Tungwa is a small community, on the northernmost point of Satun Province. The area is a coastal continued from Palean District, Trang Province, flanked by limestone mountains that stretch over a long distance. Most of the villagers are fishermen. At the same time, they are familiar with the large caves found in the area. Especially the banana cave, or is called Lay cave because it is a cave with water passing through a length of 3.4 km flowing through the mangrove forest into the Andaman Sea. Water levels in this cave are influenced by the tide.
As a result of continuous geological exploration, geologist found fossils of the Stegodon elephants which lived in the ice age during the Pleistocene. It is the only ancient elephant found in the South. Moreover, the fossils of ancient rhinoceros and deer were also found.

In the caves and limestone hills of the Ordovician, shows sea living fossil found in the shallows for the first time. Thung Wa is one of the four districts of Satun Province that are part of “Satun Geopark” which has received worldwide attention.

Banana cave or Lay cave is included in the community tour activities. The name changed to LeStegodon cave which follow ancient elephant discovered in the caves. This will lead to the community’s commitment to maintaining this world-class learning resource.

LeStegodon cave is also the formation of stalactites, stalagmites, curtain stones, stalactites and sparkling boulders of calcite crystals along 3 km pathway, with the kayak passing through to the canal on the other side, it is a remarkable return journey back to ancient times.

The Thung Wa Fossil Elephant Museum, a collection of fossils found in the LeStegodon cave. It will help you more understand the natural history. It is also a community activity that results from the learning and attention of the villagers.

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When traveling to Thung Wa Community, the Bangkok-Trang-Thung Wa route is the most convenient and shortest route. You can take Bangkok-Trang flights which are available 6 flights per day. The Trang Airport is about 70 km or 1 hour drive from Trang community. Alternatively, you can take Bangkok-Hat Yai route which is a longer route. Hat Yai Airport is about 120 km away from Thung Wa. Nonetheless, the trip is convenient, road condition is good with beautiful scenery along the way. There are 31 flights per day from morning until night. Thus, you can pick your most convenient time without having to rush.

Nearby attractions in Thung Wa Community is Than Plew Waterfall which is a waterfall from limestone cliff with crystal clear water. You should take a nice rest at the place if you have time. Thalay Bun National Park is also natural attraction for tourists. In addition, Satun province is famous for its scenic marine attractions, including Mu ko Phetra National Park, Bo Jed Look Community where you can take Kayak to Prasat Hin Pun Yod (Thousand Spire Stone Castle) and take water diving to experience one of the most exquisite coral reefs of the Andaman Sea. The city of Satun is a small town with many interesting attractions as well.

Umphang is a community surrounded by the Thanon Thong Chai mountains in Tak Province. The high mountainous terrain and luscious forest of the area can guarantee visitors a one of a kind adventure.

Umphang is where nature meets adventure. The region is rich in both flora and fauna, where you can witness the beautiful exotic flowers in full bloom, beautiful steep waterfalls, and many wild animals, including birds and elephants, at the Thungyai Naresuan East and Umphang Wildlife Sanctuaries. Visitors will also get to ride on an elephant to Se Pla Karen village nearby.

Apart from the breathtaking nature, Umphang also offers a wide range of outdoor activities to do. From short walks to the Hua Mod Hill to long treks to the world famous Thi Lo Sue and Thi Lo Re waterfalls. The path may be long and troublesome, but the spectacular view of these places are worth it. Also you can go whitewater rafting at Huai Mae Klong, or if you are more daring, try rafting at the advanced level rapids of Umphang Khi. There are a lot to do at Umphang, just make sure that you pack the appropriate clothing for the occasion!

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There are many bus services from Bangkok to Mae Sot, Tak Province. However, to get to the Umphang Community, you have to go on a 165km meandrous road from Mae Sot uphill to Umphang with 1,219 bends. You can choose to drive up to the community by yourself, but you should drive with extreme caution. Otherwise, the car rental with driver services can also be an option. There are 4 direct flights from Bangkok to Tak via Nok Air daily.

Another place of interest on the way to Umphang is the Pha Charoen Waterfall National Park. A limestone cascade of 97 floor high, this waterfall is another beautiful and quiet spot to enjoy nature.

Although there might not be many of options for food in Amphoe Umphang, but you can find various of food available at the Umphang market every weekend evening. Coffee shops like Ban Kru San also serve Thai food and smoothies, and A-Mo-Ma-Pa coffee shop serves espresso, black grass jelly and noodles.

Umphang also offers coffee roasts that are grown locally at Ban Mae Klong Noi to reduce cabbage plantation in the area. The roasts from Umphang make a very tasty coffee, which is known as the Thi Lo Sue coffee.

Chulaporn Pattana 9 Tourism Community is hidden inside a lush rainforest with small tributaries and hills, surrounded by many wildlife animals. Despite having to travel thousands of kilometeres down south almost to the Thai-Malaysian border, the Chulaporn Pattana 9 Tourism Community is where nature-loving people should visit once in a lifetime.

