... traditional practices is something the team are passionate about. From textile weaving or tea blending with indigenous groups to heritage walks with local historians. Tripseed focuses on small-scale, respectful engagements that celebrate culture while preserving it. All tour guides are comprehensively trained in sensitive cultural interpretation, and the business seeks out partnerships that protect identity and dignity for local communities.
Tripseed (DMC)
Thailand, Asia
Tripseed (DMC)
Thailand, Asia
‘Experience the richness of Thailand through ethical, immersive journeys rooted in local culture and driven by social impact.’
Scroll down to explore Tripseed’s community-led experiences, meet your hosts, OR explore Tripseed’s impact to date in the leaf tab. From Community, to Climate, and Conservation, all the information is there to guide you.
Overview
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Highlights
From the misty mountains of the north to the beaches of the south, curated journeys throughout Thailand.
Tripseed is leading the way for inclusive travel in Thailand. Tailored trips for elderly, disabled & mobility-impaired travellers are widely available.
Registered as a social purpose business and member of the Social Enterprise Thailand Association.
Many operators claim a local presence, but ownership & decision-making lie elsewhere. Tripseed is different.
Local ownership builds trust and Tripseed’s long-standing relationships open doors to unique experiences.
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Top Tip For Your Stay…
‘Don’t let outdated ideas of Thailand as a “cheap” destination shape expectations – ethical, immersive, culturally-rich travel has value. If we’re privileged enough to travel, lets’ make it count with trips that uplift communities as much as guests.’
Disconnect To Reconnect…
Trek through jungle trails and raft along winding rivers as you immerse in Akha hill tribe culture.
Discover Thai cuisine alongside a local, expert chef in Chiang Mai’s peaceful countryside for an immersive farm-to-table experience.
Step into Thailand’s performing arts with a private khon mask-making workshop—where master artists help you shape tradition into art.
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Meet Your Hosts
Tripseed was born from a shared love for Thailand and a desire to do things differently. Inspired by their experiences with inequality and gender bias in the workplace, Ewan, June (Suphawadi), and Nat (Narissara) came together during the global pandemic.
With deep roots in the tourism industry, they reimagined travel in Thailand – placing purpose, community, and integrity at the heart of every journey.
As a majority locally owned and women-led business, Tripseed champions transparency and impact in an industry where profits too often flow offshore. When travel supports the people who call a place home, it helps protect what makes it truly special – for generations to come.
They are also members of Social Enterprise Thailand.
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Transformative Travel Experiences
Tripseed caters to all types of travellers. Unique to them are the exclusive tours tailored for elderly and disabled travellers. Leading the way for inclusive travel in Thailand, many experiences have been designed from the ground up.
From Forest & Farm to Table: Discover Chiang Mai’s highlands with forest walks, a herbal foot bath and a home-cooked meal. Hosted by a women-led cooperative, experience tradition and storytelling like never before – offering a glimpse into rural life and the wisdom of living in harmony with nature.
Phuket Local Living: A Taste of Tradition: Step into the rhythms of rural Phuket. From harvesting pineapples to painting batik and crafting Thai desserts, every moment is led by local hosts – celebrating tradition, supporting livelihoods. Keeping the money in the pockets of local people.
From Trash to Treasure: Turn the tide on marine waste in this hands-on, heart-led workshop. Guided by a local designer and conservation advocate, transform ocean plastic into meaningful keepsakes.
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Need-to-Know
In an industry increasingly shaped by offshore interests, Tripseed stands apart as guardians of their homeland. Thailand is where the Co-Founders’ families live. With generational ties to the community that run deep and inform every decision Tripseed make, this DMC has a unique and profound personal stake in preserving Thailand’s natural beauty, culture, people and future.
Low season travel in Thailand is underrated: Many travellers worry that the rainy season means constant rain, but this is rarely the case. Monsoon rains are typically short, intense downpours that pass quickly. Lower prices and fewer crowds make this a great time to visit.
