Travel news - Eco tourism and national parks in Thailand

Family weekend biking, kayaking

The rainy season is a good time to explore nature. Mae Wong National Park straddling Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet provinces is a good weekend outing if you are seeking greenery not too far from Bangkok.

Recently, it introduced a new recreation, kayaking, at Mae Rewa Forest Protection Unit in Mae Wong District of Nakhon Sawan.

A company by the name of Fuji operates kayaking service in Mae Wong stream, not far from the forestry unit. This is the ideal time to travel there as the stream is full and flowers beginning to bloom in the park.

Fuji operates kayaking service along a seven-kilometre stretch of the stream characterised by gentle rapids, fit for families with children. The company provides sleek crafts that are hauled to the starting point, some four kilometres from the forestry unit. It takes kayakers about an hour of paddling to get from the starting point to the forestry office depending on current in the stream.

The ride is pleasant and the setting natural. The route is perfect for beginners. But if you are a seasoned kayaker, stay away because you are not going to enjoy it.

"Things have changed. Previously, there's nothing interesting in the park," commented a local resident. "Now the park is lovely. There are tourist facilities and the beautiful stream."

According to park chief Pruek Sono, the landscape has been redone and campsite expanded to accommodate nature lovers and young travellers wishing to spend the night in the park.

The campsite is full of tall trees tress, all labelled with their botanical as well as names by which they are generally known. One name that seemed familiar to me was the Tectona grandis or teak.

Visitors can also bicycle along various trails in the morning or late afternoon. The one I took was a five-kilometre stretch through a deciduous forest to a dyke and it was fascinating. Also recommended is a steep ascent to Mo E-hued that has a viewpoint 315 metres above sea level. Walking there we saw colourful flowers carpeting the park floor. It was an exhausting climb, and although the view turned out to be a let-down it was good morning exercise nonetheless.

If you are looking for longer distances, there are three other trails from the forestry office to Lan Chom Dao (10 km), Khao Lak Kop (five kilometres) and Mo E-hued (two kilometres).

Meanwhile, seasoned trekkers can look forward to Mokuchu, 1,946 metres above sea level. It is a 32-km-long stretch and the round-trip can take five days. It is better to do it from the Kamphaeng Phet side of the park.

There are other trails leading to Mae Rewa, Mae Kee, Mae Krasa waterfalls, all within 25-28-km range. They are open to public from November to the end of January when the weather is dry and temperature cooler, inviting trekkers within their embrace.

MORE INFO

For those interested in kayaking Fuji (02-918-6067/8) offers a two-day programme from Bangkok.

You can get to Mae Rewa Forest Protection Unit via Nakhon Sawan's Lat Yao and Klong Lan districts.

Tents and clean toilets are available at the forestry unit.In addition, there are two lodges.

Homestay tourists check up Ban Pak Kad at the entrance of the park or call Dr Kanok at 04-816-3955.
Bangkok Post October 2005 www.bangkokpost.com