Agro-tourism is another alternative of enjoyable and informative sightseeing with possible professional application. More important is its practical return to explore, to learn and to take pride in agriculture, the backbone of traditional Thai society and its valuable agrarian philosophy and folk wisdom, which have been handed down from generation to generation. Modern technology is incorporated with various traditions, rituals and professional activities, and then re-organized amidst breathtaking nature by local management. Impression arises when one participates in local activities and enjoys the wealth of area handicrafts. While these activities knowledge and experience to visitors, the community also benefits from the sales of local products and services for tourists. Agro-tourism thus helps increase employment during the economic crisis as well as bringing in the much needed foreign currencies.

Come explore the legendary "Land of Smile" and its breathtaking scenery, from the northern highlands to the southern coastlines, and from the high plateau in the Northeast to the country's food larder in the Central Region. And take pride in the potentiality of Thai agricultural with agro-tourism.

Experience the Agrarian Life in the High Valleys

Chiang Mai

Have a taste of temperate vegetation, drink good tea and exquisite coffee atop Thailand's highest mountain.

Doi Inthanon in Chom Thong, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand's highest peak, possesses wide varieties of temperate vegetation. The Temperate Vegetation Experiment Station is located a amidst beautiful scenery and exciting hill tribe lifestyles. Enjoy magnificent flowers such as Chrysantemums, roses, gerberas and butterheads, at Inthanon Royal Project Research Station at Ban Khun Klang. Call 0-5335-5196 for details. Coffee tasting is also available at Khun Wang Royal Agricultural Research Centre. In the cold season, blooming cherry blossoms carpet the terraced plantation here. Call 0-5343-2275-6 for details. Tea, bird watching and flowers are also enticing at Mae Chon Luang Highland agricultural Experiment Station. Enjoy the scenery atop the clearing with your choice of fragrant U-long or Assam tea. For more information, call 0-5343-2207.

Chiang Rai

Tea sipping amidst the sea of fog on Doi Wawi. Enjoy fields of colourful tulips on Doi Pha Mon.

Amidst the high valleys of Chiang Rai, Thailand's roof among the clouds, nestle the highlanders' agrarian activities and their magnificent natural products at several research stations. Though these places are hard to reach, the wealth of agricultural products that wait to welcome visitors is worth the effort. Taste the tea or sip the coffee in the sea of fog on Doi Wawi in Amphoe Mae Suai. Call 0-5371-4439. Enjoy the garden fields of wild sunflowers and the nutritious green tea on Doi Hua Mae Kham in Amphoe Mae Fa Luang. In addition, Doi Pha Mon in Amphoe Thoeng can boast of its colourful tulips at the Agricultural Extension Center. Countless beautiful temperate flowers also added to the natural charm of the tulips. For details, call 0-5376-7066.

Loei Phetchabun

Explore the flower fields and the vineylands. Take a sip of excellent wine atop Phu Ruea.

Loei and Phetchabun are located along the edge of the upper plateau, covered with high mountain ranges. With similar geographical features, its weather is as cool as that of the North, with similar vegetation and scenery. A good example is the flower fields at Phu Ruea Highland Agricultural Experiment Station in Loei Province. The 2000-acre station area is covered with colourful temperate flowers and vegetables. For details, call 0-4289-1398-9 and 0-4289-1199. The flower road from Ban Kaeng Hai to Ban Nong Bong is lined with exquisite flowerbeds for sale. At Phu Ruea Vineyard, its superb wine "Chateau de Loei," made from good-quality French grapes on the 1000-acres of land, awaits to welcome all wine tasters. For more information call 0-4289-1406. Then come to explore the pioneer plantation in Phetchabun at Kamnan Chun's Sweet tangerines, "sala" and sour fish preserve are available. Call the plantation office at Wang Chonphu at 0-5677-1101-4. Moer temperate flowers and vegetables are available at B. N. Plantation in Amphoe Khao Kho. Call 0-5675-0419.

Lop Buri/Nakhon Ratchasima

Stroll in the sunflower fields and the vineyards. Meet the Thai cowboys and taste exquisite fruits.

The Saraburi-Lopburi-Nakhon Ratchasima route leads us to experience the agricultural lifestyle much similar to the American country livelihood. Yellow sunflowers bloom on both sides of the highways from Lopburi to Chai Badan and from Muak Lek to Wang Muang. Call Lopburi Provincial Agricultural Extension Office at 0-3642-1191, 0-3641-1296; and Saraburi Provincial Agricultural Extension Office at 0-3631-9026. Visit Pa Sak Chonlasit Dam, the world's biggest and longest saddle dam. Tourists can also experience the cowboy's outdoor activities are available 0-4432-8485 ext 116 and 0-4436-1173. Tasty and seedless grapes are also available in Pak Chong at Mae Kratal Noi Vineyard. Call 0-9899-9824 for details. On Mitrapap Highway is also located Mueang Phon Flower Garden at Km 196. Colourful flowers are for sale in this "supermarket of flowers." Call 0-4432-3263 and 0-4432-3459-60.

Floating along the River Basins and the Coast

Nakhon Pathom

Cruise Maha Sawat Canal and visit fruit orchards on the outskirts of Bangkok.

