WHAT’S NEW

GOLDEN TRIANGLE ADVENTURES BEGIN WITH A VIP REGAL ELEPHANT ARRIVAL

Perched on a hilltop, overlooking three countries in the fabled Golden Triangle, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort welcomes travellers to authentic jungle luxury with a journey of real adventure, even before check-in, with its VIP Regal Elephant Arrival.

For this one-of-a-kind arrival, eligible Club Points Owners with access to our Club Escapes Programme touch down at Chiang Rai Airport to be greeted by an Anantara representative and a private limousine. An hour’s drive through scenic countryside reveals snapshots of rural village life, en-route to the historic riverside town of Chiang Saen – a former capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom.

Boarding a private longtail boat, guests saunter down the mighty Mekong River on a 20-minute voyage of discovery, viewing local life along the banks of Thailand and Laos. Reaching the confluence of two rivers where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand converge and the Golden Triangle begins, the longtail boat passes through the village of Sob Ruak, where a golden Buddha statue stands proudly in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Branching off from the Mekong and onto the smaller Ruak River, the boat trip transitions from a wide open waterway to a tributary flanked by tall grass, native birds and natural forest, suggesting the jungle’s hidden intrigue. Pulling up at the resort’s private jetty, guests catch their first glimpse of the Lanna-style retreat high above, and are greeted by a welcoming committee of elephants and their mahout caregivers from the resort’s award-winning Elephant Camp.

Disembarking from the longtail boat, guests are invited to relax in the riverside sala with a fresh coconut welcome drink, which can then be fed to the elephants. Guests then put on mahout pants over their clothes to ride bareback on their trusty steed’s neck up to the resort, or can opt to interact with their new jungle companion by ambling alongside. The stroll is set by the gentle giant’s natural pace, giving ample time to admire the sprawling resort grounds. Meandering along forest trails, through rice paddies and past magnificent tropical gardens, the 15-minute ascent arrives at the hotel lobby, where refreshments are served during check-in, and an extraordinary escape begins.

The VIP Regal Elephant Arrival takes approximately one and a half hours and is available only during daylight, priced at THB 6,900 per couple.

For enquiries about Points, accommodation options and reservations, please contact your dedicated Club Services team, or log into your Owner account at anantaravacationclub.com.