Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

Having been to safari a couple of times before, we were not quite sure what kind of experience to expect at the tented camp, both in terms of facilities and animal experiences. Safe to say any of our reservations disappeared the moment we stepped off the plane. The hotel picked us up in a nice and modern minivan, completed with the usual wifi, cold towels, water and snacks. The arrival on longtail boat gave us a sense of place and was a good introduction to the experience for the next few days. Room 5/5 We had the #1 the elephant tent - it offered a great view over the river and the plains. We were a bit hesitant on the only outdoor shower concept as we didn't like bugs/mozzies, but it was perfectly fine. You could also shower indoor at the bathtub if you wish. Everything here was in tip top shape and the room was gorgeous. It's so comfortable with all the modern amenities one will ever need. Services - 5/5 Having just 16 tents in total, this is on a smaller scale than even most of the Amans. Like at any Aman hotels, you don't need to sign any bills here, everyone knows you on the first name basis and they know what you have done or what you are going to do on the day. This is probably the only Four Seasons hotel I know of that delivers this kind of personable experience. The assistant camp manager, Ajit, was always on the property to chat with you throughout the day. He's very passionate about the whole hotel, and will share with you a lot of interesting stories and history about the elephants, the camp itself and the area. Everyone here was extremely courteous, friendly and fun in the Thai way, i.e. they're always happy to chat with you and joke with you and always willing to go the extra mile to help you out. The room attendants, were on par with the Aman ninjas. Every time you step out for meals or activities, someone will freshen up your room, and you'd never see anyone going in/out of your room. Activities - 5/5 We stayed 4 nights here, so a wide range of activities were included. We did the elephant walk, golden triangle excursion, wine and cheese tasting, countryside biking, picnic in style and the hall of opium museum visit. The interactions with elephants were amazing, you can walk up and interact with them and learn the different personalities of them! All the other activities were also extremely well done. We also opted for the elephant camp dinner to celebrate our anniversary and we absolutely loved it, they'll have a nice surprise for you in store if you do go for it. Spa - 5/5 The massage room was open-air, and it had a gorgeous view! It's was a perfect way to enjoy a great massage in such a stunning environment. It truly is a one-of-a-kind spa treatment experience. F&B 5/5 THE THAI FOOD HERE IS AMAZING! Having been to Thailand countless times, I can say that the food here is the best we have ever had, and it's not an exaggeration by any means. We are itching to go back just to dine at the restaurant. The daily sundowner at Burma bar and the private bucket sundowner were a great way to wind down and enjoy the sunset views over Myanmar. Cocktails were pretty good and the free-flow wines were decent as well. Conclusion: At first look the rates do look steep. However, it's at an all-inclusive basis, incl all the drinks, meals and activities, and everything here was absolutely perfect. It's difficult to find a hotel with such good hardware, services, activities and most important amazing food. I'd argue that it's actually pretty decent value, especially considering the remote location and the small scale of the hotel. Also the hotel elephants always seemed to be in a relaxed and happy mood, I'd believe that the elephants at the foundation were being treated very well. This simply is one of the most memorably and extraordinary experience we have had, and we're extremely glad to have chosen to celebrate our wedding anniversary here. If you are reading this review, please absolutely do not hesitate and make a booking right away, you won't regret it. Many congratulations to Ajit and Ralph on doing such a great job managing this magnificent hotel.

The Four Seasons Tented Camp was a once-in-a-lifetime stay. Extremely expensive, of course, but worth it as a "bucket-list" stay. It's not a typical hotel or resort but more a safari-like, all-inclusive experience. Having said that, the "tents" are very much full-service luxury rooms with air conditioning and everything you can want. Mostly, though, the service is what distinguishes this place. Everyone tried to memorize our names and our dining preferences. The deputy manager even researched the company that made their dish-ware to share with my wife. They really went above-and-beyond. It's not something we could pull off every day, but it's a stay none of us will forget.

Having just left this exceptional property, I wanted to thank the entire team who made our stay so wonderful and share another glowing recommendation. The Four Seasons in the Golden Triangle is one of the world's most unique resorts. You will be greeted with and awed by the natural landscape along with the tents which were both rustic and elegant at the same time. We loved coffee on the private deck and outdoor showers overlooking the river and Myanmar beyond. We had several active and cultural outings to explore the local towns, markets and countryside. The Northern Thai people are living as they have for decades and seem happy and were very friendly to us as guests. The outdoor massage was the best I have ever had and the setting was unparalleled. The resort food was outstanding and we enjoyed a mix of Western staples and authentic Thai dishes. Aside from all these important attributes and experiences, the elephants and the staff really make the property exceptional. It was such an extraordinary experience to interact with the elephants in their sanctuary, during morning visits at breakfast, and to see them wandering around the property with their ‘mahouts’ the caretakers. They have been rescued and in turn their gentle giant souls awaken something in us. I send a heartfelt thank you to Poy and her entire team. We enjoyed time with so many people in our daily activities: Agit, Ne, Somkid, Norman, Rain, Bare, Eye, North, Ralph, Eff and then there were so many behind the scenes anticipating every need. We were consistently surprised and delighted. You will never meet such a happy and long-standing staff at any resort in the world! This is a property for your bucket list.

