A remote, mountainous corner of northern Greece known as the Prespa lakes basin—a crossroads of Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia—is rapidly gaining attention among nature tourists and conservationists, thanks to new research and grassroots efforts to boost sustainable travel while preserving its stunning biodiversity. Once virtually unknown outside dedicated ornithologist and ecotourist circles, this region is now being promoted as a destination for walkers, birdwatchers, and anyone seeking a deeper connection with unspoiled landscapes, centuries-old culture, and unique wildlife (The Guardian).
For Thai travelers seeking alternatives to Europe’s crowded hotspots, Prespa’s emergence as a model for low-impact ecotourism is highly significant. The region surrounds two ancient bodies of water: Great Prespa Lake and Lesser Prespa Lake, believed to have existed for up to five million years. Its dramatic terrain—oak forests, isthmuses, cliffside monasteries, and lakeside villages—creates a landscape reminiscent of northern Thailand’s own mountainous borderlands. Yet, its biodiversity is extraordinary, with researchers recording 172 butterfly species—three times more than the entire UK—and large communities of Dalmatian and great white pelicans, brown bears, and rare flora.
Recent efforts to promote walking, hiking, and birdwatching as key tourism activities have been supported by plans to re-open the long-closed border crossing between Greece and North Macedonia within the Prespa basin, as well as a new cross-border walking trail connecting local villages. Initiatives highlight the shared watershed and cultural heritage of the tri-border area while reinforcing the need to support local economies battered by climate change and agricultural challenges. These developments resonate with the Thai tourism shift toward slow travel, local livelihoods, and eco-experiences—a trend accelerated in regions like Nan and Mae Hong Son (Tourism Authority of Thailand).
According to conservation organizations such as the Society for the Protection of Prespa, the area’s success in balancing tourism and nature preservation offers a blueprint for other fragile destinations. “Prespa shows how local stewardship can underpin thriving nature tourism,” says a representative from the society, stressing the importance of involving communities in conservation, supporting traditional ways of life, and celebrating cross-border cooperation. Local hospitality is legendary: visitors are welcomed in family-run guesthouses and tavernas serving seasonal regional specialties, much as travelers in Thailand’s rural provinces savor local dishes like horta—wild greens seasoned with olive oil and lemon, reminiscent of Thai pak-wan or wild vegetables used in Isan cuisine. Experiences such as the summer panigyria, or village feast days, echo the communal festivals of northern Thailand, where music, circle-dancing, and home-cooked food anchor community bonds.
The Prespa basin’s position at the intersection of three countries not only shapes its unique wildlife, but also its cultural fabric. Byzantine ruins, hermitages, and sacred groves tell a story of spiritual resilience, while borderland market towns such as Florina and lakeside Kastoria in Greece, Korçë in Albania, and Bitola in North Macedonia further enrich the region’s diversity. For Thais, whose nation also straddles transnational watersheds and cultures, these reminders of the power of shared heritage and cross-border collaboration are instructive.
Besides its appeal to foreign visitors, Prespa has long attracted Greek tourists—especially in winter, when a nearby ski resort brings holidaymakers to explore villages and frozen lakes. However, researchers highlight spring and summer as the region’s true high point for hiking, birdwatching, and experiencing local culture at a gentle pace. This aligns with the growing popularity of green season travel in Thailand, promoting outdoor adventure and cultural heritage beyond peak tourist periods. The experience of emerging from dense forest onto a path with panoramic views across two lakes, with the sound of sheep bells and the flight of pelicans overhead, is described as transcendental by those who have made Prespa home.
Yet the region faces serious challenges. Experts warn that water levels in both lakes have dropped significantly over the past decades due to climate change, threatening habitats and farming livelihoods. The planned cross-border walking routes and tourism projects are seen as strategic responses to buffer these changes. A specialist affiliated with a Greek conservation authority commented, “Low-impact tourism creates incentives for conservation, but must be managed to avoid degrading the very resources it celebrates.” This sentiment echoes debates in Thai national parks over visitor quotas, community engagement, and sustainable tourism models—issues regularly debated following overtourism at Similan or Doi Inthanon (Bangkok Post).
Insights from Prespa’s model have wide relevance. Research shows that protected area-based ecotourism, if underpinned by robust community participation, can raise both conservation standards and economic opportunity (Journal of Sustainable Tourism). For Thailand’s ecotourism sector, grappling with the twin pressures of environmental risk and the quest for new, authentic offerings, the Prespa approach underscores the vital role of local culture and cross-border partnerships. It also reminds us that remarkable biodiversity often survives in less-visited corners—not just in the world-famous destinations.
Looking ahead, Prespa’s stakeholders believe that building bridges between communities—literally, through new cross-border routes, and figuratively, through shared festivals and conservation projects—will cement the region’s place as a beacon for sustainable tourism. The intricacies of managing a tri-national protected area provide lessons for Thailand, home to several borderland parks and international conservation corridors such as those in the Golden Triangle region.
For Thai readers considering a journey off the beaten path—or policymakers charged with charting the future of Thai tourism—the story of Prespa is both inspiration and cautionary tale. It demonstrates that, through inclusive governance, environmental stewardship, and celebration of cultural diversity, even the quietest valleys can become models for sustainable development.
For further exploration or travel planning, readers can visit the Society for the Protection of Prespa and the region’s official Visit Prespes tourism portal.
For Thai travelers and policymakers alike, the actionable takeaway is clear: invest in slow, community-based ecotourism at home and abroad. Support projects that protect watersheds and wildlife, respect local culture, and look for lessons in regions like Prespa, where nature and people thrive together. By valuing the hidden gems, both in Greece and within Thailand’s own rich, multifaceted landscapes, we can ensure tourism brings enduring benefits for people, planet, and future generations.