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During my two-part birthday journey to the Golden Triangle, we spent 4 nights on the 16-key Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, positioned close to Chiang Rai, Thailand. This isn’t your typical Four Seasons property, as you’d count on, given its distant location and tented lodging.
There’s quite a bit I like about this property — the setting is exclusive, service was phenomenal, the meals and drinks had been nice (and included with the keep), the outside spa is one-of-a-kind, and it’s very nice to have the ability to get so near elephants in a method that I’d take into account to be fairly moral (when a lot elephant tourism is completed in questionable methods).
I’ve to be trustworthy, although — I feel this property has some room for enchancment as nicely. Part of the difficulty is that the resort opened again in 2006, so it’s 20 years outdated at this level, and hasn’t undergone any significant redevelopment throughout that point. So whereas the property could be very nicely maintained in gentle of that, visitor expectations from luxurious manufacturers have developed over the previous couple of a long time.
The resort might actually use a health club (one thing that’s being developed), it might be good if there have been a minimum of one communal indoor area, and I feel the tents as such might be designed in a method the place they’re a bit extra snug.
Ultimately I completely advocate this property, as we had a magical time, however I additionally assume it’s essential are available in with the correct expectations.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is among the many costlier properties within the luxurious resort group’s portfolio. Rates are sometimes round $3,000 per night time, relying on the season — generally it’s just a little cheaper, and generally it’s a bit costlier.
Generally talking, November by February is taken into account peak season, with the good and driest climate. Then March by May is the most popular season, whereas June by October is the rainiest season. We had been visiting in April, and I can affirm that it was scorching. 😉
Obviously charges on the Four Seasons Golden Triangle are excessive, although additionally they embrace plenty of issues. You’ll wish to seek the advice of the main points through the reserving course of, however typically they embrace:
But anyway, you may simply come right here and never spend a dime past your charge, so a minimum of quite a bit is included.
As a reminder, typically one of the best ways to guide any Four Seasons resort is thru a journey advisor affiliated with the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program. When reserving by Preferred Partner you pay the identical charge you’ll discover straight on Four Seasons’ web site, however you’ll obtain additional perks, together with the next:
Four Seasons Preferred Partner is typically combinable with promotions being supplied straight by Four Seasons, together with advance buy charges, free night time gives, and extra.
Now, how did we guide? Due to the amount that Ford and his group guide with Four Seasons, he had acquired just a few vouchers for stays of some nights every at Four Seasons properties of his selecting. So he used a kind of for our Four Seasons Bangkok keep earlier on the journey, after which he additionally used one for a keep right here.
All opinions expressed are my very own, and as I feel you’ll see, I make a degree of being goal, and sharing each the positives and negatives.
For these not acquainted, the Golden Triangle is the distinctive tri-point border area, the place Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, proper on the Mekong River. The “triangle” a part of the identify is apparent, whereas the “golden” refers to its historic standing because the world’s most distinguished area for the illicit opium commerce, because the crop was actually price its weight in gold.
The metropolis closest to that is Chiang Rai, as the world is understood for its lovely nature, together with plenty of temples and different small communities.
The best technique to attain the Four Seasons Golden Triangle is to fly into Chiang Rai Airport, in order that’s what we did, as we arrived on Thai Airways. The resort actually makes the transfers seamless, on condition that they’re included with stays.
So we had been met within the arrivals space of Chiang Rai Airport by a consultant from the Four Seasons, who drove us within the course of the resort. The drive took round 45 minutes.
However, we didn’t find yourself on the resort, however as an alternative, ended up at a dock, the place we boarded a Four Seasons branded long-tail boat, which might enable us to finish our journey. Talk a couple of enjoyable technique to get to the resort.
In actuality, that is kind of a cute gimmick, within the sense that there’s a street resulting in the resort, however that is in fact a way more enjoyable technique to get there. The indisputable fact that the baggage continues to be transported by automotive makes the transportation swap tremendous seamless. It’s solely a roughly 10-minute boat journey to get to the resort. I’m so joyful we took it, as a result of we noticed one thing alongside the best way that captivated me, and visiting it grew to become my obsession for the remainder of the journey — extra on that in a separate put up.
Upon arrival on the camp, there was a really cute welcome ceremony, adopted by some welcome drinks and chilly towels.
These had been served in one of many outside seating areas close to the principle restaurant, with panoramic views of the area, which actually provides you a way of how distant of a location you’re in. You virtually really feel such as you’re on safari… I assume in a method, you might be.
