As travellers seek more meaningful travel experiences in Thailand, one name consistently stands out: Local Alike. Whether you’re looking for a day trip from Bangkok, a cultural immersion in northern Thailand or a nature-focused journey in the south, Local Alike offers experiences that enrich your travels while empowering communities.
As a pioneer of community-based tourism (CBT), the company has spent over a decade helping visitors connect with Thailand’s rural and urban communities in a respectful, mutually beneficial manner. For responsible travellers who want their trip to make a positive impact while learning about culture and the local way of life, Local Alike is a great option.
Travel as a force for good
Local Alike’s story began in 2011, when Thai social entrepreneur Somsak ‘Pai’ Boonkam returned home from working abroad and saw first-hand how many young people were leaving their villages to seek low-paid work in Bangkok. He believed that tourism could be a tool for change by generating direct income for the people who needed it most. This idea evolved into a fully fledged social enterprise in 2013.
“Over the past 13 years, we have gradually seen income, hope, and opportunity grow in communities across the country.
Travellers return home with full hearts, and the communities stand strong with their own power.
This is the power of meaningful travel… and it is the heart of what we have always believed in.”
– Somsak ‘Pai’ Boonkam
Local Alike has always aimed to use travel as a force for social and economic development, helping Thai communities “grow from within.” Local Alike recognised that village knowledge, heritage, crafts and food traditions were valuable cultural assets that could be shared with visitors in ways that preserved, rather than disrupted, local life. Instead of imposing tourism from the outside, they helped communities take ownership of their own experiences, ensuring that the benefits stayed where they mattered.
By working with communities across Thailand, we turn local wisdom and ways of life into meaningful journeys that create real impact for people, culture, and the planet.
Local Alike
Local Alike collaborates with numerous communities across Thailand, generating tens of millions of baht in direct income for local people. Their programmes support everything from tour design and homestay development to training, financial planning and community fund creation. This long-term partnership model is one of the reasons the company has been widely celebrated, winning national awards and receiving a 5-star sustainable tourism rating from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Travel experiences that make a difference
Local Alike specialises in co-creating travel experiences with communities. These trips are designed to showcase local ways of life, traditional crafts, natural environments and cultural heritage in a respectful, small-scale format. The aim is not only to bring in travellers but also to protect traditions, support environmental stewardship and provide more stable livelihoods.
We don’t just bring visitors to communities; we build those communities to be ready. We co-create experiences with local people, ensuring every activity reflects their identity and benefits them directly.
Local Alike
A key part of their model is ensuring fair and transparent income distribution. A significant share of each tour’s revenue stays within the host community, and many villages choose to allocate part of the earnings to a community fund used for shared projects such as educational support, environmental conservation or temple maintenance. This ensures tourism benefits the whole community and not just a few individuals.
Another pillar of Local Alike’s mission is cultural preservation. As many Thai villages face rapid change, cultural fading and the loss of traditional skills, the company works closely with elders, artisans and local leaders to revive crafts, protect food heritage and maintain knowledge that might otherwise disappear. By sharing these skills with visitors through hands-on workshops, communities gain the confidence and resources to continue traditions for future generations.
A perfect fit for responsible travellers
Local Alike has become a trusted choice among travellers who value ethical, authentic and low-impact tourism. Their experiences are designed with responsible travel principles at the core. The result is a deeper, more meaningful journey. Instead of being passive observers, visitors become active participants in local life and can learn, share and connect in ways that benefit both sides.
Travel with meaning.
When a journey is about more than just the destination.
Community-led
Local hosts decide what to offer, how tours should run and how income is distributed. This ensures experiences are genuine, culturally respectful and tailored to each village’s capacity.
Positive economic impact
By keeping earnings within the community, tourism helps create local jobs and reduces outward migration, allowing families to stay together while building a future at home.
Environmental stewardship
Many partner communities protect forests, restore natural areas or use tourism income to support conservation projects.
Small-group experiences
Tours prioritise immersion, interaction and slow travel, providing a responsible alternative to mass tourism that overwhelms fragile destinations.
Book a Local Alike trip
Local Alike’s trips span the country, from the urban heart of Bangkok to the mountains of northern Thailand.
Bangkok
One of Local Alike’s most innovative programmes brings travellers into Khlong Toei, a vibrant yet largely overlooked neighbourhood in central Bangkok. You can meet community members, sample home-cooked dishes, and participate in jasmine-garland workshops. Your visit supports Khlong Toei residents and grassroots initiatives while allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of urban social issues.
Local Alike has also designed a cultural tourism experience under the concept of ‘Perfect Stranger.’ This immersive journey allows you to discover Bangkok from a different perspective, both during the day and at night.
Chiang Mai
Visitors can explore villages such as Ban Mae Mae or Khun Chang Kian, where they learn about sustainable coffee and tea farming, join forest walks with local guides and take part in craft workshops led by Karen, Hmong or Lanna artisans. These experiences highlight the region’s deep connection to nature and traditional knowledge.
Kanchanaburi
In Nong Rong village, travellers can learn about medicinal plants, conservation and traditional crafts, including bamboo weaving or jewellery-making from forest vines. This trip showcases how communities restore and protect their natural surroundings while creating new income opportunities.
Southern Thailand
Local Alike also partners with communities in Southern Thailand, including Songkhla and Phuket, offering food-centred journeys, village walks, storytelling experiences and creative workshops that reveal the rich diversity of Thai culture beyond the typical tourist trails.
Find out more by visiting Local Alike’s website and social media channels:
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Photos: Local Alike Facebook page
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