Best Adventure Hotels in Thailand

Built into a hillside and surrounded by 160 acres of grasslands and forestry, the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort and Spa is another marvellous choice if you want to commune with the elephants, as it’s next door to a foundation caring for these gentle giants. Lanna culture runs clearly through the resort; from the architecture to the hospitality, Northern Thai cuisine, design in its 61 bedrooms and the spa treatments (which are carried out in a three-storey wellness temple). There are also tennis courts, an infinity pool overlooking the valley, yoga sessions and kickboxing lessons.

Created by hotelier Bill Bensley, this destination hotel is loosely themed on a luxury train of old, having been inspired by the nearby 19th-century Pak Chong Railway station. You can inhabit your own upcycled vintage railway carriage (these form the suites), with marble shower rooms, carved wooden headboards and Laotian silk textiles in the mix. Somying’s Kitchen, Poirot and Papillon are the dining options, there’s a spa (playfully entitled “Back on Track) and a kids’ club — indeed the whole resort caters ably to little ones, particularly those lovers of the “choo choo”.

Book a teakwood suite beside Laem Tong Beach and disconnect from the world at this romantic resort. Recognised with the World’s Best Sustainable Boutique Hotel Award, it’s an eco-conscious all-suite and villa retreat. A wonderful spot to explore marine life, the hotel provides scuba dive excursions from its five-star dive centre (including night dives), or there’s a spa if you’d rather indulge in some passive pampering. Limo pick-ups and speed boat transfers are available, and there are two places to dine: Tacada Restaurant (for Mediterranean fare) and Baxil Restaurant (for Thai food).

Featuring classic architecture with a modern twist, this riverside property spread across five wings, is surrounded by century-old flora and fauna. Le Meridien’s culinary offer comprises a signature restaurant, Latest Recipe, and the riverside Italian Favola. There are multiple pools, a fitness centre, a library for some quiet time and the Parvati Spa for replenishing treatments to combat tired limbs after long days of exploring (bikes are available to borrow if you want to adventure on two wheels). Spacious bedrooms come with signature bedding, sitting areas and private balconies with epic views.

Staying somewhere eco-friendly need not mean stinting on luxury. The carbon-neutral Soneva Kiri has blended the two expertly. Villas cater for up to six people and have private infinity pools. There are watersports on the private beach, a spa, a tennis and volleyball court, an observatory, an outdoor cinema, several unique dining spots and a kids’ club. Be sure to book the treetop experience while you’re here – your meal will be served in a suspended bamboo pod, providing true birds’ eye views. And take a speedboat to Benz’s, the hotel’s mangrove-based dining concept, it’s built on stilts and lit by lanterns.

Surrounded by the lush flora and fauna of Krabi Marine National Park, Rayavadee is set within easy walking distance of three stunning sandy beaches. Guests are greeted each morning by the sound of monkeys as they open the doors of their private villa and step out onto the terrace. The most lavish villas feature steps down to a private swimming pool and there is no need for guests to move a muscle as they can enjoy delicious dishes from the Railay Terrace restaurant right on their patio. The largest villas also come complete with hot tubs and very stylish living areas, while taking a stroll through the garden is the perfect way to work up an appetite before retiring to the terrace to enjoy a few sunset cocktails and a wide range of tasty treats.

Would you like a bucket list-worthy hotel experience? Retreat to a luxury resort with a difference; this tented camp places you among jungle trails, bamboo forestry and wildlife such as rescue elephants, who roam past your handcrafted teak door. Expect ‘rooms’ with outdoor showers, wooden hot tubs and lamplit verandahs. Sample Thai, Laotian and Burmese cooking under a thatched roof restaurant, and tipples from the in-house wine cave. Take a Land Rover trip out to the heart of the jungle, before being served sundowners on the roof and tuck into a picnic feast (prepared just for you) by the riverside.