There are many outdoor activities to do when you visit Chulaporn Pattana 9 Tourism Community. Visitors can enjoy trekking amongst nature as exotic rare birds fly over the tall rainforest trees with sounds of Siamang gibbons in the background in the Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary. Other two journeys to go through in this trip include the trail to Ha La Sah Waterfall at Bang Lang National Park, and a hike to the sea of mist at Khao Hin Yok. As for accommodation, visitors can choose to stay at a resort in a community, or set up camp by the stream to absorb all the beautiful nature surrounding the area.

Another interesting attraction to visit is the Malaya Communist Museum that exhibits historical photographs, objects and artifacts that were used during the Malayan Insurgency. Today, some of the former separatist members still lives in the area, so visitors can learn more about this historical event first hand.

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The fastest and easiest way to travel is by plane from Bangkok to Hat Yai Airport that takes about 1 hour. Then catch a van from Hat Yai to Amphoe Betong. Get off at Amphoe Than Tho, where the car from the community will pick you up. Alternatively, you can rent a car to drive from Hat Yai to Betong, which is another way to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the winding road similar to mountains in the north.

Other places to visit in Amphoe Than Thao include the Bang Lang National Park – one of the most complete rainforests in the world, Than Tho Waterfall, and Sakai Village – where you can enjoy the misty valleys and lush forests. Apart from the beautiful nature surrounding the area, there is also a Japanese style steel bridge called the “Yee La Pun” bridge. If you have some spare time, travel to the south to Amphoe Betong and visit the hot springs, historical tunnels, the biggest post box in Thailand, and witness the misty mountain fog and pay respects at Buddhadhiwat Temple. Don’t worry – travelling to Amphoe Betong is safe and secure.

The closest restaurant nearby the community is in Bang Lang Dam, called Krua Bala. The famous menus are seafood suki and fish and young coconut soup. In addition, you can also find the local desserts in the local market. The recommended dessert is the sweet sticky rice. Alternatively, you can also travel to Be Tong for many famous Chinese restaurants, including Ta Yin Restaurant (located next to Be Tong Plaza). The signature menu includes Be tong Chicken, Steam fish in soy sauce. Other restaurants are Baiyok Restuarant and Chicken Rice Betong.

This tourism management and learning community is located on the shore of Phetchaburi River. The community has initiated its ongoing activities from Tree Bank project which began ten years ago. Trees that were planted at that time has become large trees and provide shades and small forest with incredible landscape along the river bay.

Ban Tamsue is a forest community which has been settled for more than 70 years. The area is surrounded by dense forest and abundant wildlives, especially tigers. There is a tale from elders saying that in the evening, people had to rush back home, which was elevated from the ground and then life up the stairs to prevent wild animals from entering into their houses. Nonetheless, more people kept on settling in the community as the place has rich and abundant soil and clean water. They cleared the forest to make plantations and gradually wild animals were driven away.

Later, the locals have initiated ideas for forest restoration and received support of Bank for Agriculture and began “Tree Bank Project”. The project considers trees as valuable assets and a guarantee for the future as the trees (assets) would increase every year as they grow. They chose to grow perennial plants which were suitable to the environment and can provide benefits to people according to HM the King’s Philosophy of 3 types of wood and 4 benefits.

At the same time, locals stopped using chemical and changed to variety of crops and homemade organic substances to replace fertilizer and insecticide. This helps to reduce contamination into the river. In addition to cost reduction, the quality of life of people have also been improved.

From the concept of forest restoration, the community started to conduct learning in various fields in line with nature and their lifestyle, production and management until they developed a set of knowledge which can be passed on to tourists who are interested in learning, especially new generation of families and young people who will have to live in a world with rapid changing environment because of global warming.

Under the giant mimosa on the shore of emerald Phetchaburi River which is the highlight of Ban Tamsue and appeal visitors to stop at the area to enjoy the breeze and coolness of the river. In addition, the community also offers rafting activities for visitors to experience the tranquility of the forest along the river. Participation in reforestation by planting seeds, learn to make salted eggs and Thong Muan (rolled wafer) from brown sugar, make wood charcoal as a fuel source. During early rainy season, tourists will be able to taste fruits grown, chemical-free, in the community, including the Ban Tamsue durian, rambutan and mangosteen.

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Ban Tamsue Community is about 50 km or 1 hour away from city of Phetchaburi and 15 km. away from Kaeng Krachan Sub-District. Therefore, traveling by private vehicle is the most convenient mean. It takes about 2 hours from Bangkok to the community. To travel by train, depart from Bangkok Station Hua Lampong to Phetchaburi Station, then take the Song Taew in front of the station to the van station in front of Big C. Available car rental service companies include Smile Thai Car Rent and Summer Car Rent.

Nearby attractions are Kaeng Krachan National Park with panorama view of Kaeng Krachan Dam and shady area for camping. Tourists may also experience the nature amid forest at the Ban Krang National Park and observe sea fog at Kao PanernToong Mountian which is in the heart of the Tanaowasri mountains.

