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In northern Thailand, a luxurious hilltop retreat features stunning views of not one, but three countries. The five-star Anantara Resort Golden Triangle which opened in October 2003 is located close to the historic town of Chiang Saen in the heart of northern Thailand’s hill-tribe country where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge.
The resort is positioned hugging a hill ridge with views looking down over a jungle canopy to the Mekong River and up to the rolling, green hills of Laos.
All 77 rooms and suites feature large balconies with in-built sofas and space for private dining. Signature terrazzo bathtubs large enough for two people are the central feature of the bathrooms designed in a ‘flow-through’ style enabling them to be opened up to or closed off from the bedrooms with sliding fluted-glass doors. Guest facilities include an infinity-edge swimming pool which is surrounded by a multi-tiered pool deck and flowered gardens and set into the hillside behind the resort to capture the views over the Mekong valley below.
The resort’s social hub is undoubtably the stylish Elephant Bar with an outdoor terrace and a open-fire in both areas – outdoors an open hearth with a fire-pit and indoors a log-fire fireplace beneath a slate chimney breast.
An undisputed highlight of a guest’s stay would have to be a visit to the elephant camp. Set within the resort’s lush bamboo forest, the camp is home to four elephants. The animals are cared for by their local mahouts (drivers) and English-born resident nature-ranger, John Roberts who is also a qualified mahout himself. Guests are also offered the rare opportunity to learn to ‘drive’ an elephant by choosing to undertake a unique three-day mahout training course. As well as learning the mahout commands and some log rolling skills, guests can take their pachyderm charge bathing, partake in mahout camp life and gain a greater understanding of their three-tone mount from Roberts. |
