Mini Light & Sound Show of Akha Hilltribe In Thailand

Dates: 28 February 2009, 28 March 2009 and 25 April 2009

Venue: Chiang Rai Province

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Chiang Rai Office, with the cooperation of the Chiang Rai Social Development Center, will present a series of mini light and sound shows called "The Akha: People of the Hills" at the Chiang Rai Social Development Center, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai province.

"The Akha: People of the Hills" mini light and sound show has been shown every year since 1999. The schedules of the performance are as follows: 28 February 2009, 28 March 2009 and 25 April 2009. Ticket prices are 150 baht and 300 baht including a meal.

The show presents the way of life and culture of the Akha, one of the hilltribes that live in the north of Thailand. The performers are the hilltribe people who live at the Chiang Rai Social Development Center. The show helps to earn more funds to support the activities of the center and to conserve the way of life of the hilltribe people.

For more information, please contact :

TAT Chiang Rai Office

0 5374 4674-75, 0 5371 7433

Ticket booking:

Chiang Rai Social Development Centre

0 5391 4471, 08 6913 8937

Thailand Top Travel Destinations

There are many top travel destinations in Thailand from 2008 Travelers' Choice Destinations Awards by tripadviser.

1. Koh Phi Phi Don, Phuket, Southern Thailand



The largest island of the group of The Phi Phi Islands in Phuket. It is the only island with permanent inhabitants. There are no accommodation facilities on this island, and the rest of the islands in the group, including Bida Nok, Bida Noi, and Bamboo Island, are not much more than large limestone rocks jutting out of the sea.

Phi Phi Don was initially populated by Muslim fishermen during the late 1940s, and later became a coconut plantation. The Thai population of Phi Phi Don remains more than 80% Muslim.But the actual population if counting laborers, especially from the north-east, from the mainland is much more Buddhist these days.

2. Chiangmai, Northern Thailand


The largest and most significant city in northern Thailand. The province is located some 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among some of the highest mountains in the country. The city stands on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river. There are many tourist attractions for the thousands of foreign visitors who come each year. Chiangmai's historic importance is derived from its strategic location on an ancient trade route. Long before the modern influx of tourists, the city served as an important centre for handcrafts, hand-made paper umbrellas and jewellery.

3. Bangkok, The Capital of Thailand

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, the largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Bangkok has been the political, social and economic center of not only Thailand but for much of South East Asia and Indochina as well. Its influence in the arts, politics, fashion, education and entertainment as well as being a business, financial and cultural center of Asia has given Bangkok the status of a global city.

4. Koh Tao, Eastern Thailand

Koh Tao is an island located near the eastern shore of the Gulf of Thailand. It covers an area of about 21 km². The island, Koh Tao is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, and also offers some hiking. The most popular place for tourists is Sairee on the West coast, which has a white sandy beach of 1.7 km interrupted only by a few huge boulders and a scattering of medium budget resorts and restaurants. A multitude of beautiful granite boulders, which nestle both in the forests and on the beaches of Koh Tao, attract a growing number of climbers who visit each year to enjoy the adventurous aspect of their sport.

5. Krabi, Southern Thailand

Krabi is a southern province of Thailand on Andaman seaboard with the oldest history of continued settlement. After dating stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves. With its natural beauty, Krabi is superb for canoeing, kayaking, diving, and some other water sports. Apart from those, rock climbing on Pranang Peninsula is gaining more popularity with over 150 challenging pegged routes.

More information about Thailand

Tours of The Royally Initiated Projects, Nationwide Thailand

The joyous occasion of H.M. King Bhumibol’s 80th Birthday Anniversary this year is a great opportunity for us Thai people to show our deepest loyalty and enormous respect for His Majesty and his royal family. One way of doing so is to truly appreciate what they have done for our nation. In fact, by visiting the royal project places, you can both gain knowledge and be impressed by the beautiful scenery as well.

You all are welcome to visit the royally initiated projects to appreciate and learn from the royal wisdom that the Thai people are so proud of. Here are the nine chosen projects, which are well worth your visit:

1. Doi Tung Development Project, Chiang Rai
This project was found under the Royal Patronage of the late Princess Mother. Its main objective is to encourage hilltribes to grow fruit trees and other cash crops as substitutes for poppies and slash and burn cultivation.

The project not only achieved its goal, but also succeeded in teaching hilltribes to conserve the environment and create their local handicrafts. Due to its great success in developing the hilltribes area for a long period of time, Doi Tung has received an award from the United Nation for sustainable alternative development and another from the Pacific Asia Travel Association for eco-tourism.

2. Rai Mae Fah Luang & Hall of Opium, Chiang Rai
Rai Mae Fah Luang is a magnificent museum for the great collection of Lanna’s artifacts. The Hall of Opium was built to remind people of the history of poppy planting in Thailand, which once was notorious for the Golden Triangle, formerly the largest opium producer in the world.

