Khao Kho Overview Resort — a budget mountain stay on a wide hillside, with both a pool and a strawberry farm
Khao Kho has hundreds of resorts to choose from, but Khao Kho Overview Resort is the budget pick that gives you more than the price suggests — a roughly 5-rai hillside with an outdoor pool facing the mountains, an organic strawberry farm behind the resort that you can wander into and pick from, and a real spread of room styles from exposed-concrete loft cottages and family rooms to forest geodomes and vintage caravans. It is a nature-leaning stay built around atmosphere and open space rather than polish, with rooms from approximately ฿990/night.
What sets Khao Kho Overview apart from the usual budget stay is the sheer space — roughly 5 rai of green hillside garden looking out over the mountains. Instead of one block of identical rooms, the resort scatters its accommodation across several zones: exposed-concrete loft cottages on the slope, family rooms in a modern loft building, forest geodomes, and a couple of vintage caravans. The wide grounds make it easy to wander and take photos, and you never get the cramped feeling of a resort that has packed rooms in tight — a point many guests say makes it worth the money.
The feature people mention most is the outdoor pool facing the mountains and grassland. It is not a large pool, but the view is open and full, perfect for a mid-morning swim followed by sitting in the cool breeze. Behind the resort sits a small organic strawberry farm you can walk into for photos, and in fruiting season you can pick your own (a per-basket fee applies depending on the season). There is also a charm specific to the rainy months (around June–July): fireflies that come out as flickering light after dark, which families travelling with kids tend to love.
"A peaceful resort away from the noise and the crowds, with a great mountain view. Lots of space to walk around, and the kids loved the pool and the strawberry farm."
Rooms come in styles to suit your group size. The standalone loft cottages are exposed concrete with a private balcony onto the mountains and sleep around three, while the family rooms have multiple beds for up to six — good for groups. Campers have the forest geodomes with a terrace and a BBQ grill, plus vintage caravans fitted with AC, TV, a minibar and a private bathroom. Every room has free Wi-Fi and free parking. Worth knowing: this is a 2-star stay, so fittings and decor are basic, and some units are starting to show wear and are due a refresh — do not expect the crisp finish of a luxury resort.
Food and service are areas to do your homework on before booking. Several packages include a buffet breakfast with American options, rice porridge, coffee and juice, and in strawberry season there is homemade jam from the farm. However, the breakfast information differs across booking platforms — at times the resort has listed no breakfast service — so it is best to confirm directly with the property when you book. On-site dining options are limited, so be prepared to drive out for a meal. On the service side, staff earn praise for being friendly and helpful, even though the place is small and run in a hands-on, family-style way.
The location sits in the Khaem Son area of Khao Kho, close to several of the main sights. It is a short drive to Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaeo, the wind-turbine fields, and the Khao Kho viewpoints that nearly everyone visiting Khao Kho stops at. One important caveat that comes up in real guest reviews: the final stretch of road into the resort is partly unpaved gravel, and it gets slippery and tricky to drive when it rains. Come in a car in good condition, drive slowly, and in the wet season allow extra time and ask the resort for the latest road advice first.
To be straight about it, Khao Kho Overview is not a polished, fully-equipped resort. The honest feedback is that room standards are uneven, some units are due a refresh, cleanliness in a few rooms is inconsistent, on-site food is limited, and the access road is hard going in places. But if what you want is a mountain stay with a low starting price, wide open space for kids to run around, a pool with a mountain view, a strawberry farm to pick from, and a quiet natural setting — this place genuinely delivers more than its price, especially for families and groups travelling on a budget.
A tip from following the reviews here closely: if you are a family or a group, take a family room; if you want something different, try a forest geodome or a caravan. Confirm the breakfast situation directly with the resort when you book so there are no surprises. Khao Kho's high season is late rains into early winter (November–January), when it is cool and busy and rooms fill fast on long weekends, so book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate. And if you specifically want to see the fireflies, come in the rainy months of June–July.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Wide ~5-rai grounds with great mountain views, all-day space to wander
- ✓ Outdoor pool with mountain views and a strawberry farm to pick from
- ✓ Several room styles — loft cottages, family rooms, domes and caravans
- ✓ Low starting price, good value for families and groups
- ! Room standards are uneven and some units are due a refresh
- ! On-site food is limited and breakfast info differs across platforms
- ! Final stretch of road is partly gravel, hard to drive in the rain
- ✓ Quiet and peaceful, away from the crowds, good for a nature break
- ✓ Spacious family rooms that sleep several — good value
- ✓ Friendly, hands-on, family-style staff who are helpful
- ✓ Activities for kids — pool, strawberry farm, and rainy-season fireflies
- ! Cleanliness in some rooms is inconsistent — check your room at check-in
- ! Fittings and decor are basic for the price point
- ! Access road is tricky in places — come in a car in good condition
- 💡If you expect crisp rooms and full service like a luxury resort — this is a budget stay where some units are due a refresh and cleanliness is inconsistent → better for travellers who prioritise the view, space and price over polish.
- 💡If you are worried about food and getting there — on-site dining is limited and the final stretch of road is gravel and hard to drive in the rain → confirm breakfast directly with the resort, come in a car in good condition, and plan to eat out.
- 💡If you come in high season (Nov–Jan) or want to see fireflies (Jun–Jul) — rooms fill fast on long weekends → book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate.