Sustainable and Mindful travel in Northern Thailand

After two years of no international travel, many people seeking a more mindful, sustainable travel experience. According to guest writer Michael Cullen, many are looking to travel with purpose – travel with the heart.

After more than two years of little to no travel, airlines, travel companies, and international travel organisations are seeing increases in global movement thanks to the easing of restrictions. And with borders finally opening, new travel trends are emerging.

People are not looking for more of the (pre-pandemic) same. Many are travelling more mindfully, seeking sustainable travel, boutique and authentic experiences. People want to experience nature and the outdoors, hands-on and immersive encounters, and activities impacting positively on the local community and environment.

People are looking to travel with purpose or, put another way – want to travel with the heart.

To assist your northern Thailand travel planning – Chiang Mai, the Golden Triangle and Chiang Rai – here is a range of activities, experiences, and opportunities that fit the travel with the heart concept.

Organic, Farm-to-Table and Slow Food

Food is an essential part of any travel, and Thai food is one of the world’s most popular cuisines. Within Thailand, regions have their own distinct style and dishes, which is undoubtedly true for the north. Elements of Laos, Myanmar (Burma) and Chinese cuisine have influenced northern food. The cooler climate brings many kinds of vegetables, including cultivated and from the wild, plus mushrooms and aromatic herbs used in cooking. Less coconut milk is used, and the curries are milder than those in the south.

And in the north, a growing trend is farmers adopting organic practices, which is seen in fruit, vegetables and herbs, and coffee and tea production. Farm to table is how local people have lived for centuries, though now restaurants bring that concept to Chiang Mai’s general dining public. Here are three local companies bringing these ideas together for your dining pleasure.

Ginger Farm, originally a rice plantation on the outskirts of Chiang Mai, has adopted organics and free-range methods with the farm open for educational visits. Their conveniently located and busy Ginger Farm Kitchen at One Nimman features Thai dishes incorporating their farm-fresh produce. Another organic and farm-to-table adopter is Ohkajhu, started by three local university graduates in 2013. They have two restaurant outlets in Chiang Mai fed by their farms – the original in Sansai to the north of the city and one close to the airport. I love the generosity of their tasty Thai dishes.  

Ori9in Gourmet Farm is the brainchild of Michelin trained Chef James Noble and his wife, Khun May. They supply organic and sustainable produce to some of Chiang Mai and Bangkok’s best high-end restaurants and some of the region’s most notable hotel brands. During the non-rainy season (October to March), they operate the “Waiting for May” picnic restaurant on-site. Have a gourmet picnic in the gardens enjoying all farm-fresh ingredients and Chef James’ culinary flair. Farm tours are also available to picnickers.

Travel with the heart dining in Chiang Rai must include Chivit Thamma Da Cafe and Bistro. Situated in two lovely colonial-style buildings on the banks of the Kok River, Chivit Thamma Da is a strong supporter of Slow Food. This means organic and sustainable, local (no imported food miles) and Fair Trade, thus ensuring their local producers and suppliers can share in their success. An absolute favourite in Chiang Rai, open from 9 am to 9 pm daily.

Cooking Schools – Hands-On Learning

Cooking schools are easy to find across northern Thailand. Here are two suggestions that resonate with our travel with the heart theme.

Thai Akha Cooking School is just a kilometre south of the Old City, offering morning and evening classes. Members of the Akha Hill Tribe community operate this cooking school. As well as preparing and enjoying several Thai dishes, you will gain some insight into the Akha people and their stories. Cooking instructor Niti had our group captivated from start to finish.

As the name suggests, Thai Farm Cooking School is based on their own organic farm just 17 km from central Chiang Mai. They have an office in the Old City and provide city pickup/return as part of their full or half-day course. As well as creating and eating several classic Thai dishes, you get to see where your organic produce comes from – literally just a couple of meters outside the cooking kitchen. Organic farmer and cooking instructor Khun Sawat’s genuine enthusiasm is infectious.

Massage

Holidays are not complete without pampering and relaxation, and Thai massage is a must when visiting the “Land of Smiles”. Said to have its roots in India and practised for 2,500 years, the healing benefits of Thai Massages are well documented. From simple to deluxe, Thai massage studios can be found wherever you travel in the Kingdom, and northern Thailand is no exception. Here are a couple of options that easily link with our theme.

Lila Thai Massage has two conveniently located studios in Chiang Mai’s Old City, offering an extensive treatment menu, and has a compelling back story. Former Director of Chiang Mai Women’s Prison, Naowarat Thanasrisutharat, during her tenure, instigated a massage therapist training program to equip selected soon-to-be-released inmates with skills to help support their lives. And then, in 2008, Khun Naowarat created Lila Thai Massage, becoming a direct employer and dedicated training ground for these women as they re-join society. Pre-pandemic, Lila Thai Massage had eight operating studios across Chiang Mai and hopefully will be reopening these as international visitors return. It is our first choice for Thai massage when in Chiang Mai.

