Images © Klong Rua Project
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Klong Rua Village is located in the remote forested areas of Ranong Province in Southern Thailand. Set amidst the lush tropical rainforests of Pa-Toh, an area noted for its pristine natural landscape and colourful flora and fauna, Klong Rua is also home to village residents who demonstrate a deep respect for nature and live in harmony with the natural environment. They draw on the wealth of folk wisdom, handed down from generation to generation.
A rich natural habitat, Pha-Toh is treasured for its biological diversity. A great variety of plant life and wildlife can be found along the forest floor and in the tree tops.
While trekking deep into Pha-Toh forest, visitors will come across an interesting variety of plants and wildlife that are part of the natural ecosystem. The forest trails occasionally reveal the odd animal footprint. Refresh yourself at one of the two major waterfalls near the village, and witness the “Bua Phud" (Rafflesia), a gigantic flower that can only be found in very few places around the world, including Thailand.
Klong Rua Village provides an alternative travel option for that special holiday.
This immense natural beauty, coupled with the warm welcome from the local villagers and their indigenous way of life, makes Klong Rua an exhilarating choice for tourists who come in search of new and adventurous experiences, both physically and culturally. Furthermore, the Klong Rua Village Home-stay Programme is recognized by the Tourism Development Agency.
Given its remote location and natural landscape, the installation of public utilities such as electricity and irrigation system to the village is a challenge. The villagers rely mainly on natural energy sources such as the sun and water resources from Heow Taa Chan Waterfall.
The Baan Klong Rua Eco-tour Group offers to share with you the various dimensions of their unique culture and way of life that you will not easily find elsewhere. For example, traditional techniques used on rubber cultivation, tin ore mining and handicrafts. Moreover, during the rainy season, tourists will be able to taste a variety of local fruits from the local plantations. The cool season is coffee season. Visitors will be able to witness and experience the coffee production process.
HISTORY OF THE KLONG RUA VILLAGE PROJECT
The process by which the Klong Rua Village Project developed is utterly unique. It was first sparked by a field-study project undertaken by an undergraduate level environmental economics class of the Thammasat University Faculty of Economics in October 2000.
A group of 20 universities students and their teacher travelled to Ranong Province seeking real life experience in environmental management. They visited Klong Rua Village to learn about green agriculture. There, they were deeply touched by the richness of nature and the folk wisdom of the local villagers which enabled them to live in harmony with the natural ecosystem.
In 2001, some of those students led a community development activity camp at Klong Rua Village. Throughout the camp period, the students had the chance to talk, discuss, and interact with the villagers, and came up with an ecotourism idea for the villagers. This led to the emergence of the Klong Rua Ecotourism Project. The project is supported by Thai Rural Net and Ton Nam Pho Management Organization.
During the early phase, the project focused on exploring the natural resources of this local community as well as developing the rules for sustainable ecotourism programmes. The inception period was almost one year as they started the project activities in September 2003. |
All of the tourism activities are organized by Klong Rua villagers. They include planning the activities, welcoming and guiding the tourists, arranging accommodation, managing incomes, evaluating the tour programmes, and improving the tour services. The volunteer students only assist the villagers in the marketing and promotion of the ecotourism project.
IMPORTANCE OF THE PROJECT
The Klong Rua Project provides a practical mean of protecting the natural resources of the community, while at the same time, providing additional income to improve the standard of living and quality of life for the local villagers. The project also promotes a better understanding of Thai local culture, wisdom, and values among both domestic as well as international visitors/tourists. Additionally, through their interactions with visitors/tourists, the local villagers also learn about the outside world.
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| Images © Klong Rua Project |
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
- To create alternative sources of income for the local villagers
- To promote the development of knowledge and understanding about sustainable community-based tourism
- To increase the consciousness and awareness among the tourists as well as the local villagers themselves with regard to protecting the natural resources and the environment
- To build up a good understanding and an appropriate relationship between the rural residents and their urban visitors.
