Take Me to Khao Kho: Thailand's Hidden Gem in the Mountains
Hey everyone!
On the first day of 2024, I embarked on my virgin trip with my in-laws. And it wasn't just my in-laws - there were also my husband's paternal aunt and two of my mother-in-law's good friends. There were 8 of us altogether, 5 of which were elderly. I have never been in a travel group with this composition in my life.
Khao Kho is a mountaineous region in Thailand and a 5.5 hours drive from Bangkok. It is described as a 'magical city in the clouds' or the 'land of mist'. Perched high in the mountains of Phetchabun Province in Thailand, it is known for its misty and foggy conditions, as well as its 15 degrees C chilly weather, particularly in the mornings and nights.
Our accommodation - Krin Resort
We spent a day in Bangkok before setting off for our 3D2N Khao Kho adventure the next day. As we were a big group, we engaged a driver to bring us to Khao Kho in a 9-seater van.
Unlike in Bangkok where hotels are aplenty, Khao Kho has resorts. Our accommodation was Krin Resort which had full-length windows and overlooked a magnificent view. We arrived just in time to watch the sun set. :)
Above is a picture of my in-laws' suite. Mine looked pretty much the same except that my room wasn't as wide, and I did not have a couch in my room.
Doesn't the room look like a glass house to you? Every morning, I'll get up and head to the balcony to enjoy the tranquility and cool air. At night, the sky would be filled with stars and we even spotted a shooting star once. Lucky us!
Our stay came with a simple breakfast buffet in the morning. I strongly encourage opting for breakfast by the resort because it's difficult to venture out on your own to find food. You do need a driver to bring you from place to place as the sites are located a distance from one another.
Buppachat Farm Sunflower Field
During our drive towards Khao Kho, we dropped by Buppachat Farm Sunflower Field. For an entrance fee of less than S$2 per pax, you could explore and bask in this vast sea of golden.
Besides sunflowers, they have a gorgeous lavender field as well. If you love flowers and photo-taking, this attraction is for you.
Khao Kho View Point
Khao Kho is largely a place for sightseeing so that's what we did mostly during our stay.
Our first sightseeing spot was the Khao Kho View Point which took my breath away. Such panoramic scenery! I couldn't get enough of how adorable and unique the resorts were. It's like they each have their own design and character.
Sri Dit Waterfall
Sri Dit Waterfall was small and disappointing. Then again, I've been to the Niagara Falls in Canada so any other waterfall would pale in comparison. It was a surprisingly short walk to get to this Waterfall as well.
There were other routes for trekking, though we didn't go for them because they weren't elderly-friendly. This attraction is skippable if you do not have a lot of time to spare. We were there only for 30 minutes before we got bored.
Blue Sky Gardens
Super love the Blue Sky Gardens which is located around the Blue Sky Resort Khao Kho.
You could definitely stay in Blue Sky Resort but it wouldn't be cheap. Nonetheless, even if you do not stay in this resort, you could visit the Gardens for around S$3.80/pax entrance fee.
Look at that European style castle and cottages amidst English floral gardens. :D
This was my haven and naturally, I went crazy with the photo-taking. I needed a photo at every spot!
There was even a maze that leads to a tower. If you don't mind getting lost while attempting to find the pathway to the tower, then by all means, experience the maze.
Thankfully, YX figured out the route of the maze so I followed him closely to get to the tower without losing my way. It helps to have a husband who is good with directions!
Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew
As a free thinker, I couldn't care less about visiting religious institutions in other countries.
However, Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew is one of the iconic attractions in Khao Kho that you certainly couldn't miss. With the 5 sitting Buddha statues as the key feature, this Buddhist Monastry and Temple was one of the prettiest temples I've seen. Even the buildings within the vicinity were beautifully decorated with mosaic tiles and they reminded me of palaces.
Admission to the temple is free. We had to remove our shoes at the entrance of the temple and wander around in our socks. Do note that if you're wearing shorts above mid-thigh, you will not be allowed to enter the temple.
Khao Kho Windmill Farm
\
So exhilarated to see windmills up close. They really blew me away (pun intended).
You could pay a small admission fee (i.e. less than S$1) for a good photo spot, but I wouldn't think it's necessary. The hugeass windmills could be seen and photographed from different angles so you could stand anywhere and have the windmills as a perfect backdrop.
