Thailand Ecotour! works with a number of communities in the area, from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. These ethnic groups are mainly the Akha, Lahu, Pa Ka Yaw, as they are the largest representative groups in the region. Other ethnic groups in the area include Lisu, Hmong, Mien, Tai Yai, and Padaung (although this group is only really found in exploitative exhibition villages, which we do not support or include in our programmes).
Most of these ethnic groups are sub-divided - for instance, there are eight different Akha tribes living in Thailand. We work with the Uloh Akha and Lormee Akha. Some of the sub-tribes have the same or similar language, but others are mutually exclusive. Dress varies from group to group, as do cultures and traditions - these can also vary widely locally as villages have developed independent of other communities of the same sub-tribe.
