A stone’s throw to the east of the city, not far from attractions such as Maiiam Contemporary Arts Museum and Bo Sang Umbrella Village, 60 rai of paddy fields have been immaculately landscaped into the sprawling Thantara Resort, Chiang Mai’s latest luxurious getaway. Large lakes and startling green paddy fields are crisscrossed with meandering pathways which wend their way around orchards, organic vegetable gardens, clusters of large trees and even a very old crumbling brick pagoda. From nearly all vantage points of the resort, Doi Suthep mountain looms in the distance, crowned with the glint of gold of the temple.
Scattered across the resort are 20 private pool villas each offering a unique view of the resort grounds, surrounding rice fields and mountains in the distance. Each villa is spacious and has a spectacular floor to ceiling, wall to wall, glass front, making for breathtaking views, especially from the comfort of the fluffy-as-a-cloud king’s size bed which sits at each villa’s centre. The teak floors are polished to a high sheen and furnishing all built in and designed for sheer comfort. All the mod cons are imbedded in the villa with great attention to details. One of the most sumptuous bathtubs to be found is surrounded by glass walls looking out to a private stone garden, so you can spend hours soaking with your oils, salts and bath bombs completely submerged in hot water. For a change of temperature, each private pool is spacious, private and is designed for both swimming and playing – little seats and an infinity edge overlooking the resort grounds makes it hard to leave the pool, even if to indulge in the torrential rain shower.
If you want to simply sink into your villa and never leave, the resort staff can bring you a floating breakfast tray with one of the most generous and varied breakfast offerings in town, a picnic to enjoy in your lake-facing private garden, or even set up a romantic candle list dinner a deux under the stars.
But if you want to venture out of your sanctuary, the resort will keep you and your family busy throughout the stay. There are two electric Go-karts to be rented and raced around the purpose-made track, bicycles, scooters and all sorts of fun toys to play with. You can visit the resort’s organic gardens and farm and join the kitchen staff in picking ingredients for dinner, take an evening stroll around the resort grounds or join in a number of activities from cooking to rice planting.
The crown of Thantara is the kantoke-inspired lobby and Thann restaurant and Rinn Bar which sit at the resort’s centre and have a bird’s eye view of the grounds and the mountains beyond. Serving haute European cuisine with a focus on local and organic produce, the fine food is only matched by a very impressive menu of both old and new world wines.
Even if you are not staying at the resort, the restaurant is well worth a booking.
So if you have out of town guests looking for a different experience, want to escape the world into pampered luxury or try something new, give Thantara Resort a whirl.
Spend your holidays at Thantara Resort
X’mas Eve Special Set Dinner at Thann Restaurant
5 course dinner at 2,424 baht per person
From now only at 1,899 baht per person
Thantara Resort Chiangmai 123/4 Moo.1 , San Klang , T.San Klang, A.San Kamphaeng 50130 Tel : 053-215008 Line: @thantararesort Website : www.thantararesort.com
