Phurua Resort — the oldest resort on Phu Ruea, where the restaurant looks down on a waterfall
Picture breakfast on the restaurant terrace in cool mountain air, with a small waterfall tumbling over rocks into a green valley just below — Phurua Resort is a long-running property and the oldest place to stay in the Phu Ruea district. This is not a sleek new design hotel but a cluster of bungalows and rooms set in a hillside garden, on high ground where the air stays cool almost all year. Around 50 rooms, from approx. ฿1,200/night. Score 8.0 from real guest reviews.
Phurua Resort sits in Nong Bua sub-district of Phu Ruea, on high ground at roughly 900 metres above sea level. What guests mention most often is that this is the oldest resort in the Phu Ruea area, welcoming travellers long before Phu Ruea became a popular cool-season destination. Accommodation is a mix of private bungalows and hotel-style rooms spread through a hillside garden, around 50 in total, shaded by mature trees planted years ago.
The thing guests talk about most is the restaurant terrace that looks down on a small waterfall flowing into the valley below. Having breakfast or a coffee here in the cool air, with a view of trees and running water, is the image many people remember. Rooms come with the essentials for a cool-climate stay: hot-water heater, TV, fridge and a private balcony. The grounds are spacious and pleasant to wander, well suited to anyone wanting to escape the city and be among nature in peace.
"Opened the door in the morning to cool air, walked to the restaurant and could hear the waterfall below — exactly the Phu Ruea feeling we came looking for."
The location is an advantage for touring Phu Ruea. It is a short drive to Phu Ruea National Park, the local vineyards and wineries, and the district's popular sea-of-mist viewpoints. The cool season (November–February) is Phu Ruea's high season, when temperatures drop sharply — some years the area ranks among the coldest in the country. Guests who come then tend to head up to the park early for the cold morning air, then return to the resort.
To be straight about it, the main thing is the age of the buildings. Many reviews praise the location and atmosphere but agree that some bungalows and common areas are showing their years, with signs of wear and a few spots that need upkeep. Some guests feel the price and room condition are not always well balanced in certain seasons. The steps down to view the waterfall need care in places, and the waterfall itself looks best from the rainy season into early winter — in the dry months the flow can be thin or dry out.
Service is the warm, easygoing style of an upcountry resort. Staff look after guests well and food is cooked to order, though some reviews note that restaurant service slows down when it is busy and English is limited. Wi-Fi is provided in all rooms but the signal is weak in some spots on the hill, which is normal for mountain properties. Overall this is a place that leans on atmosphere and location rather than luxury.
In short, Phurua Resort suits travellers who want the genuine Phu Ruea atmosphere on a modest budget. If you are after a freshly renovated property with a spa and full resort facilities, this may not be the answer. But if what you want is cool air, a shaded garden, waterfall-view dining and a base that is a short drive from Phu Ruea National Park at an accessible price — it delivers that in a way that is hard to find elsewhere in the same area.
A tip from following the reviews here: ask for a bungalow near the valley side to get the fullest waterfall view and atmosphere, and check with the resort whether your room is in a renovated zone. The cool season is high season, when rooms fill fast and prices climb, so book several weeks ahead. Bring enough warm clothing too — nights on Phu Ruea are colder than many people expect.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Phu Ruea hillside setting, cool air, near the national park and mist viewpoints
- ✓ Restaurant terrace overlooking a small waterfall and the valley
- ✓ Shaded garden and spacious grounds, easy to wander in nature
- ✓ Accessible pricing compared with most Phu Ruea stays
- ! Buildings and some bungalows are old, with signs of wear awaiting upkeep
- ! Restaurant service slows when busy and English is limited
- ! Waterfall looks best from the rainy season into early winter; thin in the dry months
- ✓ Quiet mountain-resort atmosphere, good for an escape from the city
- ✓ Friendly staff and food cooked to order
- ✓ A handy base for driving around Phu Ruea, short hop to the park
- ✓ Rooms have hot-water heaters and private balconies, good for cool weather
- ! Some rooms are old; price and condition not always balanced in places
- ! Wi-Fi signal weak in some spots on the hill
- ! Steps down to the waterfall need care in places
- 💡If you expect a freshly renovated resort with a full spa — this is an old property and some bungalows are aging and awaiting upkeep → if newness and luxury matter, consider a 4-star resort on Phu Ruea that opened more recently.
- 💡If you want to see the waterfall in full flow — it looks best from the rainy season into early winter and can run thin or dry in the dry months → plan a rainy-to-early-winter visit and ask for a bungalow near the valley side.
- 💡If you come in the cool season (Nov–Feb) — this is Phu Ruea's high season when rooms fill fast and prices climb → book several weeks ahead, lock in free cancellation first, and pack enough warm clothing.