Our other choice is blind massage, with many of the current masseuses getting their break thanks to Dr Aud Kaewthong. In the 1980s, he took a massage class in Bangkok and realised that, due to being born blind, his sense of touch was profoundly developed. Thanks to Dr Aud, more than 1,000 blind massage therapists now work in Thailand, and his training has spread into other Southeast Asian communities. Examples of this movement are Supatra Blind Massage in the northeast corner of the Old City, a simple and highly regarded studio. Perception Blind Massage has a slightly more polished feel and is just inside the Thapae Gate of the Old City. Both are excellent options to experience your blind massage.

Community-based Tourism, Hilltribes, and Immersive Experiences

Lisu Eco Lodge is only a 50-minute drive north of Chiang Mai city and is a community-based tourism project operated by the local Lisu hill tribe people. The lodge has four spacious guest houses in a tranquil valley surrounded by organic rice fields, vegetable gardens, and orchards. Two day-one-night stays on a half-board basis will have you experiencing community life first-hand, including a guided village tour. Add-on activities like guided nature walks, bamboo river rafting, or other hill tribe experiences can be arranged. Be sure to do the tour of their award-winning Araksa Tea Gardens less than 6 km from Lisu Lodge.

Journey to Freedom is a week-long full-immersion project that embeds (paying) volunteers into a Karen hill tribe community while gaining a fascinating insight into rehabilitated elephants’ lives. Witness the daily life of the Karen people, become involved in the community and experience intimate encounters with the world’s largest land mammal. You will learn about agriculture and community, develop learning experiences for local school children, assist in the daily care of elephants and live in a cultural exchange at a tribal village in the mountains of Chiang Mai.

Elephant Nature Park is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre just 60 km north of Chiang Mai. Founder ‘Lek’ Saengduean Chailert has championed ethical elephant conservation since 1996. Her “Saddle Off” care of rescued elephants is now being adopted by many camps and conservation parks across Thailand. The park currently offers sanctuary to elephants, buffalo, numerous dogs, cats, birds, and many other rescued animals. You can visit for a day, overnight, or stay on-site for the fully inclusive and highly regarded week-long volunteering programs. If caring for elephants seems daunting, their dog or cat shelters have many furry friends waiting for your attention.

Chiang Rai – Immersive Farm Stays and Eco-Luxe Resorts

Just under 40 km northwest of Chiang Rai at the base of Mae Salong Mountain is Ahsa Farmstay. A working farm with four delightfully rustic-luxe guest rooms, perfect for couples, solo travellers and families. Stays are full-board, with much of the produce straight from the surrounding fields. As most meals are an opportunity for a cooking class, get ‘hands-on’ with your host family and learn the art of Lanna (Northern Thai) cuisine, or head to the fields for some farm experiences.

At 32 acres, there is lots to do on the farm, from collecting fresh eggs to feeding the ducks and geese, learning about rice cultivation, or tapping the estate’s rubber trees. Guided treks in the surrounding hills, including hill-tribe village visits, are available. Return to the farm for a traditional massage or relax in Ahsa’s take on a traditional herbal sauna. There is always plenty to see, learn and experience on this working farm.

Phu Chaisai, which translates as “Mountain of Clear Heart”, is just under an hour from Chiang Rai and is perhaps one of Thailand’s first boutique resorts. Perched atop a bamboo clad mountain with spectacular Mae Salong valley views, Phu Chaisai is a reminder that mindful living with nature is possible, even in this modern age. Created and operated by one of Thailand’s leading interior designers, M.L. Sudavdee Kriangkrai, or Mom Da as the locals call her, its design is harmonious with its surroundings while providing suitable comfort for guests.

The fresh mountain air is cleansing and reduces the need for air conditioning, while televisions and alarm clocks are absent. Hike the marked trails on this 800-acre organic estate, visit their oolong tea plantation or learn local dishes in the resort’s cooking school. Phu Chaisai’s overall “less is more” concept creates a genuine opportunity for you to immerse yourselves in the natural rhythm and environment of the glorious far north.

Travel with the Heart

Perhaps the most significant benefit of ‘travelling with the heart’ is a richer, more satisfying, and memorable experience for visitors. Seasoned travellers can tell you it is the genuine connection with people and communities that changes you, not the destination itself. This type of responsible travel puts real faces and names to the communities we are visiting. It is an opportunity to slow down, ground ourselves and find something we have lost.

Northern Thailand has an abundance of eco-friendly, sustainable, and community-based activities for travellers who want to dive deep into the region’s essence and travel mindfully. This article highlights a few we believe are worth particular mention. Happy travels.

Article by Michael Cullen.