2 min summary Top 10 Responsible tourism Angola Gerewol Festival in Chad Community tourism in Sarawak Maasai culture in Kenya Tribal culture in Namibia Papua New Guinea Omo Valley in Ethiopia Hill tribe trekking in Thailand Hill tribes in Vietnam

Top 10 tribal cultures holidays

Our top 10 tribal cultures holidays are a mere introduction to the enormous diversity that our planet holds. Some introduction, though. Walk with hunters in the Ivory Coast, follow elephants through the rainforest with their Karen protectors in Thailand, stay in Iban longhouses in Borneo, all while learning how responsible tourism can help traditional ways of life survive.

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Top 10 tribal cultures holidays

Most of our tribal culture holidays focus on Africa, a continent with over 3,000 tribes and 2,000 languages across 54 countries. But they also look east, to India, Thailand, Borneo and Papua New Guinea, where you can enjoy fascinating encounters with communities keen to welcome visitors in, and share their stories, knowledge and beliefs. Our trips offer meaningful, authentic and respectful interactions to ensure that your stay also benefits the tribe, giving them the agency to engage with tourism on their own terms. From bush walks with Maasai guides to huge tribal gatherings, our top 10 trips pick out a host of memorable experiences.

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1. Papua New Guinea

There are some 750 tribes in Papua New Guinea such as the Baining, Kalam and Asaro, and their ways of life have flourished largely free of outside interference for centuries. Head for the highlands where you can tuck into a mumu feast, cooked underground with hot stones, or spend a night in a homestay for a more immersive take on tribal life. Come in September for the Goroka Show when over 100 tribes gather to show off their song and dance routines.

Best time to go: April to October
Our top trip: Papua Guinea small group tour
See all our trips: Papua New Guinea holidays
Read more: Culture & customs in Papua New Guinea

2. Sarawak

Around half the population of Sarawak, the Malaysian state in northwest Borneo, is made up of indigenous tribes collectively known as Dayaks. Each tribe has its own distinct cultural identity but the largest is the Iban, who believe that Borneo’s endangered orangutans carry the souls of their ancestors. Visiting an Iban village (kampong) and staying in a traditional longhouse is a great way to learn about more about their lives and beliefs.

Best time to go: All year-round
Our top trip: The wild heart of Borneo
See all our trips: Sarawak holidays
Read more: Sarawak travel guide

3. Kenya

Who better to give you a tour of Kenya’s Masai Mara than a Maasai guide, who can also explain their tribes’ relationship with the land. Many communities now lease their land to safari companies, so they can make a living while continuing to practise their ancestral traditions. Learn more as you sit around the campfire sharing stories, or on visits to small scale farms to meet entrepreneurial Maasai grandmas.

Best time to go: All year-round
Our top trip: Kenya wildlife & Maasai communities tour
See all our trips: Masai Mara holidays
Read more: Masai Mara travel guide

4. West Africa

From stilt villages to voodoo temples to ancient kingdoms, West Africa is one of the most culturally diverse places on Earth. In Benin alone there are more than 50 spoken languages. And because the countries here, which also include Senegal, Togo, Guinea Bissau and Ghana, are often connected on overland tours, you can explore many distinct tribal cultures in one trip.

Best time to go: All year-round
Our top trip: Ghana, Toga & Benin holiday
See all our trips: West Africa holidays
Read more: West Africa travel guide

5. Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s Lower Omo Valley was once a busy crossroads for ancient peoples making their way around the African continent, and today it is home to some 12 pastoralist tribes. Among them are the Hamer, whose young men prove their courage by leaping onto the backs of bulls, and the Mursi, whose women wear clay plates in their lower lips. Our holidays typically visit several communities to appreciate the valley’s stunning cultural medley.

Best time to go: September to April
Our top trip: The best of Ethiopia
See all our trips: Ethiopia holidays
Read more: Ethiopian culture

6. Ivory Coast

Ever sat down for a chat with a king? Responsible Travel’s Sarah Faith has, when she visited the Ivory Coast, before watching as young Baoule men performed a celebratory masked dance. On our holidays here you might venture into the savannah with Malinke hunters, learn about medicinal plants and traditional handicrafts like weaving and iron smelting and yes, if the moment arises, you might even meet a local chieftain.

Best time to go: December to April
Our top trip: Ivory Coast holiday — ancient gods of West Africa
See all our trips: Ivory Coast holidays
Read more: Ivory Coast travel guide

7. Sahara Desert

Our holidays in the vast, arid expanse that is the Sahara Desert enter via Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, roaming dunes, canyons, surreal rock formations and wild campsites. Groups often encounter nomadic Tuareg people on the roads, who know our guides and will often pause for a chat, and have even been known to extend an invitation for tea.

Best time to go: April to May or October to November
Our top trip: Algeria tours – jewel of the Sahara
See all our trips: Sahara Desert holidays
Read more: Sahara Desert travel guide

8. Northeast India

Northeast India, bordered by Nepal, China and Bhutan, is home to hundreds of tribes and sub-tribes. Our holidays let you spend a few days in the company of the Khasi people, learning about their animist beliefs, and meet the Konyak people of Nagaland, whose intricate tattoos all tell their own stories. The Hornbill Festival, when dozens of tribes congregate to showcase their traditions, is a vibrant celebration of India’s diversity.

Best time to go: November to March
Our top trip: Highlights of Assam & Nagaland holiday
See all our trips: Northeast India holidays
Read more: Northeast India travel guide

9. Thailand

There are many hill tribes in remote parts of northern Thailand, most of them Karen and living in permanent communities where they were once migratory. Sadly, much hill tribe tourism is exploitative, particularly encounters with the ‘long-necked women’, refugees from Myanmar. Our holidays tread carefully and respectfully to ensure that your visit brings genuine benefits to the tribe and the wildlife they protect.

Best time to go: November to February
Our top trip: Family community volunteering & elephant watching
See all our trips: Thailand hill tribes holidays
Read more: Thailand hill tribes travel guide

10. Nigeria

Nigeria is home to an astonishing one sixth of Africa’s population, with some 500 distinct ethnicities and languages. Once you leave behind the thrilling chaos of Lagos you can speak with elders of Fulani communities and meet a Kamberi emir, the ruler of a people who paint, pierce and tattoo their faces. In Badagry, you can walk the Path of No Return that thousands of people walked to meet the slave ships taking them to the Americas.

Best time to go: November to January
Our top trip: Nigeria holidays – lost kingdoms
See all our trips: Nigeria holidays
Read more: Nigeria travel guide