Nature trip in Chiang Mai: farms, forests and village coffee

A Singapore-based travel writer has described a nature-focused trip to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, according to CNA. The itinerary was put together by Aveson Travel, a Singapore company, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It took visitors to rural communities where farming and forests shape everyday life.

A farm-to-table meal in San Sai

The first stop was Wasunthara Farm in the San Sai district. The eatery serves only one seating a day, so diners must book at least a month ahead. Chef-owner Wilat Junlakan runs the farm and the kitchen with one other staff member, a role he has held for seven years. The menu shifts with the seasons and draws on crops grown on the farm, including the rice.

Wilat previously cooked in restaurants serving Japanese and American food. He said that seeing people around him fall ill was the turning point. That experience pushed him to start cultivating his own ingredients and set up a restaurant serving food that was wholesome and pleasurable. He does not use MSG, preferring to let the ingredients speak for themselves.

Guests sat on cushions at low tables overlooking rice paddies while a light rain fell. The eight-course meal was finished with edible flowers grown on site. Among the favourites with the group was miang kham, which is wrapped in leaves and contains shallots, chilli peppers, dried shrimp and toasted coconut.

Forest bathing in Baan Pa Ngiew

Forest bathing began in Japan and encourages people to experience a forest through their senses. The writer’s first session took place in Baan Pa Ngiew, a village of roughly 300 residents in Mae On district. Most residents belong to the S’gaw Karen community.

According to local guide Sittipong of Northern Smile Travel, villagers split the forest into two areas. The inner forest is sacred, open only to villagers, and tree-cutting and hunting are banned there. The outer zone is a community forest where residents collect herbs and bamboo and fish in the river. Sittipong helped villagers build a forest bathing programme that lets them lead walks, share knowledge and cook meals for visitors.

Phyllis Koh, a certified forest therapist based in Singapore, guided the first group through the programme. Participants were asked to slow down and focus on their senses rather than on distance. Near the river, phone signal disappeared and the group grew quiet. The writer described listening to flowing water and feeling cold water on their hands.

Towards the end of the walk, practitioner Ms Supapit introduced grounding, or earthing, which means placing bare feet on the soil. Several members of the group removed their shoes and crossed the river barefoot. The writer said the soil felt cool and the experience left them refreshed. The day ended with herbal tea, a meal cooked by villagers from forest ingredients and a local drink called lao tom.

Coffee in Khun Chang Kian Village

Khun Chang Kian Village sits high in the mountains and is home to a White Hmong community. It lies in one of Thailand’s earliest coffee-growing areas. Fourth-generation farmer Chatree Saeyang serves pour-over coffee made from beans he grows, ferments and roasts himself.

Chatree said villagers were first urged to plant coffee because the local climate suited it, but many started without knowing how to grow or process it well. His interest in specialty coffee led him to study methods used by established roasteries. His coffee won first prize at a Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand competition in 2019. Today the village earns most of its income from coffee, and households each look after a small plot.

Visitors tasted several coffees prepared by Chatree and his wife, then walked to his plantation. He explained the care needed to turn a seedling into a productive tree, along with the challenges of a less predictable climate. Nearby, Srinehru primary school runs a barista club with a student cafe. Younger pupils help with service and cleaning, while older pupils prepare drinks, and they are paid for their work. Profits from the cafe help fund the school.

Why the trip matters

The writer presented the trip as a way to support local livelihoods. Villagers sold handmade cotton and woven goods directly to visitors, and the tours depended on residents as guides and cooks. The report suggests that travellers who look beyond the city can see how farming and forest care shape life in northern Thailand.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• CNA: I discovered Chiang Mai’s quieter side: Coffee farms, village stays and forest bathing

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