Chang Khlan

Ping Nakara is a lovely, charming hotel and spa that offers a traditional English high tea in the garden. Come around 3 p.m. and sit at one of the tables overlooking the river. Order the afternoon tea set—biscuits, fresh jam, clotted cream, hot Assam—and take in the view. It's one of the city's most relaxing self-care offerings.

Anantara is a serene resort located along the Ping River with an incredible spa that’s worth a visit even if you aren’t a guest. Situated underground, its dark, simple design has a monastic feel. A clinician greets you in a candlelit room where you choose from a variety of Thai, Chinese, and Burmese treatments. Go for the traditional full-body Lanna massage—ninety minutes of restorative Rolfing, rubbing, and kneading with organic local plai oil (made from a root that’s similar to ginger). Afterward, your clinician will invite you to write a wish on a bodhi leaf, which she’ll take to one of the local temples to help it come true. For something more intense, ask the staff to create a wellness program that includes tailored spa treatments, an exercise routine, meditation sessions, and catered meals. If you can pull yourself away from the spa, explore the hotel—which feels intimate at just fifty-two rooms. Don’t miss the one-hundred-year-old house on the property with its dimly lit library and restaurant. (This is one of the best spots in the city to enjoy a cocktail by the river.) The spacious guest rooms have…