Bangkok Escapes: Lala Mukha Tented Resort, A Review

Living in a big city like Bangkok means I can never be bored; there is always something to do. However, there are times when I need to trade the chaos of the city for a more tranquil setting. Lala Mukha Tented Resort, located in Khao Yai just a few hours north of Bangkok, is the perfect place for a weekend getaway to catch up on some rest, relaxation, and fresh air.

The Room

Lala Mukha has three different choices of rooms: the Eco-Safari Tents, Deluxe Savanna Tents and the Loft Tree Houses. Prices for rooms vary depending on the season (Low, High or Peak) as well as weekdays versus weekends.

Being a budget traveler, I stayed in the Eco Safari Tent. Although the Eco Safari Tent does not come with an ensuite bathroom, the shared bathroom facilities are great! Don't avoid booking one just because you won't have a private bathroom. The resort does a really good job with the shared facilities which are kept very clean. When I visited on a weekday into a week end during Low Season, I always had the entire bath facility to myself. The shared bathrooms also provide some basic toiletries as well as hair dryers. They are a good place for women to do their hair and make up in the morning or when getting ready for an evening out.

The Eco Safari Tent was situated in a cluster with 4 other tents on the edge of the river that runs through the resort. All of the tents are a short walk to the bathroom. Each tent also had an outdoor wooden deck with chairs to enjoy some peaceful reading or relaxing – the perfect spot to sip on coffee or tea in the early morning sunshine. My Eco Safari Tent came with the following:

Double Bed and a sofa bed
Satellite TV
Free wifi
Drinking Water
Complimentary coffee and tea
Kettle
Safety Box
Standing fan
Air conditioner
Sandals (great for use in the bathroom)
Flashlight
Hat
Umbrella
Insect repellant
Complimentary snacks!

Amenities

Lala Mukha Resort has a pool and a bean bag lounge area that are a great place to relax and take in the views of the surrounding mountains. The staff sometimes puts out jars of snacks like cookies and crackers for guests to munch on. The infinity pool was perfection! Located on the property of the resort are also hammocks, which make a great place for a nap.

The resort has its own restaurant that serves complimentary breakfast to guests every day. They also have a lunch and dinner menu. My boyfriend and I dined here almost exclusively during our stay and found all of the food quite good. They have a mix of Thai and Western dishes and a full cocktail list. In the evening, it was lovely to watch the sunset while sipping on a drink. If you are lucky, you can even see the bats come out for their nightly dinner hunt from a nearby mountain!

How to Get There

It is possible to get to the resort by bus or car. If you have a car, it is a simple 2 hour drive to the resort from Bangkok. If you do not own a car it is also possible to hire a private taxi for a few thousand baht.

Alternatively, you can take a bus. Buses to Pak Chong, the closest town, leave hourly from Mo Chit Bus Terminal (the northern terminal). Tickets cost about 200 baht one way. When taking the bus, you can request the resort pick you up from Pak Chong at any time for 250 baht per person. They also have free pick up/drop off between the resort and Pak Chong at 11:00 and 14:00 (2:00 PM) if you can coordinate your bus arrival. The journey is approximately three hours.

Mini vans from Mo Chit Bus Terminal are another option. These cost a bit less than the bus (around 180 baht one way). Again, you can call the resort to pick you up upon arrival or coordinate to take advantage of the free pick up/drop off at 11:00 and 14:00 (2:00 PM). The resort is only about 20 minutes away.

Things to Do

There isn't a ton to do on the property of the resort itself aside from sunbathe and swim at the pool. The main attraction located just ten minutes from the resort is Khao Yai National Park. This park is huge and absolutely gorgeous. Visitors can hike to several waterfalls as well as look out for the wild elephants and other wildlife that live there. Lala Mukha can plan a full day or half day trip for visitors.

There are also several wineries located a short drive away that should definitely be included in any visit to the resort. Again, the resort can sort out transport for you if needed. I visited PB Valley Vineyard and absolutely loved the tour and wine tasting upon recommendation of the resort!

There are also lots of other attractions in the area including an adventure park, farms, a floating market, golfing, rafting, horse riding and more! I definitely recommend booking a weekend getaway to this one of a kind resort in Khao Yai. You will not regret it!