Forest to Fork: A Day in Rural Chiang Mai

Just outside Chiang Mai, the Mae Tha community farming collective is quietly doing something remarkable.

This isn’t your average ‘organic farm’ – it’s a collaborative network of small-scale farmers working together to access better markets, share knowledge, and transition to higher-value organic farming. Tourism is just one of their side projects, but it’s a meaningful one.

Visitors get a rare insight into this grassroots movement: you’ll explore forest trails and discover the traditional uses of local herbs and plants, then tuck into a cooked lunch prepared with traditional bamboo methods inside banana leaves – eaten with your hands, the way agricultural workers here still do.

You’ll visit several farms and learn about the unique techniques being used to adapt age-old farming practices for a modern, more sustainable future.

It’s a fascinating window into a different way of life, and a great reminder that sustainability and innovation don’t have to come at the cost of culture. Plus, you’ll be out in spectacular countryside, learning about nature from the people who know it best – and having a genuinely memorable day out while you’re at it.

What you’ll do

Walk through a community forest and learn how villagers live in tune with nature
Meet local farmers and hear how organic practices are transforming rural life
Share a bamboo-cooked lunch surrounded by lush northern Thai countryside