‘Holiday Jungle Book’ from Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Home to the famous jungle bubbles, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort invites aspiring explorers to take a page out of its Holiday Jungle Book, a collection of festive offers designed to help travellers to northern Thailand to get into the swing of the season. Set in the heart of pristine jungle, the award-winning resort is a lush retreat where Bill Bensley-designed gardens and luxurious accommodations blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the surroundings, providing a stunning background for the book’s chapters.
Weave into Light. On Thursday, 30th November, Anantara Golden Triangle will be unveiling the Dreamcatcher Christmas Tree in a magical tree lighting ceremony for the guests and the public. Decorated with exquisite ornaments hand-crafted by local artists under the guidance of Natkorn Ngaenwongnai, Thailand’s leading bamboo weaver, the event heralds the arrival of the festive season and aims to promote traditional crafts.
The Mekong Night. After the sparkling Christmas tree reveal, guests can join in the festivities at the hilltop Garden View Terrace. Making the most of the calm, cool nights in the rainforest, the alfresco restaurant will be laying on a generous buffet of regional cuisines against the tranquil backdrop of a riverbank and the jungle. The graceful movements of indigenous dancers and uplifting notes of live jazz will set the tone for a memorable night.
Gifts from the Jungle: Promising a thrilling culinary expedition into uncharted flavours, the festive menu at Samsarn evokes the spirit of a true Mekong explorer and is available throughout December. From garden-fresh local produce to heritage recipes, the exclusive six-course tasting menu will showcase the best of the Golden Triangle, each dish paired with velvety vintages from world-famous cellars.
Jungle Serenades. Enchanting December sunsets is the perfect time to meet fellow adventurers at Elephant Bar & Opium Terrace, a mountain lodge-inspired bar where festive cocktails, live music and eerie sounds of nocturnal jungle create an intimate ambience that encourages conversations.
Explorer Cocktails. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, holidaymakers can gather at the Garden View Terrace to swap tales with other adventurers in front of a crackling fire. As they savour craft cocktails and local delicacies, the night spills into the garden and the sounds of Chiang Rai’s jungle envelope them in their mysteries and secrets.
The Chiang Saen Elixir. On 10 and 22 December, celebrated mixologist and owner of Chiang Saen’s nightlife hotspot Ba(r)nana, Kiattikoon “Toon” Auengkum, will be taking over the Suan Sai Jai bar to showcase his unique take on mixology with a selection of bold cocktails sharing Mekong roots.
Christmas Chapters. On Christmas Eve, the scenic Garden View Terrace will be transformed into a lively marketplace with spiced cocktails, cultural shows, carols by the Chiang Saen Church Choir, arts and crafts displays, and a buffet of international favourites. On Christmas Day, a sustainable brunch inspired by Thailand’s bounty will showcase local flavours to the sounds of live jazz; while Samsarn will be serving reimagined festive classics paired with fine wines.
New Year’s Eve. A festive cocktail reception featuring Thai Bai Sri ceremony for luck and a craft showcase await guests of Anantara Golden Triangle on the last day of the year. After sunset cocktails with three-country views, travellers will be invited to a delectable buffet dinner under the stars accompanied by live music, cultural performances and midnight surprises.
New Year’s Day Merit Ceremony. In a cherished local tradition, guests will have the opportunity to start the year with a clean slate by joining a merit making ceremony. After offering food, flowers or incense to Buddhist monks as they chant, participants will be sprinkled with holy water as a sign of purification.
New Year’s Day Jazz Breakfast. To help holidaymakers ease into the day at a leisurely pace, Sala Mae Nam will be serving a restorative buffet breakfast alongside enchanting tunes of live jazz and panoramic views of grazing elephants in the valley below.
The Golden Radiance. The final chapter of the Jungle Book offers an escape into a world of tranquillity with a festive spa package combining the signature Golden Triangle Massage blending the art of aromatherapy and acupressure techniques with Golden Mini Facial that promotes cell renewal using plant extracts and ancient wisdom.