the Thais. With its rich and dark soil, and a generous amount of cooler temperature, coffee farms flourish very well in Chiang Mai making it the coffee capital of Thailand.
While in the coffee farm villages, do not be content with just sipping on a cup of coffee. Get rejuvenated with a do-it-yourself coffee adventure from coffee handpicking to hand brewing. These coffee plantations will teach you the traditional way of doing it using the most sustainable farming techniques and ecologically growing practices.
To prepare yourself and make the most of your trip, know the best time to go to Chiang Mai.
Each one of us has a social obligation we cannot ignore. Most of the time, our unique circumstances prevent us from fulfilling this obligation and this is not healthy for our senses and sensibilities.
Our journeys should never leave carbon footprints that endanger the ecosystem but the trails we trek should leave behind priceless footprints and imprinted in the lives of people in the local communities. This will enable them to sustain a livelihood they can pass on to their next generation.
Please take this lesson with you as you explore the world at your own paces and capacities. Let us also open the doors to sustainable development by bringing home the knowledge we earned from our travels and impart it in our own territories. For me, it is the best way to serve the purpose of our life on earth and justify the rationale for traveling selflessly.
Make “Responsible Tourism” part of our itineraries and travel goals all the time.