For clients who want to delve into the heart of Thai
culture through hands-on activities and immersive experiences, plan an itinerary
to northern Thailand. The region’s warm hospitality and remarkable attractions will
likely inspire a longing to return—after all, more than a third of American
travelers to Thailand are repeat visitors.
There’s no better place to start than Chiang Mai, once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and recognized as a
UNESCO World Creative City for its crafts and folk art.
More than 700 years old, Thailand’s second-largest city
preserves many of its ancient handicraft traditions, so visitors can return
home with unique souvenirs, often made by their own hands.
A Serene Riverfront Sanctuary
An ideal base for exploring the rich cultural and
natural attractions in the Chiang Mai area is Raya Heritage,
a serene 38-suite resort surrounded by lush gardens on the banks of the Ping
River. A member of The
Leading Hotels of the World, the resort has seen a 50 percent
increase in U.S. guests over the past year.
The soothing, earth-tone décor incorporates curated
pieces by local craftspeople, such as handwoven bamboo baskets, carved teakwood
mirrors and wicker furniture. The methods used to make such handicrafts
preserve “the wisdom of the old people,” notes Naphat Nutsati, Raya Heritage’s general manager since its opening in
2018.
The sustainable vibe carries through in such touches
as old-school guest room keys and a recycled bag in the closet, inviting guests
to donate gently used clothing to the Pankan Society, benefiting
underprivileged children.
Immersive Adventures
American guests are “doing a
lot of trekking and adventure activities,” says Nutsati. Raya Heritage encourages
such exploration with its full- and half-day excursions. Clients can book a
visit to Pa Bong Village—where many of the hotel’s baskets originate—for a
lesson in bamboo basketry, or cycle at sunrise past rice paddies through the
surrounding countryside.
Another popular outing takes
guests into the mountains for a short hike to the Pong Krai Organic Coffee Plantation,
from which the hotel’s in-room drip coffee is sourced (the grounds also make
their way into treatments at the resort’s tranquil Ai Waan Spa). The program
includes a stop at the Baan Pong Krai Orchid Conservation Center, where guests
learn about wild orchid breeding and plant their own seedlings in the forest.
On the way back to the resort,
excursion-goers experience an unforgettable lunch at the secluded Tune In
Garden, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant at the former home of the late Thai writer
Rong Wongsawan. His wife, Chef Aunty Tim, prepares in-season Thai dishes from
her cookbook, chef’s table-style. Weather-permitting, the outdoor tables lend a
dreamlike ambience to the fresh and flavorful meal, as lush greenery, koi ponds
and a relaxing waterfall surround diners.
Clients can also try their
hand at Thai crafts during Raya Heritage’s complimentary one-hour weekday
cultural activities, ranging from folding pandan leaves into flowers to creating
pottery to natural textile weaving. On weekends, guests can join a riverfront
gentle flow yoga class.
A ride in Anantara Golden Triangle’s Royal Enfield motorcycle sidecar whisks guests past area attractions, including stunning temples. (Photo Credit: Sara Perez Webber)
Make-Your-Own Mementos in Chiang Mai
Twenty minutes from the city center, Raya Heritage provides
a free shuttle transporting guests to and from the old town of Chiang Mai four
times daily. In addition to hundreds of magnificent Buddhist temples and
fascinating markets— the Chiang Mai Sunday Night Market within the old city
walls is a must-do—clients can experience a variety of hands-on activities in
the city, including:
- Designing and hand-painting a piece of
celadon pottery at Baan Celadon, where artisans craft Thailand’s famous ceramic pieces, and
a large showroom features an array of them for sale.
- Hand-painting a fan or decorative parasol
at the Umbrella Making Centre, where craftspeople continue the ancient art of making
Lanna umbrellas. Visitors can request custom artwork on a personal item—like a
phone case—for a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
- Learning how to impress friends back
home with a Thai cooking class at Grandma’s Home
Cooking School, which
starts with a visit to a local market. Under the tutelage of a friendly chef,
the lesson continues with a tour of the school’s extensive organic garden, followed
by step-by-step instructions on making such dishes as pad Thai and gang phed
(red curry)—and finally feasting on the results.
Chiang Rai’s Growing Appeal
If your clients are eager to venture beyond Thailand’s
better-known cities, they’re not alone. According to Malinee Nitikasetsunthorn, executive director of the
Americas for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, U.S. travelers are increasingly interested in
exploring the country’s lesser-known regions, including Chiang Rai.