We had been additionally instantly greeted by Ralph, the entrance workplace supervisor, in addition to Paweena, the camp supervisor. The employees listed below are simply extremely variety {and professional} throughout the board, however extra on that later.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is ready on over 300 hillside acres, on the banks of the Ruak River (near the place it converges with the Mekong River). Suffice it to say that the property is totally sprawling, particularly when you think about how few tents there are.
In the central a part of the camp you’ll discover the reception space, which is mainly simply an open air area that’s sometimes attended.
When it involves getting across the property, you’ve gotten two decisions. There’s one street that connects the assorted elements of the resort, and the camp has a ridiculously cool fleet of classic Land Rovers that may drive you round 24/7 (and at night time, it’s really useful to get round this manner).
Now, you can even stroll alongside these roads, and one cool factor is how there are fixed markers about how far you might be from the border with Myanmar. In some circumstances you’re only a matter of meters away.
On these roads, you even have an opportunity of seeing some non-Land Rover site visitors. 😉
The different sensible technique to get round is that there’s an elevated walkway that connects all elements of the camp (together with all of the tents), so it’s the most suitable choice if you happen to’re strolling. Of course remember you might be in nature, so when you hopefully received’t see any Burmese pythons, don’t be stunned if you happen to see some animals.
Due to the hilly nature of the property, taking the trail additionally entails strolling throughout a really enjoyable 80-meter suspension bridge, which you’ll need to cross to get between most tents and the principle restaurant.
Across the board, the greenery is simply beautiful…
As talked about above, the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle has a complete of 16 lodging — 15 of these are an identical tents, after which there’s the Explorer’s Lodge, primarily a two bed room lodge.
The tents are unfold out throughout the property, and are in three classes — there’s the Bamboo Tent (primarily with jungle views), the Mekong Tent (overlooking the the Ruak River), and the Golden Triangle Tent (with probably the most panoramic views). Essentially the farther from reception you get, the higher the views, because the tents additional away are the best up.
We had been assigned tent 14, a Golden Triangle Tent, that includes among the many most panoramic views. Beyond the views, the tents are an identical, and canopy 581 sq. ft (54 sq. meters).
The lodging have an excellent sense of place, and also you undoubtedly really feel such as you’re “glamping.” The tent is kind of spacious, with a simple format.
One facet of the room has a snug signature Four Seasons mattress, with netting round it. Behind that could be a desk with a chair (which additionally had a beautiful, native welcome amenity), after which to the facet of that’s the minibar space.
The minibar had a Nespresso espresso machine, and quite a lot of complimentary drinks and snacks. Since the property is usually all-inclusive, you can even ask them to carry mainly something to your room, so if you would like a cocktail or a bottle of wine, they’re joyful to supply that as nicely.
There are then two chairs which are tremendous deep, which kind of separate the bed room space from the lavatory.
The lavatory is large, with double sinks, a soaking tub in the course of the room, after which a closet area.
The closet area has conventional outfits you possibly can put on when with the elephants, together with reusable water bottles.
The lavatory and bathe scenario was attention-grabbing. The lavatory was fairly actually an “outhouse,” within the sense that you simply needed to open two zippers to get there, and it wasn’t air conditioned (although a minimum of it was a correct rest room with good plumbing).
Meanwhile the bathe was totally outdoor, and even had some wonderful views, with toiletries in reusable containers.
The room additionally had an out of doors terrace area, which stretched the size of the tent. This area had a daybed, two chairs, and a large bathtub of types.
The views from listed below are very cool, particularly when you think about that you simply’re searching over three separate nations!
Now, I’d like to deal with just a few extra factors. First of all, Wi-Fi all through the property labored fairly nicely, and I can’t say I had any main points, together with in our tent. That’s nice, and exceeded my expectations, given the distant location.
The tents do have air con, although it was undoubtedly a little bit of a wrestle. Admittedly we had been visiting through the scorching season, so maybe it’s not as massive of a problem different occasions of the yr. However, the air con undoubtedly had a tough time maintaining.
Shortly after arriving, we had been virtually apprehensive if we’d have the ability to sleep, as a result of even with the air con, it was extraordinarily scorching. However, it did cool off at night time, and on subsequent days, we merely made the tent darkish at any time when we left within the afternoons, to keep away from it getting too scorching. I don’t wish to say that made it actually cool, nevertheless it meant the temperature was extra acceptable. But if you happen to’re very temperature delicate, undoubtedly concentrate on that, or a minimum of take into account coming through the cooler season.
