Once an important hub of the famous Silk Road, Lijiang in far western China is a charming maze of cobblestone streets bordering canals lined with weeping willows.  It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for the richness of its minority cultures. Visit a village of 30 Yi families, meet their shaman and learn about the importance of the community’s animist religion, which predates Buddhism in China.  Receive an informal cooking lesson and have dinner with the villagers before retiring to the five-star Banyan Tree, where each luxury villa is designed in traditional Yunnan style.

Profound in its own right, an expedition to the remote hill-tribe villages of Myanmar’s Shan State also makes for a wonderful two to three-night extension to the must-visit northern Thailand cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.  Drive four hours north of the Thai border through beautiful mountainous terrain to the distant Burmese interior, where the Silver Palaung, Akhu, Ann, and other tribal people live – many of whom have never met foreigners, or even left their villages.  Interact with them in their daily lives, and stay in a three-star hotel that Remote Lands upgrades with fine linens, towels, toiletries and good wine to enhance your comfort and enjoyment.

The remote far northwestern reaches of Vietnam, near its border with China, are home to diverse peoples, picturesque hamlets, and a dazzling landscape of terraced rice fields underneath the Hoang Lien Mountain Range.  Have lunch with a family of Flower Hmong, Black Hmong, Red Dao or other local tribe, and witness a way of life that has barely changed in centuries. Visit the vibrant Sapa market, where all the tribes congregate to sell, buy and socialize. Sapa is usually reached by overnight train; alternatively, helicopter there, and stay at the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa, a four-star traditional mountain chalet.

From your base at the ultra-luxe Amanbagh resort, one of Rajasthan’s most sumptuous accommodations, embark on a day trip to visit the Meena minority people, who since the 7th century have maintained their own distinct customs as a result of their isolated lifestyle. Spend the day with Meena villagers and help them with their daily tasks including cooking and tending to their animals. Over lunch, learn about the Meena’s important role in the history of the state of Rajasthan, and enjoy a hands-on demonstration in the making of their distinctive colorful dress, jewelry and handicrafts.