JorKoe means traveller with long vision in the Karen language. JorKoe EcoTrek is an alternative tour operator in Mae Hong Son, offering community-based sustainable tourism tours to ethnic minority villages. It was founded 2 years ago as a fundraising unit and a vehicle to share with visitors the community-based ecotourism projects being implemented by the Thai environmental NGO, Project for Recovery of Life and Culture.
What is PRLC?
The Project for Recovery of Life and Culture (PRLC) is an NGO organised under the North-Net Foundation, a network of rural community development organisations based in the five upper provinces of northern Thailand.
PRLC aims to improve environmental sustainability and quality of life of the people in Mae Hong Son by:
· helping to form and strengthen local community organisations and networks
· strengthening the capability and increasing the participation of the local people in the management of forest resources and local ecology, and
· encouraging self-reliance.
PRLC currently has projects in community based natural resource management, sustainable agriculture, alternative occupations, promoting civil society, and youth leadership development
What is Community Based Tourism?
Community Based Tourism (CBT) is a type of tourism which:
¨ Contributes to the conservation of natural and cultural resources
¨ Contributes to local economic development
¨ Requires a high level of local participation by community members
¨ Provides a socially and environmentally responsible product to visitors
PRLC's Community Based Tourism Program
The aim of the CBT program is to provide a means for forest-dependent communities in Mae Hong Son to pursue sustainable development on their own terms. The specific objectives of the program are
¨ To support the communities’ efforts in forest conservation, which are a major tourism resource in Mae Hong Son
¨ To strengthen community organisations by building their skills in tourism management and interpretation
¨ To increase economic self-sufficiency in rural communities by providing alternative employment and supplementary income-generation opportunities
¨ To assist communities to preserve their culture on their own terms
¨ To raise awareness of community based tourism in the Mae Hong Son area
The CBT program arose through the initiative of various communities that PRLC had been working with in natural resource management, who were beginning to see both the environmental, economic and social benefits and costs of the growing tourism industry in Mae Hong Son. PRLC’s role has been to support the development of CBT in these communities by providing technical assistance and training, but ultimately the management of these projects lies in the hands of the communities.
How do the communities benefit from our Tours?
Community Based Tourism offers ethnic minorities the possibility to take control of tourism and income distribution in their communities on their own terms and in accordance with their culture and way of life.
PRLC’s Community Based Tourism activities are planned and managed by active participation of the local communities. With the income generated from tourism, communities involved in tourism are able to support and maintain conservation activities, as well as improve their quality of life.
Most communities that participate in our CBT tours have organised their own CBT groups, with self-determined regulations on membership, responsibilities, and benefit sharing. Homestay and food services are provided by local families according to a rotation system, as are local guide services within and between villages. 100% of all food, accommodation and local guide costs stays in the local communities, 20% of which goes to a community fund for conservation and tourism related activities. The net profits made by JorKoe EcoTrek are funnelled to PRLC for conservation and development projects.
Program Options
Jor-Koe Eco-Trek offers several tour programs. All programs can be modified to accommodate specific requests or interests from visitors, such as birdwatching, botany, or culture. We can also arrange other activities, such as bamboo rafting, horse riding and biking.
Tours marked with a * may not be available during the rainy season (June-October)
Our tour prices are located at the end of the brochure, and are per person. They include:
¨ Transportation to and from the villages
¨ English-Thai speaking guides
¨ Local guides, accommodation and food in the villages
¨ Drinking water, fruit, coffee and tea
¨ Pre-departure information on local culture and traveller guidelines
¨ Contribution to PRLC’s development fund
Day Tours
JKET currently offer 3 day tours to some of our project sites and other areas around Mae Hong Son:
Karen Village and Community Forest Trek
Mae Aw: Bamboo rafting, Royal Palace and Chinese Kuomintang village
Pangmapa: Coffin Cave and Jeep Trek
For more information about these tours, please contact JKET.
Multi-day Tours
Tour 1: Karen Culture and Ecology
Baan Huay Hee and Baan Nam Hoo (2 days, 1 night)
Day 1 Karen village life and homestay
Day 2 Doi Pui and community forest trek
Tour 2: Doi Pui
Baan Huay Hee and Baan Nam Hoo (2 days, 1 night)
Day 1 Rainforest trek and camping
Day 2 Karen village life
Tour 3: The Great Hornbill Habitat*
Baan Huay Goong (2 days, 1 night)
Day 1 Trek and Karen village life and homestay
Day 2 Rainforest and Great Hornbill trek
Tour 4: Shan and Lahu Culture
Baan Melana, Baan Jabo and Baan Bokrai (3 days, 2 nights)
Day 1 Waterfall, Shan village life and homestay
Day 2 Trekking, coffin caves and Lahu culture
Tour 5: Mountains and Caves
Baan Melana, Baan Jabo and Baan Bokrai (3 days, 2 nights)
Day 1 Waterfall, Lahu village life and homestay
Day 2 Jeep trek
Day 3 Trekking, coffin cave and Lahu culture
Tour 6: Trekking Adventure*
Baan Nam Hoo, Baan Huay Hee, Baan Huay Mai Dam, Baan Huay Thong Koe, Baan Huay Goong (5 days, 4 nights- 3 days of trekking)
Day 1 Karen village life and homestay
Day 2 Karen lifestyle and homestay
Day 3 Trek: Rainforests, waterfall, homestay
Day 4 Trek: Hornbills and waterfall
Day 5 Trek: River crossing
What to Expect
All accommodation in our tours is provided by local families in the communities as a homestay. Homestays are very basic. You will be provided blankets and a pillow, but you may want to bring your own sleeping bag during the cold season. Some of our villages have mosquito nets, but you may also want to bring your own. In most of our villages there is no electricity, and toilet facilities are also basic, with no hot water.
Food is also provided by the local people we visit. They provide an assortment of traditional foods as well as basic fare, such as eggs and vegetables. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know in advance.
Bottled drinking water is provided in our tours. In the villages you will also be offered water and tea by your host family. This is boiled rain water, and poses no health hazards; however, if you do not feel comfortable drinking it, feel free to drink bottled water at all times.
What to Bring
¨ Lightweight trousers and shirts for trekking
¨ Warm shirt/fleece during the rainy season and cold seasons (June-February)
¨ Rainproof jacket during the rainy season (June-October)
¨ Good walking shoes/boots and waterproof sandals
¨ Sunscreen and hat
¨ Insect repellent
¨ Torch
¨ Toilet paper
¨ Camera and film
¨ Binoculars, if you have them
¨ Sleeping bag during the cold season (November-February) or if you plan to camp on Doi Pui
¨ Money for incidental expenses
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