Bangkok is an untamed beast. Filled with determined pleasure-seekers, Thailand’s pulsating capital promises sweaty nights and fluorescent lights, a metropolis chockablock with luxury shopping malls, boisterous street stalls, and fine dining establishments. Its pace suits some, but what if you’re not the supercity traveler type? An hour’s flight north—or, for the more adventurous, an overnight train journey away—is Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second-biggest destination. Where Bangkok is brazen, Chiang Mai is nonchalant; where Bangkok offers man-made pleasure at breakneck speed, Chiang Mai prefers a slower pace of life. All of which explains its popularity among a growing community of artists who have established a thriving creative scene in northern Thailand’s cultural capital.
Nestled among mountainous terrain, this city of 400,000 lays claim to a fusion of architectural influences. Once the historic Lanna Kingdom, which spanned much of northern Thailand, as well as parts of Myanmar, China, and Laos, the region still boasts a distinctive identity. Home to more than 300 Buddhist temples, a number of art galleries, swanky hotels, and a coffee scene to rival those of much-hyped hipster havens like Bali, Chiang Mai successfully straddles two identities: that of an ancient kingdom and the modern, dynamic town that exists today.
Enter, Four Seasons Chiang Mai.
The curtain opens and a tropical fresco reminiscent of a Gauguin painting appears, framed by carved wood. It’s not a dream, nor is it a Post-Impressionist artwork: this is the view from Pool Villa One that looks out at its own magnificent river that flows from the Doi Suthep granite mountains. Dip into your private pool or relax on the sundeck – surrounded by water on three sides, these romantic retreats combine tropical views with airy interiors.
Also available are the Upper Rice Terrace Pavilions. From their private, upper- level location, these one- bedroom pavilions provide expansive views over the rice paddies, stretching into the rolling hills beyond. With panoramic views of the Suthep mountain range and the resort’s working rice paddy fields.
Tucked in the valley of Mae Rim dotted with seemingly infinite wild orchids, the resort comprises 99 spacious pavilions and villas with polished teak floors and authentic Thai décor. Beyond the rooms, the hotel brings together the best chefs and culinary adventures in KHAO, and guests can stroll through Lan Sai Village, a collection of three exclusive boutiques showcasing delicate silks, antiques and designer goods.
The tone here is set by the huge garden, the placid ponds and the rice paddies surrounded by turreted pavilions. Four Seasons Chiang Mai is a contemporary Lanna-style resort, where traditional wooden furnishings and décor with plenty of nods to country life and history are well paired with modern amenities. With rich nature as its canvas, the resort is well designed, as if every tree knows its place.
Here, the key pillars are wellness and agriculture. Besides two pools – the larger one just large enough for a proper swim – there’s a well-equipped gym and the Wara Cheewa Spa with seven treatment rooms set up for couples. Multi-day wellness packages include a naturopathic consultation and a program of spa treatments, yoga activities, meditation and a plant-based diet for those looking to cut out sugar and carbs.
Then there’s Chaan Baan, a recreation of a farmer’s terrace that offers immersive experiences designed to introduce guests to traditional rural lifestyles. There is an introductory class to pottery—I highly recommend, guests can also experience planting rice seedlings, akin to a day in a farmer’s life, followed by the bathing of resident water buffalos, honestly my favorite. Masterclasses in ceramics and tie-dye are refreshingly unusual and there’s Thai cooking classes too!
Four Seasons Chiang Mai is a destination in itself. A must experience.
Only the best,
Lucas Raven
