“Nature Culture & People One Together"
     
   

Welcome to the Akha Home Stay

By coming to stay with us you will experience traditional Akha culture way beyond the everyday in our network of community based villages. The Akha Home Stay is run by AFECT, The Association For Akha Education and Culture in Thailand. AFECT was established in 1981 and is the only organization supporting and protecting Akha traditions and culture in Asia. Please visit our web site www.akhathai.org. 100% of the profits from the volunteer program (your money) goes into AFECT's work, so rest assured your trip benefits the AKHA Communities.

Spending time with an Akha family is an enriching experience. You will learn about the Akha life cycle amongst the forests, its culture, its agriculture, its amazing colour and intrinsic way of life. They'll be trekking in the jungle, jungle camp, herbal health workshops, lectures on rice field culture (and rice spirits!) lectures on shamanism, teaching children, field trips to the golden triangle, opium museum, local waterfalls, elephant riding, hot springs, free whisky (as much as you like everyday) Akha spa, Akha traditional massage and a Chiang Rai cultural tour. Wow, all this inclusive in the 6500 baht one week (7 days) package. This includes all food and accommodation.

The Akha way of life revolves around the seasons so you might be working in the rice fields, building a house, gathering food in the forests or just helping with whatever the family is doing.

The Akha's innate enjoyment of life and their colourful ceremonies (which are always taking place) never fail to charm and their harmony with the environment and seasons brings a deep sense of calm to all those who join the trip. Although materially poor, you will experience their generosity and rich culture, their community spirit and amazing fun, but most of all their interaction with the cycles of nature around them.

About the Villages

Because our villages are protected zones where Akha religion and custom is inherent and alive you will see culture unchanged for thousands of years. Our villages are found deep within the forests of Chiang Rai Province and the verdant hills and sacred forests provide a breath taking and beautiful natural setting. Great for photographs. The forests are both a supermarket and drugstore for the Akha and their houses of bamboo and grass blend into its landscape beautifully. It's an environment we have lost in the western world - the Akha world is sacred, mysterious and special.

Schedule

The program is run each week, every week. There are also two week, three week and four week programme's.

Meeting Place

The meeting point will be Chiang Rai bus station at 09.00 am or the airport on Monday. You can travel independently to Chiang Rai by either bus ( Mo Chit - Northern Bus station, Bangkok) or by air by booking at www.airasia.com. Upon arriving please call us and we will pick you up.

Telephone Jake on 085 607 9604

email info@akhaasia.org

Contact Address

Association For Akha Education And Culture In Thailand (AFECT)

468 M. 4 T.Rimk0k

A. Muang Chiang Rai

571100

Thailand