Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Chiang Rai, Thailand
The only resort in the world to score a perfect overall 100 in the 2011 Conde Nast Traveler resort ranking.
Words cannot adequately express the beauty and serenity of this amazing and idyllic luxury resort. The Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is one of the most special wilderness retreats one can imagine. But what makes this a perfect 100 is the most wonderful staff I have ever encountered at any hotel/resort anywhere in the world. Combine precise Four Seasons service standards with the endearing and beautiful personality and kindness of Thais (especially northern Thais) and you will leave with memories that can last forever and bring the occasional tear to even the most hardened tough guy.
This resort is not for everyone, especially city girls like Mrs. SFO who would have rather been in Paris or Hong Kong, and wasn't nearly as enamored as me. But for the rest of us, it is a spectacular getaway-from-it-all retreat.
The gallery section of the resort website has great pictures...
http://www.fourseasons.com/goldentri...resort-CHR_065
Set in the extreme northwest corner of Thailand on the border with Laos and Burma (Myanmar) and the Mekong River, the region is commonly referred to as the Golden Triangle. Our Four Seasons driver met us at Chiang Rai airport for the 75 minute drive north thru pretty rural northern Thailand to the FS launch pier and the beginning of our adventure.
Our Camp Manager Beer greeted us and gave us a brief overview of the area before departing on the 5 minute speedboat ride on the Ruak River to the resort pier.
Thailand on the right, Burma on the left.
And an HD youtube video...
Speedboat to the Camp
More staff awaited our arrival as we were escorted up the stair to the reception area of the restaurant overlooking the river and the natural beauty of the area...
... and then on a beautiful walkway to our Tent #5 (of a total of 14), the last tent on the main resort facility side before the suspension bridge.
The tent itself was well, a tent. A pretty plush tent but it was still a tent and city girl Mrs. SFO was not very excited, exclaiming "OMG, it's the Kasbah Tamadot all over again.". Not actually, Richard Branson's Marrakesh tents were a little less rustic. Welcome to my world. Anyway, I thought it was great although lacking in hanging space and drawers to unpack. The double zipper operated (anti-mosquito) screens and plastic "windows" as well as the manual horizontal blinds were a PIA. At these prices, remote operated electric openers would be nice. But each tent has its own high speed wi-fi and 110 volt outlets, a safe, complimentary mini-bar and heavenly beds!! And sufficiently distant from others that, other than the occasional guest walking by on the path, the only sounds were nature sounds.
The views and the outdoor rain shower were awesome, especially in the morning before the mid-to-upper 50F temps warmed to the mid-80s.
*From fourseasons.com
Incredible food and amazing service, with extraordinary attention to detail. How do they manage to pull this off in the middle of nowhere?? All outdoors in one of the most attractive and most comfortable dining rooms one can imagine. We had seven mostly Thai meals at the Nong Yao restaurant, all of which I would rate from excellent to incredible. All meals, drinks and (excellent house) wines were included in the room rate. Special thanks to Deaw, Phet, Ed and San for your wonderful service!!
A few pics of breakfast and lunch plates...
Every morning at 8:30AM, visitors arrive and join us for breakfast.
Late afternoon, we walked over the bridge to the Burma Bar... a great place to relax and share experiences with other guests, over cocktails and hors d'oeuvres.
After dinner, one of the friendly camp "wardens" would greet us with the traditional wai and escort us by lantern back to our tent.
Each activity from transfer to visit to the Hall of Opium to elephant mahout training and trekking was seemlessly coordinated so we were met at every step of the way.
But the elephant training and trekking was the highlight of the visit. What amazingly gentle, intelligent and playful creatures.
In summary, an amazing and unique experience, in a beautiful setting with service that can only be described as flawless.