3 Best Hotels in Chiang Mai, Thailand

A Thai billionaire turned 60 acres of farmland on the eastern outskirts of Chiang Mai into one of Asia's most extraordinary hotels, re-creating a walled Lanna city surrounded by a moat. Guests can sip their evening cocktails while watching farmers work the rice paddies with buffaloes. Various traditional buildings house hotel amenities—the spa, for instance, is an exact replica of the royal palace in Mandalay, Myanmar. The suites and the regal, two-story "residences," with private gardens, are the last word in luxury; the most expensive even have pianos. Even if you're not staying the night, book a table for dinner and visit the pavilionlike restaurant; it's known as the "king's room," because the king once dined here.

The magnificent Four Seasons commands 20 acres of tropical countryside above the lush Mae Rim Valley. Its terraces, pools, and 99 huge suites and villas have views of tree-studded mountains, tropical gardens, and its own manicured rice paddies. The accommodations are in clusters of Lanna-style buildings. Each suite has an outdoor sala (gazebo) ideal for breakfast or cocktails, and the villas have private pools. Rooms with polished-teak floors are furnished with richly colored fabrics and traditional art. The two restaurants, which serve beautifully presented Thai and continental dishes, overlook the valley. The spa, with an open-air massage salon surrounded by rice paddies and lotus ponds, is superb.

Simple, modern, and relaxing are the words that come to mind when describing the Raya Heritage, where guests can sip evening cocktails while sitting on the bank of the sleepy Ping River. The aesthetic is a contemporary take on Northern Thai design, and almost everything here is sourced locally and handmade. The gift shop reflects the ethos of the hotel with an alluring curation of Chiang Mai's best crafts.