So we recently just experienced a trip of a lifetime in late November 2024, and a part of our amazing trip was at the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle. If you are looking for a completely different experience. Get off the Grid a bit. Then head to the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Thailand. I cannot speak any higher of this place! It was exception! It blew away our expectations. The staff was amazing! They really have created a culture here that truly is 'customer focused'. And they are all just really nice people. And it really starts at the top with their management. I do apologize. But I will probably be forgetting some names. But the people that really made it special for us were 'Poy' (Paweena...and we did connect up with Marie in the Maldives...and OMG...she's amazing) and we so enjoyed our conversations about diving with you, 'One' also knows as Ajit, the the associate manager. We saw him daily. Checking in with us to see how we were doing. It was so great to have you connecting with us to find out how our trip was going. Filippo (director of restaurant and bar...and btw...we still need to try your drink recipes...and these are amazing cocktails you will want to take home with you.) 'Rain'...your elephant and I leader. He knows so much about the elephants and their care. We found it very educational. Tom. He lead our excursions to Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle experience. We felt so comfortable asking him questions. Very approachable. And we cannot forget Nee. She lead our wine/cheese night and just amazing person...smile that is non stop. She also serves during lunch and dinner (she will not let your wine glass go unfilled. lol) Food: The food was exceptional!! Kudos to the chef...Sirintip! I wished we had a few more opportunities to experience your food. Every meal was incredible! And if you go to dinner 'not that hungry'. Feel free to ask for a 1/2 portion. All the food we had was amazing....and of course the Northern Thai food. OMG. Massage: I have to say. This was the first ever professional massage I have experienced. I thought it was amazing. I'm glad that they asked ahead of time if you would like a mild/moderate/hard Thai massage. My husband and I chose the moderate massage. And it was exceptional! People/Customer focus: Well. I think the beginning of my review states it all. Accommodations: Exceptional. For sleeping in a Tent. It was an amazingly comfortable bed. Great shower. I wished we could have enjoyed our room a bit more. But we arrived late the first night, and left early our last day, so our activities were compressed to 2 full days. But we are good with that. Breakfast/Elephants: Every morning. The elephants came to have breakfast with us. And you get an opportunity to feed the elephants bananas/cucumbers/coconuts. It's AWESOME! It's an unbelievable experience. And of course the food is incredible.

We have stayed in many adventure lodges in the past and so were very excited to try out this spot. We loved it. The interactions with the elephants in the sanctuary are truly unique and such a highlight. Also, the staff is superb. I love that the Four Seasons higher mostly locals. Their warmth and hospitality shine through! Everyone on staff makes you feel right at home! a few highlights, Poy, the GM, was such a sweet joy. I had read many positive comments about her and they are spot on. Filipo is a new addition to the tea,-he runs food and beverage and it shows! Every morsel we put in our mouth was delicious!! We also love a good cocktail and found in Asia many restaurants don't offer cocktails, so their creativity was a great surprise! Our guide, Norman, was such a delight, we miss his giggle. Ralph was so attentive and cheerful! And the CHEF!!! she is amazing!!! Everyone was great, sorry, I don't remember everyone's names! We were lucky enough to get to experience both one of the luxurious tents and also the lodge. I was so torn about which to book, we had booked the tents (we are a family of 5) and so upon arrival, I asked the manager if the lodge was available at all during our 4 night stay-it was for two nights, so we got to experience both. They were kind enough to move our things. While the tents are amazing, the private pool and hang space of the lodge were perfect for our family. The chef came one night and grilled us dinner and they set up a movie projector and we watched a movie under the stars! We stayed 4 nights so we took advantage of all the resort had to offer. Spa, elephant dinner, bathing the elephants, breakfast with the elephants, hike, in-town excursion, fishing, Burma Bar, cooking class, wine tasting, the common pool, many wonderful meals, etc. All were great. The only thing I may skip would be the fishing. The highlights were elephant bathing, cooking class and the elephant dinner. We also really enjoyed learning about the elephants and how they got to the sanctuary and how the Mohuts spend their lives caring for them. The quality of everything here is beyond 5 stars. If you love an adventure and love elephants, this place is a DO NOT MISS!!