As more of a budget backpacker, I do a large percentage of activities independently. However, in some cases It’s necessary to join a tour or hire a guide. It will be an obligation or a conscious choice. Either way, If you plan accordingly it’s worth the expense.
Before I list my 5 favorite tours, I’d like to preface it with this:
I’ve lost all of the photos related to some of the things I’m going to mention. In the past I was very careless with my belongings. I say that to say this. Don’t be an idiot like me. Being irresponsible can be tragic.
To the list!
Chilling With Elephants
Chiang Mai, Thailand
In northern Thailand, more specifically around Chiang Mai, sustainable eco-tourism is a signature. There you’ll find a lot of cool places, including sanctuaries for rescued Elephants. This is a stark contrast from the circus life of abused elephants in other parts of the country. After a lot of research, I decided to visit a small village in the countryside inhabited by the Karen Hill Tribe, who have basically cared for a few wild elephants for years.
The intimate tour consisted of meeting the giant creatures and spending a half day with them, accompanying them on their daily routine. After feeding them some fruits in our friendly introduction, our first activity was a stroll together down a trail in the jungle where the elephants wrapped their trunks around tree branches and yanked them down to munch on the leaves, essentially manicuring the jungle by eating it. I was shocked by the sheer power of their trunks and how much they ate.
It was gratifying to see the animals were not rushed, moving at their own pace. Previously I had not known how elephants assist in the maintenance of their habitat. It was enlightening to witness.
Slowly we ventured to a nearby river and bathed the elephants. It was truly a remarkable experience. Just picture giving happy elephants a bath in a river and gently playing with them in the water. It’s literally what dreams are made of.
After the play session ended we sat down for lunch and had a platter of deliciously refreshing fruits and other Thai delicacies. If you’ve ever been to Thailand you know the food is super fresh. It was a nice way to end the tour.
When it was all said and done, I left deeply satisfied, pleased to know that the elephants were treated with respect. I understand perfectly that they are a tool utilized by the tribe to earn money, but they are essentially still wild and not exploited. They’ve just developed a symbiotic friendship with tribe, becoming kind of like wild pets.
Till this day I consider it possibly one of the most memorable things I had ever done. Highly recommended!
Mekong Delta and Popped Rice
Southern Vietnam
This was my introduction to rice wine with snake venom, jackfruit trees, and popped rice. The Mekong Delta, known as the “rice bowl,” is an intricate network of rivers, canals, and swamps in southwest Vietnam. Along the channels are intriguing floating markets, lush orchards, and distinct culture. All life in this region revolves around the water.
My tour started on a boat with about 10 people, cruising at high speeds through the vast river in the low lying wetlands. Eventually the vastness broke off into veins of narrow flooded channels. It was beautifully swampy and mysterious, like a giant snake was ready to appear. As we floated along, we came across tiny floating markets selling food and crafts, including traditional hats that were made of dried plant material.
Things got progressively more exciting as we stopped at an orchard and nursery. One thing you should know about me is I love trees, especially FRUIT TREES. I fell in love when I came into contact with a Jackfruit tree. I had no idea how the fruits actually grew on the tree. I was amazed. Moving on, we ended up at a shop that sold different infusions of homemade rice wine, each providing some type of ‘medicinal’ quality.
(I specifically remember banana rice wine, a sleep aid, and snake venom rice wine, an aphrodisiac)
At the same shop, they did a presentation of the making of puffed/popped rice (like popcorn but rice). It was awesome! Rice is thrown into a humongous wok with hot black sand and cooked over a high heat to create a crunchy rice treat. Super interesting.
The tour for me checked all of the boxes for me. The Mekong Delta is one of a kind.
Making My Own Chocolate Bar
Antigua, Guatemala
At ChocoMuseo, right next to the main plaza in Antigua, there is a 2-hour long bean-to-bar workshop, during which, the entire process of making an artisanal chocolate bar is covered. The establishment is a staple in the town, and an expert in the world of cacao products.
To begin, it class takes you through the interesting origins of Cacao in Guatemala and Peru and its cultural importance. Next, there is a process of preparing and tasting drinks like the Maya and Conquistadores used to. This is followed by an overview of the conversion process to what we know as chocolate, starting with the Cacao plant in the jungle and the fermentation of the beans.
Along the way, you experience hands-on techniques for grinding, mixing, tempering, and molding your own chocolate bar, doing tastings in the meantime. It’s a comprehensive lesson in Cacao, punctually done in a timely fashion (I hate when things drag on forever). The presentation moved along seamlessly, and kept my attention.
All of us in the class took turns grinding and roasting the beans after introducing ourselves, which was a good ice breaker. I really enjoyed the warm atmosphere and the interactive aspect of the activities. We were all consistently participating to whatever was happening; we were all in it together trying to make good chocolate.
For the finale, everyone was supplied with of a selection of ingredients to to add to our recently concocted chocolate base. Your custom bars are then allowed to cool, harden, and are ready to be wrapped and taken home. Mission Accomplished!
Coffee at Finca El Ocaso
Salento, Colombia
I learned so much about coffee from this place that I’ve turned into a bougie coffee drinker. Colombia is a microcosm of quality, and the coffee around here is no exception. While visiting the town of Salento, I took a tour with Finca El Ocaso located in the lush green hillside.
Without taking too much of your time, let me just tell you that this tour is extremely educative. There is no stone unturned. During the exploration of the property, we were first taught about the coffee plant itself, including its varieties and origins.
We hand harvested coffee berries, learned about the 3 principal drying methods in Colombia (super interesting), brewing specifics, strict quality control in selecting the best beans, machinery both old and new, everything. The history of coffee was covered all while we toured the beautiful landscape of this family farm with a rich history.
Something i learned pertaining to this farm and the specific coffee region was about the hybrid plants that are now cultivated as a result of crossbreeding. This was done to combat disease in the aftermath of a devastating infestation that wiped out most of the coffee crops years ago. The tour was filled with curious bits of information that left me with a much clearer understanding of coffee and its role, both locally and worldwide, socially and economically.
With beautiful green hills as its backdrop, this beautiful finca did not disappoint. I really appreciated the craftsmanship and attention to excellence exhibited to produce such a quality product. On the other hand, learning about the mainstream coffee industry, mass machine production, deforestation, and exploitation left me a little disappointed in humanity.
Before I departed, I made sure to purchase a bag of coffee beans, the perfect souvenir.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
- Salt Cathedral audio tour (Bogotá, Colombia)
- Night street food tour (Bangkok, Thailand)
- Tikal National Park Sunrise Tour (Guatemala)