A half-day cruise along Maha Sawat Canal in Amphoe Phuttamonthon, Natkon Pathom will take us back to traditional upcountry lifestyle of river-based communities by the rivers near Bangkok, half hidden among bountiful fruit orchards. Local folk wisdom is reflected in integrated orchard style. Organic pomeloes are sweet with no help from chemicals. Orchid farms in this area have no equals. Admire the exquisite breed of gigantic sparkling flowers called, "Tatsani." Or, take a rowboat among hundreds of fragrant water lilies. Explore and taste fresh local products. Try your hand at some of the activities in the orchid farms or the water lily fields, as well as practice cooking local dishes and desserts. For details call agro-tourism centre at 0-3429-7152 and 0-1495-9091; or, the Phutthamonthon Agricultural Extension Office at 0-2441-0837 and Phutthamonthon District Office at 0-2441-9830.

Samut Song khram

Visit the old orchards area.

A wide variety of activities await agro-tourists here. We can cruise along the rivers and canals to admire lychee orchards along Khwae Om in Amphawa. A home-stay at the ecotourism village is possible. Amphawa also possesses traditional Thai style houses at Ban Plai Phongphang. Experience the serenity of the lush orchards on both sides of the river, among which nestles traditional houses. Visit a coconut orchard to watch the demonstration of coconut picking, sugar making and home-staying to have a taste of local lifestyle by the river. The exciting daily life begins early with giving food to monks on alms round, then visiting the Tha Kha floating market where people still barter their own produce. Call Samut Songkhram Agricultural Extension Office at 0-3471-1711.

Chanthaburi, Trat

Explore fruit orchards by the sea.

Chantaburi and Trat are two provinces on the Eastern Seaboard with wide varieties of delicious fruits such as durians, mangosteens, rambutans, longings and "ra-kam" (Salacca rumphii Wall.) Specimens of these fruits are collected at Chantaburi Horticultural Research Centre. Call 0-3939-7030 and 0-3939-7146. Visitors can cruise Khung Kraben Bay to visit the royal project there. For details, call 0-3936-9216-8. After that, take a boat trip to Ko Chang in Trat to visit the fish farming in hinged floating baskets at Ban Dan Kao, and food preservation by Ban Dan Mai Housewives by Ban Dan Mai Housewives Group where coconut sheets, chili paste and shrimp paste have brought in significant incomes. Locals at Ban Hat Sai Daeng have also learnt to improve the quality of durians through integrated farming style. Visitors can also experience fishing community lifestyle at Bang Bao. Call Ko Chang Provincial Agricultural Extension Office at 0-3958-6100, or Trat agricultural office at 0-3951-1008.

Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla

Visit the southeastern agricultural sites.

Khao Luang Range, Khuan Khreng peat swamp, Tha-le Noi and Songkhla Lake are evidence of natural interdependence between high mountains and the seas, rendering livelihood to generations of local people in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung and Songkhla. Farmers and fishermen have lived off these natural resources for centuries. Visitors can begin their tour with a visit to Khao Luang agro-tourism centre. Taste health menus of flowers and local vegetables. Admire more than 200 kinds of colourful Araceaes at Vera Flora Garden. Call Nakhon Si Thammarat agricultural office at 0-7534-7420. From high plateau agriculture, we can shift to experience the riparian agriculture in Phatthalung. Visit aquatic birds at Tha-lei in Amphoe Khuan Khanun where thousands of migratory birds flock the area from December to April. Then visit the demonstration of more than 40 kinds of jute products at Jute Handicrafts Village. Call 0-7461-5690 for details. Then cross to the agricultural site on Ko Yo in Songkhla Lake. Bike around the fruit orchards and view the mangrove forest around Songkhal Lake. Visit fish farming and have a taste of the most delicious white snappers. Ko Yo also boasts its unique weaving motif by Ratchawat weaving Group. Call Songkhal Agricultural Extension Office at 0-7431-1460, 0-7144-1927.

Phang-nga, Krabi, Phuket

Cruise the Andaman Sea and experience the western seashore agricultural.

The Andaman coastline is naturally decorated with intriguing geographical features of white sandy beaches, crystal clear sea and dots of islets, with shoreline limestone mountain ranges in the background. Underneath this breathtaking scenery lie the life style stories of local people who have relied on this natural abundance. Folk wisdom is evident in local agricultural activities and lifestyles at Amphoe Thap Put in Phang-nga. Watch the "chok" palm sugar making at Ban Bo Saen, Ban Tham Nam Phut and Ban Bang Toei. The new theory of integrated farming style is materialized here as well. Folk wisdom in medicine is put on display at the Thai Medicine Museum in the medicine garden at Bo Saen. Call Ban Thap Put tourism promoton office at 0-7659-9124. After that, visit Krabi' agricultural sites. Beds of colourful Araceaes, orchids and torch gingers await visitors at Krabi Horticultural Crop Propagation and Promotion Centre. Call 0-7561-2913. Before visiting Phuket, take a canoe ride around the mangrove forest in Thalang. Visit fish farming at Pak Khok. Cross to Ko Ma-phrao. Bike around the village to study local lifestyles and to taste fresh seafood. Call Thalang Provincial Agricultural Extension Office at 0-7631-1130.