Nature on Its Own Terms: Anantara's Signature Anniversary Experiences, from Jungle and Sea to Savannah and Mountain

With 25 years of destination experience behind it, Minor Hotels’ experiential luxury brand Anantara Hotels & Resorts has built a collection of signature anniversary experiences grounded in one principle: the destination is not a backdrop. Across properties in Thailand, Zambia and Oman, these considered encounters with place are shaped by the landscape, its ecology and the communities who know it best.

At the meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, the landscape has its own authority – dense jungle, river mist and one of Anantara’s most storied programmes: an elephant camp home to 20 rescued elephants cared for in partnership with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, outside Chiang Rai, Thailand, has designed the Jungle Luxe Elephant Experience around its proximity to the jungle.

The experience begins with something tangible: guests prepare a celebratory ‘cake’ for the elephants, choosing natural flavours and decorations to craft the treat, before watching the gentle giants enjoy the creation. What follows is a meal elevated 52 metres above the grasslands. Served in a treetop cocoon, the elevated dining experience offers expansive views over the Golden Triangle, where guests dine as the elephants roam the jungle below.

Those wishing to spend more time with the herd can complement their stay with Walking with Giants, a guided walk alongside the elephants through the forest, or the Elephant Guardian, which shares the historical and cultural customs of mahouts (the elephant’s caretakers) and their elephants. For those seeking an even deeper connection with the landscape, the resort’s Mekong Explorer Tent places guests elevated high on a secluded jungle hillside.

Ko Mat Lang’s reef and mangrove ecosystems are best understood before the day begins. Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort in Thailand has built the Lawana Reef Legacy around that hour – a private sunrise exploration of both habitats, led when the light is low, and the water is still.

Developed in partnership with the Laem Son Community Fishermen’s Group, the experience includes a guided conservation activity supporting marine habitat restoration. After a sunrise kayak to the island’s reef and mangroves, guests return to shore for a locally sourced beach breakfast before a private visit to the community workshop. A portion of every booking goes to the group’s coastal conservation work, contributing to the island’s coastal future.

Between southern Thailand’s mainland and Phuket Island, Phang Nga Bay is a landscape of limestone karsts and open water that most visitors encounter mid-morning, from crowded boats. Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas offers a different entry point entirely.

Guests depart the resort before dawn by private longtail to capture the first light at Hong Island, arriving as the karsts emerge from the morning mist. The island is theirs alone, a rare moment of solitude for one of the most-visited islands in the bay. A bespoke beachside breakfast follows, drawing on Koh Yao Yai’s local produce. From there, guests set the pace: hiking to panoramic viewpoints, exploring the emerald lagoon or drifting between nearby islands. Guests leave with a Thai tea or coffee brewing kit, a considered keepsake from a morning that most will not replicate.

Situated in Zambia’s largest wilderness reserve, the newly opened Anantara Tented Camp Kafue River shapes Wild Elegance at Kafue around when that wilderness is most itself: sunset and the hours that follow.

A private guided safari begins at golden hour with the camp’s Senior Head Ranger, moving into the bush as the light shifts. The drive pauses in a secluded setting for a curated cheese-and-wine pairing, the selection informed by the land and the season. The safari continues after dark, guided by the ranger’s knowledge of the night sky and the stories that the constellations carry.

Al Jabal Al Akhdar (Green Mountain) is a different Oman to the one most travellers know. Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort has designed its experience around the terrain and the culture embedded within it.

The Oman Odyssey begins on foot: a guided ascent led by an Omani storyteller who narrates the mountain’s history as the terrain changes. At the summit, an authentic Omani picnic is arranged in a traditional setting – low seating, lanterns, woven textiles – with specialty dishes and signature beverages, including karak and seasonal juices. Guests learn about traditional dress and are invited to try on garments before descending. The experience closes with a bespoke mountain-inspired chocolate: a small, considered end to a morning shaped by altitude and local knowledge.

Anantara’s signature anniversary experiences, including those featured above, are available across the brand’s more than 50 properties throughout 2026. Unique to each Anantara location, these bespoke encounters are thoughtfully designed and deeply immersive, inviting guests to celebrate the world in unforgettable Anantara style.

Explore the full collection at anantara.com/en/25th-anniversary-experiences

A luxury hospitality brand for modern travellers, Anantara Hotels & Resorts connects guests to genuine places, people and stories in some of the world’s most extraordinary destinations. Each Anantara embraces the surroundings and culture of its destination, creating unforgettable memories for every guest since 2001. From city to sea and desert to jungle, Anantara delivers heartfelt, Thai-inspired hospitality at its over 50 hotels and resorts across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean.

Anantara Hotels & Resorts is a Minor Hotels brand and recognises its guests through one unified loyalty programme, Minor DISCOVERY, part of GHA DISCOVERY.

Visit anantara.com for more information, and connect with Anantara on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.