Harvesting grapes at PB Valley
Strawberry farms, crisp mountain air, vineyards and a year-round cool climate. Somewhere in Europe, or perhaps Australia, you say? Neither. This is Khao Yai in the heart of Thailand, home to the Kingdom’s third largest national park and less than two hours’ drive from Bangkok.
In Thai, ‘Khao Yai’ means ‘Big Mountain’… a reference to the Sankamphaeng mountain range which the park sits on and around. It’s been a popular destination for quite some time with local holidaymakers and in recent years with overseas tourists as well, particularly from Malaysia and Singapore.
A visit to one of Khao Yai’s wineries is a must. The oldest winery is PB Valley Estate, established in 1989 by Dr Piya Bhirombhakdi who pioneered ‘new latitude’ wines – i.e. wines grown and made outside the traditional latitudes, which is between the 30th and 50th parallels on both sides of the equator.
For some retail therapy, pay a visit to the Italian-themed street mall, Palio Khao Yai, which is also a nice place to chill. Serious shopping can be done at the Premium Outlet Village in the town of Pak Chong.
Palio Khao Yai
For fresh produce from the surrounding farms and orchards, Pak Chong’s morning market is worth a visit. The bustling night market is typically Thai, so you’ll be able to fulfill any cravings for authentic street food there.
Kids and the young at heart will love places like the Chocolate Factory which doubles up as an Italian restaurant, and Chokchai Farm with its Wild West show. And, of course, for the more adventurous there’s jungle-trekking, mountain-biking, ATV adventures, combat games … the list goes on.
If the golf bug starts bugging you, have no fear as golfing in Khao Yai is fun and fret-free with the superb weather and lack of heavy traffic.
Bonanza Golf & Country Club
Bonanza Golf & Country Club is one of the must-play courses in Khao Yai, taking its name from the popular TV western series that ran from 1959 to 1973. Indeed, the par-72, 7482-yard layout has a real Wild West feel, so don’t get startled if you chance across statues of cowboys, buffalo and bison on the course and around the clubhouse. Crafted by John Gray, the layout accommodates for wild golf as well, as the fairways are generously forgiving.
Mountain Creek Golf Resort
Built along heavily-wooded hills, the 27-hole Mountain Creek Golf Resort offers some great views from the higher spots, but demands accuracy from tee to green with trees, slopes and ravines bordering the holes. The fairways can get really tight, which is not surprising as the course designer is the late, great escape artist of golf himself, Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros. Seve really left his mark on the course, literally, as there is an S-shaped bunker on the third hole of the Highland Nine!
Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa
Also on the must-play list is Jack Nicklaus’ Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa, rated by many as one of the best in Thailand. The par-72, 7140-yard layout winds its way through lush hills, forest and wetlands in an out and back routing, demanding solid ball-striking to score well. With numerous truly memorable holes, it’s not surprising that Nicklaus rates this as among his best Asian creations.
The other golf courses in Khao Yai are Forest Hills Country Club (27 holes by John Roger), Khao Yai Golf Club (18 holes by Jack Nicklaus), Korat Country Club & Resort (18 holes by a local architect), Panorama Golf & Country Club (18 holes by Dean Refram), Rancho Charnvee Resort & Country Club (18 holes by Robert McFarland), Royal Hills Golf Resort & Spa (18 holes by Nelson & Wright) and Toscana Valley Country Club (18 holes by Robert McFarland).
Note: Contact the clubs directly for updates on operations and policies due to the fluid Covid-19 situation.
