Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
won't forget where you are. The villas sit right on the large swimming pool. The only
knockback is that rooms are quite small.
Balios
( 0 4436 5971;
www.balioskhaoyai.com
;
Th Thanarat, Km 17; r incl breakfast 3600-4400B; )
Khao Yai's original luxury lodge has kept up with the times and has recently had a full re-
model in an attractive, vaguely Italian threme. There are pleasant gardens in back around
the pool.
HOTEL
$$$
Kirimaya
( 0 4442 6000;
www.kirimaya.com
;
Rte 3052; r incl breakfast 10,530-11,700B, ste 20,475-23,400B, pool villas
25,895B, tented villas 38,610B; )
This luxury resort-spa makes an awesome first
impression. Step 'through' the wooden front doors and you're greeted by a towering stil-
ted restaurant and other Thai-Balinese fusion buildings rising from a lotus- and reed-filled
pond and backed by the mountains. Rooms have genuine style and lots of little luxuries.
We're not keen on having a golf course on the edge of the park (even one designed by
Jack Nicklaus), but there's no denying this place is special. It's 7km east of the park gate.
Ask about discounts; we've seen promotional prices of over 50% off.
HOTEL
$$$
Jungle House
( 0 4429 7183;
www.junglehousehotel.com
; Th Thanarat, Km 19.5; r 1400-2200B; )
The humdrum
rooms won't wow you (unless you're really into loft sitting areas), but from its own little
patch of untamed forest to an abundance of reptiles, this older place has got the jungle
vibe down pat. It even has its own elephants (30-minute rides 300B).
HOTEL
$$$
Getting There & Away
Sŏrng·tăa·ou
cover the 30km from Pak Chong down Th Thanarat to the park's northern
gate (40B, 45 minutes) every 30 minutes from 6am to 5pm. They start their journey in
front of the 7-Eleven near the artistic deer (they look like giraffes) statue. It's another
14km to the visitor centre, and park guards are used to talking drivers into hauling people
up there. Some also do a side business hiring motorcycles for 500B per day. Several mo-
torcycle shops on Pak Chong's main road do rentals for 300B per 24 hours including
Petch
Motor
( 08 1718 2400; Th Mittaphap, at Th Tesabarn 13)
, a bit southwest of the stoplight (look for
the diamond in the window).
