Akha hill tribe woman cooking food

Akha Way of Life

Spend a day with the Akha people

Spend a fun day with the Akha hill tribe people who live in a village in the mountains North of Chiang Rai city. Experience the Akha way of life and learn about their traditions, culture and beliefs.

Village on the mountain

The Akha community live in Hloyo, a small village on Doi Mae Salong mountain. Locally the mountain is known as Doi Pha Mi, Mi meaning bear in Thai language, because the area is surrounded by mountains shaped like bears that are lying down.

Scenic mountainous area

Surrounded by lush forests, Hloyo village is a serene place in the mountains with scenic views all around. The air is fresh and it’s cool for most of the year.

Inside a simple Akha mud house

Akha way of life

Spend a day in the Akha community and experience the culture and the traditional way of life of the Akha hill tribe.

Learn a few simple words of the Akha language, like hello and thank you. Explore the community on foot, work in the fields with the Akha people that grow crops like coffee beans on terraced fields, walk around the village and trails looking for herbs, vegetables and fruits.

Locally grown coffee

Walk out to the coffee tree plantations on terraced fields on the mountain. Learn how the Akha grow coffee beans, how the coffee is made and taste some freshly brewed coffee.

Culture & traditions

The Akha people came to Thailand over a hundred years ago. They live in small villages on the mountains of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

To this day they have managed to preserve their culture and traditions and speak their own language. Experience how the Akha live and work, learn about their beliefs and history.

Eating Khantoke Akha lunch
with views of the mountains

Cook Akha food

Akha food is different from Thai food. Some of the ingredients are not used in Thai dishes. Only fresh ingredients are being used. Help out preparing ingredients and learn how to cook Akha food with local people.

If you like the food and want to learn how to cook several Akha dishes, take a cooking class.

Traditional Khantoke lunch

After cooking enjoy a Khantoke lunch. The traditional Akha dishes are served on a bamboo platter.

Handicrafts

After lunch try your hand at Akha handicrafts such as embroidery, bamboo weaving or puppet wood carving. Learn how to make bracelets in Akha design and take one home as a souvenir.