Hloyo Community Chiang Rai

97 Views

Hloyo Community Chiang Rai

About the Community

Set in amidst Chiang Rai’s Doi Mae Salong mountain range, over 2,000 m above sea level, the Lo Yo community still stands today as a truly authentic Akha village. The group of people called “Lo Mia Akha” named their village “Lo Yo” after the present chief.

Most notably, entire lifestyle, beliefs and traditions are all – in one way or another – linked to nature. This has helped the community to prosper, surrounded by the lush forest, rich green fields and fresh, pollution-free air; all the remedies visitors from big cities need!.

Staying at the community’s comfortable mudhouse homestay, visitors’ can enjoy the misty morning air which usually lingers until for quite a while, especially in winter. This is the perfect time to get up, have breakfast, and take part in a range of community-based activities – with the chance to don a traditional hand-woven Akha dress (a great way to blend in).
Learning simple Akha words with senior villagers naturally might help you in the day’s cooking class with local chefs; you’ll be preparing some chili paste to be served with fried vegetables, as well as clear soup and omelet with herbs as part of a traditional Khan Tok dinner. One can also take a walk into the forest and follow the nature trail, stopping off to hand-pick coffee cherries from villagers’ plantation. There are many traditional toys to test your coordination skills, such as wooden tops, stilts and wooden downhill race carts, all guaranteed fun for all abilities! Alongside a traditional welcome dance performed by the villagers, you might find their hospitality and simple lifestyle so appealing that it’s hard to leave.

Cultural and Local Wisdom Heritage

The unique Akha lifestyle: Lor Yo community features the unique Akha lifestyle, culture and arts. For example, try some traditional Akha dishes like mountain gourd soup, pick up the local Akha language, and experience different traditions and ceremonies.
Traditional Akha games/activities: Traditional games are another example of this people’s unique lifestyle. Games like stilt walking, Akha top and Akha formula racing are some of the village’s unique traits.
Community lodge-style clay house: Akha clay houses bear simple architectural designs with a unique local touch. Their creative decoration is inspired by the Akha lifestyle itself.
Akha handicrafts: Akha people are deeply connected to nature. Most of their everyday items are therefore made of bamboo or other woods. They make carved figures out of wood and bracelets out of seeds.

Activities

Experience the lifestyle of Akha hill tribe.
Enjoy playing with Akha toys, like spinning tops and bamboo stilts.
Learn the Akha wisdom of clay house building.
Cook up some traditional Akha food from local ingredients.
Learn how to find herbs and survive in the wild.
Making Akha handicrafts such as bracelets and dolls.
Get to know about tea culture, plantation and ancient Chinese traditions.

Program 2 Days 1 Night

Day 1
9.00 am	Meet at the designated meeting point (airport/hotel in Chiang Rai/specified attraction in Chiang Rai).
10.00 – 11.00 am	Akha Mud House, Ban Lor Yo, Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai province Arrive at Ban Lor Yo community, an Akha community that dates back over 80 years. Listen to the story of the community and the Akha tribe from Khun Yohan, the owner of Akha Mud House, Doi Mae Salong, and the leader of the Ban Lor Yo community.
11.00 am – 3.30 pm	Take a hike around the local area and see the lifestyle and wisdom of the Akha people living in the wild. Admire the beautiful nature and view from the mountain range with lunch in the middle of nature. See how food is cooked in the bamboo tubes. Along the way, learn about wild herbs and the ancient salt lick-making method which serves as medicine for wild animals.
3.30 – 4.00 pm	Plant more greenery for the community. Travel into the community forest to plant trees and carve your own wooden label for a good memory. Walk through the forest and learn how it has been adapted to serve the community.
4.00 – 6.00 pm	Enjoy some leisure time.
6.00 – 7.00 pm	Ahka-style Khan Toke dinner
7.00 – 7.30 pm	Enjoy the night view and the Akha lifestyle at night.
7.30 pm	Enjoy free time until bed.
Day 2
7.00 – 8.00 am	Breakfast at Akha Mud House
9.00 – 11.00 am	Walk around Lor Yo village and experience the Akha lifestyle, culture and beliefs, such as the Akha cultural gate and play some local games like the Akha top, Koh Noh and the traditional Akha swing.
11.00 am – 12.00 pm	Akha Cooking Class Visit the mud house kitchen and learn some Akha recipes, which make use of the local ingredients to create delicious dishes that are only available in this part of the world.
12.00 – 1.00 pm	Have lunch – which includes your self-cooked dishes.
1.00 – 3.00 pm	Say goodbye to the community and head back to Chiang Rai.
3.00 pm	Travel to the meeting point (airport/hotel in Chiang Rai/attraction in Chiang Rai) to embark on your return journey.

Other community tourism

Tambon Nong Rong Community Kanchanaburi

Sai Noi Homestay Ecotourism Village Ayutthaya

Ban Laem Community Suphanburi

Ban Lao Wiang Cultural Tourism Community Uttaradit