Khao Kho Highland Resort — Standalone Cottages on a Pine Meadow Where Mornings Come With Mist
If you want a Khao Kho stay that isn't rooms stacked in a block but your own standalone cottage on a meadow of grass and pine trees, Khao Kho Highland Resort (Khaokor Highland) has been on the list for a long time. It's a resort of about 24 houses scattered across a hillside — small wooden cabins for two through to larger houses that sleep a whole family. What guests mention again and again is the morning view across the meadow to the mountains with low-lying mist, plus a short drive to Wat Pha Sorn Kaew. Set your expectations right: this place sells the setting and the view, not newness or luxury amenities.
The first thing to understand before booking is that Khao Kho Highland Resort is not a single building. It's about 24 standalone houses scattered across a hillside, linked by stone paths through meadow grass and rows of pine. The cottages come in several styles — small gable-roofed wooden cabins for two, terracotta-roofed resort bungalows, and larger two-storey houses that sleep a family or a group of friends. The resort sits in Kaemson sub-district of Khao Kho, an area that stays cool most of the year and turns properly foggy in the cold months.
The real draw here is the common ground: a wide meadow sloping down toward the mountains. Tall pines line the walkways, a small wooden bridge crosses a channel, and seating is dotted around the lawn. On a clear morning a thin layer of mist sits over the grass with the hills behind it — this is the shot nearly every guest brings home, and the main reason people choose this place over the actual rooms. If you like waking early to walk the grounds with a coffee in cool air, this is the zone you'll spend time in.
One guest describes opening the cottage door to "mist hanging over the meadow and the pines, cool enough to reach for a jacket" — and reckons just sitting out front taking in the view was worth the trip on its own.
The cottages lean simple rather than plush. Many wooden houses have a front veranda to sit out on; inside you get a bed, an en-suite bathroom, a hot-water heater and a TV. Be honest with yourself going in: the decor and furniture in some houses are showing their age, and a few reviews mention mattresses that sag and bathrooms that need closer cleaning. This is a view-and-atmosphere stay, not the crisp-room feel of a brand-new resort — understand that and you won't be disappointed.
There's an on-site restaurant, so you don't have to drive out for every meal — though some reviews note it closes for stretches when short-staffed, so ask at check-in which meals it's serving. There's parking on the grounds, and the resort is fenced with security on site, which is why several guests describe it as quiet and safe. The common areas are pleasant to wander, and the place suits a slow weekend more than a one-stop entertainment hub.
The location works in your favour for touring Khao Kho. From Kaemson it's about a 20-minute drive to Wat Pha Sorn Kaew, and not far from the headline stops — the Khao Kho Royal Palace, the wind-turbine fields, and the run of mountain-view cafes along the road. From Phetchabun town it's roughly an hour up the mountain, and around 5–6 hours from Bangkok. You'll want your own car here, as Khao Kho's sights are spread out with no convenient public transport.
On price, a small cottage starts around ฿1,700/night, while larger family houses climb to roughly ฿7,000 depending on size and how many sleep. In the cold season (November–January), when crowds head up Khao Kho for the fog, rates rise fast and houses fill early, so book ahead and compare Agoda, Booking and Trip.com every time. The short version: Khao Kho Highland Resort suits anyone who wants their own standalone cottage among mountain views and cool air, on a modest budget, and isn't fussy about how new the room is. Groups get the best value from a larger house. If you expect spotless rooms and flawless service, you'll need to accept a resort that prioritises the view over room-by-room polish.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Standalone cottages are private, with verandas to sit out on
- ✓ Morning views across the meadow to the mountains are excellent
- ✓ Spacious grounds that are pleasant to walk
- ✓ Cool air most of the year, with mist in the cold season
- ! Decor and furniture in some houses are dated
- ! Bathrooms in a few cottages need closer cleaning
- ! On-site restaurant closes for stretches at times
- ✓ Cottages spread across the hillside feel quiet and private
- ✓ Location close to Pha Sorn Kaew and Khao Kho's main sights
- ✓ Fenced grounds with security give a safe feel
- ✓ Entry prices are reasonable for a standalone hillside cottage
- ! Some mattresses sag — check the room condition on arrival
- ! Cold-season and long-weekend rates rise and houses fill early
- ! You need your own car; Khao Kho's sights are spread out
- 💡If you want the full mountain view — ask at booking for a house facing the open meadow/hills → some cottages sit deeper in the tree line, and the outlook differs quite a bit
- 💡If you're travelling as a group or family — a larger house beats booking several small cabins, since you share the living space → confirm bed count and maximum occupancy with the resort first
- 💡If you plan to eat dinner on site — the restaurant closes for stretches, so ask at check-in which meals it serves → have a backup spot in Kaemson in mind