Thailand Hilltribe Holidays was founded and is run by a Thai/foreign couple – Pat and Mel. 

Pat
Pat is originally from Chiang Mai and of Shan desent (an ethnic minority group in Northern Thailand).  A humble beginning as a tuk-tuk driver, he has now worked as a tour guide for the past 10 years where he has slowly seen the erosion of traditional ways of life as areas of Thailand have become commercial tourist spots. His mother is a Buddhist nun who runs the temple in La Up village which is how he came to know of this land.

For as long as he can remember he has wanted to find a way out for those living in poverty by helping them to become self reliant. He saw how tourism if carried out responsibly could help the development of La Up village and so the idea of an ethical homestay came about. Pat wanted to reach out to people from around the world, by welcoming foreigners from around the world to share the beauty and culture of his homeland.

Mel
His partner - Mel was born and raised in England but of Chinese ethnicity. She has volunteered for NGOs in Thailand working with marginalized hilltribe children. Through this work she developed a deep understanding of the issues faced by hilltribes living in Thailand allowing her to think of ways to help them in a sustainable way.  She had also previously worked as a finance professional in London, before leaving this career behind to do something more rewarding.  So together they founded ‘Thailand Hilltribe Holidays’ – not your typical tour operator - but a responsible travel venture aimed at showing a warm and friendly way of life that aims to:

-channel tourism to benefit local communities directly

- bring about cultural exchange and provide enriching experiences for both tourists and host communities

- allow tourists to visit hilltribe villages in an ethical and culturally sensitive way

- Offer the traveler a chance to see the real Northern Thailand through their ‘off the beaten path’ trips and homestays