Avoid travel to Northern Thailand from mid-March to mid-May: This period is known for hazardous air quality due to widespread agricultural burning. Visibility and air pollution levels can make travel uncomfortable and even unsafe for sensitive groups.
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Location
Tripseed is a locally-owned travel operator based in Chang Mai, Thailand.Getting To Thailand
For those who believe the journey shapes the experience as much as the destination itself, choosing to travel overland or by sea is a great option. These slower journeys may take longer – weeks from Europe – but they foster new stories, unexpected lessons, and new perspectives that flying doesn’t.
Yet, flying isn’t always avoidable. That’s where thoughtful choices on the ground become even more powerful. Embracing a plant-based diet whilst away is a simple yet impactful way to reduce the carbon associated with a trip. It’s also an opportunity to engage with local flavours and traditions in a memorable way.
Gallery
Leaf Rating
2-leaf status
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Community-LedTripseed co-creates with local artisans, community leaders, and cultural experts to ensure genuine, locally-led representations of culture. Providing transformative experiences for BOTH hosts and guests. Providing economic support to preserve...
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Tackling Tourism Leakage70% owned and led by Thai women, with 66.6% of the senior leadership team identifying as women and 66.6% as local. Tripseed is majority ‘locally-owned’ based on Thai nationality or citizenship, while also recognising stateless people...Read More >>
... ethnic minorities, and indigenous groups as local. Tripseed is proud to be a locally and women-owned business, which proactively supports gender equity in a sector historically dominated by foreign ownership. At least 50% of Tripseed's profits are reinvested into building fairer, more inclusive outcomes through tourism. Tripseed exists to drive systemic change by advancing gender equity and creating real economic opportunity for local communities.
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Inclusive TravelThe Tripseed team have long been committed to breaking down barriers, and are recognised for leading the way. Their guests can enjoy a city tour or street food experience in a fully electric Tuk-Tuk, specially outfitted with a built-in wheelchair ramp...Read More >>
... and unique wheelchair restraint system, a first in the industry. Beyond physical disabilities, Tripseed offers specialised guides that are trained in American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL) and Thai Sign Language (TSL & MSTSL), as well as guides trained to assist with any other audio-visual impairments. Travellers may also choose to experience a snorkelling or diving experience alongside a Dive Master fully certified by Disabled Divers International, or a private tour through 200 acres of botanical gardens in a vehicle fully equipped for accessibility, alongside many more specially designed accessible touring options.
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Cultural ConnectionWhen a DMC is rooted in place, the tour and travel experience is curated through the eyes of those who call it home. Knowing the best-known temples or beaches is not enough. Tripseed understands the subtle seasonal rhythms of a place, knows the emerging neighbourhoods...Read More >>
... the community-led initiatives, and are able to communicate to their guests the cultural nuances that mass tourism overlooks. For example, Tripseed invites guests to step away from the hustle and bustle to pedal through Bangkok’s unexpected green oasis, far from the skyscrapers. This unique cycling adventure explores lush mangroves and vibrant local communities, with their own story.
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Conservation & BiodiversityBy designing low-impact tours, and working closely with local partners that support regenerative agriculture, organic farming, and forest restoration, Tripseed is finding innovative ways to contribute. By prioritising experiences that...Read More >>
... actively contribute to ecosystem recovery, such as mangrove replanting and community-led conservation projects. Beyond minimising harm, Tripseed aims to create net-positive impact by embedding nature-based solutions into tourism experiences and supporting local restoration efforts.
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Ethical Wildlife TourismTripseed supports and recommends observation ONLY wildlife experiences. While direct-contact activities like elephant riding, bathing, and feeding remain common in Thailand, Tripseed actively guides partners away from them, to raise awareness...Read More >>
... Tripseed proactively raises awareness of the social issues often ignored, which go on behind the scenes of wildlife tourism - such as the unsafe working conditions, low pay, and lack of rights faced by mahouts and indigenous elephant handlers in particular - ensuring both animal and human dignity are respected.
