ALL ABOARD

Relive the nostalgia of old world luxury in a vintage train-inspired resort, right in the heart of Thailand.

- CRYSTAL WOO

Earth is spinning at a higher speed. On June 29, 2016, the shortest length of day was recorded, completing one rotation in under 24 hours, by minus 1.59 milliseconds. Many scientists believe, if this acceleration continues, our clock may soon need to lose a second to keep up. This goes to show, time is the ultimate luxury and there isn’t enough of it for everything, but it’s kind to remember to take a mini break just the same. Ergo, here I am at InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, a land where, refreshingly, time slows down.

A DIFFERENT KIND OF TRAIN

Just two and a half hours drive from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok City, InterContinental Khao Yai is a vintage train converted into a one-of-a-kind luxury resort, surrounded by 40-hectare of nature. Designed by Bill Bensley and inspired by the real 19th-century Pak Chong Railway Station during the era of King Rama V, this peaceful and relatively young resort (opened in late 2022) is 30 minutes away by car from the UNESCO-listed Khao Yai National Park, Thailand’s oldest wildlife reserve. Khao Yai is also the last few places on the planet where wild Asian elephants still roam free.

Stepping into the remote InterContinental Khao Yai resort is like a throwback to the golden age of slow travel. Bashfully shaded by tall trees and tropical plants, travellers come to the unusual check-in counter, disguised as a charming ticketing station. Steam train nostalgia interpreted in a playful way, it even comes with the trainmaster’s sleeping quarter.