Tribal

The relatively untouched jungles and highlands of Papua New Guinea are a haven for wildlife and a diverse array of tribal cultures unlike anywhere else in the world.

Found in the Aryan Valley, legend has it the Brokpa are the descendants of the armies of Alexander the Great, but their present is far more fascinating than their past.

Ritual combat with a thorny leaf: Perang Pandan is a tradition dedicated to a Hindu god of war, a coming of age rite for young men, and a spectacle for photographers and lovers of Balinese culture.

For lovers of all things tribal in Nagaland, there is a certain celebration that blows away other tribal gatherings in Asia: the Hornbill Festival.

The indigenous people of Hokkaido, the Ainu, are perhaps northern Japan’s greatest cultural legacy, and this will be in full display in the run up to the Summer Games 2020.

“The two most important principles were prohibition of cutting of trees and protection of wildlife around us,” Khemkaran says. “And to this day the Bishnois adhere to them until death.”

From the headhunting history of the Murut and the communal Rungus farms to the sea gypsy ways of the Bajau, Malaysian Borneo is awash in tribal cultures.

Anna Elisa Sida and Matteo Maimone travel to Sumatra for a unique look into the dwindling Mentawai tribe.

Richard Collett travels to a beach with no name to visit with the Tagbanua tribe to shoot a courtship ritual, the people of the Tagbanua, and the pristine beaches of this forgotten tribal island.

Difficult to reach by both land and sea, the Gulf Mask Festival is a treasure of traditional culture and dress. Writer and photographer Olga Fontanellaz travels to this lesser-visited region to record a unique sing-sing.

Photographer and writer Annapurna Mellor travels deep into the largest island in the Philippines to explore the mountains of Batad and the culture of the Ifugao on a Banaue adventure.

Whether it’s getting from Hanoi to the north in style or trekking with tribes, Sapa and Lao Cai give travelers unique opportunities to experience an authentic Vietnam.