Besides windmills, there were strawberry farms around, which you could also pay a small fee to visit. However, I would suggest you save your money and spend it on some strawberries at the nearby stalls instead.
The strawberry farm which we went to was so -.-" that we were out of it in less than a minute (to think we climbed a slope to get there!). There were no strawberry picking activities or any other experiences to elevate a strawberry farm visit, so we basically paid to look at rows of potted plants with unimpressive tiny strawberries hanging from them.
What we enjoyed more was visiting a stall selling these big, juicy strawberries at only S$3 per box. We bought two boxes to be shared with the travel group.
Phukaew Peak
Our last sightseeing spot was the Phukaew Peak, which suddenly made the Khao Kho View Point signficantly less interesting.
Getting to the Phukaew Peak was an experience by itself. We had to get off our van and change to a smaller but open van, which brought us up a steep slope. All of us were hanging onto the handles in the van for dear life.
When we got to the peak, what a sight to behold! It was incredibly cloudy and the clouds looked like they were about to touch our heads.
Many of the photo-taking areas were barrier-free so you gotta be careful, especially if you have elderly or little kids with you. We stayed till sunset before we left, with me obviously pleased that I took so many instagrammable photos there.
Tharadol
While we've experienced many rave-worthy restaurants during our Thailand trip, there were 3 restaurants that stood out to me, and I wanted to introduce them here.
We visited Tharadol during our drive from Bangkok to Khao Kho, and vice versa. I remembered this restaurant for having a lovely backyard that looked like the above.
There was a railway track right outside the restaurant.
Occasionally, a train would go by and I would stare at it until it disappeared from my sight. For someone who takes the MRT often in Singapore, my fascination with the railway trains in Thailand was puzzling to me as well.
On our first visit to Tharadol, we sat indoors and went for Thai food, which was a delicious feast.
On our return visit, we went for alfresco dining and tried their Western food. Western food was so-so, though our food attracted lots of flies. We had to apply insect repellant to ward them off, LOL. Thus, if you're thinking of visiting Tharadol, I would suggest sitting indoors and ordering their Thai food instead.
Phukaew Cottage
Phukaew Cottage was the same place where we got off the van to switch to a smaller van before heading up to Phukaew Peak.
This was our dinner place on our first night in Khao Kho, and it was the restaurant of another resort that we didn't stay in.
One thing I was amused of when I was in Bangkok and Khao Kho was how the shopping malls and restaurants were still adorned with Christmas decors even though it was already January. I mean, Singapore has already moved on to Chinese New Year decorations and Dragon symbols already.
But yes, it was still Christmas vibes there, especially with the cold temperatures.
What do you eat when you're cold? We went for Mookata while some of the elderly folks in my travel group went for steamboat.
Here's a rare picture of me cooking for others. I'm usually the one eating while others cook (well, you can't trust my skills!) but since I'm sharing a set with my sister-in-law, I couldn't possibly let her cook everything for me. :P
Jolly Cafe
Saving the best for the last was Jolly Cafe, my most memorable restaurant in Khao Kho.
If you're looking for one place to dine in, I'd say you check out this French Countryside cafe for the quality food and the photo memories. It was only a mere 15 min drive from Krin Resort too.
While waiting for food to arrive, we had fun taking photos with their props. I couldn't believe how well I blended in with my surroundings with the outfit that I was wearing. Farm girl, much?
Jolly Cafe serves Western cuisine by the way, so it's great if you are sick of Thai food and would like something different. Their pastas and pizzas were amazingly yummy, while their plating was on point. Needless to say, I highly recommend that you visit this cafe at least once while you're in Khao Kho!
Besides Khao Kho, I stayed in Bangkok for three nights. I wouldn't be blogging about my stay in Bangkok though since Bangkok is pretty much many Singaporeans' 2nd home. HA HA.
In a gist, I shopped a lot at Central World, Platinum Fashion Mall and Big C Supermarket. Bought myself so many clothes that I ran out of hangers. I also went for two Thai massages, one at a spa and another at a massage parlour. Both were wonderful, although the experience at the massage parlour was definitely less atas than the spa.
Before I end this blog, I just want to thank my sister-in-law for being the main organiser of this trip and for inviting me along. Shout-out to my hubby as well for being the food planner and for taking up the stressful task of coordinating everyone's orders. :)
Thank you all for reading!
