Lannawild is not your average resort or hotel in Northern Thailand. It is a semi-mountain homestay and glamping (camping with better tents) retreat that emphasizes camping and getting back to nature in the heart of the forest rather than offering hotel-style rooms or amenities. In this Lannawild Review, I’ll walk you through our one-night stay in Lannawild and everything you need to know before deciding if it’s the right place for you. Read on!
Location and Arrival
Lannawild is located in 2/2 Huai Kaeo, Mae On District, 50130, Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is about an hour drive from the city center via winding mountain roads that involve many hairpin turns. The road can be a little confusing for first-timers, but the property’s location is one of the main reasons why travelers describe Lannawild as one of the most hidden gems of Chiang Mai.
Lannawild First Impressions
I discovered Lannawild by chance on the internet when I searched for a two-night short getaway from Singapore. The concept of a semi-mountain hot spring and natural retreat reminded me of the countryside retreats and hot springs near my hometown in Chongqing (China), where many people go to relax by forest pools. The nostalgia was strong enough for me to book one night in advance directly through Booking.com.
I feel that unless you’re traveling with friends or family and want to share the cost, the room value for a single couple is not good. For four people sharing expenses, it is more affordable.
The rooms at Lannawild are simple and do not offer a five-star experience with hotel-grade amenities. We stayed in the Duplex Suite, which features a cozy living room, a separate bedroom, and a private bathroom equipped with a shower and complimentary toiletries. The suite is air-conditioned for comfort, includes a minibar and seating area, and opens onto a terrace with sweeping mountain views.
The building is more like a natural home, with unfinished rustic woods and basic accommodations. Do not expect fancy walls or upscale bathroom facilities. The toilets are local and very rural. It has a gas water heater for showering. If you are used to upscale hotels and chain resorts in cities, the rooms may come across as quite underwhelming.
The setting is everything, though. Upon arrival, it felt like Lannawild was genuinely in the middle of the forest. Leaves rustled loudly in the wind and freely scattered sunlight in all directions as I entered the property. The humidity is tropical and smells sweet and floral with a hint of earthy undergrowth, but it is also less harsh than the heat and humidity in Singapore. It is quite different.
You can also hear the insects singing everywhere. I had a nice walk on the narrow stone footpath into the property. At one point, I accidentally ran into a spider web. At another point, I saw some bizarre rotten branches drop from a tree directly above me. They were a little shocking to look at. It was also fun. It felt like being in the wild a little.
The only downside is that mosquitoes and bugs are everywhere. It’s a natural environment after all. The hot springs are the same way. They are not “clean” in the sense that there will be leaves and bugs in the water too, so that’s not the prettiest spa pool you can imagine. However, that also fits with the rustic vibe and authentic nature theme.
Hotpot Dinner in Lannawild
The dinner I had was one of the best parts of the Lannawild Experience. The restaurant offers hotpot meals, which look and taste similar to Japanese shabu-shabu but with a local Thai influence. We tried a pork rib soup base which comes with sweet Thai chili dipping sauce. The food is homey, comforting, but not particularly mind-blowing. It does go well with the forest scenery.
The best part is watching the sunset as you sit outside and eat. You can see the sun go down behind the mountains. Sometimes, smoke from the neighbors’ fires also rose and blended in the evening sky.
The price per person is about 600 baht for one meal set. It is a bit expensive for a couple, but reasonable if you are four or more people sharing. More importantly, it is the atmosphere. The mountains, the sunset, the smoke drifting into the distance—that makes this meal so special.
Hot Spring Pool
One of the unique things about Lannawild is its semi-mountain hot spring pools. They are not large, fancy, and luxurious in that sense. More realistically, it is more of a stone-lined pool with hot water and surrounded by nature, rather than the manicured landscaping and finer details in a five-star resort.
Floating in the hot water, breathing in the cicadas singing in the forest, and being surrounded by green leaves in the distance was calming and rejuvenating. The entire experience also has an authenticity to it. It is not the perfectly filtered spa tub you can get in the city. It is more natural, rustic, and wild with leaves falling into the pool sometimes. If you’re looking for something more real, then Lannawild will deliver that for you.
Breakfast at Lannawild
Another thing we loved about Lannawild was the idea of waking up to breakfast with a view. For the price of the room, you get included breakfast. It’s not a big spread or a buffet, but it is more than sufficient.
