2 days/ 1 night with John Gray Sea Kayak

About the Trip

Join world renowned John “Caveman” Gray’s SeaCanoe for this fabulous trip in Phuket, Thailand. This new nighttime sea kayaking adventure explores the coastal lime caves and amplifies the serenity of early years by avoiding the daytime crowds. The trip combines kayaking, nature viewing, cultural experiences, and great local cuisine (but no farmed shrimp). John Gray’s SeaCanoe welcomes general adventurers seeking intimate marine experiences with silent sea kayaks.

Includes: transfer from Phuket hotel or airport, meals, guides, all equipment, national park entry fee.

Starting bid: $100

About the Organization

John Gray, known as Ling Yai (Big Monkey) to his friends - takes pride on being the Original kayak explorer and operator in each of his sites. (”If we are there, we are the first.”) The Big Monkey was doing OK before he formed his own company. (Caveman still owns the SeaCanoe trademark.) Gray’s economic demonstration project was a classic Ecotourism business model, and his local enfranchisement concept and stunning trips led to a string of six major Ecotourism Awards from 1995-99. “All I do is paddle into crazy places. If it’s interesting, I show it to my friends.”

Almost immediately after “Caveman” started “Natural History by Sea Kayak” in Hawai’i (1983), the World began to notice the effort. Gray teamed with Gary Sprinkle and Mike May to produce “Moloka’i’s Forgotten Frontier”, and won a 1985 EMMY award. The honors continue right up to the National Geographic Adventure Magazine giving SeaCanoe Vietnam a “World Top 25 Adventures” listing.

Now you can truly put yourself into your own “Natural History by Sea Kayak” documentary in Thailand, Vietnam, Fiji, Philippines and Hawai’i. The combination of experienced guides, new equipment and creative freedom takes you to new levels for even a “Ling Yai”.

Learn more about John Gray Sea Kayak.

4 days/3 nights with Responsible Ecological Social Tours Project (REST)

About the Auction

Travel with REST, Thailand’ acclaimed community-based ecotourism organization from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi Island. Stay with a Thai family in a fishing village, enjoy delicious and healthy local cuisine, experience the richness of local culture, and watch fishermen cast their nets into the Andaman Sea. You are invited to join an eye opening, soul enriching, thought provoking, and possibly life changing travel experience!

Includes: accommodations, meals, transfer from Phuket Airport, local transport, guided tours.

Awards: World Legacy Award for Destination Stewardship, National Geographic and Conservation International, 2002

Starting bid: $250

Imagine visiting a local fishing village, joining the fishers out at sea, and casting your net into the crystal blue seas of the Andaman… Imagine staying in a local home with a Thai family and sharing your cultures, lives and laughter…

In Koh Yao Noi Island, Phang Nga province, 85% of the locals are seafarers, relying upon fishing to sustain themselves and their families. Their colorful boats have become symbols of Southern Thailand, and their close relationship with the ocean is legendary. Koh Yao Noi community are also famous throughout the world for their active commitment to coastal conservation. 11 years ago, REST Project Thailand teamed up with the Community based Ecotourism club of Koh Yao Noi to develop a unique small-scale tourism program. This experience won the hearts of travelers searching for an authentic cross-cultural experience, the attention of the world media for the community’s outstanding conservation work, and in 2002, the World Legacy Award for Destination Stewardship, presented to Koh Yao Noi and REST Project by National Geographic Traveler and Conservation International.

Please be aware that ‘Communuty based Tourism is a local experience. Our local hosts have 10 years of experience taking care of guests, and the food provided by REST’s local partners is delicious, healthy and authentic… Fresh Sea Food Guaranteed. Tea, Coffee and biscuits in the morning are also available. However, western food is not available as an alternative for lunch and dinner. Please note that Koh Yao Noi is a Muslim island and the villagers kindly request visitors not to consume alcohol - we promise that you will still have a great time and won’t miss it.

About the Organization

REST is a Thai NGO with over 11 years of hands-on experience assisting local Thai communities to develop and promote their own Community Based Tourism (CBT) programs. CBT programs are developed to support needs-based community development objectives. REST have extensive experience providing training and support at every stage of CBT development. At community level, our expertise includes feasibility studies; needs assessment; group building; the planning and development of CBT services; and M & E. At national and international levels, we assist partner communities to market their products. In addition, REST deliver professional Training for Trainers programs and consultancy services to local communities, government offices and NGO’s. We also work together closely with partners in the tourism industry, academics and media.

For over a decade, REST have pioneered Community based Tourism (CBT) in Thailand. The CBT participatory development process is designed to empower local communities and contribute towards holistic community development and improved quality of life: socio-cultural, economic, and environmental. Participating in CBT has delivered many benefits to local Thai communities and the environment. These benefits include: additional income from tourism activities; equitable income distribution (through CBT management, revolving funds and rotation); a funding source for local community and environmental projects; improved natural resource management and increased environmental awareness and commitment among local hosts and CBT guests; ongoing community skills development (e.g.: planning, reaching consensus, communication, management, accounting and ‘green product’ production); and an enjoyable social activity. CBT is also a vibrant forum for cultural expression, and cultural exchange has boosted the self-confidence of local people.

Recent Awards

• The World Legacy Award, 2002, presented by National Geographic Traveler and Conservation International.
• Our local community partners in Koh Yao Noi received the National Kinare Thailand Tourism Award in 2001 and 2003.

For more information visit the REST website.

15 days/14 nights with Intrepid Travel

About the Auction

See the best that Thailand has to offer – beautiful destinations, tradition and culture, some active trekking and, of course, the super-friendly Thai people. Northern Thailand is one of the greatest adventure destinations on the planet and Intrepid Travel makes the most of it – with the hill tribes, on the rivers, and in the villages, and always traveling very responsibly. You’ll travel by train, cycle-rickshaw, longtail boat, elephant, rice barge, minibus, “songthaew”, and local bus. And we are sure you will love this Intrepid favorite!

Includes: accommodation in community homestays, some meals, guides, local ground transportation

Awards:

• 1999 Environmental Achievement Award for commitment to culturally and environmentally responsible travel in Asia.
• 2001 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards
• Currently short-listed for the 2006 Tourism For Tomorrow Awards, Global Tourism Business Award.

Starting bid: $400

About the Organization 

With a maximum group size of 12, Intrepid trips are operated in a way that both respects and benefits local people, their culture and the environment. Intrepid utilizes local transport and locally-owned hotels and employ local guides, ensuring the tourism income remains within the community. This philosophy also enables group members to get to know and positively interact with local people. Intrepid’s commitment to responsible travel reaches from its Melbourne head office to its destinations, where the company’s group leaders work in partnership with local guides to practise and encourage sustainable tourism principles amongst its travelers and local communities.

Since Intrepid commenced in 1989, we have given back to the communities in which we travel by supporting many local conservation and welfare projects. The Intrepid Foundation was established in 2002 to increase this support and provide an appropriate framework and process to receive, manage and distribute funds donated by Intrepid Travel and by individual travelers.

The Intrepid Foundation currently supports over 30 projects in health care, education, human rights, child welfare and in environmental and wildlife protection. Intrepid Travel matches travelers’ donations dollar for dollar and entirely funds the administration costs so that 100% of public donations reach the nominated program or project. In the last 18 months more than AU$500,000 has been disbursed to beneficiaries. Approximately AU$234,000 raised from Intrepid travelers, and AU$267,000 donated by Intrepid Travel.

Learn more about Intrepid Travel.