Gaarawé Village

It's taken a while for me to process my time at Gaarawé to write a clear and honest review but I think it's important to share my perspective for future visitors and volunteers. The village is built on the ethics of permaculture which I appreciate and resonate with. The bungalows are great and the garden has a lot of potential. The area/location is truly beautiful and I believe that Lele has done his best to create something from his good intentions and that he means well.Having said that, during my two and a half weeks I felt increasingly uneasy due to the poor, clumsy and harsh communication which at times felt disrespectful. Some of this is due to language barriers but mostly it felt like a lack of empathy and genuine connection was at the root. There was a lot of ranting about things, complaining, and double standards. I decided to leave early, as did another volunteer who was there at the same time (I had booked and paid upfront for 1 month). We did not receive any money back as the upfront payments are deemed 'non refundable'. Please keep this in mind if you're considering staying longer. Policies like this made me feel a bit trapped, which added to the unease. Eventually it was not about the money but about the need to feel calm and positive in a space, which I ultimately did not.I don't regret my time here and can say I learned a lot about the realities of living in community, and how important it is to have more than one permanent community resident. I think that's one of the main struggles of the village and all would run much better for everyone if there were more people to help out and take ownership of the village in a heartfelt way. It's difficult for Lele to do it all on his own, so I empathize with him and truly hope there is improvement in the future, as I still believe Gaarawé can be a special place.

I booked for 1 week with the plan to stay long time but i stayed 1 day and 1 night.There is no love or permaculture here.If you like to travel for 5 hours and being told 30 mins you arrive that everybody is going for a dinner 30 kms away from the place and that you have to find a way to go there on your own because they can not wait for you 30 mins.If you like smoke cigarets, drink beers, use chemical detergents for laundring and dish washing, if you like to pay for being a slave, clean and set up your own bungalow with dirty sheets and a dirty matress before you check inIf you like to sleep in 2 sqm(yes i writte again 2 square meters) bamboo hut without even a plug for your shaver or tablet when there are more confortable options but that are not offered to you even if it is vacant.Then this place is for you.This place probably was full of love and permaculture in the past but it is currently not the case.Big changes have to be made and especially in the mindset of the italian man in charge.If you like to learn or like to practice permaculture i recommend gaia and suwan organic and echo asia in north of thailand.The only positive thing in here is the lovely volunters i met.

i meet very friendly travellersbut I was disappointed by the lack of focus on permaculture principles. The site lacked proper maintenance and management. While the natural surroundings were beautiful, the accommodations were unsanitary. Despite paying for a private space, I was provided with an unclean tent. It seemed that Lili was using my rented space for Airbnb rentals to maximize profits, which was disappointing."

An eco-village immersed in the jungle, where you can feel at home with exceptional food and ever-present company. The management methods of the village allow the creation of a cohesive group of people among all the guests, who make the place hospitable and homely. Lele has built something unexpected, not only as local architecture, but as a place where you can learn a lot from yourself and others.

Good spot to stay longer, though there is not much around. Very nice access to the river. For those interested in learning on agriculture, it is not the perfect spot, since Lee does not take time any more to explain things or give more interesting tasks (used to be different).

the best eco-village in Thailand

Comfortable rooms, mountains, canals, fog in the morning.

Try to stop here for a while and live here for couple of months…Greatest place on earth.

Lovely

It's very good to use.