Chiang
Mai is the perfect base for getting into the hills
and discovering the numerous, ancient hilltribes
of the north. Each tribe has it's own customs and
traditions, highlighted by some outrageous costumes.
Some of the more famous tribes include the Karen,
Lahu, Lisu and Yao.
Aside
from the most famous Karen tribe (Myanmar), most
communities originate from China and Tibet. The
stream of migrating tribes has slowed over the last
century as Thailand becomes more and more touristy,
yet the local vilages still keep alive their fascinating
rituals and belief systems.
Festival
season is the ideal time to visit hill tribe villages.
If your time frame allows, tribal New Year is the
most passionate of all local festivals, generally
around mid-February. Smaller tribes such as the
Hmong and Akha celebrate in late December.
There
are numerous tour operators who organize treks into
the hills. This is highly recommended and although
"against the grain" of the backpacker,
some villages are still not used to foreigners just
turning up out of the blue.
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