I miss travelling in Thailand, something that I was lucky enough to do regularly while contributing to the Tourism Authority of Thailand blog for years. It was therefore exciting to read about the reopening of the Anurak Community Lodge, an award-winning ecotourism experience in southern Thailand.
The 19-unit nature retreat, which won the PATA Grand Award for Sustainability in 2020, and is Travelife Gold certified, officially reopens with room enhancements, a refreshed food and beverage menu – including southern ‘jungle’ dinners – and new guest activities, such as hiking the Anurak Trail, cycling, and guest participation in the ecolodge’s ‘Rainforest Rising’ reforestation project. Anurak Lodge is a fully functioning basecamp offering quality ecotourism experiences in an area adjacent to the mountainous Khao Sok National Park.
Guests can plant indigenous tree saplings as part of Anurak’s Rainforest Rising project, which was created by Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration and Research Unit. The project is supported by Khao Sok National Park authorities. The aim is to foster plantlife diversity to encourage pollination and feeding by insects, birds and mammals such as civets and badgers. For its reopening, Anurak has also signposted the Anurak Trail, a one-kilometre circular hike starting and finishing at the lodge. It takes around 45 minutes to complete and passes massive fig trees, bamboo and vine groves. The path enters a small cave and finishes with a walk through coffee and rubber plantations.
On food and beverage, Anurak’s new menu draws inspiration from local southern Thai traditions. It includes dishes such as yellow fish curry (pla tuptim), stir fried pork with yellow curry paste (kua kling moo), shrimp paste sauce with vegetables fried egg and fish (nam prik kapi), chicken soup with turmeric (gai tom kamin), and spicy vegetable salad (yam puk kut). Trips to Anurak Lodge in Khao Sok are often combined with visits to beach destinations such as Khao Lak, Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket, all of which are relatively close by. An overview of Anurak’s Travelife sustainability credentials can be viewed here.
About Anurak Community Lodge
Located a 75-minute drive from Surat Thani airport, 2 hrs 30 mins from Phuket airport and 2 hrs from Krabi airport, Anurak Community Lodge is an award-winning eco-retreat for active lifestyle visitors who respect nature and local community traditions. The 19-key lodge offers Deluxe Green Double, Eco Double, Eco Twin options, plus one Superior Safari Tent. Surrounded by spectacular limestone karst scenery, the lodge is an ideal base to explore adjacent Khao Sok National Park and majestic Chiew Larn Lake. Anurak Community Lodge is Travelife Gold Certified. Full information and booking at AnurakLodge.com.
About YAANA Ventures
YAANA Ventures is an owner, partner and operator of entrepreneurial travel and hospitality ventures in Asia. YAANA distinguishes itself by sharing real experiences that are grounded in the cultural richness of Asia. The company is the champion of the triple bottom-line: people, planet, profit. It empowers its ventures with the values to nurture the people with whom it works. Visit http://yaana-ventures.com/.
Personally, when I get back to Thailand, this will be topping my to-do list.
** Info and images supplied.
