Northern Thailand and Laos holiday

The Lisu lodge was built in 1992 on the edge of the Lisu village of Dton Loong, approximately 50 km north of Chiang Mai. It is staffed and managed by the Lisu Tribe, and was constructed after consultation with the villagers and strongly encourages local participation.

Some of the villagers are earning directly from their work at the lodge, and a profit sharing scheme distributes money to the community via a Village Fund, and also provision of free medical aid. There is also the provision of free medical aid. Furnishings and decorations are made by local craftsmen, and villagers are employed to perform traditional dances and music.

This trip will involve a visit to Nam Ha National Park (2001 UN Development award) territory in NW Laos which helps protects flora & fauna in the area such as endangered species of Crimson-breasted Woodpecker and Blyth's Kingfisher and support minority groups such Akha, Sila, Hmong, LATU, Lantaen, Lamet, Tai Daeng who live within its borders.

The Akha Experience actively support the community encouraging the Akha to preserve their traditional culture and environment as well as help them gain new skills and sources of income to help improve living standards e.g. medical care, education. The Project is run by the villagers themselves as a small scale business. The program protects the environment and empowers and gives benefit to Akha villagers whilst fostering cultural exchange and increasing outsider understanding of minority lifestyles and beliefs.

The Project allows full participation in Akha daily tasks, accommodation in traditional lodges, and bathroom facilities equipped with solar energy. Meals on overnight treks are prepared using simple foods purchased in villages. The treks employ local guides trained up through Toursim Ministry. Your participation in a trekking, mountain bike or kayaking program will not only give the villagers in the forest a significant alternative source of income, you will also be contributing directly to wildlife and forest conservation projects through access permits.

Either side of the trek will involve overnight stays at the Boat Landing Guesthouse. (First Choice Responsible Tourism award winner 2005, affiliate member of GrenGlobe 21) This eco-conscious lodge provides guests with local guides, and boatman contacts. They help support nearby restaurants and other lodges in the country. Some of the profits go towards the village school, and they conserve a small section of Nam Ha River as a fish sanctuary.

They support Black Cheeked Gibbon conservation project and employ local people, and purchase local goods and services whenever possible. (Featured in Tourism Concern publication). You can sample the traditional dishes of the people of Luang Namtha in the open-air restaurant and bungalows are constructed with local materials in a local Lao style, rooms have a modern bathroom outfitted with solar hot water. The lodge aims to reduce use of solid waste such as plastic and batteries and transform organic waste into fertilizer. Proper disposal of waste chemicals such as motor oil is enforced.