Nestled in the northeastern reaches of Thailand, the InterContinental Khao Yai takes the concept of luxury and adds a touch of natural wonder and a sense of adventure into the mix.
This results in a guest experience one would be hard pressed to find anywhere else: an elegant retreat replete with all the comforts of contemporary luxury, surrounded by an ecologically diverse natural environment.
What makes this hotel truly unique in its class is an aesthetic that combines a sense of adventure, pride of place, and a hint of whimsy that makes every stay memorable and enjoyable.
Riding into adventure
What sets the InterContinental Khao Yai apart from other luxury properties is its truly inspired aesthetic.
Designed by globally-renowned architect Bill Bensley, the hotel’s design is a master class in visual storytelling, capturing hints of Khao Yai’s history as well as the romance of Thailand’s railways.
Per the official Bensley website, the aesthetic was built around the story of Somsak, a humble train conductor who grows up fascinated by the railways, eventually working his way up to becoming Khao Yai’s first-ever stationmaster.
As the narrative puts it: “[Somsak] grew up at a nearby village which had its train station and was utterly fascinated with locomotives and collecting all of their paraphernalia. He’d watch them go by obsessively, and daydream about them while doing his homework at his parents’ train-themed ‘50s diner. Eventually he went to work for the Railways of Thailand, travelling the whole country and then going on iconic train journeys around the world. Once retired he set up the first rail station in Khao Yai, becoming its station master.”
Somsak’s story likewise highlights the different rail carriages of each train he boards throughout his career, each of which inspires the look of every room at the InterContinental Khao Yai.
At the same time, the design also pulls from Bensley’s own fascination with rail travel which was a major part of his youth, along with his penchant for upcycling which led to the use of a diverse range of materials from equally diverse sources.
The design team actually described the experience thus:
“Collecting the paraphernalia for this project was an adventure in itself! A lot of it was found in England at the Lincoln antiques fair, and also some here in Bangkok, at the big red building alongside Chatuchak market. Bill’s favorite find is a giant map of all the trains in the building; the Bensley art team did a big collage on it, and it hangs in the corridor of Pak Chong Guesthouse. It is huge at 2.5 m x 3m, and dates back from the 1920s, showing all the rail stations in Thailand.”
With that in mind, it isn’t surprising that Bensley’s design is considered among his boldest, most ambitious, and most creative projects.
The synthesis of traditional hospitality and contemporary comfort
Beyond the aesthetic, the primary characteristic that elevates the experience at InterContinental Khao Yai is the warm, expertly-delivered services encountered by each guest fortunate enough to book a stay.
Each room which calls to mind an elegant cabin or stateroom aboard iconic trains like the Orient Express offers plush bedding, bespoke toiletries, and a biophilic slant thanks to the inclusion of both natural and simulated plant life paired with magnificent views of the verdant environment just outside the walls.
As an escape from the mundane and the stressful, InterContinental Khao Yai certainly delivers with its Back on Track Spa which offers treatments that weave together timeless Thai healing traditions with contemporary modalities.
Using locally-sourced wellness and beauty products from Siam Botanicals, every treatment on offer is bound to help those who feel like they’ve gone off the rails get back in sync, delivering an improved sense of healthy wellness.
Dining is also a charming affair, as well as a gustatory experience: the six establishments scattered throughout the InterContinental Khao Yai’s grounds offer a soup to nuts menu that includes authentic Thai specialities, as well as both Eastern and Western favourites.
While the imperative at this unique hotel is to relax in exquisite surroundings, those of a more active disposition can take advantage of its signature tours curated by in-house experts, presenting an immersive approach to exploring the sights and sounds of Khao Yai from its flora and fauna to its fascinating people.
More than just another Thai escape, InterContinental Khao Yai literally and figuratively serves as a ride into luxurious adventure into a storied past and a promising future.
To learn more about the InterContinental Khao Yai, visit the official website at https://khaoyai.intercontinental.com/.
