Hidden in an exotic bamboo jungle where the Ruak and Mekong rivers meet is a place where you can actually have it both ways: serious adventure and signature Four Seasons luxury. The only catch is costs nearly $3,000 per night.
The Tented Camp by the Four Seasons Hotel is a first of its kind, an all-inclusive resort that offers an incredible wildlife holiday.
Tucked away in the famed Golden Triangle, the resort is located in Northern Thailand near the borders of Burma and Laos. It’s a sort of safari camp on steroids: exotic treks and jungle adventure paired with amenities like the treetop fringed spa and gourmet dining.
The price, however, will set you back 101,500 thai bhats for the deluxe tent with a private wooden jacuzzi on the porch overlooking the jungle. That’s the equivalent of about $2,850. There is a less expensive option for 90,000 THB.
Private guides help guests dive into the local culture whether the choice is jungle trekking, visits to hill tribes, day trips to Burma and Laos, exploring the area’s historic past in opium trading or Elephant Mahout training.
The camp has its own Asian elephants with experienced trainers and handlers known as mahouts to teach basic techniques. These gentle giants have their own individual personalities. Getting to know them and learning mahout commands is the prelude to hopping aboard for a trek into the surrounding jungle wilderness.
Guests can even join in the early morning ritual of bathing the elephants in the nearby river to prepare them for their day of trekking.
From the deck of a traditional long-boat, you can cruise the Mekong River to the heart of the Golden Triangle, a place where three countries – Thailand, Burma, and Laos – converge, or hop a songtaew or tuk-tuk to visit a local market or explore Chedi Luang, a revered ancient temple.
This is very near the fields where millions of poppies once bloomed for the region’s historic opium trade. The darkness of those days and a fascinating story comes alive in the Hall of Opium Museum.
The camp offers day trips lasting from three to eight hours. You might choose the boat and hiking trek to Houi Mak Leim National Park and hot springs that leads to Ban Ja Jor, home of the Lahu hill tribe where the women are known for their skill at embroidery and the men are hunters.
The hike continues to the Huay Keaw waterfall and through bamboo groves and tea plantations, with a rest stop at a tea terrace and the opportunity to try the local brew or to take a dip in natural hot spring waters near the banks of the Kok river.
Back at camp, soothe tired muscles with ancient wellness treatments at the treetop spa, a place designed to be in harmony with nature. Follow up with a quiet drink on your own private deck or swap stories with fellow adventurers during sundowner gatherings or evening dining.
This exotic area manages to be at once a place of both serenity and excitement, culturally rich and brimming with possibilities for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
To book a trip visit WorthEveryMoment.com
Photo credit: Dreamstime.com
