There are few locations on this world as particular because the 4 Seasons Golden Triangle. Take it from me, somebody who has been lucky sufficient to expertise most of the world’s most magical locations and luxurious resorts, this explicit property is the crème de la crème. So, what’s it wish to verify in to the 4 Seasons Golden Triangle? After my latest go to, I can inform you precisely what to anticipate from this luxury getaway in Thailand, overlooking Myanmar and Laos.
The Golden Triangle
When you aren’t already aware about the area, the Golden Triangle is a small pocket the place three neighbouring nations collide on the Ruak and Mekong rivers. These nations are Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Three extraordinarily distinctive cultures that share additionally some similarities, making this a really distinctive place to go to.
Earlier than I visited the Golden Triangle, I had little clue what to anticipate. I used to be picturing a jungle-like backdrop with elephants roaming within the distance, with humid days and epic sunsets. All of those have been true and a lot extra.
In some ways, the expertise looks like a Southeast Asian model of a safari, notably lately as this space in Northern Thailand has turn out to be a sanctuary for elephants. There are actually many elephant sanctuaries within the space, in addition to a small handful of luxurious properties providing elephant engagement in a respectful, instructional method.
There’s additionally a seemingly countless provide of temples to wander round and be taught the historical past of in Chiang Rai, the principle township in Thailand’s pocket of the Golden Triangle.
The Lodge: Checking in to the 4 Seasons Golden Triangle
When you come all this manner into the depths of the jungle of Northern Thailand, you’re going to need to keep not less than 4 or 5 nights to take advantage of your efforts. And in the event you select to remain on the award-winning 4 Seasons Golden Triangle, imagine me once I say you’ll not need to depart!
This property has been on my lodge bucketlist for some time now, having first lusted over photos of the property in journey magazines a few years in the past. However with its remoted location removed from something, it wasn’t till I used to be planning a bigger journey all through Thailand that it made sense to go to.
In comparison with some safari model properties in Africa, the expertise at this lodge just isn’t dissimilar. Right here you end up in the course of the jungle, removed from civilisation, but in addition by no means removed from life’s trendy luxuries. An all-inclusive mini bar, for starters, which is replenished every day.
The lodge itself is sort of an oasis. There’s a most important pool space with a number of swimming pools and day beds tucked away for visitor privateness. It’s also right here the place you’ll find the principle restaurant, serving breakfast lunch and dinners every day. However must you want a extra relaxed ambiance for a sundowner, then you possibly can’t miss the possibility to look at sundown at Burma Bar, which is positioned on the different facet of the property dealing with Myanmar.
Contained in the Safari Tents
The safari tents are the furthest factor from a tent. For starters, they function polished floorboards and splendid outsized tub tubs. And I don’t learn about you, however for me, sleeping in a tent on tenting journeys rising up in Australia doesn’t look even remotely just like this luxury canvas tent!
All the necessities are taken care of – together with a number of doorways and fly screens to forestall jungle critters from coming into the room. There are additionally block out canvas home windows which permit for a sleep in must you want, nevertheless when the lodge is providing every day breakfast elephant feeding on the restaurant, it’s slightly onerous to ever need to lay in mattress.
As I discussed earlier, the mini bar is stocked with snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks every day. There’s even dried lemon slices in your afternoon gin and tonic, which is finest loved on the outsized deck out the entrance of your tent.
Contained in the canvas tented rooms you’ll find your alternative of indoor bathtub or out of doors bathe, each of that are value having fun with throughout your keep. And take it from me once I say the rooms are so effectively outfitted, you’ll by no means need to depart. However those that do might be rewarded with wildlife encounters like strolling with elephants, or a safari-style sundowner in a classic Land Rover Defender.
The Spa at 4 Seasons Golden Triangle
One of many highlights of my keep (although there have been many), was an expensive afternoon on the spa for an indulgent 90-minute full physique therapeutic massage. This isn’t any outdated lodge spa. That is an expertise in itself. The spa is nestled effectively into the forest and takes not less than 5 or ten minutes to stroll to, which means you should have full privateness as soon as there. You may be greeted by your therapist and an outsized out of doors tub tub, which may be loved earlier than or after your therapy. The setting is an entire fairytale – wind lazily blowing the bushes within the distance, birds singing, and the addition of a mushy fan to maintain the humidity at bay.
Breakfast with the elephants
One other spotlight of my keep was the morning ritual having fun with breakfast with the elephants who name the lodge residence. Northern Thailand has turn out to be a haven for elephants in Thailand, with many sanctuaries positioned in Chiang Rai and the encompassing villages. And the lodge has made it doable to come across these elephants in a significant means, studying in regards to the lifetime of elephants whereas feeding them breakfast or watching from afar when you eat yours.
Meals and Eating on the 4 Seasons Golden Triangle
And naturally, the meals. A lot of you who’ve been following my adventures over time will know that meals and eating is one in all my key measures of a lodge. There’s simply a lot to be stated about encountering a overseas delicacies, and I really imagine that on the plate you possibly can expertise a lot of a tradition.
Of all of the meals we loved throughout our keep, lunches have been my favorite. Within the warmth of the day there was nothing I felt like greater than a chilly, contemporary salad. And it by no means ceases to amaze me how contemporary and flavoursome contemporary produce is right here in Thailand.
Dinners and Breakfasts have been additionally memorable experiences, with many scrumptious Thai curries on supply in the event you fancy one thing native, or a Western menu in the event you’re feeling nostalgic for residence.
Over all, this was an unimaginable expertise and will definitely go down in World of Wanderlust historical past as one in all my favorite resorts on the earth. That is definitely my prime decide of resorts in Thailand, so make sure to add it to your journey checklist!