Raya Heritage
Hotel · Chiang Mai ·
Artisanal resort on Ping River, crafts, local cuisine, spa
.jpg "Raya Heritage by Courtesy Raya Heritage")
.jpg "Raya Heritage by Courtesy Raya Heritage, Chiang Mai, Thailand")
Information
157, Don Kaeo, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand Get directions
Artisanal resort on Ping River, crafts, local cuisine, spa
157, Don Kaeo, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180, Thailand Get directions
"A crafts-centric retreat on the Ping River that foregrounds northern Thai artisan traditions: 38 breezy suites are furnished with locally made ceramics, wickerwork and mulberry-paper window screens, and the Khu Khao restaurant sources recipes from northern Thailand, Laos and Myanmar. An on-site boutique, Him Gong, sells handcrafted objects—silver jewelry, indigo-dyed kaftans and hand-carved teak—making the property both a place to stay and a showcase for regional craft." - Chris Schalkx
"An artisanal resort offering immersive experiences like temple and market excursions, village tours, elephant interactions, jungle treks, rock climbing, and rafting adventures." - Faye Bradley
"Set among lush gardens at the side of the Ping river, only twenty minutes from Chiang Mai, Raya Heritage is as calm and tranquil as many a more far-flung rural resort. It’s styled as Thailand’s first “artisanal” resort, which means that not only did the architect and designer get free rein to let their imaginations run wild, but they also employed local artisans and craftspeople wherever possible." - Mark Fedeli
"Set among lush gardens at the side of the Ping river, only twenty minutes from Chiang Mai, Raya Heritage is as calm and tranquil as many a more far-flung rural resort. It’s styled as Thailand’s first “artisanal” resort, which means that not only did the architect and designer get free rein to let their imaginations run wild, but they also employed local artisans and craftspeople wherever possible." - Mark Fedeli
"There are no ornate rooftops at this hotel along the Ping river. It’s unlikely that sai oua sausage or khao soi soup, two beloved staples of local cooking, will appear on the menu. Time-worn Buddha statues? Virtually none. Yet no other hangout feels more rooted in place than Raya Heritage, where the typical temple-inspired teak-and-gold look has been eschewed for a straight-lined approach to let crafts take center stage. Terracotta brickwork. Woven reed baskets. Hand-loomed textiles. Jolts of indigo. It’s a celebration of the ancient culture of Lanna, the cross-border kingdom of which Chiang Mai was the capital some 700 years ago. Not Disney-fied but fresh and bright, it’s the sort of place where only your conscience holds you back from stuffing your suitcase with the hand-dyed throws or lacquered bamboo catchalls (with that in mind, Raya Heritage opened its Him Gong shop in 2019). But it’s not just the interiors that draw on the region’s cultural patchwork. At the restaurant, linen-clad waiters serve noodle salads from Burma, Chinese kung pao chicken, and Shan-style river prawns. The spa focuses on bone-cracking Burmese massages and a steam room uses a rare blend by a master herbalist from a nearby village. Excursions to meet artisans can be arranged, although the 33 rooms—some with private pools—are inviting enough to loll around in all day. This address is exemplary in a country that’s slowly starting to re-appreciate the richness of its crafts, offering a blueprint for Thai design without the tropes. Doubles from about $307; rayaheritage.com" - Chris Schalkx
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