Ban Pha Mee: Community Wisdoms to Tourism Destination
❄️Winter is calling, are you ready?❄️
DASTA invites you for a coffee at Ban Pha Mee Community in Mae Sai District and Chiang Rai Province – a sustianble community-based tourism destination rooted in ethnic Akha culture, sustianable aricultural history, and famous Doi Pha Mee Coffee.
[The community used to cultivated opium as main occupation, but changed to sustainbly planting of coffee and other cash-crops
with the supports and guidance of Doi Tung Development Project (Royal Initiative), leading to sustainable and improved quality of life.]
The President of Doi Pha Mee Coffee Community Enterprise stated that other than cultivating coffee, the community also provides processed coffee products as well as a local café with creative activity for visitors to enjoy – brew your own coffee (drip coffee) with bamboo tube activity and Akha cuisine cooking class activity. One of the must visit spot for check-in is Doi Pha Mee Coffee café, it is a favorite spot for visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee while admire a beautiful mountainous landscape.
Some of the available tourism activities:
- Learn traditional way of cultivating Akha Coffee
- Brew your own coffee (drip coffee) with bamboo tube
- Join Akha cuisine cooking class
- Join Akha cultural performance
- Learn traditional way of Akha weaving and embroidery
- Harvest seasonal fruits
- Saba Seed Painting
- Walk natural route "Huai Nam Dan Waterway"
Full of cultural and natural charms, Ban Pha Mee Community is one of the main destinations on the Chiang Rai Geopark’s routes connecting geological and natural wonders of the province, such as Tham Luang Khun Nam Nang Non National Park, Tham Luang Cave, and Pa Tueng Hot Spring, increasing tourist movement in the area. This Geopark is aiming towards becoming a Global Geoparks Network (GGN) in the future, showcasing local uniqe beauties to global audiences.
[Locals in vibrant and intricate Akha cultural attire demonstrating the process of havesting and selecting coffee beans.]
[Beatiful embriodery works of Akha ethnic group.]
Ban Pha Mee Community was also one of the important elements that contribute to the announcement of Chiang Rai Province as a member of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) – City of Design in 2023. A Creative City of Design is a city that showcases its design outstandingly in various aspects, such as gastronomy, crafts, art, architecture, design, and urban development. As a Creative City of Design, Chiang Rai boosts vibrant and unique designs, products, and cultural initiatives that rooted in nature, ethnicity, and arts – particularly Lanna culture and local artistic traditions.
This year (2025), DASTA, Chiang Rai Province, and all relevant stakeholders is looking forwards to continue developing and elevating communities’ creative tourism activities to achieve international standards in line with development guideline of the UCCN.
❄️See you at Ban Pha Mee! ❄️
[Made from fresh local ingredients, seasonal herbs, and vegetables, Akha cuisine is both delicious and healthy.]
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