Lisu Tribe Lunar New Year Festival Tour in Thailand | A Once-a-Year Ethnic Minority Experience
チェンマイ坂田
Have you ever wanted to experience the culture of the Lisu, one of Thailand's fascinating hill tribes? Join us for a special tour in northern Thailand where you can immerse yourself in this remarkable minority culture!
Participate in an authentic Lunar New Year festival — not a tourist show, but a real celebration held in the village. Pound traditional rice cakes, admire vibrant traditional costumes, and join the Lisu people in their festive dances celebrating good fortune and the harvest.
You'll also visit a cacao farm, learning how this remarkable crop sustains the community while living in harmony with nature — an experience you simply can't have in Japan.
The 2027 tour runs from February 4–6. See highlights from our past tours below! 👇
ManiTabi 
目次
■ Lisu Lunar New Year Tour Highlights
Participate in an Authentic Traditional Festival
Unlike tourist-oriented events such as the Yi Peng lantern festival or Songkran water festival, this tour invites you to join a genuine Lisu village celebration that has been held for generations. You'll be welcomed as a true participant — not just a spectator — sharing in the joy of the New Year with the local community.
Experience Lisu Traditional Culture
Discover the living traditions of the Lisu people, who trace their origins to Tibet, China, and have their own unique language — Lisu.
On New Year's Eve, villagers pound rice cakes together, and on New Year's Day they dress in stunning, colorful traditional costumes and perform dances to pray for an abundant harvest and blessings for the year ahead.
You'll feel the warmth of village life and the richness of this diverse culture firsthand.
Experience the Journey from Cacao to Chocolate
Engage all five senses as you discover how fragrant cacao beans are transformed into the chocolate we love.
Visit the cacao farm of Ja-Hae's family and learn the entire chocolate-making process from harvest to finished product.
Hearing Ja-Hae share his philosophy of living in harmony with nature will give you a perspective that's impossible to find back home.
■ Your Host in the Lisu Village
Ja-Hae (Spo Lee-Jar)
Ja-Hae is 55 years old — a guardian of Lisu cultural heritage and a dedicated cacao farmer.
After asking himself, "What crop can bring economic value while also protecting nature?", he chose to cultivate cacao. During festivals and events, he serves as a leader guiding the younger generation, passing down Lisu traditions to the next. Learn about the charm and richness of Lisu culture and life directly from his passion and knowledge.
His son, Win, will also guide you around the village, sharing life in the community from a younger perspective.
■ Schedule
Day 1
10:00 Meet in Chiang Mai (※ 13:30 if meeting in Chiang Rai)
12:00 Lunch
14:30 Visit the Ethnic Minority Museum
17:00 Arrive at Pansa Village / Dinner (traditional Lisu home cooking)
20:00 Prepare for the next morning's rice cake pounding
Day 2 (New Year's Eve)
06:30 Wake up
07:30 Rice cake pounding experience & breakfast
10:30 Visit the cacao farm
12:00 Lunch & rest
15:00 Chocolate-making workshop
16:00 Village stroll
19:00 Dinner
20:00 New Year's Eve dance begins
25:00 (01:00) Bedtime
Day 3 (New Year's Day)
06:00 Wake up
07:00 [Men] Visit the village shrine / [Women] Breakfast preparation & free time
09:00 New Year's dance (socializing & dancing with villagers)
12:00 Lunch (special festival meal)
15:00 Depart the village
16:00 Chiang Rai farewell (※ Chiang Mai farewell approx. 19:30)
■ Detailed Schedule
Day 1 (February 4, 2027)
10:00 Meet in Chiang Mai OR 14:00 Meet in Chiang Rai City
If meeting in Chiang Mai, gathering is at 10:00; if meeting in Chiang Rai, it's around 14:00. We'll adjust the time to your preference.
14:30 Visit the Ethnic Minority Museum
Learn about the history and culture of Thailand's diverse hill tribes, and build your background knowledge of the Lisu people before arriving at the village.
17:00 Arrive at Pansa Village / Dinner
Settle into the Lisu village and enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner with your host family.
20:00 Prepare for the Next Morning's Rice Cake Pounding
Help lay out the ingredients and tools needed for the mochi-pounding session the next morning.
Day 2 (New Year's Eve – February 5)
7:30 Rice Cake Pounding Experience & Breakfast
Pound rice cakes the traditional Lisu way, then enjoy the freshly made mochi for breakfast. It's absolutely delicious! 😋
Watch the full rice cake pounding process on our Instagram too 👇
10:30 Visit the Cacao Farm
Explore the cacao farm and learn how cacao is harvested and cultivated.
Harvest cacao pods that you'd rarely ever see outside of tropical regions!
Taste the cacao pulp and the unroasted beans — what flavor do you think they'll have?
