AWARD WINNING ECO HILLTRIBE LODGE



Lisu Lodge has received is the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s (USA) 2001 Ecotourism AwardThe article states that "...this is the 5th international award for Lisu Lodge in the past 3 yearsThe lodge provides not only employment and income to the families of the village but also serves as a role model for sustainable tourism. This again proves that the natural world and the business world can indeed coexist and can, under the right management, even work to mutual benefit." This, in fact, has been our goal all along! Other awards Travel Asia Breakthrough Award 1998 “Tour operator of the year” “innovative, nature and culture conscious…” “…Relevant and unexpected creative job…” Travel Asia 8 May 1998 PATA Gold Award 2000 Heritage & Culture Conservation International Eco Excellence Award 2000 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow 2000 Highly Commended Accommodation Lisu Lodge Thailand Explore the mountains and cultures of northern Thailand. Our 1 to 4 day itineraries combine the fun of an elephant safari with the comfort of private air-conditioned transport to the luxury of a five star hotel and the harmony of a mountain lodge retreat. Tours can be custom-tailored to suit your interests and preferences, allowing you the privilege of visiting remote areas in comfort and safety. Adventure For All Centered around the lodge, there are plenty of soft adventure activities for anyone who is reasonably fit. Transport is by 4WD vehicle or local pick-up truck and the staff have been fully trained in the use of the latest safety equipment. Guides are locals and will be proud to introduce you to their customs and traditions. As the mountains soar from the lush green valleys, the jungle camouflages a hast of hidden caves, spectacular waterfalls and furiously fast flowing rivers. Amidst this wondrous landscape live the hill tribes, their ancient cultures unchanged over thousands of years. Each tribe proudly displays its unique character, costume, religion and history. The Golden Triangle Bounded in the east by the mighty Mekong and the borders of Northern Thailand, Laos and Burma, this area has for centuries been a melting pot of cultures; a catalyst where great battles were fought and Asian empires rose and fell. Rich in colour, history and tradition, it’s a fascinating microcosm of exotic South East Asia. Sustainability Lisu Lodge has been declared a role model for sustainable tourism, protecting and encouraging the cultures of this unique area, without causing damage to the environment, using genuine local resources whenever possible. You will meet the hill tribes as friends, not exhibits. Lisu Lodge has therefore received international recognition and awards. A Rustic Retreat A firm fixture in the local community, the Lisu Lodge is a traditional hill tribe dwelling with a thatched roof, bamboo walls and floor mats. It is modified for the discerning traveler with: Six double-bed rooms equipped with fans and mosquito nets. En-suite private bathrooms with mirrors, electricity and hot water. Simple but hygienic standards throughout. Safety equipment for outdoor activities and for children over seven. White water rafting available, no previous experience required Lisu Lodge was designed to blend in with the houses of the village and the landscape. We adapted hilltribe design to meet the desires of our western guests; the other houses in the village do not have windows, for example. The roof is thatched; the frame is of wood and all the walls are of woven bamboo. Floors are made of rattan. All decorations are either made by the village or within the local area There are six rooms at present, since many guests would be likely to affect the life of the village too much. Each room is 16 feet by 14 feet. Comfortable mattresses (two per room, with a third one available) are on a hilltribe-style bamboo "sleeping platform", enclosed at night in a large mosquito net. We provide a fan - the area is cool at night throughout the year - a table and storage space. Each room has a private bathroom with hot showers and western-style flush toilets and wash basin The bedrooms surround a large living area, which also serves as a restaurant. We have low Thai style ‘khan toke’ tables, and a choice of either traditional ‘Mon Kwan’- triangular padded cushions - or more conventional tables and chairs on the covered verandah. These areas look out over fields to the mountains beyond. The lodge is located on the edge of a Lisu village 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the city of Chiang Mai. The village of Dton Loong has a population of 750, including 20 families of another tribe, the Akha. We lease the land from the village, and we are very much part of the village, joining in with their celebrations.