Everything Random

We had been wanting to get out of Bangkok especially that my son who studies in the Philippines is here for a visit, and Khao Yai kept coming up as the answer — close enough for a weekend, far enough that it actually feels like you left. Sala Khao Yai was the one property that kept showing up in every list of “where to stay,” so we figured we would just see for ourselves.

We have stayed in Kirimaya before, and we were very happy. This time, we wanted to try something else.

The Property

Sala Khao Yai sits on top of a hill, and the resort makes sure you never forget it. There are only a handful of rooms and villas here — twelve in total — so the whole place has that quiet, almost-private feel where you rarely bump into other guests. But the real draw, the thing that gets photographed to death and still does not disappoint in person, is the infinity pool.

It juts out over the valley with nothing but sky and hills in front of you, and there is something genuinely calming about swimming with a 360-degree view of Khao Yai’s countryside stretching out below. Mornings are misty, sunsets are dramatic, and the pool does not need a filter to look good. If you come for one reason, come for this.

The Rooms

What struck me most about the rooms was how little they try to compete with the view outside. Exposed white brick, polished concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling windows — the design leans minimalist and lets the hills do the talking. The bigger draw for us, though, was the privacy. With so few rooms on the property, and the villas spaced out enough that you genuinely feel like you have the hilltop to yourself, it is easy to just sit on your terrace and do nothing for hours.

That is really the whole point of the place. It is quiet in a way that is hard to find this close to Bangkok, and if you book one of the pool villas, you get your own slice of that infinity-view magic without even leaving your room.

The Food

The food will not be the reason you remember Sala Khao Yai, and that is fine. The Hilltop restaurant serves a mix of Thai and international dishes, and everything we ordered was solid — filling, well-plated, and comforting after a day of doing very little.

Breakfast in particular was generous, with enough on the menu that we never ordered the same thing twice. It just is not the kind of cooking that makes you stop mid-bite. Nothing was disappointing, nothing was a letdown, but nothing screamed for a repeat order either. Given the setting, though, we did not mind — you are not really there for the menu. You are there for the view, the quiet, and a pool that makes it very hard to leave.

The Plus Factor

On our last night, we wanted to have a barbecue dinner on the rooftop of our villa, as we await the sunset. It was the best decision we made. It was purely a magical experience – dining under the stars and with the whole valley within view.

Do we recommend?

Definitely.

Here’s to hoping that we will have the time to come back.

Amen.