The views are incredible and the peaceful surrounding made us feel like we had had a week's holiday rather than 3 nights. We went horseback riding, we went to the spa, we took a fly fishing lesson and everything was exceptional! The wranglers were great - fun attentive and a pleasure to be with - our fly fishing lesson was great and the spa treatments were exceptional. We were in Bangkok for a week last year and the Thai spa treatments were every bit as authentic and enjoyable. The rooms are lovely and well appointed and the food is great! We look forward to returning and would recommend the experience to anyone looking for some peace and quiet and first class service from the ranch's reservations team to the folks at the ranch it was a wonderful experience!

I admit I was a little hesitant after reading that scathing and strange review from someone in Colorado. But we went anyway for 4 days. There WAS Thai dancing, and beautifully done, the horses were very well trained (I live on a ranch myself and own horses) and in good shape. The pond on the immediate ranch I found out was so poorly treated by some of the past guests that they now take you to another beautiful and close-by lake to fish so the ranch fish don't get killed off! The Thai massages were wonderful, as were the Thai employees who I found to be very pleasant, kind and helpful. We had a very nice cabin, beautiful bathroom (it's not the Ritz, it's a ranch, but still surprisingly very nice bathroom, and bedroom). The other guests were nice (unfortunately it was kids week and although I had a kid with me I would never have allowed some of the behavior of those very young children..i.e. playing on top of the professional and no doubt very expensive pool table while parents watched,, climbing on curtains...but that was the parents, not the staff...who graciously put up with it).
Perhaps here I could suggest a few staff members to watch the little ones better...as the parents don't. Maybe there could be a few more things for the small kids to do...even though it is only for a few weeks? Boredom in a child is hard on kids and parents alike
Overall it was a very relaxing and enjoyable time that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone.
My one and only negative note....they need more food out during the day, and althought everyone else seemed to enjoy the food..I wasn't crzay about the chef. The Thai dinner was outstanding.

The spa, the horses, the scenery, the food - I can't use enough superlatives to describe the delights that await at the Echo Valley Ranch and Spa. The combination of Thai and Western cultures creates a unique experience. I started the day with a gentle Thai exercise class, then hopped on a horse for a trail ride, returning at lunchtime for a delicious and healthy meal prepared by the incredible onsite chef. The afternoons were spent in pure bliss, being pampered by their exquisite Thai massage artists. (I could almost see the angel wings on them during the heavenly massages..) After the evening festivities where we learned to line-dance accompanied by the western band, we finished out the evening gazing at the stars from the comfort of the just-right outdoor hot tub. The hospitality of the staff was outstanding - I felt as if I'd known them for years. The border collies are a great welcoming committee. Since it is so small, they can make each guest feel like a privileged visitor. A visit to Echo Valley Ranch & Spa feels like time spent with old friends that you've just met....

I have stayed at Echo Valley four times in the past two years, most recently during late July/early August 2007. I hope to visit there regularly in the years to come. It is a wonderful place located in the most picturesque setting imaginable.
Echo Valley is a place where I can unwind, relax, and slow down in the company of interesting people from all over the world. When I visited with my teenagers, they took the active path - horseback riding, fitness center, hikes in the woods and lots of visits to the hot tub. But my style is more to read and relax in the big comfy chairs of Dove Lodge, get lots of massage and spa treatments, and focus on the good things like clean air, no noise, pure water and vistas that leave me speechless. The sunset on Mount Bowman behind Dove Lodge is particularly lovely.
Norm Dove and his wife, Nan, go out of their way to make guests feel at home, in their home. The housekeeping staff keep the rooms spotless, and the kitchen staff (including Chef Kim) ensure no appetite goes unfilled.
If there are negatives they are minor. I wish my cell phone worked there but it's probably as well that it doesn't. A phone in the lobby is available for guest use. I wish there was a TV in the rooms so that I could watch news at the end of the day. There is a huge screen satellite TV off the games room in Dove Lodge and there is wireless internet. And it can become quite cool once the sun sets because EVR is over 3500 feet high. Jackets are recommended even in summer. The days can be hot but the evenings are cool.
Echo Valley Ranch and Spa is not for those who want wild nightlife (unless it is wolves in the distance howling at the moon). But someone searching for a genuine spa experience with outdoor activities in a beautiful mountain setting will not be disappointed.