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KLONG RUA HOME STAY PROGRAMMES OFFERED
Please click on the item to select.
PROGRAMME A
KLONG RUA VILLAGE IN THE RAINY SEASON – THE SEASON OF FRUITS
3 Days/2 Nights (June – October)
- Programme A/Day 1
Morning:
Arrive at Klong Rua Village. Visit Hin Rua, a stream that is shaped like a vessel, and for which the village is named. (The Thai word "ruea" means boat.) Lunch at the Klong Rua Tourist Service Centre.
Afternoon:
Trek into the forest near the village to see and learn about “Bua Phud" (Rafflesia), a gigantic flower and a variety of herbs found in the forest. Visit the local tin mine and witness the traditional tin mining method. Visit Heow Taa Chan Waterfall and rubber plantations to witness the rubber cultivation process.
Evening:
Home Stay Programme
Guests are housed in separate living quarters. Visit the local fruit and coffee plantations. Guests are escorted by the local children on excursions during which local vegetables are collected for the preparation of the evening meal. Or relax in the Pley Yuan hammock under the shade of the trees. Relax and/or chat with the host family. Dinner with the host family or the owner of the home. Discuss and exchange ideas about the local way of life of Klong Rua villagers with the host family.
- Programme A/Day 2
Morning:
Wake up. Breakfast with the host family. Get to know the traditional agricultural methods called "Kaset level 4" — an agricultural method modelled after the forest ecosystem. Gather at the Tourist Centre to learn how to make bamboo rafts. Trip to the fruit orchards for a taste of native fruits such as rambutan, mangosteen, durian, coconut, and pomelo. Witness a live demonstration on how to make handicrafts from rattan (waii), of which there is a plentiful supply in the surrounding area.
Afternoon:
Lunch on a bamboo raft by the river that runs through the heart of the forest. Proceed to Heow Plu Nhang Waterfall. Relax and start setting up camp in an area by the waterfall. Learn to fish and make different type of utensils from bamboo. Start a camp fire and start cooking local food.
Evening:
Dinner by the waterfall and campfire with the villagers
- Programme A/Day 3
Morning:
Breakfast. Have coffee from a bamboo cup.
Choose from a choice from 2 programmes:
Choice 1:
Walk through the forest, pass Huai Lang Kloy backwater and see Taa Num spring before heading back to the village.
Choice 2:
Walk through the rehabilitated forest areas to the old mining area. Stop by a freshwater mountain lake, spanning an area of approximately 20 rais. Head back to the village.
Afternoon:
See local products and visit Baan Klong Rua School.
Images © Klong Rua Project
PROGRAMME B:
KLONG RUA VILLAGE IN THE RAINY SEASON – THE SEASON OF FRUITS
2 Days/1 Night (June – October)
- Programme B/Day 1
Morning: Arrive at Klong Rua Village. Visit Hin Rua, a stream that is shaped like a vessel, and for which the village is named. (The Thai word "ruea" means boat.) Lunch at the Klong Rua Tourist Service Centre.
Afternoon:
Trek into the forest near the village to see and learn about “Bua Phud" (Rafflesia), a gigantic flower and a variety of herbs found in the forest. Visit the local tin mine and witness the traditional tin mining method. Visit Heow Taa Chan Waterfall. Then continue on to the local rubber plantations to witness the rubber cultivation process.
Evening:
Home Stay Programme
Guests are housed in separate living quarters. Visit the local fruit and coffee plantations. Guests are escorted by the local children on excursions during which local vegetables are collected for the preparation of the evening meal. Or relax in the Pley Yuan hammock under the shade of the trees. Relax and/or chat with the host family. Dinner with the host family or the owner of the home. Discuss and exchange ideas about the local way of life of Klong Rua villagers with the host family.