Disclaimer: This is a personal, non-sponsored post. Reviews are based on personal experiences.
On the first day of 2024, I embarked on my virgin trip with my in-laws. And it wasn't just my in-laws - there were also my husband's paternal aunt and two of my mother-in-law's good friends. There were 8 of us altogether, 5 of which were elderly. I have never been in a travel group with this composition in my life.
Khao Kho is a mountaineous region in Thailand and a 5.5 hours drive from Bangkok. It is described as a 'magical city in the clouds' or the 'land of mist'. Perched high in the mountains of Phetchabun Province in Thailand, it is known for its misty and foggy conditions, as well as its 15 degrees C chilly weather, particularly in the mornings and nights.
Our accommodation - Krin Resort
We spent a day in Bangkok before setting off for our 3D2N Khao Kho adventure the next day. As we were a big group, we engaged a driver to bring us to Khao Kho in a 9-seater van.
Unlike in Bangkok where hotels are aplenty, Khao Kho has resorts. Our accommodation was Krin Resort which had full-length windows and overlooked a magnificent view. We arrived just in time to watch the sun set. :)
Above is a picture of my in-laws' suite. Mine looked pretty much the same except that my room wasn't as wide, and I did not have a couch in my room.
Doesn't the room look like a glass house to you? Every morning, I'll get up and head to the balcony to enjoy the tranquility and cool air. At night, the sky would be filled with stars and we even spotted a shooting star once. Lucky us!
Our stay came with a simple breakfast buffet in the morning. I strongly encourage opting for breakfast by the resort because it's difficult to venture out on your own to find food. You do need a driver to bring you from place to place as the sites are located a distance from one another.
Buppachat Farm Sunflower Field
During our drive towards Khao Kho, we dropped by Buppachat Farm Sunflower Field. For an entrance fee of less than S$2 per pax, you could explore and bask in this vast sea of golden.
Besides sunflowers, they have a gorgeous lavender field as well. If you love flowers and photo-taking, this attraction is for you.
Khao Kho View Point
Khao Kho is largely a place for sightseeing so that's what we did mostly during our stay.
Our first sightseeing spot was the Khao Kho View Point which took my breath away. Such panoramic scenery! I couldn't get enough of how adorable and unique the resorts were. It's like they each have their own design and character.
Sri Dit Waterfall
Sri Dit Waterfall was small and disappointing. Then again, I've been to the Niagara Falls in Canada so any other waterfall would pale in comparison. It was a surprisingly short walk to get to this Waterfall as well.
There were other routes for trekking, though we didn't go for them because they weren't elderly-friendly. This attraction is skippable if you do not have a lot of time to spare. We were there only for 30 minutes before we got bored.
Blue Sky Gardens
Super love the Blue Sky Gardens which is located around the Blue Sky Resort Khao Kho.
You could definitely stay in Blue Sky Resort but it wouldn't be cheap. Nonetheless, even if you do not stay in this resort, you could visit the Gardens for around S$3.80/pax entrance fee.
Look at that European style castle and cottages amidst English floral gardens. :D
This was my haven and naturally, I went crazy with the photo-taking. I needed a photo at every spot!
There was even a maze that leads to a tower. If you don't mind getting lost while attempting to find the pathway to the tower, then by all means, experience the maze.
Thankfully, YX figured out the route of the maze so I followed him closely to get to the tower without losing my way. It helps to have a husband who is good with directions!
Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew
As a free thinker, I couldn't care less about visiting religious institutions in other countries.
However, Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew is one of the iconic attractions in Khao Kho that you certainly couldn't miss. With the 5 sitting Buddha statues as the key feature, this Buddhist Monastry and Temple was one of the prettiest temples I've seen. Even the buildings within the vicinity were beautifully decorated with mosaic tiles and they reminded me of palaces.
Admission to the temple is free. We had to remove our shoes at the entrance of the temple and wander around in our socks. Do note that if you're wearing shorts above mid-thigh, you will not be allowed to enter the temple.
Khao Kho Windmill Farm
\
So exhilarated to see windmills up close. They really blew me away (pun intended).
You could pay a small admission fee (i.e. less than S$1) for a good photo spot, but I wouldn't think it's necessary. The hugeass windmills could be seen and photographed from different angles so you could stand anywhere and have the windmills as a perfect backdrop.
