Anantara Golden Triangle, Thailand

The design of the resort is very traditional Thai and all rooms have private balconies overlooking the Golden Triangle. The Deluxe rooms are an excellent and supremely stylish choice. Each has a private balcony with a large day bed and the bathroom has a two person stone bath tub, with sliding glass doors which can be opened to reveal the stunning views. Teak floors, Thai artefacts and rich fabrics complete the look.

Of the two restaurants, one serves Northern Thai cuisine with Lao and Burmese influences. The other serves fine Italian food and has an excellent wine cellar.  

One of the Anantara’s highlights is the free form infinity swimming pool. The resort also has a signature Spa for some excellent relaxation.

Using the Anantara Golden Triangle as your base gives the perfect opportunity to explore. The location is spectacular with superb views and its own Elephant camp. Have a mahout teach you how to handle the enormous beasts, go on a trek by the river or through the forest, rice fields and bamboo groves, join in with elephant bathing time or discover tips for surviving in the forest from the mahouts. The camp is designed like a traditional mahout hill village and sits right beside the resort.

Nightly rates include all meals, drinks (local wines, beers and spirits), a visit to the Opium Museum, a private Golden Triangle tour, an Elephant Camp experience, cooking class and spa treatment.     

For something really unique guests can spend a night in the elephant camp in one of two ‘Jungle Bubbles’, located in the jungle on raised wooden decks. The transparent glass domes offer uninterrupted views of the elephants as well as the incredible starry sky at night. This is an optional extra and includes an overnight stay (from dusk till dawn), complete with dinner basket and fully stocked mini-bar.