From Tiny Bears To Remote Mountain Villages Here Are Five Of The Top Eco-experiences To Find In Southeast Asia
From tiny bears to remote mountain villages, here are five of the top eco-experiences to find in Southeast Asia.
With its glorious beaches, lush forests and unrivalled wildlife, there's nowhere else on earth like Southeast Asia.
From trekking to remote villages in Thailand, to marvelling at sun bears in the rainforests of Borneo, there are plenty of options for eco-travellers. Here are five of the best must-sees to include on your once-in-a-lifetime holiday itinerary.
Wild Borneo, B[ Hilltribes Trek, Northern Thailand
Trek through northern Thailand
From the wondrous Chiang Mai, trek into the breathtaking mountains through farmland and bamboo forests to the remote Lahu and Karen villages.
Here, you can spend time with a shaman, enjoy relaxing massages or play football with the local children - and you can also learn the community's fascinating culture and try your hand at traditional cooking.
You'll also get to explore caves by bamboo raft on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, for which 100 per cent of the money spent in destination goes to a locally owned company.
Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary, Thailand
The magnificent elephants at this sanctuary in Chiang Mai are free to roam, forage naturally, enjoy dust baths and socialise. Spend time learning about these retired animals as part of the volunteer programme. You can also get involved with cleaning and preparing their afternoon treats, while watching the ‘eles' explore the forest.
You'll get to stay in the authentic Thai-style accommodation and take part in cooking classes, tree planting and conservation work, as well as meeting the rescued cats and dogs.
The eco-friendly adventure also includes activities such as cutting corn for the e[ Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary, Thailand
The magnificent elephants at this sanctuary in Chiang Mai are free to roam, forage naturally, enjoy dust baths and socialise. Spend time learning about these retired animals as part of the volunteer programme. You can also get involved with cleaning and preparing their afternoon treats, while watching the ‘eles' explore the forest.
You'll get to stay in the authentic Thai-style accommodation and take part in cooking classes, tree planting and conservation work, as well as meeting the rescued cats and dogs.
The eco-friendly adventure also includes activities such as cutting corn for the elephants, building shelters, visiting the local weaving village and exhilarating tubing rides down the river.
fanclubthailand.co.uk][ fanclubthailand.co.uk]
Bojo River Cruise, Aloguinsan, Cebu, The Philippines
Sit back, relax and enjoy the majestic Bojo River on this three-hour, award-winning eco cruise on board a baroto, a traditional Filipino boat.
The tranquil azure river is a gateway to the sea for fishermen to harvest - and a place where marine life flourishes. Learn about this ecotourism initiative, the local history, and the mesmerising flora and fauna of the river. You'll be served local cuisine, and be able to buy handmade souvenirs.
You'll also see the magnificent, unspoiled, extensive mangrove forest. Each mangrove has its own mini-ecosystem that is vital to the river and the sea.
[ itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk]
Sarawak rainforest, Borneo
Explore one of the world's richest and most diverse ecosystems in Borneo's extraordinary Sarawak rainforest.
It's home to the world's largest flower, the rafflesia - they can grow to the size of a coffee table - as well as snakes, orangutans, proboscis monkeys and hornbill. Be amazed by rare Irrawaddy dolphins and sea turtles at Talang Satang National Park. This unique ecotourism initiative allows volunteers to actively participate in Sarawak's turtle conservation efforts and enjoy ‘duties'.
These include joining beach patrols to locate turtle arrivals, monitoring nesting activity, tagging and measuring, transferring eggs to the hatchery and releasing hatchlings. Experience unforgettable encounters with marine turtles and contribute to a valuable conservation project.
[ Rice fields in Thailand]