Yuanyang, Yunnan, Laos

Yuanyang would be virtually unheard of if it weren't for its rice terraces. Even still, it mostly attracts photographers and anyone sporting a Lonely Planet Guide. It is definitely remote, and would more likely be visited by those heading from Yunnan into Vietnam, or vice-versa. It is a mountainous region packed with many colourful ethnic minorities. While most people come to see the vast, breathtaking views of rice terraces, the areas best kept secret is that there are few places left in Southeast Asia where the ethnic dress is so visible. For those looking to see or photograph the rice terraces, winter is the best time of year with February being the prime month. It is the time when the paddies are flooded and reflective. In other times of year there will be crops growing in the fields, so the sunrises and sunsets won't be mirrored in the jigsaw patterns of the terraces.