Besides windmills, there were strawberry farms around, which you could also pay a small fee to visit. However, I would suggest you save your money and spend it on some strawberries at the nearby stalls instead.
The strawberry farm which we went to was so -.-" that we were out of it in less than a minute (to think we climbed a slope to get there!). There were no strawberry picking activities or any other experiences to elevate a strawberry farm visit, so we basically paid to look at rows of potted plants with unimpressive tiny strawberries hanging from them.
What we enjoyed more was visiting a stall selling these big, juicy strawberries at only S$3 per box. We bought two boxes to be shared with the travel group.
Phukaew Peak
Our last sightseeing spot was the Phukaew Peak, which suddenly made the Khao Kho View Point signficantly less interesting.
Getting to the Phukaew Peak was an experience by itself. We had to get off our van and change to a smaller but open van, which brought us up a steep slope. All of us were hanging onto the handles in the van for dear life.
When we got to the peak, what a sight to behold! It was incredibly cloudy and the clouds looked like they were about to touch our heads.
Many of the photo-taking areas were barrier-free so you gotta be careful, especially if you have elderly or little kids with you. We stayed till sunset before we left, with me obviously pleased that I took so many instagrammable photos there.
Tharadol
While we've experienced many rave-worthy restaurants during our Thailand trip, there were 3 restaurants that stood out to me, and I wanted to introduce them here.
We visited Tharadol during our drive from Bangkok to Khao Kho, and vice versa. I remembered this restaurant for having a lovely backyard that looked like the above.
There was a railway track right outside the restaurant.
Occasionally, a train would go by and I would stare at it until it disappeared from my sight. For someone who takes the MRT often in Singapore, my fascination with the railway trains in Thailand was puzzling to me as well.
On our first visit to Tharadol, we sat indoors and went for Thai food, which was a delicious feast.
On our return visit, we went for alfresco dining and tried their Western food. Western food was so-so, though our food attracted lots of flies. We had to apply insect repellant to ward them off, LOL. Thus, if you're thinking of visiting Tharadol, I would suggest sitting indoors and ordering their Thai food instead.
Phukaew Cottage
Phukaew Cottage was the same place where we got off the van to switch to a smaller van before heading up to Phukaew Peak.
This was our dinner place on our first night in Khao Kho, and it was the restaurant of another resort that we didn't stay in.
One thing I was amused of when I was in Bangkok and Khao Kho was how the shopping malls and restaurants were still adorned with Christmas decors even though it was already January. I mean, Singapore has already moved on to Chinese New Year decorations and Dragon symbols already.
But yes, it was still Christmas vibes there, especially with the cold temperatures.
What do you eat when you're cold? We went for Mookata while some of the elderly folks in my travel group went for steamboat.
Here's a rare picture of me cooking for others. I'm usually the one eating while others cook (well, you can't trust my skills!) but since I'm sharing a set with my sister-in-law, I couldn't possibly let her cook everything for me. :P
Jolly Cafe
Saving the best for the last was Jolly Cafe, my most memorable restaurant in Khao Kho.
If you're looking for one place to dine in, I'd say you check out this French Countryside cafe for the quality food and the photo memories. It was only a mere 15 min drive from Krin Resort too.
While waiting for food to arrive, we had fun taking photos with their props. I couldn't believe how well I blended in with my surroundings with the outfit that I was wearing. Farm girl, much?
Jolly Cafe serves Western cuisine by the way, so it's great if you are sick of Thai food and would like something different. Their pastas and pizzas were amazingly yummy, while their plating was on point. Needless to say, I highly recommend that you visit this cafe at least once while you're in Khao Kho!
Besides Khao Kho, I stayed in Bangkok for three nights. I wouldn't be blogging about my stay in Bangkok though since Bangkok is pretty much many Singaporeans' 2nd home. HA HA.
In a gist, I shopped a lot at Central World, Platinum Fashion Mall and Big C Supermarket. Bought myself so many clothes that I ran out of hangers. I also went for two Thai massages, one at a spa and another at a massage parlour. Both were wonderful, although the experience at the massage parlour was definitely less atas than the spa.
Before I end this blog, I just want to thank my sister-in-law for being the main organiser of this trip and for inviting me along. Shout-out to my hubby as well for being the food planner and for taking up the stressful task of coordinating everyone's orders. :)
Thank you all for reading!
Disclaimer: This is a personal, non-sponsored post. Reviews are based on personal experiences.