Track of the Tiger T.R.D. Eco-Adventures 2010

 

The stunning Pang Soong Nature Trails (SKAL Ecotourism Award winner 2006) allow access to different parts of a 30 sq. km. pristine, community owned evergreen forest.

Located just 50 kms, (45 minutes) east of Chiang Mai city, and in cool clean mountain air some 1,000 metres above the city, It has been protected for the past 200 years by its custodians, the Khon Muang, Chaa Mieng farmers of Ban Mae Lai.

It is widely acclaimed to be the best example of such forest in the north.

The Track of the Tiger T.R.D. Eco-Adventures 2010 are a number of programmes of different duration, (1, 1.5 and 2 days in length) in which guests enjoy one or more ‘tours & activities’, which are presented on their own or combined together under a package number (i.e. #201) according to their content and the degree of physical difficulty they represent.

The project is a model for ecotourism development. All nature programmes incorporate a biodiversity monitoring component to which guides, visitors, visiting students, interns and experts contribute.

The Eco-Adventures are run from the delightful Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre located in a stream side setting in the Mae Lai valley, a 3 hour walk or 20 minute drive away from the Flight of the Gibbon office in Ban Mae Kampong.

The Lodge is managed by qualified, foreign-national outdoor education professionals, and the guide force is made up of very experienced English speaking senior guides teaming up with forest experts from the local community.

Nestled in the forest on the banks of the Mae Lai stream, the Lodge consists of a cluster of 3 wooden buildings overlooking a pond fed by the constant flow of the stream. There are 16 rooms, (in single, twin, 3 bunk bed, and 4 bunk bed formats.) There are 11 western showers and toilets spread across the 3 buildings, providing hot water.

The Tour & Activity Choices
The 4 tours & activities on offer for this year are presented below.
Taking a 1 day or 1.5 day programme allows you to include ONE of these activities.
Taking a 2 day programme allows you to choose TWO of these activities.
All programmes allow you to visit the Royal Project at Teen Tok and the Khon Muang village of Ban Mae Lai.

	A – The Jungle & Waterfalls Trail. 5-6 hrs. Difficulty: (M) Medium. A guided walk through pristine riverine and primary evergreen jungle habitats following the Mae Lai stream and rough game trails to two beautiful 40m high waterfalls. You return along an alternative but equally interesting route.
B – The Original Nature Trail. 3-4 hrs. (E/M) Easy Medium. A guided walk along the very beautiful Pang Soong ‘interpretive’ nature trail through tea & coffee plantations, thick bamboo and evergreen forest.
	C – The Stream and Mountain Trail. 3-4 hrs. (E/M) Easy Medium. A guided walk along part of the Pang Soong ‘interpretive’ nature trail and then over the mountain to Ban Mae Kampong to enjoy the Flight of the Gibbon zip wire and canopy walk experience.
D – The Volunteer Teaching Activity. 5-6 hrs. Spend an incredibly rewarding day assisting in the teaching of a Basic English or Eco-English programme to rural Thai school children (basic training and materials are provided). Note* Subject to student availability – please check with us.

Note* Page numbers related to content in the detailed manual –
see link further down the page.

Notes
All tours include a trail entrance fee paid to the village community fund, and employ a community forest guide in addition to our English speaking guide, VHF radio and medical kit.
Membership discount options further down the page.
Family group (minimum 4 people) discount options – U18’s & over 55’s get a 25% discount on advertised and members rates.

More Details on the Eco Adventure programmes! – Link to full PDF document.

Discounted prices for our membership – We are in the process of forming the ‘Responsible Tourism Alliance’ of service providers, who will collectively market their products (hotels, resorts, spas, tours, restaurants, transport providers etc.)

There will be a membership option for our (RT) Responsible Tourism Client Base that provides access to:
Discounted pricing on all products and services.
Preferential upgrades and added value services on a complimentary basis where available.
The opportunity to win holidays for the family by entering transparently operated monthly competitions and draws advertised through our monthly newsletter, or by winning photography and creative writing competitions that are judged by the membership themselves.
A whole range of other useful benefits (TBA)

Sign up for a ‘temporary membership – free trial period’ today and gain immediate access to:

Discounted rates on our Eco-Adventure programmes.
Our assistance in securing the best value for money deals and/or discounts on hotel, tour, and other services required during your visit to Chiang Mai.
An updated version of our special interest activities database – a work in progress. It summarises all of the interesting places, activities, courses, lectures, exhibitions, festivals, exhibitions and things to do. These, as you know, are not normally promoted by the tour industry as they are either not profitable or niche market orientated.

Become a member – Email us on info@track-of-the-tiger.com and ask for a membership application.

Bookings – Either follow the booking instructions as provided in the full PDF document, or email Khun Aed on info@track-of-the-tiger.com and ask for an easy to use Microsoft Excel based booking form (complete with automatic calculator).