First time to Khao Yai and happy we chose this resort. Do note, there are two resorts in this location, which can be a little confusing - Muthi Maya and Kiri Maya. Kiri Maya, it appears, is mostly geared towards folks staying at the golf course on the premises. We stayed in a Forest Pool Villa room, which was absolutely incredible. Every villa is nestled away from the main traffic at the resort and was very private. The room itself was very large, including a ridiculously huge bathroom complete with oversized soaking tub. The beds were comfortable and large, with fresh linens and medium/soft pillows. The main attraction was obviously the private pool, measuring in at around 7 meters by 3 meters. Unfortunately, given the fact that we came in January, the water was pretty frigid, so we only managed a very brief dip. That said, there's ample space, lounge chairs, and a large outdoor sofa to simply relax in. Service was exceptional from check-in to check-out. The staff was friendly and helpful, and if you speak English, also bi-lingual. We never ordered room service or ate at the on-site restaurant, but did enjoy the large breakfast buffet. While maybe not as diverse as a big Bangkok area breakfast buffet, the spread was still impressive - fresh fruits, meats, cheeses, egg station, boiled rice, dim sum selections, along with some staple Thai dishes like fried rice, boiled rice, and more. There are quite a few on-site food options, including being able to have a private chef and BBQ at your villa, or a special mookata BBQ with various different kinds of set menus. However, the prices, as expected, are pretty high. There are a TON of local food options in the area, including some exceptionally tasty (and cheap) Thai restaurants just a short drive away. One interesting attraction was the Forest of Illusion, a short on-site self-guided walking tour on the grounds. Starting at 6 PM, you can walk a short path around the resort complemented by fun lights, laser displays, and more. For some reason, this season's theme is Snoopy and Peanuts, which did seem a bit odd. Do note, the Forest of Illusion does cost 350 Baht per person, which is steep. It was mitigated by a small 10% discount for being a resort guest, but overall I'm not sure the value is really there to justify such a high price. Overall, our experience here was great and we're already planning another visit next year, perhaps during the low season to better take advantage of the pool!
