Thailand: A Tale of Five Senses
Iconic Destination
Thailand is an increasingly popular destination for holidaymakers and travellers alike, but with so much to see, hear and experience, a consummate adviser is a must to get the most out of your trip. We turned to Lane Nieset, travel writer for publications such as National Geographic and Condé Nast Traveler, who created this evocative guide to the choicest, most unique things to do in Thailand.
Discover ideas to engage and tantalise the senses, then explore Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok. An unmatched base from which to explore the rest of the southeast Asian country’s bustling cities, sacred sites, and the shores of its 1,400-plus islands, it is also Bangkok’s first wellbeing sanctuary.
Unique things to do in tantalising Thailand
Your first 24 hours in Bangkok are guaranteed to be chaotic. That’s all part of the capital’s charm. On my first visit, my jet lag heightened the experience, and I was overwhelmingly aware of every sight, smell and sound.
Finding your spiritual centre while waking up all five of your senses couldn’t be easier in Thailand, especially when you have one of the city’s largest parks right outside your door at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
TAKE IN HEAVENLY VIEWS
Your sense of sight can easily be overwhelmed by Thailand’s rich natural beauty: the lush tropical forests, perfectly groomed rice paddies, cascading waterfalls and limestone karsts jutting out of the jade-coloured sea.
The hike to heaven
A view to top all others can be seen on the hike to 'heaven' from Chiang Rai in northern Thailand. Trek up Phu Chi Dao Mountain, known as ‘the mountain pointing to the stars’, which forms a natural border between Thailand and Laos. Start before dawn and you'll have sweeping, 360-degree views of the sunrise above the clouds from the 1,800-metre peak. If you’re visiting on a clear day, you’ll be able to see across the Mekong River to the mountains and valleys of Laos.
A hike up Phu Chi Dao in Chang Rai guarantees unforgettable 360-degree views.
The Chao Phraya
What the Thais have mastered is balance. Skyscrapers may flank either side of the Chao Phraya, the ‘River of Kings’, but this thoroughfare also connects some of the city’s classic, must-see sights. These include the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, home to a 46-metre-long, gold leaf-covered statue, and the Grand Palace, the official residence of the Kings of Siam.
Lumpini Park
Back in Bangkok, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel forms a natural extension to Lumpini Park, the city’s version of New York’s Central Park, where you can partake in your own form of enlightenment through meditation or tai chi.
The green zone of the city, Lumphini Park is a haven for those who love to jog, practice Tai Chi, or simply relax in the shade.
EXPERIENCE A FEAST OF FLAVOURS
Thai cuisine plays heavily on fresh ingredients and delicately balances four key flavours: spicy, sweet, salty and sour. You can easily dedicate whole days in Bangkok to exploring your sense of taste at the city’s multitude of markets. For over 100 years, farmers have rowed their goods to markets along Bangkok’s Venice-like canals.
Damnoen Saduak floating market
Start with a stroll through Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, one of the most popular, where hundreds of vendors sell local produce off the backs of their boats.
Wang Lang market
At street food markets such as Wang Lang Market along the pier or Talat Phlu, you can sample some Thai classics like chicken rice (khao man gai) and papaya salad (som tam).
Suan Lahu
The smell of fresh mountain air lures you to visit the hills surrounding Chiang Mai. But there’s one spot in particular where you’ll get a whiff of something even more fragrant: Suan Lahu.
This certified-organic coffee farm is run by the local Lahu tribe, one of the ‘hill tribes’ of Thailand, whose homes sit on high stilts. The 12-hectare Arabica coffee plantation is located near the Lahu Sheleh community. You can help plant or pick before joining the tribe for a homemade lunch. You can extend your visit and do a longer hike to visit multiple hill villages on paths through the verdant countryside, trekking across northern Thailand.
With both Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel and Siam Kempinski Hotel visitors to Bangkok are spoilt for choice
DISCOVER ANCIENT HEALING AND INNER STILLNESS
Sound has a mystical meaning in Thailand, where nearly 95 percent of the population practices Buddhism. In this land of temples, over 33,000 monasteries dot the country, and on certain holidays or festivals you can hear traditional Thai chanting in Pali, a language from the Theravada Buddhist scriptures.
Many consider the Buddhist temple of Wat Pho in Bangkok to be the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Stimulating the sense of touch, the therapy dates back to 1455. However, the ancient healing practice of Thai massage (or Nuad Thai) is also said to have started in Thailand’s farming communities, where healers would help cure aches from long days of labour in the fields.
Wat Pho temple
The massages at the Wat Pho Temple near the Reclining Buddha are considered among the best in the world.
After a few busy days of sightseeing in the city, I stopped by for a two-hour session. Working with energy lines, the experience is a mix of stretching and acupressure designed to re-balance and restore the spirit. The treatment is performed in a large room with multiple beds, so there is a lack of privacy. For a more private session, book into Sindhorn Wellness by Resense and incorporate hydrotherapy while you’re there. Or take a massage by the sea while island hopping on Koh Samui or Ko Tao.
Wat Muang
Against backdrops like Wat Muang monastery and temple in Ang Thong, temple gongs are used for prayer and meditation, and can signal a fresh start or transformation. Chants and chimes can also be ways to find calm or healing. Wat Muang is surrounded by the largest lotus petals in the world and crowned by the country’s first and largest silver holy Buddha statue.
Whether you choose the evergreen enclave of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, or the luxurious urban oasis of its sister hotel, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, a trip to Thailand will be a memorable treat for the senses.
The Wat Pho temple is one of the oldest in the city.
The reclining Buddha is an impressive 46-metres long.
Wat Pho contains more than 1,000 Buddha statues.
In the southern part of the Wat Pho complex there are various homes for monks, a school and a Buddhist monastery.
Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
Connected to the city. Connected to nature.
Rising above the hectic rhythm of one of Asia’s most vibrant cities, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is an oasis designed with space to breathe. If Thailand is a feast for the senses, its essence is perfectly encapsulated by this majestic property.
The spacious lobby of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is enhanced by refreshing greenery that gives a nod to the surrounding gardens.
Much more than a hotel, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok is a wellness destination catering for both travellers and locals. One feature of our wellness concept is the Sindhorn Kempinski gong. Its sound is relaxing and calming, centring and energising. But not only do we hear its tone: we feel it.
The hotel is Bangkok’s first wellbeing sanctuary, and at its heart, spanning three floors, is Sindhorn Wellness by Resense.
The wellness concierge helps you plan your perfect visit, while the chef prepares nutritionally balanced meals made with seasonal whole foods. The juice butler delivers a daily energy boost and the team of nutritionists, yoga experts, fitness trainers and other specialists, unparalleled in the city, provide personalised integrative care. So, whether you’re on holiday or travelling for business, you can stay on track with your usual wellness and training routine.
Much more than a hotel spa, Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok offers a holistic programme of physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Guest rooms at Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok are large and luxurious and all have balconies. They range from Deluxe King and Twin rooms to the Royal Suite with its private rooftop garden terrace. For even more room, choose from the spacious one, two or three-bedroom residences, some with access to exclusive rooftop terraces equipped with private outdoor jacuzzis.
Executive Club Rooms also include exclusive access to the Executive Lounge.
At night, Firefly is the place to relax with a glass of wine or a creative cocktail. It’s the perfect spot to reflect on a day well spent in Bangkok’s first city wellness sanctuary.
