Visiting the Hilltribes

There are several ways of getting to see the tribes. You can spend several hours a day walking through forest and hilltribe farmland surrounded by great natural beauty. There is also an elephant ride included and usually a bamboo rafting. You will be staying in hilltribe huts. You will meet the villagers, and you will see something of their lives. For the young and fit, the discomfort is definitely worth it, and most of these treks are very inexpensive. One thing the visitor should think about is how much the villages visited are receiving for their traditional hospitality. The relationship could often be considered exploitative.

Several hilltribe villages are close to a surfaced road, and these can be visited by minibus - often a visit to a hilltribe village is included in a sightseeing tour. The mountain people in these situations are naturally more interested in selling their handicrafts than in sharing with you anything of their culture, but at least the relationship is based on trade, and the villages are rewarded.

Staying with the tribes is, the best way to experience hilltribe culture. However, very few speak English, and many do not speak Thai, so communication is a major barrier. The comforts of life that most of us take for granted are very limited.

HILLTRIBE ETIQUETTE

Hilltribes seem to forgive easily the mistakes we make when visiting them. Perhaps their spirits understand, and are not offended by us aliens. However, it is obviously better to be polite if possible. There are a few 'golden rules'.

In general, behave as you would when in any stranger's house or village. Some tourists - thankfully few - seem to regard the village they are visiting as merely a curiosity, and can be unthinkingly rude and offensive.

So, a few pointers :

1. Dress modestly. Hilltribe people are often offended by revealing shirts and shorts. Open displays of nudity or semi-nudity are equally disapproved of. This holds true for the rest of Thailand as well.
2. Do not make public displays of affection toward your partner or others. You will never see them do it. They will be too polite to tell you, but will view you as setting a bad example to their children.
3. Keep your voice low, and smile a lot at the villagers, nodding your head slightly. (The Thai 'wai' is not a traditional hilltribe greeting.)
4. Do not enter a hilltribe house unless invited to do so.
5. Do not take photographs without first asking permission. Do not be surprised if you are asked for money. Models in the West ask for a lot more. Sign language usually suffices in these cases to assess their attitude. Respect their wishes.
6. Try to learn a few words of the hilltribe you are visiting. Just saying 'thank you' in their language works wonders.
7. If offered food, politely refuse it by pointing at your stomach as if very full already. Remember this a risk of getting diseases such as hepatitis should you choose to eat it.
8. Do not drink the water unless it has come from a sterilized source. Put the cup to your lips, look as if you are drinking it, and then pour it away when no one is looking!
9. Do not smoke opium or other drugs. The Thai government has almost eradicated opium production, and tourists smoking it undermines that campaign.
10. Within the house, do not get too close to the ancestral altar (not all houses have them, but they are obvious if they are there), or lean against one of the stoves, or stand with feet either side of the threshold (this may allow evil spirits to enter.)
11. Do not give children or beggars candy, money, or other items. Donations should be discussed and arranged with your guide.

Lisu Lodge Adventures