Bolaven Plateau – family run coffee plantation (1)
Sustainable Bolaven: Authentic Eco-Tourism Escapes in Laos
Over a kilometre above sea level, the Bolaven Plateau is a majestic place where cool temperatures, volcanic soil and plentiful rain conspire to create wonderfully rich and fertile land. Where most tourists follow a well-worn circuit around the plateau’s edge, we take our travellers into the heart – providing the rare opportunity to connect with Katu minority villages famed for their beaded, handwoven textiles. Our local ties with a family-run coffee plantation provides insight into the region’s distinctive microclimate and the journey from bean to cup. Travellers can gain firsthand exposure to local life by spending a night in a cozy thatched-roof bungalow located withing the plantation owner’s dwelling.
Traditional Homestay in Banteay Chhmar, Cambodia
In partnership with the Global Heritage Fund (GHF), our Homestay program at Banteay Chhmar is designed to enable travellers to make a positive impact and forge meaningful local connections on route. Our Homestay offers visitors an authentic Khmer experience while providing host families with crucial additional income, in turn supporting the elevation of their status within the community. Led by gracious hosts, guests are treated to scenic tours of the surrounding settlements, rice paddies, and reservoirs, providing a truly enriching experience. Away from the crowds, visitors can take in the ancient Banteay Chhmar temple complex from the Angkorian period. Surrounded by an unspoilt environment, this unique archaeological site serves as a crucial connection to Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage.
Batang Ai Longhouse_
Iban Tribal Longhouse Visit & Stay in Borneo
We offer a rare glimpse into Batang Ai, the ancestral heartland of the Iban – a tribe of fearsome headhunters, who are today better known for their warm hospitality. Borneo’s Iban people live in longhouses with up to 30 families under one roof, and in the evenings, these houses are filled with drinking, dancing, and general merriment. Through our local community connections, InsideAsia travellers can spend the night in a traditional longhouse tasting authentic tuak rice wine and feel the rich sense of community that’s long faded from Western culture.
Mae Wang, Thailand
Meet Hilltribe Communities in Mae Wang, Thailand
Nestled within the picturesque province of Chiang Mai, the Mae Wang district is part of the northern Thai hills. Home to concentrated populations of Thai minorities, including the Hmong, Karen and Akha peoples, the area offers a rich cultural tapestry. For the hiking enthusiasts, we’ve curated a five-day trek through lush jungle-clad mountains and rugged landscapes with crystal clear waterfalls contrasting the vibrant foliage. We introduce travellers to the Akha and Karen minorities, with each night spent in a different hilltribe community – fostering connection to country and deep cultural immersion through teaching about local cultures and customs.
Kinabatangan River
Tree Planting on the Kinabatangan River, Malaysia
One of our latest nature-positive projects has seen InsideAsia support Animal Projects & Environmental Education (APE) Malaysia to facilitate the reconnection of fragmented forests within the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary. Our mission is to restore these ecosystems and safeguard endangered species and the broader biodiversity of the region including pygmy elephants, orangutan, Sumatran rhinoceros, Malayan sun bear, clouded leopard, bear cat, hornbills, and many more. Whilst in region, stay in an eco-lodge on the banks of Sabah’s longest river, where elephants, macaques and gibbons forage in the dense riverside foliage, and frogmouths, nightjars and hornbills wheel overhead.
