Chomduen Phu Kao Resort — Wooden Bungalows that Wake Up to the Phu Kao Range in Quiet Nong Bua Lamphu
Non Sang isn't the first place most people think of when they plan an Isaan trip. But if you're heading to Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham National Park, or you want to sit by the Ubolratana Dam reservoir over a slow lunch of grilled fish, Chomduen Phu Kao Resort is the kind of place guests book once and then recommend to friends. It's a small 11-bungalow resort that mixes warm teak cabins with bright blue-and-white concrete cottages, set around a garden with a BBQ lawn and a rooftop terrace that looks straight out at the Phu Kao ridgeline. Its 8.5 score on Trip.com comes mostly down to three words guests keep repeating: clean, quiet, and well looked after.
Chomduen Phu Kao Resort sits in Non Mueang, Non Sang district, at the southern edge of Nong Bua Lamphu where the province meets the boundary of Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham National Park and the Ubolratana Dam reservoir. The property is 11 separate bungalows arranged around a wide concrete courtyard. Some are raised teak cabins with a small sitting porch out front; others are blue-and-white concrete cottages that look almost like a seaside resort, despite being deep in the hills of Isaan. Low clipped hedges and mature trees between the cabins give each one a fair bit of privacy.
The detail guests talk about most is the rooftop terrace on top of the concrete block. A short flight of stairs takes you to a flower-tiled deck with blue railings, looking straight out at the Phu Kao ridge floating above the treeline. Early morning and late afternoon are when the light is best, and plenty of people carry a coffee up there to catch the breeze. Down in the garden there's also a glass-walled common building, the BBQ lawn, and a small wooden viewing tower you can climb for photos — the kind of setting you simply won't find at a hotel in town.
One guest describes opening the door to cool morning air and a view of the hills, walking up to the rooftop for coffee, and the place being so quiet you could hear the birds — and not wanting to rush off anywhere.
Rooms fall into two clear styles. The teak cabins feel warm and house-in-a-garden, with timber walls, frosted-glass Thai-pattern doors, and big windows framing the green outside — a good fit if you like a natural feel. The blue concrete cottages are crisp and clean, white walls with a blue band, fitted with air-conditioning, a TV, a fridge, a desk, and an en-suite bathroom. The property lists all of its units as allergy-free, and some rooms come with a small kitchenette — a microwave and a toaster — so you can put together a simple breakfast yourself.
For such a small resort the amenities go further than you'd expect. There's free Wi-Fi and free private parking right outside your door, a BBQ lawn with an outdoor fireplace for sitting around in the evening, and an indoor children's play area that parents tend to appreciate because the kids have somewhere to burn off energy. A small convenience shop runs on-site, the front desk is staffed 24 hours, and the owner can arrange eco tours around the area if you ask. Room service is available too, though it stays simple and local in the way you'd expect from a family-run place.
The Trip.com score sits at 8.5/10, with cleanliness, amenities, location, and service all rated 8.5 — a sign of a property that runs steadily rather than peaking in one area. The honest caveats: it's a fair way out of town, so you really need your own car or a rental, since there's no convenient public transport passing by. It's a bungalow resort, not a big hotel, so don't expect a grand lobby or a swimming pool. And check-in starts at 13:30 — if you arrive earlier you may have to wait or call ahead.
On price it's genuinely good value. Rooms start at around ฿650/night for a standard twin, while a king with a mountain view or a deluxe room with a balcony runs nearer ฿900–1,290. Compared to what a hill-side bungalow stay like this would cost in a busier tourist province — often double — it's a bargain. The cool season (November to January) is when the air here is most pleasant and when people come to hike Phu Kao, so book 2–3 weeks ahead, because with only 11 rooms it fills up fast.
The bottom line: Chomduen Phu Kao Resort works best for travellers with a car who want a quiet, nature-side base for hiking Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham or visiting the Ubolratana Dam, and for families who want their kids to run around in a garden. If you want town convenience with restaurants in walking distance, this isn't it. But if you want to wake up to a mountain view, cool air, and real quiet for a couple of hundred baht — that's hard to find in Isaan.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Quiet and natural — a genuine place to switch off
- ✓ Owner and staff attentive and friendly
- ✓ Clean rooms with comfortable beds
- ✓ Excellent value for the setting
- ! Out of town — you'll want your own car
- ! No large restaurant within walking distance
- ! Small resort — no pool or grand lobby
- ✓ The rooftop mountain view is lovely, especially at sunrise
- ✓ Close to Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham NP and the Ubolratana Dam
- ✓ BBQ lawn and free parking right by your room
- ✓ Good for families — there's space for kids to play
- ! Limited on-site dining — bring some supplies
- ! Check-in starts in the afternoon (13:30) — call ahead if earlier
- ! Getting around relies on having a car
- 💡If you don't have a car — the resort is in Non Mueang, Non Sang, a fair distance from Nong Bua Lamphu town with no convenient public transport → rent a car or drive yourself, otherwise getting around is difficult
- 💡If dining matters to you — there's a small convenience shop on-site but no full restaurant → pick up food in town or at one of the grilled-fish spots by the reservoir, or use the BBQ lawn to cook your own
- 💡If you're travelling with young children — there's an indoor play area and an open lawn, but no extra beds or cots → state your party size when booking and pick a concrete cottage with level floors over a raised teak cabin