A three-hour drive northeast of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is a
quieter gem in Thailand’s northernmost province, home to cooler mountainous
terrain, stunning temples like Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple) and Thailand’s largest tea plantation, Choui Fong—worth
a visit for its open-air café overlooking the rolling fields. And clients can
unforgettably experience the area with a stay at Anantara Golden
Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, a verdant retreat featuring 63 guest rooms, suites
and tents nestled on a mountain ridge amidst 160 acres of bamboo forest.
The arrival process sets the stage for the adventures to
come. Clients can choose to book the resort’s signature Explorer’s Arrival—a
private car pickup from the Chiang Rai airport (one hour from the resort) and
transfer to the historic riverside town of Chiang Saen. From there, a
traditional longtail boat carries guests up the Mekong River to the storied
Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge. The boat arrives at
Anantara's private jetty, where a committee of elephants greets guests.
Whether arriving by boat, car or helicopter, all Anantara
guests are treated to a welcome ritual—the beating of a traditional klong
sabatchai drum, a refreshing drink and snack, the gift of a rice seed bracelet
handcrafted by Akha hill tribe artisans, and an upper back and neck massage during
check-in. The entrance courtyard koi pond, colorful murals depicting
traditional Thai scenes and intricate lobby artwork add to the sense of
stepping into another world.
Ethical Elephant Encounters
Back to the elephants: Anantara Golden Triangle is a
permanent sanctuary for 20 of the gentle giants, each looked after by their own
mahout, a caretaker who lives onsite. From all room categories, balconies
overlook the surrounding misty hills of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. Guests will
often spot elephants sleeping or frolicking in the pasture below.
For a closer elephant encounter, Anantara offers several
options, all designed to connect with the rescued animals respectfully—a key
point to discuss with clients in case concerns about animal welfare arise.
“Since COVID there is a great enthusiasm to get involved,
to experience the conservation work rather than just to hear about it in a
‘talk at the bar’ format,” says John Roberts, group director of sustainability
and conservation for Minor Hotels Group.
The spacious balcony in a Huen Bon Suite at Raya Heritage overlooks the lush grounds and Ping River, facing east for sunrise views. (Photo Credit: Sara Perez Webber)
Roberts adds that Anantara Golden Triangle’s elephant
program undergoes continual outside audits to ensure the animals’ well-being. “This
means that not only are we open to any improvements in welfare that science has
suggested, we’re confident enough in what we do that we’re prepared to have
strangers investigate every aspect it, test it against the latest scientific
thinking, and report back on it,” he says.
Clients who book the carefully planned elephant encounters
will come away with a new appreciation for the gentle animals, whose movements
and interactions with their mahouts are fascinating to observe. Bookable
options include:
- Walking with Giants, in which
guests—donned in traditional mahout suits and boots—walk along with elephant
groups on their daily exercise, accompanied by a Golden Triangle Asian Elephant
Foundation Guide who provides insight into elephant behavior and the resort’s
conservation efforts.
- The Elephant
Guardian Experience, in which mahout-suited guests are accompanied by a
veterinary team member to the elephant camp, where they learn about caring for
the animals and mahout customs.
- An overnight stay in
a Jungle Bubble, featuring a bed in a clear, climate-controlled bubble, from
which guests can observe the gentle giants. Add-ons range from joining the elephants
on their morning walk to the riverbank to hearing from the resort’s elephant
specialist over sunset cocktails before dinner on the private deck.
The resort’s one-of-a-kind experiences don’t end there. Anantara
Golden Triangle recently unveiled the tucked-away two-bedroom Mekong Explorer
Tent—with two terraces, an infinity pool and an outdoor bathtub—where guests
can soak up the mesmerizing views amidst a sophisticated vintage décor style
that feels inspired by Indiana Jones. A stay in the tent includes a Sky Bike
ride, where guests pedal via zipline cable some 130 feet above the bamboo
forest.
And tell clients not to miss another exceptional experience
offered by Anantara: a private ride with a driver in a Royal Enfield motorcycle
sidecar. It’s an unforgettable way to approach the nearby Giant Golden Buddha at
the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers, glide past scenic rice paddies
and centuries-old temples, and capture photos of three countries at the Golden
Triangle lookout.
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