
A Royal Peek in Sustainable Projects
A Royal Peek in
Sustainable Projects
Thailand’s Royal Family has worked tirelessly for decades in supporting local communities in finding
sustainable means to make a living. Particularly around Chiang Mai, the Royal Projects
at a Hmong settlement and a botanic garden are wonderful examples.
WHY THIS TOUR?
North of Chiang Mai is where true natural beauty can be found. The mountainous regions are not only the home of various hill tribes but also to a large collection of plants, flowers and trees, some of them indigenous to the region.
This half-day venture away from Chiang Mai combines both how local hill tribes have shifted their source of income from their former opium trade to agricultural means. Nearby, a collection of the finest flowers and plants are on display at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. The garden honours the work done by H.M. the Queen of Thailand in working sustainable and showing the beauty of Thai flora.



TRAIL ITINERARY
08:30 - 12:00
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13:30 - 17:00
We leave your hotel and head in northern direction to one of the leading Hmong Hill tribe villages, high in the mountains. Quite a number of these indigenous communities have their ancestral roots from southern China. It is not uncommon to see still Chinese traits and cultural elements being proudly displayed at Baan Hmong Nong Hoi Mai. This royal-instilled project is a perfect example of how Hmong culture has blended with Chinese influences. As one of the main Royal Projects surrounding Chiang Mai, and supported by Thailand’s Royal Family, visitors have learned to make use of the fertile soils around their village to cultivate vegetables and fruit sustainably. From various points and season-depending, the slopes around Baan Hmong Nong Hoi Mai form a colourful blanket as ethnic minorities have turned the slopes and fertile landscapes in a patchwork of agriculture and plantations.
We follow the road further to one of the other projects that have been named in affirming the deep respect the Thai people have for their Royal Family. The Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (formerly known as the Mae Sa Botanic Garden) has been primarily set up as a conservation and research centre for Thai flora. It is one of the first botanical gardens in the country that supports education for those keen in pursuing a career in not only the botanical side but also those interested in biodiversity and environmental conservation. Outside of these values, the garden is a fabulous collection of plants, flowers and trees that continue to attract visitors from around the country. Part of the project is the nearby orchid farm where various species of this delicate flower are on display.
This royal-tinted half-day tour comes to an end and we will bring you back to your downtown Chiang Mai hotel.