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Empowered EmploymentTripseed has eliminated the gender pay gap at equal levels of seniority and apply gender-responsive procurement alongside their Economic Distribution Disclosure framework to prioritise support for other local women...Read More >>
... Tripseed is committed to an annual guide training, and community capacity-building training, as well as the 'Economic Distribution Disclosure framework' - which ensures tourism revenue benefits are widely shared. One gap identified is: providing more learning resources to support the team’s knowledge, learning and development, which is now being tackled through a new LMS system with video masterclasses, and learning resources provided by Kiwano Tourism. Tripseed has established fair working conditions for all employees, providing a minimum of 20 days annual leave. A stark contrast to the six days typically offered to local staff at many multinational DMCs, where parity with expat colleagues can take over a decade to achieve.
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Climate ActionTripseed partners with Terraverde Sustainability to 1) measure their carbon footprint, 2) develop a climate action plan, and 3) improve emissions tracking across often-overlooked sources like guide commutes, IT infrastructure...Read More >>
... and vehicle lifecycle emissions. Tripseed prioritises low-emission experiences and work with EV and hybrid transport providers where feasible. Tripseed believe in transparency over offsetting, and are committed to disclosing emissions data publicly as a next step in their journey.
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Being TransparentTripseed tracks impact through data-driven tools, including our Economic Distribution Disclosure Initiative (EDDI), annual climate action reporting, and gender equity performance published via the UN WEPs platform. Tripseed also have an...Read More >>
... upcoming tax transparency disclosure. While these reports offer strong individual insights, our impact reporting is not yet fully consolidated. Bringing all these elements together into a single, concise annual report is the next step which Tripseed are ready to take.
Reviews
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"A Reliable and Innovative B2B Partner"We've been working with Tripseed for a while now, and they’ve truly been a fantastic partner in the travel industry. Despite the challenges that come with white-labeling and maintaining confidentiality in our supply chain, Tripseed has always gone above and beyond to meet our needs. Their dedication to providing excellent service and attention to detail makes our job a whole lot easier. "What really sets Tripseed apart is their commitment to continuously improving and expanding their offerings. They're always looking for ways to innovate and better serve their partners, which has had a great impact on our business. We’re grateful for their support and look forward to growing together in the future."
Craig Zapatka, Jul 17, 2024
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"Excellent Partner"
"TripSeed is our dedicated partner in Thailand, and they consistently exceed our expectations. Given that our company maintains high standards for our partners—who handle all client communication and travel operations and represent our brand—TripSeed's performance has been exemplary. They operate with a high degree of professionalism and autonomy, ensuring that our clients receive seamless and exceptional service. The team at TripSeed is highly responsive and thorough in their communication, promptly addressing any inquiries or concerns, which significantly contributes to our client's overall satisfaction and smooth experience. Moreover, TripSeed is a leader in their field and aligns perfectly with our missions and values around sustainable travel, further enhancing our collaboration. We highly recommend their services and look forward to continuing our successful partnership."
Alexis Bowen, Jul 16, 2024
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"The best tour operator in Thailand!"
"Tripseed is a topnotch tour operator. They exemplify professionalism and expertise and specialize in crafting personalized trips for clients and offer exceptional on-the-ground support. The Tripseed team stays up-to-date on trends and what's new and interesting, while also knowing how to steer clients away from tourist traps. They regularly assess their service and accommodation providers to ensure the best experience for clients. All-in-all, working with Tripseed has been a dream. Their professionalism and attention to detail means we are able to hand over clients with full confidence and we know they will go above and beyond to represent our brand. If you are looking for a DMC partner in Thailand, you are in excellent hands with this team!"
Liddy Pleasants, May 26, 2023
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"Highly recommended"
"Tripseed are always hugely responsive, pro-active and helpful. The whole team really bend over backwards to accommodate requests and are unfailingly prompt. Highly recommended!"
Caroline Dolby-Bingham, May 22, 2023
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