Anantara Golden Triangle sits on a wooded ridge of 160 acres above the point where the Ruak and the Mekong meet, and from the terraces you look across to Myanmar and Laos. The rooms mix teak and terrazzo floors with hill tribe fabrics, and many bathrooms have baths built for two. There are 40 rooms, 15 suites, six family suites and two Mekong Explorer Tents. The elephant camp is the reason most people come. It works with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, which takes in elephants rescued from logging, street begging and shows, and guests can learn about their care and sponsor an animal. The Jungle Bubbles, clear domes set among the elephants, allow a night out in the forest with dinner and breakfast. Samsarn serves Thai cooking from the region, and Canopy offers dinner up in the trees. There is also an infinity pool, a spa, a gym with sauna and steam rooms and a tennis court, and long-tail boats run along the Mekong.
- Nearest airport
- Chiang Rai International Airport (CEI), 37 Miles / 60 Kilometres
- Rooms
- 63 rooms, suites and tents
Insider tip Reserve a night in a Jungle Bubble well ahead: there are only a few, and they include dinner and breakfast among the elephants.
Why I choose it Its elephant programme is tied to a rescue foundation rather than shows, and the three-country views make the north of Thailand easy to read.