Images © Klong Rua Project
- Programme B/Day 2
Morning:
Wake up. Breakfast and coffee with the host family. Learn about the traditional agricultural methods known as “Kaset Level 4” which is modelled after the natural forest ecosystem whereby a variety of plants and trees are grown together. Go rafting. Learn how to make bamboo raft. Taste seasonal fruits, such as rambutan, mangosteen, durian, coconut, and pomelo, freshly-picked from the local orchards and plantation. Witness a live demonstration of how to make local handicrafts from rattan (waai), of which there is a plentiful supply in the surrounding area.
Afternoon:
Lunch on a bamboo raft by the river in the forest. Raft through the forest enjoying the natural scenery, trees, birds, and wilderness. Visit Heow Plu Nhang Waterfall, play water and enjoy the natural beauty of the waterfall. Walk back to the village, shower and pack before leaving the village.
Images © Klong Rua Project
PROGRAMME C:
VISIT KLONG RUA COMMUNITY IN THE DRY SEASON
3 Days/2 Nights: November – May
- Programme C/Day 1
Morning:
Arrive at Klong Rua Village. Visit Hin Rua, a stream that is shaped like a vessel, and for which the village is named. (The word "ruea" in Thai means boat.) Lunch at the Klong Rua Tourists Service Centre.
Afternoon:
Trek into the forest near the village to see and learn about “Bua Phud" (Rafflesia), a gigantic flower and a variety of herbs found in the forest. Visit the local tin mine and witness the traditional tin mining method. Visit Heow Tha Chan Waterfall and rubber plantations to witness the rubber cultivation process.
Evening:
Home Stay Programme
Guests are housed in separate living quarters. Visit the local fruit and coffee plantations. Guests are escorted by the local children on excursions during which local vegetables are collected for the preparation of the evening meal. Or relax in the Pley Yuan hammock under the shade of the trees. Relax and/or chat with the host family. Dinner with the host family or the owner of the home. Discuss and exchange ideas about the local way of life of Klong Rua villagers with the host family.
- Programme C/Day 2
Morning:
Visit the fruits orchards and coffee plantations. Witness the process of making coffee, from the cultivation process to harvesting, and taste fresh coffee at Klong Rua House. Lunch
Afternoon:
Walk to the campsite next to Heow Plu Nhang waterfall. Relax and start setting up camp. Learn how to fish and make different types of utensils from bamboo. Start a fire to cook local foods.
Evening:
Dinner by the waterfall near the camp fire.
Enjoy a meal of local fare in the company of the local villagers.
- Program C/Day 3
Morning:
Breakfast. Drink coffee from a bamboo cup. Ride on bamboo rafts to return to the village.
Afternoon:
Have lunch together at the Tourist Service Centre. See local products and visit Klong Rua School
PROGRAMME D:
VISIT KLONG RUA COMMUNITY IN THE COOL SEASON – COFFEE SEASON
2 days 1 night: (November – May)
- Programme D/Day 1
Morning:
Arrive at Klong Rua Village. Visit Hin Rua, a stream that is shaped like a vessel, and for which the village is named. (The Thai word "ruea" means boat.) Lunch at the Klong Rua Tourists Service Centre.
Afternoon:
Trek into the forest near the village to see and learn about “Bua Phud" (Rafflesia), a gigantic flower, and a variety of herbs found in the forest. Visit the local tin mine and witness the traditional tin mining method. Visit Heow Taa Chan Waterfall and rubber plantations to witness the rubber cultivation process.
Evening:
Home Stay Programme
Guests are housed in separate living quarters. Visit the local fruit and coffee plantations. Guests are escorted by the local children on excursions during which local vegetables are collected for the preparation of the evening meal. Or relax in the Pley Yuan hammock under the shade of the trees. Relax and/or chat with the host family. Dinner with the host family or the owner of the home. Discuss and exchange ideas about the local way of life of Klong Rua villagers with the host family.
- Programme D/Day 2
Morning:
Visit the fruits orchards and coffee plantations. See the process to make coffee from the cultivation process to harvest and taste the fresh coffee at Klong Rua House. Lunch.
