Thailand's cultural and social roots are firmly set in the countryside, in fact, when Mahatma Gandhi said of his home country "... the real India is in the villages". He could just as easily have been referring to Thailand, a country whose political and cultural birth was in the "million rice fields" of the ancient Lanna Thai Kingdom.

Staying as a guest of a community can be a highly rewarding experience, adding real meaning to a holiday and creating opportunities for a genuine cultural exchange leaving all parties wiser and more enlightened to cultural differences. Koh Yao Yai...

Experience the hills of northwestern Thailand through eyes opened by the unsurpassed knowledge of our local expert, Chan. Explore the flora and fauna along the route and visit tribal communities that live deep in this mountainous region close to the Burma border.