In addition, historic sites and cultural sites can be found in the downtown area including Phra Nakhon Khiri or Khao Wang, Mahathat Worawihan temple which gather stucco works which are inherited by a new generation of craftsmen. Moreover, tourists can see architecture of Ayutthaya era at Yai Suwannaram temple.

Khiriwongkot Community is located in the middle of mountainous area. There is only one accessible route through small and winding canal gorge on the southern side of the village. In the past, the first group of settlers had to familiarize themselves with the area as they would get loss and unable to access the village if they forgot the path. Nonetheless, nowadays new route has been developed and allows anyone to visit the place conveniently.

Khiriwongkot Community is located in Na Yung District, which is the northernmost district of Udon Thani. On the western side is Pak Chom District, Loei Province. As the place is in the northern region surrounded by mountains, the community experience extreme cold weather during winter. In addition, the place is also affected by atmospheric pressure from China. In certain years, the temperature was sometime so low that we can find frost flower phenomenon. This is an alternative for tourists who want to experience a cold weather.

Meanwhile, during rainy season, tourists would experience lush rice fields and abundant water in Huay Changplai. Khiriwongkot Community also offers adventurous activity which is to ride on E Tak Tractor driven by experienced local drivers. This type of vehicle can take you through swamp and bumpy area to Huay Changplai Waterfall which is located on the top of Poo Mountain on the northern side of the village in connection with the edge of the plateau above the Mekong River. The program is called E Tak Adventure, visitors should prepare swimsuits to play in the water. After driving slowly, enjoying the breathtaking landscape and scenery of the village and field surrounded by mountains, you would continue the route through the creek for a distance of about 200 meters which will give you bumpy experience, especially during the rainy season.

Then you would continue the journey through forest to Huay Changplai which is a stream of water flowing down from the cliff into the basin below. In the early days, there were many wild elephants feeding in the area. Thus, the place was named Huay Changplai.

Then you will have lunch in “Wild Buffet” style, which is one of the popular programs of Khiriwongkot Community. The menu consists of Thai papaya salad, grilled chicken wings in fermented fish, grilled fish, orange curry fish with banana stalk. The food will be cooked in bamboo tube the middle of the forest. All meals are served in bamboo tube and banana leaf to allow visitors to enjoy delicious and simple dining experience.

When get back to the village, during the middle of the rainy season, visitors may engage in fruit harvesting activities, especially Na Yung Rambutan or Khiriwongkot Rambutan which are famous for their sweet and delightful taste. The rambutan fruits will usually ripe in early August.

During winter, tourists will have a different experience as the paddy fields, after the harvest, would turn into strawberry plantation which give sweet and juicy fragrance amid to the dry and cold weather.

Tourists will stay in Homestay on the simple and clean detached house provided by villagers. They would get up early in the morning and travel by classic E Tak Tractor up to see the first sunlight and fog sea as well as experience the cool and pure breeze with the view of the village in the valley below. This would be a breathtaking landscape and memorial moment for you. You will also experience the simplicity and intimacy of the people in the small village.

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To travel to the community by plane, There are more than 20 low-cost flights operated daily between Bangkok and Udon Thani. It is highly recommended for you to choose the morning flight from Bangkok and rent a car from Udon Thani to Ban Khiriwongkot. The journey will take 1 hour, then join community activities for two days, and back in the late afternoon. Spare some times to explore the atmosphere in Na Yung and Udon Thani downtown before going back by afternoon or evening flight. By Train, depart from Bangkok Station Hua Lampong to Udon Thani Station, and hire a car service to the community. Available car rental service companies include Budget, Hertz, Thai Rent A Car, Sixt and Chic Car.

Attractions in the vicinity of Na Yung can be separated to visit in the evening after the activities of the forest which is view of the Mekong River at Wat Pha TakSua, Sungkom District, Nong Khai Province, which is only 1 hour drive. The next day, you can visit the route from Udon, Na Yung District which is Phlap Hin, and Ho Nang Usa at Phu Phra Bath historic national park. The stone pillars are on the rock. It has a small flower field which blossoms between late raining season and beginning of winter. And the Phraphuthasaiyasn Lokanat Sasada Muni, which is a marble statues with magnificent Buddha images at Wat Phu Korn that is not far away, or if you are interested in coffee, there is a comprehensive coffee learning center.in Na Yung.

When it comes to Udon Thani in the morning, there is a Vietnamese breakfast restaurant, including coffee, eggs, Gee Rice or French toast, porridge at Kings Oacha. At late, you have to taste the Nam Nueng and Vietnamese food at the VT Namnueng Restaurant. For the restaurants in Na Yung District, most are Som Tum, Grilled Chicken with many shops to choose from

Na Yung District is also a source of coffee, Arabica and Robusta, by processed the coffee and delivery to coffee shops in Udon Thani. If you are in the community, you can taste and buy roasted coffee beans at the source of Na Yung, Na Kae Sub-District, Na Yung District, or many coffee shops in Na Yung District such as Risa Coffee Shop or Ketthawa Coffee Shop.