InterContinental Khao Yai Resort Review: A Luxury Bangkok Getaway
Best known for being home to UNESCO World Heritage Site Khao Yai National Park, the first national park in Thailand where more than 80% remains covered in evergreen or semi-evergreen forest, this region located in the mountains has so much to offer beyond the incredible wildlife and scenery.
Khao Yai National Park is one of the last remaining places in the country with wild elephants, but it also is home to some of Thailand‘s best wineries, incredible luxury and boutique hotels, roaring waterfalls, sprawling flower fields, beautiful cafés, and even strangely enough – some miniature towns designed to resemble European cities.
We stayed at the outrageously cool Bill Bensley-designed Intercontinental Khao Yai which pays tribute to train travel and railway journeys. The property has renovated heritage rail cars and converted them into guest rooms. Even the kids club and the resort spa is located in a upcycled train carriage!
For those looking for a sophisticated, peaceful and unique hotel in Khao Yai, Intercontinental is up there with the best of the best. Here is what to expect – read on for my Intercontinental Khao Yai hotel review.
The Rooms at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort offers 45 rooms designed with a classic railcar carriage style (most offering lake views) and 19 repurposed heritage railcar suites and villas.
The basic “Classic King Room” at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort is fairly spacious, coming in at about 34 square meters. Our room offered a lovely balcony with outdoor seating overlooking the lake where we watched the resident swans frolic all afternoon.
The rooms, though located in a building, are designed to mimic the inside of a railway carriage with thoughtful touches such as the bi-fold station sign which, when opened, reveals the television behind the panels.
The toilet is located separately from the shower (featuring a vintage brass showerhead) which is practical for families or couples traveling together. Sliding doors in the rooms help to maximize space.
My only (minor) feedback would be that the wardrobe and luggage storage space is fairly compact, and we didn’t fully utilize the double-galley sofa seating space between the bedroom and terrace area.
This category of rooms at the Intercontinental in Khao Yai allows all guests to enjoy and experience the railway-style room and interior design, even though the room is not actually located within an upcycled railcar.
For those who are keen to stay within a historic renovated railcar, there are several “Heritage Railcar” rooms at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, with the most exclusive (and expensive) villa offering 2 bedrooms across 223 square meters of private space including an outdoor bathtub and private plunge pool!
Tip: sign up as an IHG member for free for late check out at 2 PM (subject to availability).
The Facilities at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort
InterContinental Khao Yai is a “resort”, but it certainly doesn’t feel crowded as the grounds are sprawling and lush, there are only 65 rooms which means that even on the busiest of weekends it never feels crowded.
There is a small tropical pool next to the main restaurant as well as a well-equipped fitness center near the main entrance.
Aside from the pool and gym the hotel also offers outdoor yoga, meditation and fitness classes regularly – bookings are required and the schedule can be viewed here. I personally thoroughly enjoyed my Ashtanga-inspired morning practice with their in-house instructor.
The aptly-named “Back on Track” in-house spa is – you guessed it – also set within an upcycled rail carriage. The four-room luxury spa at InterContinental Khao Yai offers a whole host of treatments including traditional Thai massage using organic certified oils.
We also loved cycling around the lake using the hotel’s free rental bicycles, but note that there aren’t any child seats available for toddlers who aren’t able to ride their own child bicycles.
Is Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort family-friendly? For kids, InterContinental Khao Yai Resort is a no-brainer.
While it is not huge, the wholesome train-themed kids club was delightfully cool on hot days, and also offered swings and bunnies in the outdoor area.
Kids are welcome to feed the rabbits and can also ask for fish food to head to the lake to feed the hundreds of koi.
The hotel may not have a fancy waterpark or gigantic indoor kids play area, but the range of activities at the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort might just make it one of the most kid-friendly hotels in Thailand.
The Dining Options at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort
The InterContinental Khao Yai Resort currently has five food & beverage outlets serving up truly delicious dishes. The Thai + international buffet at the main restaurant, Somying’s Kitchen, was impressive and offered variety during our entire stay.
The Thai dishes, as expected, were excellent. You can also order a selection from the a-la-carte menu to dine poolside at Terminus Bar.
For fine dining inspired by the Orient Express journey, head to Poirot restaurant which is set in a train carriage and serves up European cuisine to guests ages 6 and up.
We also enjoyed our cocktails at the super stylish Papillon Bar, which offers live music performances on Friday and Saturday.
For a unique afternoon tea experience head straight to the resort’s stunning Tea Carriage overlooking Swan Lake.
Things to do around Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort
There are tons of places to visit around InterContinental Khao Yai Resort including driving through the Khao Yai National Park to see the monkeys, deer and if you’re lucky – a wild elephant.