3. Royal Agricultural Station, Angkhang, Chiang Mai
King Bhumibol bought a piece of land in Doi Angkhang and found the Royal Project to be a research station for cool-climate vegetables and fruits. He aimed to help the impoverished hilltribes, who unknowingly destroyed the ecosystem in the area, to earn their income without deforestation. Further than that, it later became a collection centre of rare and beautiful plants.

4. Elephant Conservation Centre, Lampang
The Centre was opened by HRH Princess Sirindhorn in 1992 to conserve Thai Elephants and to give interested people more understanding of this huge mammal. Besides, the only elephant hospital in the world is located here. And a short mahout-training course for tourists is in operation here, too.

5. Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Centre, Ayutthaya
It was established under the Royal Patronage of H.M. Queen Sirikit to relieve the poverty of Thai people by teaching them some useful artisan skills that can be developed into their sidelines. Students’ products are sold at the Centre and distributed to many shops elsewhere in the country.

Another interesting thing is a demonstration village that consists of four typical houses of the four regions of Thailand showing the local people’s ways of life. Apart from these, a fish palace and a bird sanctuary are established here to conserve animal species.

6. Wat Yannasangwararam, Chonburi
This modern Thai temple was built by foreigners to honour H.M. King Bhumibol. There are various beautiful construction styles such as the replica of Bodhagaya stupa (in the Lord Buddha’s birthplace), the traditional Chinese-style temple, and a Swiss chalet. The temple was named after H.M. the King’s mentor “Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara”, the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand. It is famous worldwide as a meditation centre.

7. Mrigadayavan Palace, Phetburi
It was constructed by order of King Rama VI (1910-1925) as his summer palace. At present, after being restored to its former condition, it is open for public viewing. The palace is now splendid and enriched by the magnificent relics of its time.

8. College in the Court, Nakhon Pathom
This royally initiated project was established to promote the 10 basic disciplines of ancient Siamese native skills to people. The students’ handiworks display section and classes are open to visitors.

9. Ban Kut Na Kham Arts & Crafts Centre, Sakon Nakhon
The Centre was established to eliminate the poverty from the region by educating people to produce distinct handicrafts such as wickerwork, pottery, and hand-woven silk with the unique patterns.

H.M. King Bhumibol has recently been awarded Human Development Lifetime Achievement by the United Nations for his outstanding dedication and achievement in human development.

During his long reign, he has been working tirelessly to help his people get better standards of living. Throughout the country, thousands of royally initiated projects have been launched to improve the quality of life of the people of Thailand.

Not only the projects enable the people in the remote areas to stand on their own feet, but also give rise to new tourist attractions, which in turn help those people gain more income.

Blooming Mexican Sunflowers on Mount Mae U-kho, Northern Thailand

Early November-Mid December
Venue: Mount Mae U-kho, Khun Yuam county, Mae Hong Son Province (924 km north of Bangkok)

In November when the cool breeze begins to blow, the green Mount Mae U-kho will turn golden as the Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia Diversifolia) blossom. This wild flower, called buatong in the northern dialect, looks exactly like the sunflower but is much smaller.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Mae Hong Son Province would like to invite you to see the blooming Mexican sunflowers spread over the fields and valleys on Mount U-kho from the early November to mid December this year. Travellers are allowed to put up a tent near a buatong field to get as close as possible to the flowers in their cool natural surroundings. Other kinds of accommodation can also be found nearby.

Apart from the magnificent scenery of blooming flowers, from now to 30 November this year the province has prepared hot-air balloons for tourists to enjoy the view from the sky. A balloon trip takes about 15 minutes at a cost of 100 baht per person and a free cup of coffee will be served on board.

To get there from Chiang Mai, use Highway 108 passing Chomthong and Hot Counties of Chiang Mai. Then you will pass Mae Sariang County of Mae Hong Son and arrive in KhunYuam County. Now drive along Highway 1236 for 26 km to reach Mount Mae U-kho.

For more information, please contact :
Mae Hong Son Tourism Coordination Centre
Tel. +66 (0) 5361 2982 to 3

See also :

Mount Mae U-kho's Topography

The Nature Living in Pai

Travel in Chiangmai

Loi Krathong Festival

Things to do in Bangkok

Natural Attractions in Northern Thailand

Chiang Rai was the first Lanna Thai capital and contains the historic sites of this northernmost area of Thailand. The area is bordered by Burma and Laos with the three countries meeting at the Golden Triangle on the Mekong river.

The whole area is hills and valleys with many hill tribe communities - so nature tours and treks are the basis of the area's activities. Treks usually include mixtures of walking, elephant riding, rafting and visits to hill tribe villages.

In Chiang Rai, a whole range of treks have been developed for periods from a half day to about a week. Quite a few treks from Chiang Mai travel to Chiang Rai, including treks by mountain bike and raft, and after such a trek to Chiang Rai there is lots of scope to continue trekking around Chiang Rai.

