Balconies overlooking lush grasslands scattered with elephants. A backdrop of Laos and Myanmar in the background. A luxurious day spa and incredible views from your breakfast table. Welcome to the Anantara’s Golden Triangle offering.
An hour northeast from Chiang Rai, the Anantara resort might seem remote for Thai standards, but in fact, it’s a pleasurable drive and a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of major Thai cities, slow down and relax into nature. A stylish resort with traditional Thai and Lanna influences in the interior and architecture, the Anantara Golden Triangle’s 61 spacious rooms and suites are the ultimate decadence enveloped in nature. Balconies with daybeds overlooking lush forest, the rolling mountains of Myanmar and the 150 acres of land given over to The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Spot elephants wandering around the grasslands from your balcony, or take a nap on the plush bed or relax in the deep terrazzo tub, big enough for two! The spectacular infinity pool is reason enough to stay at Anantara Golden Triangle, as you can even watch the elephants from the poolside.
Guests of the Anantara come on all-inclusive packages, allowing you to explore all the resort has to offer. A delicious Thai and an intimate Italian restaurant on site, round trip transfer from Chiang Rai airport via Private Limousine, complimentary minibar and four different soap choices in the bathroom, as well as a daily activity to choose from every day. From exploring Thai cuisine at Spice Spoons cooking school, to a Spa Discovery Package in order to truly unwind. Across the road from the Anantara is the Hall of Opium Museum, and the resort offers all guests complimentary tickets to explore the museum and the history of the region. Of course, the highlight of the Anantara Golden Triangle is meeting Asian elephants up close, and ‘Walking with Giants’ is the most popular activity, closely followed by the ‘Elephant Learning Experience’.
Most of the 150 acres of land at the Anantara Golden Triangle has been given over to The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) in order to help elephants (and their human families) and give them a better life. Set up by Anantara’s parent company, Minor, the resort now has two elephant camps and is home to around 25 elephants and 60 people. Supported by the Anantara Golden Triangle and the nearby Four Seasons Tented Camp, the two hotels pay all the costs involved looking after an elephant, from veterinary treatments to the 200 kgs of food large male elephants can eat daily. Getting the elephants off the streets and back into nature has probably been the Anantara’s biggest success and most difficult challenge to date.
Guests from outside can visit the elephant camps at the Anantara Golden Triangle by booking in advance (with 100% of the money going directly to support the elephants), or they can come for lunch at Sala Mae Nam, dinner at Baan Dhalia or high tea (and sub tea for strong cocktails) at the Elephant Bar and Opium Terrace. Although nothing compares to a morning coffee overlooking the misty jungle, with the wild sounds of elephants in the distance. Two nights is the most common length of stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle, but to really experience the region, the nature and the complexity of the borderlands, it’s recommended to stay four-five days, or if you have time to spare, even a week.
www.goldentriangle.anantara.com