Lucky Tours and The Green Carrot: Tribal Village Experience

The Tribal Village Experience is quite a privileged experience, to be accepted and totally immersed into the daily village life of the chosen tribe of the indigenous people. Each tribe has is own unique culture and traditions. Learn, experience and immerse yourselves into tribal life of culture, religion and age-old traditions.

#1 Dal village - Jarai Tribe

You will have time to explore the village and the jungle around it. Enjoy the boat ride on Sesan river and see a gem digging site on the way for Banlungs famous gems. Meet the Jarai people and learn about their customs and traditions. Understand their religion and funeral rites and observe their daily livelihoods.

Direction and distance: 95km northeast of Banlung in Undong Meas district
Reasonable road condition
Accessible dry and wet season
Transport by boat and truck

Village: Explore the village, which is often named for a nearby river, stream or tribal chief. You will find the centre of the village is traditionally the gathering place where gossip and information is exchanged, where you will find the the well, rice mill and the communal meeting house. This is surrounded by bamboo, wood or now steel roofed dwellings, both individual or long communal long houses. The population of a typical village can range from 50 - 500.

Jarai tribe: Meet the Jarai people who are an ethnic group based primarily in Vietnam's Central Highlands, as well as northeast Cambodia and southern Laos. Their language is Jarai as well as Khmer. It is interesting that the Jarai practice a matrilineal culture, where the lineage is traced through the mother rather than the father. It is the women who typically propose marriage to the men through a matchmaker, who delivers the prospective groom a copper bracelet. Jarai women typically wear sleeveless indigo blouses and long skirts.

Religion: The majority of Jarai are animists, believing that demons and spirits inhabit all of creation. The Jarai pay respect to their ancestors and Nature through a host. Popular spirits include the King of Fire (Po Teo Pui) and the King of Water (Po TeoLa) who is summoned through sacrifices of pigs, cows, and buffalo to bring forth the rain.

Funeral traditions: The Jarai construct elaborate cemeteries for their dead, along with expensive ceremonies and the sacrifice of their priced cows and water buffaloes. Their tombs are little huts where the deceased possessions are placed along with some offerings. Around the tomb are carved effigies of the deceased, while some represent spiritual guardians. After a number of years, the tombs are abandoned to represent the final release of the spirit. Some of which can be found in the jungle surrounding the village.

Entertainment: The Jarai are renowned for their indigenous musical instruments, from bronze gongs to bamboo tubes, which act as wind flutes and percussion. Maybe enjoy a Jarai performance, their music on gongs, xylophones, zithers, (stringed instruments) and various other traditional instruments.

#2 Koh Peak - Kachock tribe

- practice animism

- language Kachock / Khmer / Lao

- direction 35km northwest of Banlung and a hour boat trip up river of Se San.

- reasonable road condition

- accessible dry and wet season

Beautiful landscape, local life and a century old cemetery in the jungle are the highligts of this stay.

Things to bring for trekking:

Clothes: Long trousers, T-shirts, Bathing suit, a set of clothes for the night.
Footware: Sturdy boots, socks, flip flops
Toiletries: Insect repellent, suncream
Sun Hat or Cap
Head-torch
Towel
First Aid Kit
Backpack

The price includes:

Good English speaking guide
Indigenous ranger expert tracker
All necessary Transportation (Moto, Tuk-Tuk, Boat, etc)
All Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Beverages (Water, coffee and tea)
All sleeping gears, hammock, mosquito-net, blanket and tent
All entrance fees

Lucky Tours and The Green Carrot