Thailand Intercontinental Khao Yai lake view

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.

View of Khao Yai mountains from Khao Yai National Park Thailand

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.

Woman walking along train tracks at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand Hotel rooms overlooking the lake at the InterContinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand Woman sitting on a beach in front of a heritage renovated train station in Khao Yai Thailand with text overlay
Khao Yai Express at the Intercontinental Khao Yai in Thailand

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!

Reception area at the Khao Yai Intercontinental Resort in Thailand

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 reception area

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.

Classic King Room at the Intercontinental Resort in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Balcony area in the Classic King Room at the Intercontinental Resort in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Shower at the Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

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.

Classic King Room at the Intercontinental Resort in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Paths at the Intercontinental Hotel in Khao Yai in Thailand

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.

Heritage Railcar Suites at the Intercontinental Khao Yai Hotel in Thailand

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

Lake view from the room at the Khao Yai Intercontinental Resort in Thailand

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.

Swimming pool at the Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

There is a small tropical pool next to the main restaurant as well as a well-equipped fitness center near the main entrance.

Outdoor yoga at Intercontinental Khao Yai in Thailand

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.

Back on Track Spa at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

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.

Rental bicycles at the Intercontinental Khao Yai hotel in Thailand

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.

Planet Trekkers kids club at the Khao Yai Intercontinental in Thailand

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.

Feeding the fish at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

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.

Planet Trekkers kids club schedule at the Khao Yai Intercontinental in Thailand

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

International buffet at the Khao Yai Intercontinental Resort in Thailand

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.

Pad Thai at the Intercontinental Khao Yai in Thailand

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.

Papillon bar at Intercontinental Khao Yai in Thailand

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.

Cocktails at Papillon bar at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

We also enjoyed our cocktails at the super stylish Papillon Bar, which offers live music performances on Friday and Saturday.

Tea Carriage at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

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

Elephants road sign in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Vineyards in Khao Yai in Thailand

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.

Timber Tales cafe in Khao Yai in Thailand

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!

Hokkaido Flower-Park drone photo in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Floryday Cafe in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Ban Tha Chang spring in Khao Yai Thailand

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

View of Khao Yai mountains in Thailand

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.

Train carriages at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

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.

Train carriages at Intercontinental Khao Yai Resort in Thailand

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

Rental car in Khao Yai Thailand

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.

Car seat in Thailand rental car

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.

Main entrance of Khao Yai Intercontinental Resort in Thailand

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.

Swans at the Khao Yai Intercontinental Resort in Thailand

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 requirementsThailand 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:

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