Just a five minute drive away is the Alcidini boutique winery which produces sulfur-free tropical-inspired wines or head west to the award winning Granmonte Wines.
We loved cafe hopping around the region – Timber Tales and Olna x py were absolutely gorgeous. The misty tropical jungle at Timber Tales was especially mesmerizing!
Khao Yai is also famous for the many flower fields scattered around the area. I highly recommend that you frolic through fields of flowers at Hokkaido Flower Park and floryday.
The entry prices are extremely reasonable and they serve some snacks and drinks at both locations – the Hokkaido milk soft serve is a must-try.
Last but not least, head to the Ban Tha Chang Spring located about 20 minutes by car from InterContinental Khao Yai. The jewel-toned crystal clear mountain spring water pools are breathtaking and refreshing for a morning swim. Get there early and go on a weekday as it gets busy! For more ideas on what to do in Khao Yai head over to my guide here.
The verdict
All-in-all, our family had a truly wonderful stay at InterContinental Khao Yai and made some core memories during our 3 nights at the property. We found the staff to be very warm and accommodating – one staff member even went out of his way to show me his favourite viewpoint overlooking the mountains of Khao Yai.
I thought the novelty of staying in a train-themed hotel would wear off quickly, but the resort is so sleek and unpretentious that it never feels kitschy. The foliage-filled grounds surrounding the property make you feel like you are immersed in nature, but there were also plenty of activities on offer in and around the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort to keep us engaged.
In my opinion, InterContinental Khao Yai Resort is a destination and experience in and of itself – it has managed to showcase the unique heritage and architectural design from the golden age of train travel in the region. Whether you are visiting Thailand for the first time or the tenth, the Intercontinental in Khao Yai deserves a spot on your Thailand itinerary.
How to get to Intercontinental Khao Yai and how to get around
The best way to get to Khao Yai is by rental car. We rented a car via Klook from Thai Rent-A-Car, a local car rental company. Their booth was conveniently located at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The car was practically brand new and we were able to rent a child car seat as well. I usually use Rentalcars.com for international car rentals but in Thailand we found Klook to be better with more car rental companies and vehicle options available.
You will need to have cash on hand for the tolls between Bangkok and Khao Yai. The route is relatively straightforward and you spend most of your time on freeways. Though Google Maps says that the drive from Bangkok to Khao Yai takes approximately 3 hours, it took us closer to 4 hours as the InterContinental Khao Yai is on the eastern end of Khao Yai and parts of the freeway were blocked.
Once you have arrived in Khao Yai there is virtually no public transportation so you will need to rely on either a private driver or drive yourself around. If you are not comfortable self-driving in Thailand there are also a number of private multi-day Khao Yai car charter options available where you can book a car and driver to chauffeur you to/from Bangkok and around Khao Yai.
I hope this Intercontinental Khao Yai review helps you plan your trip to Thailand – you can also explore even more unique accommodation and luxury hotel options in Khao Yai here.
Quick logistics tips for visiting Khao Yai:
✈️ To get into Bangkok you can either fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
🛂 Thailand visa requirements: Thailand currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of nearly 100 countries. Visitors from ASEAN or Western countries, including most European, Commonwealth, and North American citizens, are not required to have a Thai visa for visits less than 60 days in Thailand. It is said that beginning in December 2024 an electronic travel authorization (ETA) will be required for anyone who is eligible for a visa waiver, but I will update as we find out more. Starting 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival. This can be completed within 3 days before arrival.
💱 The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht. The exchange rate is approximately US$1/Euro to approximately 32-35 Baht or 1 AUD: 22 Baht. Cash is king in Khao Yai and Bangkok so exchange some money when you arrive at the airport or withdraw cash from an ATM.
📱 Stay connected and buy a local SIM card at the airport. I usually go with DTAC and get excellent connectivity not just in Bangkok but throughout Thailand. You can purchase your DTAC SIM card ahead of time and pick it up at BKK or DMK airports. Get your 8-day DTAC SIM card here!
🌤️ The best time to visit Khao Yai is typically considered to be during the dry season between November to April. We visited in October and found it to be very hot with not too much constant rain.
🇹🇭 The main language spoken in Thailand is Thai: You may experience a slight language barrier in Thailand (less so in Bangkok but some in Khao Yai), though most people working in the hospitality sector will speak English.
🗓️ Wondering how many days to spend in Khao Yai? For a first time visitor I would recommend spending no fewer than 3-4 days in Khao Yai.
You might also find these guides helpful:
- Head on over here for my 10 Day Thailand itinerary that will take you beyond the beaches
- Explore the fantastic ruins of Ayutthaya on a day trip from Bangkok
- Not sure what to expect in Southeast Asia? Read these 10 essential Southeast Asia travel tips
- Click here for even more Thailand travel guides and tips
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