Lisu Lodge, Chiang Mai

Over the centuries many ancient tribes of Southern China migrated south to escape oppression, and five of these groups found their new home in Northern Thailand. Since that time, the preservation of their culture has been a continuous struggle.

Today, as tourism in the region presents a way out of traditional poverty and in many cases a way out of age-old identity, many of these tribes have looked for a way to balance the need for commerce with heritage.

Only an hours drive north of Chiang Mai, nestled in a fertile green valley that time seems to have forgotten, is a Lisu tribal community holding onto its cultural origins while benefiting from the progress of responsible tourism.

A critical factor in this success story was the establishment of the Lisu Lodge. This award-winning eco-lodge is a sanctuary for Lisu heritage, a direct link to the heart of the tribal group.

There's a tranquil and soothing atmosphere surrounding the settlement that is staffed and managed by a Lisu tribe. Built-in traditional style with an eye for western comforts, the lodges overlook the lush fields of the valley and serve as a base to explore the countryside and learn a little about hill-tribe traditions.