The Four Seasons Chiang Mai was a strong contender to host the third season of White Lotus but ultimately lost out to the Four Seasons Koh Samui. Still, it’s easy to see why this five-star sanctuary in northern Thailand captured the producers’ interest.
Staff bowing in prayer pose present delicate white jasmine necklaces to arriving guests. Yoga instructors, dressed in crisp white linen, glide along manicured pathways, on their way to take private meditation sessions. In the surrounding paddy fields, water buffalos bask in the sunshine while robed guests unwind on private terraces of their pitched-roof pavilions.
Catering to well-heeled travellers, the Four Seasons Chiang Mai is also blessed with two stunning emerald-tiled infinity pools that overlook a lily-pad-strewn pond. The resort boasts an array of other facilities, too, including steam rooms, saunas, tennis courts, and cooking classes. Yet, it’s the world-class customer service that sets this hotel apart from others in the area.
Location
Engulfed by flora and fauna overlooking the gloriously green mountains of the Mae Rim Valley, the Four Seasons Chiang Mai is a far cry from other luxury hotels in Thailand’s second-largest city. Despite being only about a 35-minute drive from downtown Chiang Mai, it feels a million miles away from the sounds of the city. Though there are night markets and temples nearby, guests usually come here to switch off from the outside world. What’s more, it’s easy to get here from Chiang Mai International Airport, only a 45-minute taxi ride away.
Facilities and amenities
Given its secluded location, the Four Seasons Chiang Mai ensures guests have plenty to do on-site. Some experiences, like nature walks, rice planting, and blessings, are included in the steep room rate. Pottery, tie-dye workshops, sunrise yoga, meditation sessions, and cooking classes, however, come at additional cost. The Thai cooking class is the standout with affable Chef Tor able to transform the most average cook into proficient chef in hours. (We managed five exceptional dishes in one session.)
The hotel’s picture-perfect layered infinity pools are magnets for influencers, snapping staged shots against the backdrop of stunning rice fields. Most guests simply recline on sun-beds enjoying attentive service as waiters deliver SPF, iced water and oranges.
Beyond the pools, there’s a state-of-the-art gym with a sauna and steam room. The on-site Wara Cheewa Spa, meaning “the celebration of the gift of life,” is a highlight. Its signature Rose of the North Kularb Lanna ritual tops the treatment menu. Inspired by folklore featuring a past king and queen, the treatment involves a scrub of dried rose petals, honey, and sugar, followed by a massage that lulls guests to the brink of deep sleep, courtesy of the spa’s expert therapists.
Service
Service is the Four Seasons’ bread and butter, and the Four Seasons’ Chiang Mai outpost doesn’t let the team down. Quite the opposite: the team here appear to love taking care of people, from the ever-cheery Yu in the North bar to Turky and Chef Tor in the cooking school. As you’d expect from a five-star retreat commanding premium rates, nothing is too much trouble. Forget your sunglasses by the pool? They’ll arrive at your villa before you’ve had time to realise. Need a yoga mat for some in-room practice? It’ll be on your doorstep before you can say downward dog.
Still, there is an art to good service that extends beyond speed and efficiency. Staff here seem to know exactly when to greet guests, when to engage in conversation, and when to step away, as if it’s second nature. Often, bartenders wander around the pool, offering tart raspberry sorbets, watermelon skewers, and iced water with fresh oranges. Organic mosquito repellent is also provided in the evenings to ward off critters.
Rooms
The Bill Bensley-designed Four Seasons Chiang Mai features 98 accommodations, primarily short-stay pavilions with rooms and suites, alongside a handful of luxurious two- and three-bedroom residences. The design pays tribute to the Lanna Kingdom’s heritage, with earthy tones and traditional Siamese artwork seamlessly blended with modern comforts. King-size beds, premium fabrics, and state-of-the-art amenities — such as smart TVs and Bluetooth speakers —complete the offering.
The interiors reflect the surrounding landscape, with a palette of greens and browns punctuated by vibrant pops of colour. Thai craftsmanship takes centre stage, with abundant use of silk and wood honouring the region’s rich design traditions. Each space is exceptionally generous — the smallest rooms measure a spacious 70m²—and includes bathtubs, rainfall showers, expansive private pagodas, and views of the rice paddies or lush gardens.
Food and drink
Few people leave breakfast hungry at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai—the hotel’s breakfast offering is lavish and plentiful. On a health kick? Fill your table with fresh smoothies, coconut water, and salads. Waiting staff breeze around with brightly coloured glasses of antioxidant and immune-boosting shots. Avocado and eggs, quinoa breakfast bowls, and healthy frittatas are available from the à la carte table-side breakfast menu. Many holidaymakers opt for less nutritious choices, like sausage, bacon, hash browns, and fried eggs.
Other breakfast buffet staples, such as cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt, and pastries, are also on offer, alongside made-to-order waffles and pancakes. Those who prefer keeping it local can choose from a wide range of Thai dishes—green curries, noodles, and rice dishes.
There are only two restaurants at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai. North is all about throwing copious amounts of meat and fish on a flame grill—the Wagyu steak is worth the splurge—accompanied by organic vegetables from the hotel’s on-site organic garden. By day, North serves burgers, pizzas, salads, and nachos to hungry guests poolside.
Khao takes diners on a culinary journey across Thailand, starting, of course, in the north with an exceptional Khao Soi—an exquisite curried noodle dish. Spicy Tom Yum soup, from central Thailand, is worthy of exploration (a classic Thai dish), as is the equally nourishing southern Thai counterpart, Tom Kha Gai—a hearty coconut chicken broth.
Fact Box
Website: www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai
Rooms: Double rooms from around £680 per night
Address: 502 MOO 1, MAE RIM, OLD ROAD, Samoeng District, Chiang Mai 50180
Adam was a guest at Four Seasons Chiang Mai