InterContinental Khao Yai Resort

About

The first thing you notice is the train carriage standing beside the water. Then another. And another. At the Khao Yai Resort, celebrated Thai architect Bill Bensley has created a hotel inspired by the golden age of rail travel, when journeys through Thailand were as romantic as the destinations themselves. Set among lakes and gardens on the edge of the UNESCO listed Khao Yai National Park, the resort feels delightfully theatrical without slipping into gimmick. Vintage railway memorabilia, station clocks, brass fittings and restored train carriages tell a story that draws heavily on Thailand’s railway heritage. Some of the most coveted suites are housed inside converted railcars, offering a stay that is genuinely different from the usual luxury resort formula. The setting helps enormously. Khao Yai is one of Thailand’s oldest conservation areas and a favourite escape for Bangkok residents seeking cooler temperatures, vineyards and wildlife. Hornbills fly overhead, mist lingers above the lakes in the early morning, and the pace drops several gears. Dining is pleasant rather than destination worthy, with Thai and international dishes served in atmospheric surroundings. Service is polished and warm, as one would expect from InterContinental. Guests looking for a deeply local experience may find the resort somewhat curated, yet that is also part of its appeal. This is a place where imagination, design and hospitality come together with unusual confidence. Many luxury hotels have beautiful rooms. Few let you sleep in a railway carriage overlooking a lake while being surrounded by one of Thailand’s most interesting national parks.