Thailand

Thailand

How this holiday makes a difference

We work only with local businesses. The resort is locally owned and run and uses only local staff. The services included during your stay, meals, the sunset snorkelling trip and the other optional activities offered are all run by local staff.

The dive shop we associate with are actively involved in the Reef Check programme. This is a survey that looks at the quality of the world’s reefs. We also provide information on the tsunami in 2004 and show how local communities are helping to continue to improve things. We can show you the areas that were damaged the most and you will have opportunities to talk with locals and foreigners living on the island at the time on the effect the waves had on the small community. You can donate money to small business and there is always opportunity to volunteer in the ongoing work on the island. Most of the volunteer work has been completed but there is always room for more.

We also operate reef-clean up dives and there are monthly beach clean ups that we encourage guests to participate in. For those interested in the underwater environment we offer eco-tours of the fragile marine system where you can learn about marine preservation. These are run through an adventure club who have an exciting Shark Watch program and who also offer eco tours on land. Guests coming on the trip will no doubt see the effects of man and nature on this island. Your guide will speak with you on how waste is managed on this isolated island and how you can assist with this and with conserving water. Koh Ngai Island is a marine park and the fees which are included in your trip go to the protection of this fragile environment.

As a company we donate 10% of our annual profit to Tsunami affected regions. We operate as a paperless office and have strict recycling policies.

As a thank you for coming on our holiday we will plant a tree in a new forest we've started in Niger, Africa to conquer desertification. Guests will receive a certificate and will have the opportunity to learn more about the project and to monitor their tree, which will be named after them.

As of September 2008, we off-set the carbon emissions for return flights within Europe, and we off-set the emissions for the outward flight of any Europe to Asia flights if the guest offset the return journey. Guests will also receive a certificate for this.

Thailand

Reviewed 25 Aug 2008 by Neil Harvey

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Koh Ngai is an ideal escape from modern life - no cars and no roads. You wake to the sound of the sea and the wind in the trees and that continues all day long. We were upgraded to Tarwapin Resort - beautiful. Absolute bliss!!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Although this was the wet season, we had 6 days of sunshine, only the last day rained non-stop, but was great to just chill out.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Food was bought from Trang (nearest town on the mainland) or sourced locally from the fishermen and brought to the island by local fishermen. Any trips were led by local staff and boats crewed by local people. Electricity was limited to the hours of 5pm to 10am the following day.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Fantastic experience - would definitely recommend the holiday and the company to others.

Reviewed 20 Nov 2007 by Anne-Marie Schumann

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Padi Open Water at Blue View Divers. The way they receive their guests and treat their local employees. They make you feel special!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

This is not a fancy place. It’s clean, friendly and simple. Prepare yourself for frogs, bats and geckos. Flip flops are the only shoes you need.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

I feel local people benefited. Small businesses where used for laundry, cocking classes, boat trips etc.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Fantastic! Lovely people. Keira our excellent yoga teacher is the best. She made us want to get up at 6.30 am for your first yoga of the day. Highly recommended!