An extraordinary 60-acre resort modeled on the ancient Lanna Kingdom, featuring palatial Thai-colonial suites and villas set amid lotus ponds, rice paddies, and tropical gardens. Rated among Asia's finest resort experiences with a 4,000 sq m spa, multiple restaurants, and an antique-filled cultural center.
The Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai spreads across 60 acres on the Chiang Mai-Sankamphaeng Road, roughly four kilometres east of the city centre, making it one of the largest luxury resort complexes in northern Thailand. The entire property is conceived as an immersive re-creation of the ancient Lanna capital: hand-carved pavilions, gilded ceremonial gates, lotus ponds, working rice paddies, and an antique-filled Lanna museum fill the grounds.
Accommodation divides into Colonial Suites in the main building — modelled on a Burmese palace with intricate lacquerwork and gilded detailing — and freestanding Residences and Villas with private pools set among the gardens. All categories feature hand-painted murals, carved teak furniture, and four-poster beds. Upper-floor Colonial Suites offer panoramas over the resort's agricultural landscape; the largest Villas accommodate up to eight guests across multiple bedrooms.
Six restaurants and bars cover a full range of cuisines: Le Grand Lanna serves northern Thai royal cuisine in an open sala, Fujian serves Cantonese and Szechuan dishes, and Farenheit offers European fare in a colonnade setting. Breakfast served in the Colonial Ballroom is a long-standing highlight.
The Dheva Spa spans approximately 4,000 square metres across 25 treatment rooms, drawing on Lanna, Ayurvedic, and European therapeutic traditions. Residential multi-day wellness programmes are available. A full-size outdoor pool, a secondary villa pool, tennis courts, a cooking school, a fitness pavilion, and a Kids Club complete the recreational offering.
Concierge services cover cultural excursions, elephant sanctuaries, trekking, and private guides to the Sankamphaeng craft villages immediately surrounding the property. The scale and theming suit guests who want total immersion in Lanna aesthetics over an urban base.
Amenities
- pool
- wifi
- spa
- 6 restaurants
- tennis
- cooking school
- airport transfer
- kids club
Location
51/4 Chiang Mai-Sankamphaeng Road, Tasala, Mueang, Chiang Mai 50000
18.7800, 99.0219 View on map
Highlights
- 60-acre resort modelled on the ancient Lanna capital with hand-carved pavilions, gilded gates, and working rice paddies
- Six restaurants including Le Grand Lanna serving royal northern Thai cuisine in an authentic open sala setting
- Dheva Spa spanning 4,000 sq m with 25 treatment rooms and multi-day residential wellness programmes
- Freestanding private-pool villas sleeping up to eight guests, ideal for families or groups
- On-site Lanna museum and antique collection providing cultural depth beyond standard resort programming
Tips for visiting
- The resort is large — request a buggy transfer between your villa and the main restaurant complex to avoid long walks in the midday heat
- Le Grand Lanna fills quickly with non-resident diners; reserve a table for dinner when checking in rather than on the night
- The cooking school is best booked as part of a half-day activity; a morning session pairs well with an afternoon spa treatment
- Villa Residences near the lotus ponds offer the most photogenic setting; specify this preference at the time of booking
When to visit
November to February for dry weather and comfortable temperatures. The resort's gardens and rice paddies are lush during October after the monsoon season.
Accessibility
The resort's scale means significant distances between accommodation and dining facilities. Electric buggies provide on-call transport within the grounds. Some heritage structures have steps that may limit wheelchair access.