As I discussed above, this property was constructed 20 years in the past, and the “bones” have mainly stayed the identical since then, and I do assume there are some alternatives to enhance the tent:
Anyway, these are minor within the scheme of issues, however they’re a few constructive factors.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle has a pool space proper by reception. It’s very cool how that is mainly constructed proper into the jungle, with a pool, scorching tub, and loads of seating. You may even get pleasure from a meal right here, and naturally if somebody is definitely hanging out right here, employees may also verify on you, and give you no matter you’d like.
As you’d count on, you’re out in nature, although, and it’s a bit buggy.
Also proper subsequent to the pool is a yoga pavilion, which has some unimaginable views, and feels very peaceable.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle has an out of doors spa. As a reminder, all stays embrace a minimum of one 90-minute remedy per couple, and naturally you possibly can pay for additional therapies as nicely. You can find all the treatment options here, as there are massages, facials, and different physique therapies.
The spa could be very easy — it’s only one remedy pavilion with two therapeutic massage tables, a bath, and a few seating (which will be lifted, to disclose a bathroom). At first I puzzled if it might be uncomfortably scorching, and full of bugs.
I’ve to say, my expectations had been massively exceeded. Ford and I each agreed it was the most effective spa remedy we ever had. The therapists had been extremely expert. But past that, the setting was simply chic — there have been followers to maintain the world cool and hold bugs away, and listening to the sounds of nature within the jungle made me so relaxed.
The remedy was so good that we needed to guide one other one for the subsequent day, which was equally good.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle has a single major restaurant, which is Nong Yao, positioned proper by reception. Let me point out that whereas that is the first eating venue, there are additionally particular eating experiences that may be had with elephants, within the wine cellar, on the pool, and so forth. (a few of which come at an additional price).
Breakfast is served from 7AM till 11AM, lunch is served from 12PM till 4PM, and dinner is served from 7PM till 10PM (although actually they’re very versatile, so it’s not such as you’re going to be denied outdoors of these hours).
The restaurant is absolutely outdoor, and solely has round 10 tables, so it’s fairly intimate.
Throughout the day, the restaurant serves each Thai and worldwide dishes, so that you get a large quantity of flexibility. For that matter, if you would like one thing else, they’ll gladly put together that for you as nicely. It’s actually like having a private chef, and the meals right here is wonderful.
Below is the breakfast menu…
The drinks had been wonderful, from the freshly squeezed juices, to the iced espresso drinks (it was too scorching for warm espresso!).
The meals was phenomenal was nicely, from quite a lot of Thai dishes, to the recent fruit, to the acai bowl.
The actual spotlight of breakfast, although, was having the ability to feed the elephants. I’ll discuss extra in regards to the total ethics in a bit, however the concept is that the elephants sleep within the sanctuary space, after which spend their days hanging out by the river, and so they take a path that goes by the resort.
Who doesn’t like a snack whereas on a street journey? 😉 So they cease by breakfast for some bananas, and different goodies, which friends are inspired to feed them. As you’d count on, they’re all the time consuming, so there’s loads of bananas and urge for food for everybody to feed to their coronary heart’s content material. 😉
Anyway, on to lunch, yow will discover that menu beneath…
We virtually all the time caught to native dishes, and each single certainly one of them was nice. Also, whereas I’m not often a dessert at lunch sort of man, the ice cream and sorbet choices had been scrumptious.
While breakfast and lunch are absolutely a la carte, with an enormous choice to select from, dinner has a set menu idea, and you may both go along with a Thai or worldwide choice. This rotates every day, so there’s loads of selection, however yow will discover some samples beneath. Of course as talked about above, if you happen to don’t like one thing, they’re additionally joyful to simply put together no matter you’d like.
For instance, beneath is what we had one night, once we went with the worldwide choice (after enoying method an excessive amount of scrumptious Thai meals, and wanting to combine issues up).
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle additionally has Burma Bar, open each night from 5PM till 8PM. This is positioned on the alternative facet of the property of the restaurant, and was proper close to our tent, so it’s good to get a distinct vantage level.
The concept is that friends come right here every night for a sundowner and a few canapés, after which head over to the restaurant for dinner. Let me once more emphasize that drinks are included in every single place, so you can even order cocktails at dinner, to your tent, and so forth. Burma Bar is a beautiful open air area, as you possibly can inform primarily based on the beneath footage, and the views are additionally nice.
