About Us
The Tiger family at your service with a smile.
Our Story
Welcome to Tigerland Rice Farm! We’re a family-run farm in the beautiful hills of Chiang Rai, Thailand. Our mission? To share the beauty of hill tribe culture and sustainable farming with the world. What started as a simple rice farm has grown into a place where visitors can experience life in a hill tribe community, learn about the traditions of organic rice farming, and reconnect with nature. At the heart of our farm are Father Gun and Mother Tomei, two incredible people who live and breathe the simple joys of countryside life. Through their hard work and dedication, they’ve created a welcoming environment where guests can truly feel at home.
The Watasittikul family, belonging to the Karen Sg’aw hill tribe originally from Myanmar, has been rooted in Tigerland for four generations as rice farmers and hunters. While they may be cash poor by modern standards, their lives are enriched by the abundant resources of the land, river, and forest that surround them.
Seeding a Social Business: Connecting Urban Families with the Heart of Rice Farming
The seed for this social business was planted in December 2007, when the Yong family from Singapore unexpectedly arrived in Chiang Rai. Originally bound for India, the Yongs were diverted to Thailand due to a visa issue. It was there that they met Kitt, the eldest son of Father Gun, who guided them on a hill tribe tour and passionately shared his knowledge of rice farming.
As city dwellers, the Yongs were struck by how little they knew about rice—a staple food they had grown up with. For many urbanites, rice is just a product on supermarket shelves, with little thought given to the long journey from paddy to plate. Few truly understand the vital role that nature—sun, rain, and earth—plays in nourishing every grain, or the many months of labor and care that farmers dedicate to each crop.
Alvin Yong envisioned how transformative it would be for city families to experience the life of a rice farmer, learning firsthand the processes of planting and harvesting in a paddy field. This vision brought the Yongs back to Chiang Rai twice in 2008—once for rice planting in June, and again for rice harvesting in November.
These enriching experiences led to the creation of a dedicated rice farming program, designed as an eco-tourism social business to offer other urban families and individuals the same opportunity. In 2009, TigerlandRiceFarm.com was launched, offering a one-of-a-kind, back-to-nature, fun-experiential eco-vacation that reconnects people with the land and the farmers who sustain us all.
Our Mission
We aim to provide guests with an authentic farmstay experience that not only reconnects them with nature but also supports the local community. Through our programs, we hope to foster a greater appreciation for the hard work of farmers and the importance of environmental sustainability.
Meet the Tiger Family
Father Gun
Meet Father Gun, our resident rice farming dean! He has been working these fields for as long as he can remember. Even though he never had a formal education, he taught himself English using a dictionary and a cassette tape. Now, he’s more than happy to guide our guests through the rice farming process, sharing stories and wisdom along the way. Whether you’re planting rice or just enjoying the view, Father Gun will make sure you leave with a deeper understanding of nature and a greater appreciation for the hard work that goes into every grain of rice.
Mother Tomei
Say hello to Mother Tomei, the heart and soul of our farm! She is up before dawn every day, working tirelessly from sunrise to sunset – but always with a smile and a song. Though she can’t read or speak English, her joy is infectious, and her warmth transcends language. And let’s not forget her cooking! With just two tiny firewood stoves, she creates mouthwatering meals from ingredients sourced right here on the farm and from the surrounding forest. We like to call it “Nature’s Supermarket.” Her meals are a true highlight of any stay at Tigerland Rice Farm.
Alvin Yong
Introducing Alvin Yong from Singapore, the co-founder and visionary behind Tigerland Rice Farm. Alvin is a social entrepreneur with a passion for creating meaningful experiences that connect people to nature and community. In 2007, Alvin and his family visited Chiang Rai and befriended the Tiger family. The following year, they returned to experience rice planting and harvesting firsthand. These moments of connection and discovery inspired Alvin to co-found TigerlandRiceFarm.com with the Tiger family. Together, they created an eco-tourism experience that allows people from around the world to immerse themselves in the rich culture and traditions of hill tribe rice farming.
