Creating Magical Memories In The Jungle Courtesy Of The Four Seasons

Photo Credit: Four Seasons

The phrase “once in a lifetime” is often overused, but the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is one of very few destinations in the world that indeed qualifies. Why? Because the Golden Triangle is situated at the juncture of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Because interacting with elephants who have been rescued from dire straits is a unique way to explore the landscape. Because watching the sun rise over the Mekong, as you dry off from your private outdoor shower is a breathtaking way to start the day.

Photo Credit: Four Seasons

In the world of glamping, the Four Seasons Tented Camp meets at the highest point of luxury and experiential travel. Every fantasy of adventure and comfort in the jungle is realized. It’s a cross between a Somerset Maugham novel and a tropical oasis. Communing with the gentle majestic elephants is truly unforgettable.

Photo Credit: Four Seasons

The camp is set amid a lush bamboo jungle with 15 luxurious tents and a two-bedroom Explorer’s Lodge. Guests feel as though they’re 19th-century explorers surrounded by treasures from faraway lands. Built on stilts overlooking the Mekong, each tent has a unique theme and boasts beautiful dark hardwood floors (polished to a high sheen with coconut oil), a handcrafted copper bathtub, outdoor shower, huge deck, and of course, the famous Four Seasons bed complete with mosquito netting and creamy linens. Sundowners at the famed Burma Bar are the perfect way to share experiences with fellow glampers. With its world-class chefs, the dining tent—Nong Yao Restaurant—create Thai delicacies and Western classics.

Photo Credit: Four SeasonsI recently chatted with Maryles Casto, the founder of Casto Travel, a premier luxury travel agency in the Bay Area. An adventurous traveler, Casto has been to the four corners of the planet, and she says her recent family vacation to the Golden Triangle was indeed a once in a lifetime experience. Traveling with her son Marc, his wife Julie, and their two daughters, Casto wanted to find a place where the family had not been and where her granddaughters could have an excellent educational adventure.

They stayed in the Explorer’s Lodge with its private swimming pool. Days were spent with the elephants and in the evenings, the family bonded by talking and playing board games—not watching television or the computer. A particular highlight for the Castos was planting five trees on the property. This will be the excuse for them to come back and see how their trees have grown.