The city of Chiang Mai is the largest in Northern Thailand. It’s a riverside city, famous for its rich cultural history and Thailand’s most famous elephant sanctuary.
In the middle of this bustling city, lies a sanctuary of calm at the Anantara Chiang Mai Hotel. Overlooking the Mae Ping River, the resort offers visitors the signature Anantara 5-star luxury, with the addition of famous Thai warmth and hospitality. Designed based on Thai architecture principles, with a modern and minimalist update, the resort is airy, open and truly serene.
Staying at The Anantara Chiang Mai
You officially start to relax the moment you arrive at the property. A cold towel, beautiful blue butterfly pea tea and a small tiffen of Thai snacks welcome you while you’re checking into your cool, spacious and chic room, with a view of either the garden or the river.
Although the spacious rooms feature flat-screen cable TVs, free WiFi, coffee machines, en suite bathrooms with rain showers and baths and of course AC, you’re likely to want to head straight for the refreshing rooftop infinity pool. Up on the roof, there’s a 180° view of the surrounding city and sunshine.
Of course, if you’d prefer a view of the river, there’s always the 34m riverside pool on the other side of the resort. Here, in the inner courtyard of the property, you can make the most of the activities on offer, from Muay Thai boxing lessons, to Thai massage lessons.
When it comes to dining, you have the option to tuck into a variety of Thai street food at the Chiang Mai night market, which is just a short walk away. But I would recommend dining at the hotel’s unique 1920’s prohibition era-style restaurant at least once.
Set within the old British Consulate, the resort’s heritage house now serves as a modern contemporary cocktail lounge and restaurant. The menu features Thai, Sichuanese and Vietnamese cuisine and is presented to the table in a “secret mission” folder, which adds a level of intrigue and excitement to your dinner. I don’t want to give too much away, but there may or may not be a secret door to a private dining room that you should definitely keep an eye out for.
Within the Chiang Mai area, you can hike the Chiang Dao hill tribe route with a local guide, visiting Lahu, Karen, Lisu, Akha and Penang, soar above the surrounding countryside and temples in a hot air balloon, or see the temples from the ground – from the 700 year old Wat Phra Singh, to the glittering silver Wat Sri Suphan.
Overall, the Anantara Chiang Mai offers a truly luxurious experience in Thailand’s northern capital. It’s the perfect expression of Thailand’s culture of hospitality and warmth, wrapped up in a truly 5-star property.
