Tha Din Deang Community Tour
An award-winning insight into local life
Outstanding Travel Itinerary: Thailand Tourism Silver Award 2023
Community based tourism Example Itinerary
• Pick up from your hotel and drive in a local style taxi to our pier in a small local fishing village.
• Cruise through the mangroves on our traditional long-tail boat to the Tha Din Deang community.
• Meet with the villagers, and kayak with them deeper into the beautiful mangrove forest. Often, we find wild monkeys, snakes and a lot of bird life here.
• Return to the village and learn how to make traditional “tie-dye” cloths, using natural dyes made from the bark of the mangrove trees.
• Finnish your creations, and take a break for a local style lunch.
• Try your hand at panning for tin in the nearby creek.
• Take the long-tail boat over to a beautiful beach to relax for the afternoon before returning to the pier.
Tour Price
Adult: 3,700 THB
Child: 1,900 THB (4-12 years)
Tour Details
Pick Up Time: 08:30-09:30
Tour Duration: Average 6-8 hours
Group Size: 4-6 people (larger groups on request)
This trip is operated in partnership with the Baan Tha Din Deang Community Based Toruism Project. A minimum of 1,000 Baht from each individual booking goes directly to supporting the community.
** Please be aware that our kayaks have a maximum weight limit of 100kg/220lbs.
Tour Includes
• Round-Trip Transfers
• Local style lunch
• Drinks
• National Park Entrance Fees
• Insurance
Things to Bring
• Sunblock
• Sun Hats & Sunglasses
• Camera
• Towel
Unforgettable experience with a wonderful company-highly recommend it!
We were in Thailand for 2 weeks and decided on only one excursion….and did we get lucky choosing this company! First class all the way; super responsive and friendly and well- run.
Book now!
• Experience Local Culture
• Interact With Local People
• Support The Community
After we pick you up from your hotel, it is just a short ride to our pier in a small local fishing village. Our beautiful traditional longtail boat will be waiting to greet you and welcome you aboard.
As we cruise out into the mangrove forests, keep your eyes open for birds and wildlife in the trees. Soon we arrive at Tha Din Deang Village to meet the villagers. Tha Din Dean is a small coastal village in the Thaplamu river delta.
The villagers will take you to explore deeper into the mangroves by kayak. Often, we see squirrels, snakes and wild monkeys in the trees here. The mangrove eco-system is vital in the fight against global warming. Mangrove forests can store up to 1,000 tonnes of carbon per hectare. They are natural air and water filters. Each year the world’s mangroves can produce more oxygen than the Amazon Rainforest.
Hands on traditional activites
Upon your return to the village, it is time to get hands on. People in this area have been using tie-dye techniques to decorated cloth for generations. Natural dyes are made from boiling leaves and bark collected from the mangroves and grasslands that surround the village.
This is your chance to get creative and make your own unique designs.
While your masterpiece is drying, it is time to join with the villagers and enjoy a few delicious local dishes. All the food is prepared in the village by the local villagers. Many of the vegetables are grown organically in the village’s hydroponic plantations. There is also fresh fish raised in the village fish pens.
After lunch the villagers will take you to see the small creek and remains of the old tin mine. Tin mining was a big industry here in Phang Nga, and the remnants can be seen all over. It was once believed that the tin mining industry had destroyed the natural eco-system surrounding the village forever. But thanks to the villager’s conservation efforts and careful maintenance, nature is making a comeback.
Your new friends will tell you about the mine and the impact it had. They will also show you how their ancestors and even some of the older generations in the village would pan for small pieces of tin in the creek that had been discarded by the big mining company.
All too soon it is time to say goodbye to your new friends. Once we are back on board the boat it is just a short trip over to Khao Na Yak pier, where we can walk across the beautiful savannah grasslands to find one of the most stunning beaches in Thailand.
Baan Tha Din Deang
Baan Tha Din Deang is a small village surrounded by mangroves, grasslands and forests in the Thaplamu River delta. The village was first established by Muslim settlers some time before the second world war. The fertile land around the village was perfect for growing rubber trees, palm oil trees, pineapple, watermelons and other fruits. While the dense mangroves made a perfect fishing ground.
It was soon discovered that there were rich tin deposits to be found on the edge of the village and in many of the other surrounding areas. The tin mining industry had a devastating effect on the environment, not just in Ban Tha Din Deang but all over this area of Thailand.
Once the tin dried up the villagers were left with what remained. The villagers work hard to help the natural eco-systems that surround their village recover. And now the trees and grasslands are rich in animal and plant life once again.
The Tha Din Deang Community Tourism Project was set up and backed by the TAT to help boost the local economy. The village is largely self-sufficient, but sharing their knowledge and skills with tourists enables them to further finance their conservation projects, village improvement schemes and support the village’s economy.
FAQ’s
Is this trip good for kids?
This trip is perfect for kids! There is no long distances to travel, no big waves and no big groups.
The hands on activities are great for kids of all ages. Everyone can join in and have fun together.
How does this trip support the community?
For every booking, a minimum of 1,000 Baht per person goes directly to the Baan Tha Din Deang Communyt Tourism Project. This money is used to pay for goods and services provided by the local villagers. Anything left over is used to fund other projects and improvements in the village.
The community project often donates time and money to environmental conservation projects around the village, such as planting mangrove trees. They also use the funds to help buy new equipment for the local school.
How do I book?
Booking a tour in Khao Lak is easy. Just follow these simple steps;
1. Choose the tour you want to book from the list and fill in the booking form.
2. We will then check availability and get back to you ASAP. If the date you chose is not available, we will offer you some alternative dates. We will also confirm the total cost and send you information on how to pay.
3. Follow the link we send you to make your payment. We have found that Wise is the easiest, most reliable and cheapest method of making international payments into Thailand.
4. Once we have received your payment we will send you and e-ticket as confirmation of your booking. All the details you will need will be printed on the ticket, but if you have any questions feel free to ask.
How do I pay?
Making international payments can be tricky and expensive. This is why we recommend using Wise. Unlike PayPal, Wise offers international transfers using the current exchange rates, with no additional mark-ups or hidden fees. The whole process takes just a few minutes. Simply follow these easy steps;
1. Click Here or follow the link we send you to create an account, or log in if you already have one.
2. Select “Send Money”.
3. Select “International” and choose the relivent currencies. (Our tours are priced in THB). All the relivent fees and exchange rates are automatically shown for you. Then click “Continue”
4. On the “Who are you sending Money to?” page, select “Buisness/Charity” and type in our email address. Our information is then filled in for you automatically. If you have any difficulty or require extra information just let us know.
5. Next you will need to fill in your account information.
6. The final step is to approve the payment.
More help can be found HERE.
Can all trips be made private?
YES! Each trip can be made private and personal for you. Simple click the “Private Tour” option when making your booking, and we will get back to you with a quote.
What if I need to cancel or change my booking?
Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for our full cancelation policy.
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