New luxury resort pays homage to Thailand’s railway heritage

Rail travel has long captured the imagination of adventurers, offering a leisurely pace that lets us escape the rush of modern life and relive an era when flights and busy airports were far from the norm.

Thailand’s railway legacy dates back over a century, when urban dwellers from Bangkok would hop on the trains to escape to beach destinations or cooler highland retreats.

More than 100 years later, a new resort by the renowned Bill Bensley brings this nostalgic era back to life, offering guests an immersive experience.

The InterContinental Khao Yai, comprising over 65 suites and villas, features a unique collection of upcycled Thai train carriages transformed into luxurious living spaces.

Located about 2.5 hours from Bangkok, near Khao Yai National Park, the resort’s design draws inspiration from the golden age of Thai rail travel and the region’s significance as a gateway to northeast Thailand during the reign of King Rama V (1868-1910).

From the moment guests enter the reception area, they’re transported back in time. Housed in a standalone building reminiscent of a traditional Thai railway station, it’s filled with antique travel trunks, wooden benches, historical train components, and vintage photos and illustrations.

The attention to detail is nothing short of remarkable, which is no surprise given Bensley’s renowned reputation for impeccable design.

Descriptive words like whimsical and fantastical frequently come up when talking about the Bangkok-based American designer's work – and they’re spot on. Bensley is unmatched in his ability to unleash his creativity in the most wonderful ways, creating spaces that tell compelling stories with each detail serving as a unique chapter.

Logistical Hurdles

For the InterContinental Khao Yai project, Bensley’s deep passion for train travel played a significant role in shaping the design. Having traveled on numerous luxury trains around the world and led summer rail trips for elderly tourists across Canada, he drew heavily from these experiences.

When Bensley stumbled upon a Thai rail yard filled with abandoned trains, he couldn’t resist the urge to act on his inspiration.

“I stood there looking at all these rusting, forgotten carriages and thought, ‘This is just heartbreaking... we really need to do something with them,’” he recalls.

"Six months later, we were snapping up as many of them as possible... you don’t have to start from scratch," he adds.

Then came the real challenge. Getting the old, rusted trains onto the resort’s hilly terrain proved to be just as difficult as expected.

"We had originally planned to roll them in on tracks," he explains. But a sharp curve at the end of the road, where the carriages needed to be placed, required some extra help to finish the job.

"We brought in this enormous crane that lifted the carriages about 70 meters into the air. Then we airlifted the trains and set them down on the slope. It was a day to remember… a very costly crane, but we got it all done in one go," says Bensley.

Along with luxurious suites, the resort’s revamped train carriages house a spa, a kids’ club, and three dining options – Poirot, Papillon, and the Tea Carriage.

"Initially, we planned to use all the carriages for accommodations, but as we worked with them, we became captivated by the idea of Murder on the Orient Express. That's how Poirot, our French restaurant overlooking Swan Lake, came to be," he explains.

Papillon, located next door, is a jazz-infused speakeasy offering bold cocktails and live music on weekends. The Tea Carriage is nestled in another corner of the lush resort, where guests can savor iced coffees and indulge in an elegant afternoon tea set.

Breakfast is served at Somying’s Kitchen, a spacious all-day dining venue with booths inspired by dining cars and a vibrant blue-and-white color scheme. Adjacent to the restaurant is a small pool and the Terminus Bar, which echoes classic Thai railway design.

Even if you can’t stay in one of the upcycled carriages, the other rooms and suites are equally impressive. Each room, designed to resemble a traditional railcar, boasts unique features and dramatic wood paneling paired with scenic wallpaper.

The resort offers suites with interconnected rooms and bunk beds for larger groups, while other accommodations feature balconies with stunning lake views and private plunge pools.

While guests are encouraged to explore the nearby national park – more on that later – it’s also worthwhile to take time to relax and enjoy the resort’s amenities.

Spanning 19 hectares, the InterContinental Khao Yai is home to over 30,000 trees and several lakes. The largest lake is inhabited by a pair of black and white swans, giving rise to the name 'Swan Lake.' Guests can borrow bikes for free at the lake trail or simply relax and watch the swans gracefully paddle by.

Khao Yai National Park

While Khao Yai is a favorite weekend retreat for Bangkok locals looking to escape the city, it hasn’t become a major destination for international tourists, who often prefer Thailand’s beaches or Chiang Mai, the gateway to the northern mountains.

The prestige of having a Bensley-designed property managed by InterContinental will undoubtedly elevate the area’s profile on the global stage.

The landscapes surrounding Khao Yai National Park are often likened to the rolling hills of the Italian countryside, with many local resorts, cafes, restaurants, and wineries embracing this charming European aesthetic.

Aside from the InterContinental, there’s just one other internationally branded resort in the area – a Movenpick featuring a grand, castle-like hotel and an 18-hole golf course.

For those truly yearning for an Italian-inspired escape, Toscana Valley offers a mixed-use development complete with a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

At its heart, Khao Yai remains a premier destination for nature enthusiasts. As part of the UNESCO-listed Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, it’s Thailand’s oldest national park, spanning over 2,000 square kilometers of lush forest and open grasslands.

The park offers a variety of hiking trails suited to different levels, many of which lead to picturesque waterfalls. One of the most famous is Haew Narok, known for the scene in the 2000 film 'The Beach' where Leonardo DiCaprio’s character leaps from the falls.

The park is teeming with wildlife, including elephants, bears, gibbons, and tigers (though sightings of the latter are extremely rare). Park rangers lead nighttime wildlife spotting tours, which can be booked at the visitor center.

Bensley reveals that the proximity of the InterContinental to the national park was one of the key factors that attracted him to the project.

As a lover of the wilderness, Bensley shares, 'Being so close to primary forest really excites me. The chance to explore the park and potentially spot some of the few wild elephants still roaming in Asia is definitely the highlight for me.'

While most visitors drive to the resort, it’s also possible to reach Khao Yai by train from Bangkok to Pak Chong station, which is located about 40 to 45 minutes from the property.

Looking ahead, Bensley mentions plans to offer themed weekend train trips where guests can immerse themselves in a 'Murder on the Orient Express' experience, complete with costumes.

Travelers heading to Khao Yai, whether by car or train, might spot a stretch of elevated rail tracks. These tracks are part of the delayed Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail project, which will eventually extend through Laos and into China.

The 250-km rail line between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima is expected to be completed by 2026, according to recent reports.

As travelers look forward to the future when high-speed trains will make exploring the Thai countryside faster and easier, it's reassuring to know there's a resort that celebrates the nation’s rich railway heritage as well.