Afternoon:
Walk through the old logging path to Heow Plu Nhang Waterfall. Relax and walk back to the village.
PROGRAMME E:
VISIT KLONG RUA COMMUNITY IN THE DRY SEASON & SEE THE OLD MINE
3 days/2 nights: (March – May)
- Programme E/Day 1
Morning:
Arrive at Klong Rua Village. Visit Hin Rua, a stream that is shaped like a vessel, and for which the village is named. (The Thai word "ruea" means boat.) Lunch at the Klong Rua Tourists Service Centre.
Afternoon:
Trek into the forest near the village to see and learn about “Bua Phud" (Rafflesia), a gigantic flower, and a variety of herbs found in the forest. Visit the local tin mine and witness the traditional tin mining method. Visit Heow Taa Chan Waterfall and rubber plantations to witness the rubber cultivation process.
“Bua Phud" (Rafflesia) Images © Klong Rua Project
Evening:
Home Stay Programme
Guests are housed in separate living quarters. Visit the local fruit and coffee plantations. Guests are escorted by the local children on excursions during which local vegetables are collected for the preparation of the evening meal. Or relax in the Pley Yuan hammock under the shade of the trees. Relax and/or chat with the host family. Dinner with the host family or the owner of the home. Discuss and exchange ideas about the local way of life of Klong Rua villagers with the host family.
Images © Klong Rua Project
- Programme E/ Day 2
Morning:
Gather at Tourist Service Centre. Walk towards the old mine, visiting the rubber plantations en route to witness the rubber cultivation process. Lunch at Heow Taa Chan Waterfall, then observe the construction of a mountain irrigation system.
Afternoon:
Walk to Heow Taa Shoke Waterfall. Relax and start setting up camp. Learn how to fish and make different types of utensils from bamboo. Start a fire to cook local foods.
Evening:
Dinner by the waterfall near the camp fire.
Enjoy a meal of local fare in the company of the local villagers.
- Programme E/ Day 3
Morning:
Breakfast. Have coffee from a bamboo cup.
Visit the ancient mine, encircled by a massive stone wall. See the old mining trail. Learn about the traditional mountain mining technique. Trek through the forest and head back to the village.
Afternoon:
See local products and visit Klong Rua School.
Images © Klong Rua Project
PRICE/PERSON
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3 Days/2 Nights programme
1,700 baht per person or 1,500 baht (for a trip with more than 6 persons) |
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2 Days/1 Night programme
1,300 baht per person or 1,100 baht (for a trip with more than 6 persons) |
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Foreign Tourists
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3 Days/2 Nights programme
2,600 baht per person or 2,400 baht (for a trip with more than 6 people) |
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2 Days/1 Night programme
2,200 baht per person or 2,000 baht (for a trip with more than 6 people) |
Note: The above price for foreign tourists includes travel costs for a volunteer interpreter.
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| Images © Klong Rua Project |
TRAVELLING TO KLONG RUA VILLAGE
BY TRAIN
The nearest train station to Klong Rua Village is Lang Suan Station, Chumporn Province. From Lang Suan Station, it will take approximately one and a half hour by car to the village.
The most convenient routes from Bangkok are as follows:
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Rapid Train No. 85
From Bangkok to Nakhon Si Thammaraj, departing Bangkok at 19.15 p.m. and arriving at Lang Suan Station at 5.00 a.m. |
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(2) |
Rapid Train No. 39 (diesel)
From Bangkok–Surat Thani, departing Bangkok at 22.50 p.m. and arriving at Lang Suan Station at 6.44 a.m. |
For more information on the train schedule, please call +66-02-220-4334 or 1690.
For more information on Klong Rua Project please contact:
- Klong Rua Village Coordinator: Mr. Manit Molee, Tel: 0-7895-0501.
- Bangkok-based Coordinator: Mr. Chaiporn Inthuvisarnkul, Tel: 0-6563-9117.
E-mail: info@klongrua.com
Web site: www.klongrua.com/en
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Source: Klong Rua project document |