The most developed tourism is in the north - in Chiang Rai - and a newer wilder area is opening up to the south - in Nan. In hills on the border with Laos, Nan offers nature treks and tours of up to 3 or 4 days including white water rafting, elephant riding and one of the rarest hill tribe communities of all; the paths are less worn and nature a bit more natural.

The best accommodation is in Chiang Rai but Good 'n' Clean and Tourist accommodation is available in provincial centres. On the treks accommodation is generally quite simple, including home stays in hill tribe villages. There are flights into both Chiang Rai and Nan and a good road network.

Doi Luang National Park

It covers about 1,172 sq km of Chiang Rai, Lampang and Phayao. Mostly mixed deciduous forest, the park has 89 confirmed bird species and 12 mammal species, including wild pig, slow loris and barking deer.

Wang Kaew waterfall is regarded as the park's most beautiful - and the nearby Wang Thong waterfall and Nang Phaya Pang Ding Cave are well worth a visit.

In the Chiang Rai part of the park, about 9kms from the 773 km marker on the Bangkok-Chiang Rai road, is Namtok Pu Kaeng, the largest waterfall in Chiang Rai with a good flow cascading all year - there are also some caves nearby. In Phayao's area, Namtok Champa Thong is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by rich forests.

Doi Phu Kha National Park

It's situated in the north-east of Nan's provincial capital on Doi Phu Kha, a mountain of 1980m. The park, close to the border with Laos, offers magnificent mountain scenery with forests and numerous waterfalls and caves.

The variety of forest types attracts botanists who have discovered rare and unique botanical species, including a plant with multi-coloured petals of which only six of the species are believed to bloom each year.

There is an equally rare hill tribe. The elusive Mrabi - or Phi Thong Luang - are nomadic hunters in the forests who have had very little contact with the outside world until the last few decades.It is a very rewarding experience, as its very remoteness has preserved its bucolic charms. There are barely 150 Mrabi in total but they, and other communities can be visited on treks in Nan. The nearby Namtok Sila Phet is a beautiful waterfall. There are no bungalows in the park, but tents can be rented.

The Tham Pha Tup Forest Park (12 km north of Nan city)

The park is well worth visiting not only for the natural forest but the network of 17 limestone caves, half of which can be reached on nature trails.

About 25 km south of Nan on the road between Wiang Sa and Na Noi are the caves of Tham Pha Mong and Tham Pha Wiang with fascinating stalactites and stalagmites.

A short distance further south are Sao Din and Hom Chom, areas of earth pillars produced in erosion of the softer layer of rock beneath the sandstone which forms and protects the top of the pillars.

Some 40km west of Nan, on the road to Phayao, Doi Pha Chi is a mountain with its forest still in perfect natural condition - once a base for insurgents who tended to keep the loggers away.

Living Around The Nature in Pai, Northern Thailand

Introduction
Pai district is situated about halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Sorn, the misty town on the Burmese border. At about 600 meters above sea level, surrounded by high mountains. Pai offers one of the most fertile and beautiful nature in the North of Thailand, clean air and no pollution. People from many different tribes live here peacefully together and still maintain their traditional way of living.

The serene Pai river runs from the northern border with Burma through Pai town and along virgin jungle to Mae Hong Sorn. Hardy adventurers use this route for exciting rafting.

How to get there?
Start from the main tourist hub: From Chiang Mai on route 1095 towards Pai it is 132 kilometer. The bus from Chiang Mai Arcade bus station takes about 4 hours.

Weather in Pai
cold season: 12º C - 28º C from November - March
hot season: 24º C - 35º C from April - June
rainy season: 24º C - 32º C from July - September

Activities in Pai

• padelling rubber boat along Pai river


• adventure rafting and canoe along Pai river


• explore caves or go mountain trekking


• elephant riding through jungle


• mountain bike cycling or motorbike-trekking (Nop's bike shop offers 2 - 3 - 4 days motorbike trekking with 250 ccm trail bikes around northern part of Mae Hong Sorn province. Guide available or on your own. Also available Honda Dream, good maps and other information.)


• jungle-treks: Pai is well known as a base camp for trekks to hill tribes.


• Walk through green jungle and spend the night in a hill tribe village to experience their traditional way of life. In Pai there are local or hill tribe guides and porters available.


• Herbal Sauna and Thai Traditional Massage as well as herbal medicine or Burmese Massage


• Reading (Nop's book shop)


• Thai cooking course at Peter's and Wandee's Hut in Mae Yen

Facilities in Pai
Pai is a small town but can offer enough facilities such as a post office, hospital, long distance call and fax service. Accommodations and food are good and cheap. Most of the guest houses are in town and the scenic most beautiful ones are along the river. Local restaurants and western style restaurants are available (e. g. Chez Swan Restaurant, Thai Yai Restaurant) with home made brown bread.