Thailand just launched 10 hiking schools to teach responsible trekking — good news for anyone hitting the trails

Not Phangan-specific, but genuinely relevant if you're doing any of our own hiking trails or planning a national park stop elsewhere in Thailand as part of the same trip. 🥾

What launched

Thailand's Department of National Parks (DNP) opened 10 "Khon Doen Pa" ("hiking people") schools on July 31, 2026, aimed at training "conservation hiking instructors" with real knowledge, skills and the right attitude toward protected forest areas. Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin presided over the launch, unveiling the Khon Doen Pa symbol and presenting ecotourism-classroom signage to the national parks whose staff had completed the instructor course.

What they're actually teaching

The curriculum centres on Leave No Trace principles — trip planning before you go, proper waste management, respecting wildlife, and generally minimising impact on both nature and fellow hikers. The explicit goal is cutting down on accidents, waste and ecological damage in protected forest areas, which have seen real strain as hiking tourism has grown across Thailand.

Why we're flagging it

The DNP has said it plans to expand these ecotourism classrooms to more parks over time. If you're combining a Phangan trip with a mainland stop that includes a national park hike — Khao Sok is a common one from this region — this is the kind of program worth asking your guide or park office about. And it's a good general reminder for our own trails too: pack out what you pack in, stick to marked paths, and treat Khao Ra or the Bottle Beach trek with the same respect you'd want from every other hiker on it.