Anantara. The word in Sanskrit means "without end" and evokes the freedom, movement and harmony that are the spirit of the Anantara Experience. Each Anantara Hotel and Resort draws its strength from the rich cultural traditions, historic heritage and natural beauty of its destination. As such, every experience is a unique voyage of discovery and inspiration that is distinctly Anantara. The Anantara Experience was born in 2001, with the launch of the first Anantara Resort in Thailands historic seaside resort enclave of Hua Hin. We sought to bring our guests closer to the heart of the rich culture and history of Thailand by surrounding them in the atmosphere of a traditional Thai village. We highlighted the experience with interactive immersions in the culture of the destination, through cooking courses, fruit carving demonstrations, a weekly floating market and even instruction in the traditional martial art of Muay Thai. Since then, we have brought the Anantara Experience to Thailands far northern Golden Triangle region, with the unique and world-renowned Anantara Elephant Camp experience, and to the island of Samui, offering an immersion in the rich culture of southern Thailand. In 2006, the Anantara Experience went global, with the launch of Anantara in the Maldives, providing guests with the opportunity to live the fantasy of a truly remote island getaway, before expanding further across Asia and the Middle East. Inspired by this success and the positive feedback we have received from our guests worldwide, Anantara is proud to be bringing our unique brand of laid-back luxury, intuitive service and sense of discovery to more breathtaking destinations across Asia, the Indian Ocean, Middle East and Africa, including Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Maldives, Mozambique, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Inspiring passion, personal freedom and an appreciation for the rich cultures of our world – the art of the Anantara Experience.