Below is the included drink record, that are additionally all drinks you will get all through the remainder of the property.
I actually loved a number of the signature cocktails, in addition to the snacks.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle gives quite a lot of actions, all of which you can find at this link (together with prices, if relevant). A small variety of actions are included, after which different actions come at an additional price. Activities largely focus on elephants and the native space (with the whole lot from visits to temples and markets, to bicycle excursions, and far more).
Let’s begin by speaking a bit in regards to the elephants, since that’s the first draw of staying right here. Understandably, some folks might have moral issues concerning the remedy of elephants, given the quantity of exploitative elephant tourism on the market. While I’m no elephant knowledgeable, that is one thing I put thought into earlier than we stayed right here, since I didn’t wish to go to some kind of an elephant circus, or one thing, the place the animals are chained, handled poorly, and instructed to do tips for people.
The concept is that the property’s proprietor is supposedly enthusiastic about elephants, and has a basis meant to rescue elephants which have been in captivity, which have been handled poorly, and so forth. There are at present 20 elephants which are a part of the muse.
As it was defined to me, these are largely elephants that wouldn’t survive within the wild and that spent most of their lives in captivity, earlier than coming to the muse. I can solely go primarily based on what I heard and noticed, however plainly they’re handled very nicely:
Like I stated, I don’t have any experience right here, however I felt good about that side of it, and it’s undoubtedly one thing I used to be searching for, as a result of I’m not a fan of tourism primarily based round treating animals poorly.
Beyond that, the area has quite a bit to supply, so we did a further exercise day-after-day, visiting temples, native markets, and so forth. One of the good issues is that there’s not truly that a lot tourism round right here, so you possibly can go to locations and mainly have them to yourselves. Then there was my favourite tour, which I’ll speak about within the subsequent put up, and which requires plenty of begging to rearrange. 😉
There are additionally a number of extra eating choices, relying on what you’re in search of. For instance, the resort has a wine cellar, and it’s potential to both do a wine tasting or to have a personal dinner there (at an additional price), so we had dinner there one night. Not solely was it good to be within the coldest a part of the resort, however the eating expertise was additionally satisfying.
One night, we additionally had a particular elephant camp dinner, with the thought being that you would be able to eat out within the space the place the elephants spend the night time. As you’d count on, that is fairly a manufacturing, with a chef cooking there, and there’s even stay music only for you. It was an unimaginable eating expertise.
Across the board, the service on the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle was spectacular. The Four Seasons model is understood for its nice service, and Thailand is understood for having hospitable folks, so once you mix the 2, I’ve nothing however nice issues to say. A overwhelming majority of the folks working on the resort are from the local people.
During our go to, solely round 5 tents had been occupied, so I can’t even think about what the worker to visitor ratio was. As you’ll count on, service was extremely customized, attentive, element oriented, and frictionless.
Paweena, the camp supervisor, was a relentless presence, and checked on friends morning, midday, and night time (and in addition had a captivating life story). One particular extra shout out to Rain, who acted as our information for many of of our keep, so he took half in most actions with us. He was actually one of many kindest and most attention-grabbing folks I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with, and he was additionally tremendous good.
There are too many wonderful workers to call, however I can’t think about not being delighted by the extent of service at this resort.
The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle isn’t your typical Four Seasons. This 16-key property is positioned in an elephant sanctuary, and gives an expertise not like another Four Seasons I’ve stayed at.
I completely love the idea of this resort, of primarily having the ability to grasp round elephants in an moral method (as I see it), from feeding them breakfast, to bathing them. The employees listed below are unimaginable, the meals is scrumptious, and I additionally had my favourite spa remedy ever right here. I additionally discover the Golden Triangle to be fascinating, each by way of its historical past, and by way of all there may be to see past the property.
All that being stated, this property is 20 years outdated, and whereas it’s nicely maintained, it might use some updates that carry it as much as the usual that some Four Seasons friends will count on, like a health club, stronger air con, and extra useful seating within the room. I’d additionally like to see some kind of a communal indoor area, to let folks cool off between actions, quite than simply lounging within the restricted in-tent seating. These are all minor within the scheme of issues, although.
What’s your tackle the Four Seasons Golden Triangle?
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://onemileatatime.com/reviews/four-seasons-tented-camp-golden-triangle/
and if you wish to take away this text from our website please contact us
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its authentic location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you…
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you'll…