Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
The resort enjoys a coveted location near the capital of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, and is set in the heart of an area that was known as the Lanna Kingdom in the 13th century, with boundaries stretching far into Burma and Laos. Today, this history has led to a blend of cultures that gives the north of Thailand its distinctive charm and unique traditions. Chiang Mai is often fondly called the Rose of the North for its beauty and spirit and is a much more laid-back place than Bangkok. The historic center of the city still feels overwhelmingly residential, more like a sleepy country town than a bustling capital. Every evening, the city hosts its night bazaar – a favorite among bargain shoppers and street food addicts. Surrounded by lush green countryside, pristine rainforests, country villages, rice paddies, and elephant sanctuaries, Chiang Mai is also a great base for some exciting excursions.
Lanna means ‘the land of a million rice fields’ and the Four Seasons Chiang Mai’s serene setting surely reflects its Lana roots as the resort is spread over 13 hectares (30 acres) of perfectly manicured, lush gardens and rice fields. Its layout is reminiscent of a Thai village, with pavilions surrounding terraced rice paddies, small lakes, lily ponds, and a working rice farm, well-maintained by a crew of more than 40 local farmers. When strolling through the paddy fields, you’ll even have a chance to meet Tong, a particularly handsome albino water buffalo, which is one of the Resort’s best-known staff members. Enhancing its unique location, each sunset at the resort is celebrated with a farmer’s parade to beating drums through the rice paddies.
The farmers’ rituals of planting and harvesting rice inspire the resort’s beautiful authentic Thai design. Furnishings in the communal areas and the rooms are sourced locally to strengthen the unique location, culture, and celebration of rice. The design is especially beautiful in the open-air lobby, whose vaulted ceilings and spacious seats are inspired by the intriguing architecture of the ancient Lanna kingdom. The star of the show, even in the lobby, is the view though, which frames the resort’s lakes and rice fields with the Doi Suthep Mountain range in the background. If you can take your eyes off the lovely scenery and look around for a moment in the lobby, you’ll notice several gorgeous mandalas made from floating flowers and a few scarily realistic Siamese crocodile figures.
The resort offers 64 elegantly appointed pavilions, each with a private covered verandah, and 12 one-bedroom pool villas. Surrounded by tropical gardens, the pavilions are housed in two-storey dwellings that are grouped in clusters of four. During my visit, I stayed in an ‘upper garden pavilion’, which basked in rich silk- and cotton-covered furnishings, beautiful Siamese artifacts, and original paintings. The bedroom had its own sitting area which opened up to a private outdoor Thai ‘sala’ (deck), perfect for taking in the exotic surroundings. The pavilion featured polished teak floors and a vaulted ceiling with cooling overhead fans. With all modern amenities, touches of Thai design, and thoughtfully chosen local art, the decor was a great blend of luxury and authenticity. The ensuite bathroom was equipped with a dressing area, a rainfall shower, and a separate tub.
Nestled amid shimmering rice fields and tropical gardens, several multi-bedroom private residences were recently added to the resort. Each residence features one or more outdoor salas, ideal for enjoying the stunning natural surroundings. The duplex design allows guests to discover the slow rhythms of life at the resort while offering extended views and additional privacy. The larger split-level residences come with foliage-fringed plunge pools and wooden sundecks, perfect for lazy dips and all-day lounging. Each residence features its own living room, dining area, kitchen, and a personal ‘mae baan’ (housekeeper) for the duration of its stay. The residences mostly cater to wellness devotees, couples with young kids, multi-generational families, and large travel groups looking for total privacy.
Although located in an area full of interesting sites to explore, the Four Seasons Chiang Mai will challenge you to drag you out of the property as relaxing along the two swimming pools is a pure delight. The infinity-edge main swimming pool – which has a length of 20 m and a depth of 2,6 m is located in the center of the resort and enjoys an elevated position, affording beautiful views of the Mae Rim Valley across picturesque rice terraces. Just steps from this pool is a smaller adult-only dip pool, located in a quiet area in the middle of the paddy fields. There are more than enough sun loungers set up around each pool, and there’s also a jacuzzi next to the main pool.
You can expect elegant Thai cuisine, wide-ranging Asian specialties, and a variety of international favorites at the resort’s 3 excellent dining venues.
With all that delicious food on offer, you will need to work out (a lot). The resort’s gym features state-of-the-art exercise equipment, separate saunas for men and women, a unisex Thai herbal steam room, a heated outdoor whirlpool, and a cold plunge pool. There is also a tennis club, which offers two floodlit tennis courts, and a Peter Burwash International (PBI) resident professional for private coaching. Golf is available nearby. You can also rent one of the complimentary mountain bikes and take a ride around the resort or be more adventurous and cycle out to the Mae Rim village. There are recommended routes, and even a few cafes to grab a coffee while enjoying the easy workout.
THINGS TO KNOW
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is a tranquil luxury resort with beautiful views of the rice fields and a focus on wellness treatments. One expects the highest caliber of service, facilities, and extraordinary experience when visiting a Four Seasons property, regardless of where you are in the world, and this property does not disappoint, although it’s not one of my favorite Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. There are some things you need to know before considering a stay here:
* The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai enjoys a somewhat remote location, about 30 to 45 minutes from downtown Chiang Mai. However, the resort offers a complimentary shuttle service so you can still enjoy famous sights like the Ploen Ruedee Night Market. The shuttle does run infrequently though (about 4 times a day) and you have to book a seat in advance.
* The hotel is quite popular with families and therefore when you are staying here during the school holidays, there may be plenty of little ones around, especially in the main pool. The good news is that there is an adult-only pool at a short distance from the main pool, although it’s really just an oversized plunge pool. When the resort is fully booked, finding a sun lounger near one of the two pools may be problematic.
* The tropical resort grounds – with its lake and rice paddies – are beautiful, but to guests in search of an authentic experience, its fake rice fields and faux Thai style may have a somewhat artificial feel
