SERVICE AND SUSTAINABILITY ROUTE HIGHLIGHTS IN CHARMING ISAAN
Pilot Route:
Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) - Thai silk – Khorat Fossil Museum – Pak Chong - Phetchaburi – Nakhon Nayok
The sustainability of the route lies in its essence of cultural heritage and the preservation of traditional Thai life, supporting communities’ natural resource management, art, wisdom, architecture, agriculture, gastronomy and wellness.

Service and Sustainability Highlights … In Charming Isaan
Operated by Friends of Nature
Web site: http://www.friendsofnature93.com

	Ecotourism professional and pioneering member of TEATA — the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association
	Expert in nature tourism, wildlife watching, agro-tourism, organic
	Policy that all stakeholders work together and benefit together
	Uses local community guides, supports local community services
	Uses limited air-conditioning, seperates waste, reuses paper, eco-toilet

BAAN PRASAT COMMUNITY BASED TOURISM

	Baan Prasart is a typical north-eastern Thai rice farming community, full of ‘Isaan’ charm and good humour. The people still live a traditional life, marking time by the changing seasons, and vibrant Buddhist festivals.
	The Baan Prasart Homestay was established in 1993, following the exciting discovery of three archeological sites dating back 2,500 to 3,000 years.
	Learn to make hats, bags and other souvenirs. Textiles enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the silk and cotton weaving group. Music lovers can head for the Thai classical instrument group, where soprano and alto fiddles are crafted by hand.
	PATA GOLD AWARD in 1994 and an ASENTA GOLD AWARD in 1996.
	The villagers grow vegetables to serve tourists in home gardens. This helps to reduce villagers’ expenses while increasing income by providing food.
	Community members work closely together with the local school, contributing income from tourism, training students as ‘youth volunteers’ to provide guests with information about the local historical sites, and participating in the programme.
	The people of Baan Prasat have often used income derived from tourism to offer free hospitality to study groups in order to make a contribution to Thai society.
	Baan Prasat is a great destination for families. Children experience a mixture of history, culture, arts, crafts and real life experience, outside the classroom.

DADAD ISAAN FUSION STEAKHOUSE RESTAURANT
"Every year, I work on a project which benefits children in Korat. I have helped to build children’s wards in hospitals and libraries in local schools.” — Quote by Dadad Isaan Steakhouse

	Taste the signature Isaan steak, in great east-west fusion atmosphere
	The owner is a committed member of the Lions Club, which regularly supports childrens' charities, helps to build schools and provides books for libraries.

KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK

	Thailand’s first national park — a national symbol for conservation
	UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized as a hotspot for biodiversity
	2168 square kilometres of lush forest that is home to over 320 bird species, 70 species of mammals, 20 species of big mammals, 70 species of reptiles, 2000 species of plants. Five distinct natural habitats including dry evergreen forest, dry deciduous forest, tropical forest, hill ever green forest and grasslands.
	Popular for camping, hiking, wildlife watching. There are over 50 kilometres of marked routes. One may see wild elephants, gibbons, hornbills.
	Watershed area for five rivers, including the Prachin Buri, and Nakhon Nayok rivers.
	Many green food and accommodation options

THAI ELEPHANT RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION FUND
Web site: http://www.thaielephants.org

	Founded to enhance the participation of Thai society in the protection and conservation of Thai elephants, to be part of Thai society forever
	Enabling public participation in elephant conservation through education, awareness raising and encouraging positive action
	Conservation of Thai elephants through interdisciplinary research and use of traditional local knowledge
	A small attempt to help the ‘streets elephants’ and their mahouts to have better life conditions here and now, at the same time bringing them to work together towards elephant conservation and awareness raising among stakeholders

KHORAT FOSSIL MUSEUM

	This amazing museum was initiated by the King of Thailand, and shares some of Thailand’s most ancient history with local and foreign guests.
	Highly creative presentation ideal for nature enthusiasts, families and students
	See huge dinosaur fossils, including ancient mammoths
	See prehistoric life and the relationship between people and the earth
	Petrified wood, including massive tree-trunks discovered on the Khorat Plateau
	The museum subsidizes school visits — only 10 Baht / person (25 cents).

SIMA THANI HOTEL

	Southern Isaan / Khmer style rooms
	Buffet with Khorat local foods, including Pad Mee Khorat and Khanomjin Pradok
	Dinner with lively Ponglang local style music — impossible not to dance
	A range of room types
	A Green Leaf certified hotel — energy saving and working to use sustainable materials

DUSIT PRINCESS HOTEL

	Received an ESCO Project Award 2009 by Excellent Energy International Co., Ltd (EEI), the award given to business institutions which are successful in energy conservation using the ESCO system
	Thai traditional service from the heart, with modern Thai style
	Excellent facilities, including meeting rooms for seminars and conferences
	Organic farm in the hotel, raising earthworms to help maintain soil quality
	Help to clean the rivers in the city; working to conserve energy
	Tree-planting days for hotel staff

GREENERY RESORT
A fusion of nature and action-adventure

	Near Khao Yai National park with scenic views and a big tropical garden
	Organic restaurant — Isaan and fusion foods by using home-grown vegetables
	23 adventurous activities including ballooning, G-Swing and Zorb
	CSR activities with the local community and in Khao Yai National Park

MACCHADA THAI SILK FACTORY IN PAK THONG CHAI

	Khun Macchada's products are OTOP (One Tambon One Product) of Pak Thong Chai
	Her factory is a real hub for Thai local SMEs for Thai silk in Pak Thong Chai.
	Guest can observe and learn about the complete process for making Thai silk from spinning, dyeing, weaving and making clothes or other products.
	She helps the community by buying silk from the villagers at fair and reasonable prices.
	Tries to use local raw materials.
	Contributes money to school, students, local temple etc.
	Genuine Thai silk at a fair price, which helps the local community

THE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND MARKET ACCESS PARTNERSHIPS PROJECT (CSR-MAP)
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