Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Perched on a hill overlooking the enchanting hills of neighbouring Myanmar and Laos, this charming hilltop hideaway effortlessly combines luxury living with a genuine sense of adventure.
Built in the traditional style of Northern Thailand, Anantara Golden Triangle is set amidst acres of bamboo forest and lush tropical jungle and makes the perfect base from which to explore the rich history and culture the area has to offer.
Many of the rooms and suites have views over the three surrounding countries and all have been beautifully furnished to display the best of traditional Thai decoration, featuring indigenous silk textiles, teak furniture and local artwork.
There are two restaurants serving either northern Thai or Italian cuisine, and the Elephant Bar and Opium Terrace is a great place to enjoy a cocktail or light snack.
The hotel has an elephant conservation centre onsite and there are plenty of different elephant based activities on offer, such as elephant trekking, driving, bathing and polo. Elsewhere, Thai cooking lessons, yoga classes, an excellent spa and boat trips to the neighbouring countries are all available.
Why We Love It
For a unique dining experience, you can choose to enjoy your meal anywhere you wish on the hotel grounds, whether by the banks of the mighty Mekong River or with baby elephants in the bamboo forest.
Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai
Accommodation consists of colonial-style suites, private two-storey villas or palatial residences with private pools, and the whole property is surrounded by 60 acres of peaceful landscapes incorporating paddy fields and lush tropical greenery.
Guests can travel about the resort by horse and carriage, bicycle rickshaw, golf cart or bicycle. Facilities at Dhara Dhevi include two swimming pools (one of which is Olympic-sized) two floodlit tennis courts and a renowned Ayurvedic spa offering a wide variety of treatments as well as yoga, Pilates and exercise classes.
The resort's several restaurants offer Thai, Chinese and French cuisine, and there is also a free shuttle service to nearby Chiang Mai, with its craft markets and famous night bazaar.
FAMILY DETAILS
For children, the hotel has an excellent kids club offering a diverse programme of activities.
FAMILY FACILITIES
Babysitting, Childrens menus, Interconnecting rooms
Why We Love It
The hotel's architecture recreates a chiang, or self-contained village, once typical of this region of Thailand, with access across a moat to a central square, above which tower golden stupas and domes.
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort
Located on the banks of the Mae Ping River in the heart of the historic city of Chiang Mai, the hotel features the contemporary Asian design and chic styling typical of the Anantara.
Each room comes with a private courtyard or balcony with views over the river, and the décor and furnishings are elegantly understated. Facilities include a swimming pool, gym, yoga room, and a spa offering a diverse range of treatments amid peaceful gardens.
A restaurant housed in a colonial-style building serves northern Thai specialities and there are two bars, including a terrace bar on the second floor.
Why We Love It
The Anantara makes an ideal base from which to explore the scenic mountains, hill tribes, ancient shrines and temples of northern Thailand.
Tamarind Village
This serene boutique hotel in Chiang Mai's old town, accessed down a bamboo-lined entrance, is set up around a series of quiet courtyards, the main one of which is home to a 200-year old tamarind tree.
The village is made up of 42 guestrooms and three suites, all clean-cut and simple in design with striking touches of local tribes in the patterned fabrics and carved wooden details. Each room has a private bathroom and views, while superior accommodation offers a balcony or courtyard terrace, a marble bathroom and more intricate pieces and local artefacts. The most exclusive and spacious of the lot, the Spa Suite, boasts an outdoor shower and large private terrace overlooking the tamarind tree on one side, and an ancient pagoda on the other.
Tamarind Village is the perfect base from which to exploring the surrounding ancient temples and shopping streets of Chiang Mai, and is just a ten-minute walk from the night market and riverside restaurants. Alternatively, while away your days at Tamarind relaxing in the outdoor pool, indulging in the spa or even try your hand at cultural activities such as umbrella painting and Thai cooking classes. You wont be able to resist an opportunity to roll up your sleeves in the kitchen once you've sampled the authentic delicacies and family recipes at the hotels own Ruen Restaurant.
Why We Love It
Tamarind Village offer a complimentary daily walking tour to guests - great for orientating yourself in the city, and exploring the historic sites. Guests also have the opportunity to join in the offering of alms to local Buddhist monks.