They serve it on their open-air dining area that overlooks the mountains. So each mouthful is accompanied by a sweeping forest panorama. During our visit, they had fried eggs with sausage and ham, a little plate of fresh seasonal fruit, and various sides like chili paste with onions. They also had a bowl of Chiang Mai’s signature Khao Soi curry noodle soup. It’s a satisfying and warming dish in the cool mountain air.
We also had a glass of fresh orange juice and a creamy iced coffee. Both were served with an inviting dose of thoughtful rustic charm. Sitting at the bamboo table and sipping on coffee as the mist slowly rose from the surrounding hills was one of those quintessential “why did we even come back to the city in the first place” type of moments.
It’s not a fancy spread, but it is very much in line with Lannawild’s back-to-nature aesthetic: simple, local, and best consumed leisurely in the company of mountain scenery.
Activities Near Lannawild
The stay itself is quite rural and isolated with not much in terms of physical attractions. To a certain extent, that is also unqiue feature of the Lannawild. However, if you want to venture out of Lannawild, you may check out the below.
- Local café: There is a large tree café close to the Lannawild. They have coffee and a scenic view.
- Thai Jong Village: A very famous village for local visitors is at the foot of the mountain called “ThaiJong Village”. We did not visit on this trip, but worth considering if you want a more local feel for the area.
- Mae On District nature parks and trekking: Many travelers come to this area of Chiang Mai to experience the jungle and trekking. If you have been to Chiang Mai before and already gone on any outdoor adventures, you are likely to have visited this area as well.
Those are really the main ones. However, it is not a surprise since Lannawild is truly about getting out of the city and into the countryside. You will not find any nightlife or shopping within walking distance or even within a long drive.
Ambiance
A sense of nostalgia hit me at Lannawild. As I watched the dinner smoke waft through the air, I thought of my childhood when my parents brought us to the countryside outside the city. We were surrounded by fields and the smell of firewood and the earth was faint in the air. We were carefree, running around the open spaces and mountains while adults cooked over wood fires.
It was a pleasant, fond memory. What I found amusing is that when I was a child, it was inconvenient and “dirty”. Yet, years later, all these sensations have become something I would miss if it were no longer around. Fragrance of the firewood and dirt is connected to childhood nostalgia and memory. It has sentimental value now. That is what gives Lannawild a unique emotional quality for me.
It is a slower paced lifestyle, where you start to notice small details around you. The sound of cicadas and the way sunlight filters through tropical leaves make you focus on the moment and the now.
Pros and Cons of Staying at Lannawild
Here is a quick list of the key pros and cons of the Lannawild:
Pros
- Beautiful natural surroundings, not commercialized yet
- Semimountain hot springs that are unique in Chiang Mai
- Tranquil, nostalgic, rural village ambiance
- Good value for groups with shared costs
- Hotpot dinner with great mountain view
Cons
- Rooms and bathrooms basic (gas shower)
- Drive is steep and winding (confusing for first-timers)
- Limited attractions near property
- Hot springs not as luxurious or “clean”
- Costs are high compared to value for couples
Who is Lannawild for?
Best for people who:
- Value nature, rustic, camping-style accommodations
- Don’t mind insects, mosquitoes, and local forest characteristics
- Enjoy a more tranquil and removed experience over convenience
- Seek a genuine countryside experience (vs a commercialized resort)
- Travel with family and friends with shared costs
Not recommended for people who:
- Those who prefer comfort, luxury, and easy access to the city or urban attractions.
Tips for Lannawild
The following are also some tips to prepare for when traveling to Lannawild:
- Book in advance: Book Lannawild from Booking.com. Room availability is limited, so check early.
- Travel with larger group: As I said, costs for the rooms make sense if you are sharing among four or more people.
- Bring insect repellent: Insects, mosquitoes, and forest bugs are a part of life in the country. Bring insect repellent for your stay.
- Expect rustic showers: The shower is a gas heater and works. It is not fancy or upscale, but it will get the job done.
- Bring snacks: Since there is not much around the homestay and it is in the middle of the country, if you want snacks and other essentials, bring them or prepare to walk.
Overall Rating: 7/10
Lannawild is not about luxury service, 5-star hotel experience, or high-end polished atmosphere. Instead, it is about slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and enjoying rustic imperfections. The blemishes (bugs, falling leaves in the hot springs, winding roads) make Lannawild special and worth remembering.
It is not ideal for couples if you are seeking a romantic getaway in a more luxurious sense. It is better for groups of friends who are seeking a raw and authentic experience in a semi-mountain area of Chiang Mai.
It also made me realize how beautiful countryside visits in my childhood had been, with simple life and firewood fragrance in the evening air. It is quite a gift.
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