You'll also hear from Ja-Hae about how he lives in harmony with the natural world. Read more about the full cacao-to-chocolate journey here 👇
12:00 Lunch & Rest
15:00 Chocolate-Making Workshop
Use the cacao you harvested to experience the chocolate-making process firsthand.
Chocolate goes through fermentation, drying, roasting, grinding, and conching — a long and fascinating journey from pod to bar.
This is a rare and precious opportunity to witness every step of the chocolate-making process with your own eyes!
16:00 Village Stroll
Walk through the village and soak up the atmosphere of Lisu daily life and culture.
19:00 Dinner
20:00 New Year's Eve Dance Begins
Join in the Lisu village's traditional New Year's celebration! Dance alongside the villagers as they welcome the New Year together.
1:00 Bedtime
Day 3 (New Year's Day – February 6)
6:00 Wake Up
7:00 Men: Visit the Village Shrine / Women: Breakfast Preparation & Free Time
The men visit a village shrine — women are not admitted — to offer prayers for the New Year.
After the prayers, everyone gathers for breakfast together.
Women enjoy homemade chocolate and honey toast during their free time.
9:00 New Year's Dance
The highlight of the Lisu New Year Festival — it's finally time to dance! The opening ceremony takes place at the village chief's house before the dancing begins.
Then everyone — young and old, men and women — joins in the dance together.
Holding hands and dancing together, you'll naturally feel a sense of connection with the people around you. For the Lisu, dancing is a heartfelt prayer for the happiness, health, and prosperity of their family and community.
12:00 Lunch
As lunchtime approaches, everyone gathers around a round table to share the meal together.
Check out the special festival foods on our Instagram! 👇
15:00 Depart the Village
The Lisu dancing continues, but it's time for us to head back. Thank you for an amazing time!
16:00 Chiang Rai Farewell OR Approx. 19:30 Chiang Mai Farewell
We'll say goodbye in either Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. Thank you for joining this unforgettable 2-night, 3-day journey!
■ Additional Information
Tour Price
9,000 THB per person ※ Price may vary depending on the number of participants.
※ Children in elementary school or younger: half price. Junior high to university students: 1,000 THB discount.
What to Bring
| Priority | Item | Notes |
| Essential | ☐ Comfortable clothes that can get dirty | Casual, easy-to-move-in clothing is recommended. |
| ☐ Long sleeves & long pants | Mornings and evenings can be cool. Also useful for insect protection. You'll need to cross a stream to reach the cacao farm — roll-up pants are a plus. | |
| ☐ Sneakers that can get dirty | Shoes are strongly recommended for the cacao farm. Sandals risk ant bites. | |
| ☐ Personal medications | ||
| ☐ Sandals | ||
| ☐ Toothbrush | ||
| Nice to have | ☐ Sunscreen | |
| ☐ Hat | ||
| ☐ Sweat towel | ||
| ☐ Small bag | For your drink, towel, and valuables. | |
| ☐ Sunglasses | ||
| ☐ Shampoo | Bring your own if you have a preference. | |
| ☐ Conditioner | Same as above. |
Items Provided in the Village
Towels, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are all provided in the village. If you have a preference, feel free to bring your own.
How This Tour Came About
This tour was born from a chance encounter between our host family and Naoto Sakata ("Chiangmai Sakata"), the tour organizer. During a trip to Chiang Rai, Naoto happened to meet Win — Ja-Hae's son — who was selling cacao products at a local market.
As someone who had long been fascinated by cacao, Naoto asked if he could visit the farm — and the visit became a reality. Witnessing the incredible effort behind every piece of chocolate he'd ever eaten, and feeling the deep passion of the Lee-Jar family, Naoto was moved and knew he had to share this experience with others.
He also had the chance to experience Lisu culture firsthand — the family-centered traditions, the dazzling costumes, and the joyful dances that fill you with positive energy. He felt compelled to share all of it with people from Japan.
This is still a young tour, and we look forward to growing and improving the experience together with every participant.
Important Notes
- The program may change depending on weather or other circumstances.
- Since large quantities of cacao are not processed every day, it may not be possible to observe every step of the cacao and chocolate process on-site. We will provide explanations for any steps we cannot demonstrate in person.
- Village residents may not always be wearing traditional minority costumes. Older residents tend to wear them daily, while younger residents typically wear them only for festivals and special events.
- Included in the tour price: transportation, all meals at the village, accommodation, and activity fees.
- Not included: personal shopping and any unscheduled café or restaurant visits.
This tour is not just sightseeing — it's a chance to feel the everyday life, culture, and deep connection with nature that the Lisu people hold dear.
If you'd like to experience life in a Lisu village and explore the world of cacao, join us for this special tour — and let's create unforgettable memories together!
To sign up or inquire, please use the contact form below or reach out via our official LINE.
Note: This tour is held once a year. For our year-round cacao tours (available mainly during the dry season), check the link below 👇
