Little Europe in Thailand- Khao Yai
We had a tall order from a grand dame ( D ) celebrating her 80th birthday in 2017 – she did not want a grand birthday party but a vacation with the family instead; and it has to be a place she has not been to before. That was my mother-in-law’s request. So it was decided we go somewhere not too far away – with tropical weather, chartered transport, available food of all genres, with sufficient entertainment to keep everyone happy. Where in the world? We found the answer in Khao Yai ( Big Mountain )
Khao Yai is a National Park with UNESCO status just 3 hours by road from Bangkok. For the nature lover, it is a site for scenic hiking trails and animal spotting in their natural habitat. For the more sedentary like most of us, it is a themed wonderland of little Europe with lots of food, fun and activities for all kids from 1 to 80 and beyond…
Food, Wine, Vineyards and Other Eclectic Offerings
Khao Yai boasts of 2 vineyards, PB Valley and GranMonte which conduct wine tours and tastings. We booked a tour with GranMonte and were suitably impressed with their state-of-the-art facilities and setup. However, the wines we tasted at both the vineyards fell short of expectations. They will have a lot of catching up to do, to compete with the big boys of the grapevine.
The best way to get around is to hire a car with driver that picks you up from Bangkok, be at your disposal in Khao Yai for up to 8 hours a day, and conveniently drops you off at Bangkok to catch your flight back.
We stayed at La Casetta by Toscana Valley in a four-bedroom villa which can accommodate all 6 of us , with space to spare. It came equipped with a basic kitchen, good for preparing simple breakfasts.
Khao Yai has no shortage of good places for the palette and Midwinter Green did not disappoint.
There was something to munch, nibble or wash down at every stop, well, almost…
Thames Valley with a distinctly English flavour, provided a pleasant late morning interlude. Yes, what you see is where you can stay.
One very memorable and unique dining experience was at Ban Mai Chay Museum and Restaurant by the river. The food was passable but the ambience was something to be savoured. You walk into an endless myriad of nostalgic collectibles of all and sundry, giving new meaning to “maximalist”. It is something that needs to be seen to be believed and to gawk at.
More Attractions – Some Hits and Misses
Palio Village
This is a rather pretty shopping and entertainment “village” with an intended Tuscan vibe. Here, you can get your usual gift shops selling tacky tourist souvenirs, some inviting cafes, the rare shop with something to offer ( at last! ), a small but engaging ” Trick-eye museum, and we even found a push-cart selling coconut ice-cream which we couldn’t resist!
Feed Alpacas at Primo Piazza
For 100 Baht, you get to pat, feed and indulge in selfie moments with these adorable ruminants of Peru and Chile, which hailed from half-way round the other end of the world ( along with some sheep and donkeys, which are almost irrelevant ) One only wonders why the “farm” setting” in Primo Piazza is made to look Italian instead of South American.
The Bloom, aka the gloom
You walk into Khao Yai’s “largest” flower garden, stretching over a “whopping 10 acres” ( as one reviewer gushed – and lied, as did many others! ) expecting, what else, but blooms. Instead, I’ll let the pictures tell the dismal story.
Conclusion
G and I were only able to enjoy Khao Yai for three days, while L, A, R, D ( no pun intended ) lingered longer. All in, it was a delightful trip to bond with the extended family ( well, almost, except for one missing sibling ) with something for everyone. Khao Yai has lots to offer. I would definitely return to try out the rest of the attractions like being a hobbit for a day and staying in a shire, visit a dairy farm, check out more themed cafes, and maybe even attempt a hike ( gasp! )
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