Text : Peter Richards, Photos : REST
Kiriwong village, situated in the cradle of the Khao Luang mountain range, is renowned for its extraordinarily creative and resilient people and stunning natural beauty. Kiriwong’s history is an inspiring story of self-reliance, unity in the face of numerous challenges, and enduring commitment to a simple, traditional way of life.
In 1993, Kiriwong community approached Bangok-based NGO, Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST) for assistance to develop Community Based Tourism (CBT) activities. CBT activities are based upon definitive elements of local lifestyle, culture and nature which make local people feel especially proud.
Guests are invited by ‘Kiriwong CBT Club’ to stay in local homes, and join in daily activities together with host families and village Guides. ‘Hands-on’ experiences include cultural exchange, picking fruit in the traditional Suan Som Rom mixed orchards, learning to cook a jungle curry, preparing a herbal remedy, meeting the members and admiring the products of Kiriwong’s diverse Community Sustainable Income Generation Groups, or trying your hand at natural tie-dying. Guests can also enjoy jungle camping in pristine Khao Luang Natural Park, an area blessed with clear streams, gushing waterfalls, and mist covered mountains.
Organising tourism activities and managing the Kiriwong CBT Club has developed new skills among community members, provided opportunities to exchange with visitors, stimulated increased environmental awareness among hosts and guests, and also provided a useful supplementary income source. Rotation systems for Homestays and Local Guides ensure that both the responsibilities and benefits of tourism are shared fairly among CBT club members. Meanwhile, a set of simple guidelines established by hosts for guests ensure that key elements of local culture are acknowledged and respected.
By developing and managing tourism activities, Kiriwong’s CBT Club members have been empowered to define and present their lifestyles to guests on their own terms. The CBT Club requests that visitors to Kiriwong respect and use their services and organisational system, and in particular don’t attempt to trek without a local guide. Tours, accommodation and activities can be arranged either by contacting the CBT Club directly (Thai Language only), or booking a tour through REST in Bangkok who organise visits in cooperation with the club.
Location :
Nakorn Sri Thammarat is the nearest big town, and the gateway to Kiriwong. To travel to ‘Nakorn’, you can either travel by train (14 hours), bus (11 hours) or plane (1 hour : there is no flight to Nakorn Srithammarat every day, so you have to check first with Thai Airways).
Contact
REST (The Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project)
Potjana Suansri (REST Project Coordinator)
Ou Peter Richards (REST CBT Marketing Manager)
Room 318/116, Building D
Praya-Phirom Pakdee-Ratchada 2
Soi Ratchada Phisek 36
Ladyao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900,
Thailand _
Tel. : +662-930 5309
Fax : +662-930 5881
Email : rest@asiaaccess.net.th
rest0@hotmail.com
Internet : www.rest.or.th/about/default.shtml
NB : The community prefer to know about visits 2 weeks in advance. For non-Thai speakers, to ensure optimum communication, you can organise your visit through REST who have a team of trained English / Thai speaking ‘tour facilitators’
Cultural Information
Founded 300 years ago by thirteen families in a river valley on the southern edge of what is now Khao Luang National Park, Kiriwong now has over 3000 inhabitants. For over 200 years, Kiriwong’s families have developed the ‘suan som som’ system of mixed fruit orchards by carefully selected wild seeds from the jungle and planting various kinds of fruit trees, such as Durian, Coconut, Mangosteen, Jackfruit, Banana and Ginger. This unique local form of organic agro-forestry has been passed down through the generations, and mixes an astonishing number of flora within the same area. The benefits of maintaining biodiversity include soil renewal, nutrient cycling and thus consistently high yields of high quality fruits.
In 1988, Kiriwong was devastated by floods. This was a turning point in local environmental awareness. The community realized that expansion of Suan Som Rom had contributed to the disaster, and managed diversity of their mountain orchards couldn’t match the ability of the natural forest to protect the watershed. The need for more sustainable environmental management was clear. The Thai government encouraged the community to re-locate, but they were determined to stay, passing on their way of life to future generations.
Following the floods, Kiriwong community members worked closely with academics, NGOs and government. Together, the community and partners developed a variety of innovative ways to combine local wisdom, modern science and technical expertise to develop sustainable income sources. Their efforts were exceptionally successful. Now, over 20 small-scale community groups produce eco-friendly products including clothes made with natural-dyes from leaves and peels, herbal soaps, wooden handicrafts, and preserved forest fruits.
Kiriwong’s success brought an increase in the number of Thai visitors. Small numbers of foreign visitors also appeared occasionally, lured by trekking in Khao Luang National Park. Community members were pleased to welcome visitors, but concerned that tourism should be carefully organised. They approached Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST), a Thai NGO specializing in Community-Based Tourism, to assist them to develop the necessary skills, activities and organisation to successfully and sustainably manage tourism.
Khao Luang National Park covers 570 km2 of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, and includes Southern Thailand’s highest peak at 1,835 meters, giving the park a range of forest types from lowland to montane “cloud forest”. The park is recognized as a biodiversity “hotspot” with an exceptional number of endemic species. Tropical rainforest covering the park is part of the oldest terrestrial ecosystem on earth. Within the park is a large population that present the greatest threat to the forest, and crucial watershed it maintains, through gradual extension of agricultural land, mainly for chemical dependent, export-orientated mono crop.
Conflict with the national park is a frequent issue of concern in Kiriwong as the orchards of many villagers are within the locally disputed park boundary. CBT in Kiriwong represents the development of tourism as a strategy for community development and natural resource conservation. Tourism, however, is also a key responsibility of the National Park service, sometimes creating tension over who has the ‘legitimacy’ or ‘right’ to claim park area as a tourism resource. The success of community conservation efforts are beginning to ease conflict, leading to spoken agreements between park officers and village leaders.
Types of tours :
Price Per Guest : 4 people $ 225 USD, 5-7 people $ 205 USD, 8-10 people $ 170 USD
Departure : 8.00 from Nakorn Srithammarat town, return Nakorn Srithammarat 17.00
Included : Transport (songthaew), English speaking REST Tour Facilitator / Local CBT Guides, All Meals B,L,D (from lunch day 1 until lunch day 5), Homestay and Camping, National Park Entrance Fees, Community Donation, Insurance
Not Included : Alcoholic and soft drinks, Souvenirs and other Personal Expenses
Group sizes allowed : Maximum of 12 Guests per departure
Age, fitness requirements, physical conditions : A reasonable level of physical fitness is required to trek in humid jungle, up moderately steep mountain slopes. Most of REST’s groups are private, ‘tailor-made’ tours, so the number of hours walking can be adapted to the wishes and abilities of the group. The focus of trekking is not on ‘the summit’, but rather on enjoying the scenery, discovering the rich eco-system and local knowledge of the guides.
Type of weather : Hot and humid, often over 30 degrees C.
Specific recommendations : Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, strong shoes, modest clothes for the village (no spaghetti tops or hot-pants please !)