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Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Chiang Rai, Thailand · Anantara · High Luxury
Set within a 160-acre bamboo forest landscaped by Bill Bensley at the precise confluence of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, where the Mekong and Ruak rivers meet, this Michelin Two Keys camp runs the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, which has rescued elephants from illegal logging and city streets since 2006 and now operates the world's only research facility dedicated to elephant intelligence.
- 63 rooms
- Opened 2003
- Neighborhood: Wiang
- Rooms from 344 sq ft (32 m²)
About Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
- The resort sits at the exact tripoint where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge — the Mekong River forms the border with Laos, the Ruak River the border with Myanmar — and guests can see all three countries simultaneously from the hillside terrace.
- The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), established in 2006 and supported by Anantara and Minor Hotels, has rescued more than 30 elephants from Thailand's city streets and illegal logging camps; mahouts and their families live permanently on the resort's grounds in a self-contained village.
- GTAEF partnered with US-based Think Elephants International to create the world's only research facility dedicated to studying elephant intelligence and behaviour, based here in Chiang Rai; the research has produced peer-reviewed findings on elephant empathy.
- The 160-acre grounds were landscaped by Bill Bensley, the same architect-designer behind Anantara Bophut and the InterContinental Khao Yai; keeping a single designer across early Anantara properties gave the brand an unusually consistent visual DNA.
- Entry-level rooms start at 344 sq ft (32 m²).
History
A 160-acre forest retreat in Chiang Rai overlooking the Mekong River and the Thailand-Myanmar-Laos border. Home to an elephant rescue and welfare camp.
The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), established in 2006 and supported by Anantara and Minor Hotels, has rescued more than 30 elephants from Thailand's city streets and illegal logging camps; mahouts and their families live permanently on the resort's grounds in a self-contained village.
The setting
2 km from 212 House of Opium museum.
Restaurants and bars
- Sala Mae Nam — Restaurant · Traditional Thai and Western
- Samsarn — Restaurant · Thai, Laos and Burmese
- Elephant Bar and Opium Terrace — Bar · Drinks and Light Bites
- Canopy, Tree Top Dining Experience — Restaurant · Asian and International
- Canopy: Treetop Dining — Restaurant
Experiences
- Jungle Bubbles — Spend the night in a fully furnished, transparent Jungle Bubble on a wooden deck with views of elephants and the starlit sky.
- Canopy tree top dining — Breakfast, lunch or dinner set among the jungle treetops.
- Elephant camp encounters — Encounters with the on-site elephant camp's rescued elephants, rooted in conservation and care, with a research and conservation programme.
- Elephant Adventures — Connect with the elephants in their natural environment and saunter through bamboo forests and landscapes.
- E.L.E. - Elephant Learning Experience — Observe rescued elephants of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation; an extra THB 2,000 per booking is donated to its work.
- Walking with Giants — Explore the jungle wilderness with the elephants and their mahouts on their daily walks.
Amenities
- Spa
- Infinity pool
- Sauna
- Hot tub
- Fitness center
- Yoga
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Travel + Leisure World's Best Hotels (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- LIV Hospitality Design Awards — Architectural Design of the Year Eating Space (Canopy) (2024)
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More hotels in Chiang Rai
- Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle — Four Seasons · Grand Luxury
- InterContinental Chiang Rai Golden Triangle Resort — InterContinental · Core Luxury
- Kimpton Chiang Rai Golden Triangle — Kimpton · Accessible Luxury
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