Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort in Chiang Saen

We came here the last time we were in Thailand in 2023 and just had to come back. Our tour company provide the transfer from Chang Rai Airport, c. 1 hours drive. On arrival you are warmly greeted, including a drum beating welcome. You are then taken to the reception were they were meticulous in their dealings with us. We had a room very much like last time to the left of the main building. The room was huge and there was a lovely welcome layout on the bed. The room had a large oval shaped bath and a separate shower. There was plenty of seating in the room & I think there was a TV as well, there was tea and coffee making plus a mini bar. There are two sets of sliding doors leading out on to the balcony. They both have sliding screens to prevent insects getting in so you can have fresh air without insects. There are overhead fans and air con if needed. The balcony has two cushioned seating or laying areas, with view of Myanmar and Laos, the river, trees and grassland. So to one of the more important areas of the hotel, the bar, this has both inside and outside seating, although the latter has 4 tables. As well as drinks, there is a menu for food, which we used at lunchtime. There was a young lady serving us several times and I forgot to write her name down. All I know is she had 13 cats and as we had 3 cats, loosing 1 just before our trip, there as a considerable repour here, above the otherwise totally brilliant staff who we came in to contact with. With both Breakfast and Dinner there was a choice of buffet, menu or both! The food was excellent and if, like me, you are not a fan of hot spicy food you have no worries here at all. The restaurant is covered but there are no windows, but heating stands are available is you need them, which would mainly apply if you were on one of the tables near to the open area. There are a number of activities available, most at no cost and one activity per person per night. Some of these involve the elephants, as mentioned in my previous review we have done quite a bit with elephants in India and Sir Lanca so this was not for us. “Management” went for a couple of massages and we both went on boat ride on the Mekong. As with the last time, you cross the border in to Myanmar and Laos so if you want to tick a couple of countries off the try this. It was supposed to be 45 minutes but was in fact 1 hour 15 minutes, not that we were complaining of course. Form the rear of our room there is track which leads straight in to the jungle, lots of birds here, but put on insect repellent and take some insect bite cream. We only stayed here 3 nights rather than the 4 last time. If I was asked by someone that they could teleport me to anywhere in the world then this would be one place I would choose.

Wonderful stay! Everything was excellent the food, the room, and the service were truly above 5 stars. Highly recommended!

My husband and I spent two nights here on our honeymoon, and truly—this property is nothing short of magical. From the moment we arrived, greeted by the rhythmic drum ceremony and offered relaxing mini-massages at check-in (where else does that?!), we knew we were somewhere extraordinary.

Our suite overlooked sweeping views of the countryside and the elephants, which made every moment feel surreal. We booked the Explorer Package, which included two activities each, and chose Walking With the Giants and a local market and longtail boat cultural tour. Walking alongside the elephants is an experience neither of us will ever forget—their calm presence, beauty, and the deep sense of connection was beyond anything we imagined. It’s also clear how well cared for they are, and how meaningful the camp’s mission is to both provide sanctuary for elephants in capacity while supporting the expansion of the wild elephant population.

Our cultural excursion was just as memorable. We spent the afternoon with a wonderful local guide exploring Chiang Saen’s markets, temples, and historic sites before cruising up the Mekong River on a longtail boat—a peaceful, scenic end to a perfect day.

We also enjoyed spa treatments during our stay, and they were among the best we’ve ever had. The therapists were incredibly skilled, and the whole experience left us so relaxed. The food was delicious across every restaurant, and every single team member we encountered went above and beyond.

A special shoutout to Brooklyn, who brightened each interaction with kindness and ensured every detail of our stay felt perfect.

We cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. If you find yourself in Northern Thailand, this is an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime place to stay.

We went to Anantara elephant sanctuary to celebrate my 65th birthday. As soon as we arrived we were blown away by the welcome drums, check in with a massage, warm towel and drink. Our room was glorious! Homemade macaroons and a welcome water bottle to keep. Our view from our balcony of the valley was spectacular!! The people so friendly, helpful and accommodating. The staff surprised me with a birthday cake and a lovely message on our bed. But our highlight was Walking With The Elephants. This experience I cannot effectively put into words. It was magical, life changing and seriously the best experience of my life. If you get the chance to visit this enchanting place, be sure to walk with the gentle giants.

I recently stayed from 28 to 30 November and I was genuinely impressed. The property is wonderful and we truly enjoyed the service, the exceptional experiences and the beautiful weather. The Family Suite is also very nice and incredibly spacious. In the morning, you can see the mist with the sunrise and it is absolutely stunning. When you arrive, they have a welcome ritual where they beat the drum to announce a guest check in, and they also give you a lovely bracelet. Even on departure, there is a touching ritual of placing a flower garland on the Buddha statue as a blessing before you leave. My thanks also go to your amazing team, Khun Neptune from reception, Khun Ploy and Khun Pure from Sam Sarn, as well as Khun Tom and Khun Dome (PP) who kindly drove us on the sidecar. They shared such interesting stories about the temples we visited and even took us to the chrysanthemum field. A big thank you as well to Khun Mor, who walked with us to see the elephants in the morning, and to the PP mahout team. We had such a delightful stay and a truly memorable experience at Anantara Golden Triangle. I really, really love this property.

We had the most special and magical experience at the Anantara Golden Triangle with our boys. This is a true 5 star property that is as unique as they come. The service and experience were outstanding, the resort facilities and rooms were on theme and well kept, maintained, and beautiful. The breakfast was very good and Samsarn restaurant was worth it and one of the most unique and delicious meals we’ve had in Thailand. You must do the Walking with Giants tour, we got to spend an hour and a half with the elephants, feed them walk with them on their morning walk and watch them interact - this is an experience like nothing we’ve ever done before. We were so happy with the entire staff on the resort, especially the Samsarn team and CJ at the Explorer desk. We will certainly come back and visit for another memorable experience.

So many good things to say here but let me start with the main thing. The staff here is amazing. From the time we got here to the time we left. They wait on you hand and foot and just so nice about everything. If you have a special request don’t be scared to ask. They will do all they can to accommodate it. The food and the hotel are first class. The chef was awesome and will try to make you what you want. The GM ( I think she was) was so nice and always checking to make sure things were handled. We did a canopy breakfast and walked with the elephants. I highly recommend both. The place to go for sure.

Anantara was on our bucket list and we were not disappointed. Beautiful place, perfect service and hospitality. We enjoyed the walk with the elephants, the massage and the sidecar ride. As an elephant lover I was in heaven. Of course they are not free but they have a much more better life now thanks to Anantara’s foundation program. Thank you to Naeng for her hospitality and kindness. Thank you to Didier for his service and sympathy. Thank you to the all team which made our stay so enjoyable. If our travels ever take us to northern Thailand, we will return with great pleasure.

The service is excellent in that staff are focused on a quality guest experience But there were flaws The bedroom lighting was insufficient and poorly thought out on matters of location and ease of use A Jungle Bubbles experience could have worked successfully, despite the rain, if a new Mahout had not moved the elephants from outside our Bubble at 06.33 when the expectation was that they would be present until at least 07.00 - clearly a very bad mistake, perhaps due to poor staff briefing. Front desk staff failed to recognise just how disappointing this was for us, not least how much we had paid for this (limited) experience By contrast, the guide who took us on some excursions was outstanding

Highly Recommend this hotel. It is more than a hotel, it is a real experience. The hotel is quiet and peaceful, the staff are superb, the food is excellent. And it is possible to select a few experiences, including meeting the elephants. The Canopy Breakfast dining was unique and unforgettable. Excellent stay, cannot fault this place and will definitely be back.