Phurua Sanctuary Resort and Spa — A Hillside Phu Ruea Resort with Wide Grounds and Mountain Views
If you are heading to Phu Ruea for the cool mountain air and the views, and want somewhere with wide grounds to wander rather than just a room — Phurua Sanctuary Resort and Spa is a 4-star resort set on around 40 rai of hillside land in Phu Ruea District, Loei · Its contemporary Thai-style rooms and villas are decorated with works by local artists, and it has an outdoor pool, a spa, a yoga room and the open-air Phu Luang restaurant set under a macadamia tree, from approx. THB 1,500/night.
Phurua Sanctuary Resort and Spa sits at 216 Moo 8, Nong Bua Subdistrict, Phu Ruea District, spread across around 40 rai of hillside land · The point reviews agree on is the sheer size of the grounds and the mountain views around the resort — gardens, mature trees and paths to wander morning and evening, unlike the in-town hotels that are mostly about the room · It suits travellers who come to Phu Ruea for the cool air and mountain setting and want to spend time in the resort as part of the trip, not just a bed for the night.
Rooms come in several types, from Standard, Deluxe and Super Deluxe up to two-bedroom villas · They are decorated in a contemporary Thai style with works by local artists, and many have balconies looking out over the garden or the hills · Most reviews say the rooms are spacious, clean and match the photos online, with good-quality linens · But there is a consistent note across several guests that the mattresses are quite firm, and that the shower water is hard to regulate — swinging between hot and cold — which is worth setting your expectations around.
"The room was spacious and clean and matched the photos, the gardens were lovely and the staff were polite — but the bed was firmer than expected, and the shower water was tricky to control."
The Phu Luang restaurant is an open-air spot set under a macadamia tree, serving Thai and international dishes; dining out in the garden is something many guests enjoy · But breakfast gets mixed reviews — some call it simple with a limited menu, though the coffee earns praise · Because the resort is outside the town centre, heading out for dinner means a drive, so it is worth planning your evening meal ahead or eating at the resort.
The facilities are well-rounded for an upcountry resort · There is an outdoor pool that reviews describe as long, a spa, a sauna, a yoga room, a gym, free bicycles, gardens and a children's playground · The grounds include banana and macadamia plantations, with activities such as cycling around the gardens, art workshops with local artists and a quiet corner for meditation · Staff earn praise for being polite and attentive, though some reviews note limited English and a service that felt a little flat in low season.
Honestly, Phurua Sanctuary is strong on its wide grounds and mountain setting more than on five-star polish · Firm mattresses, fiddly shower water, patchy Wi-Fi in places and an ordinary breakfast are things to be ready for · But at a price that starts in the low thousands of baht for a hillside, mountain-view resort with a pool and spa, many guests feel it is good value for what you get — especially if you book a promotion.
In short, if the heart of your Phu Ruea trip is cool air, mountain views and a resort with room to wander and relax all day, with a pool and spa, at an accessible price — Phurua Sanctuary Resort and Spa sits in exactly that slot · Real-guest scores sit around 8.5–8.8 on booking platforms and 3.8 out of 5 on TripAdvisor from a still-modest number of reviews, and the consensus is consistent: lovely grounds and good staff, traded against firm beds and a few details that are not quite polished.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Wide grounds, lovely gardens and mountain views — room to wander all day
- ✓ Spacious, clean rooms that match the photos online
- ✓ Polite, attentive staff
- ✓ Outdoor pool, spa and yoga room for a full relaxing stay
- ! Mattresses are quite firm
- ! Shower water is hard to regulate
- ! Simple breakfast with a limited menu
- ✓ Spacious resort with a quiet, peaceful mountain setting
- ✓ Attractively decorated rooms and villas with local artwork
- ✓ Long pool, with a private corner for suite guests
- ✓ Good value, especially during promotions
- ! Wi-Fi signal is patchy in places
- ! Some bathrooms are on the dark side
- ! Limited English among some staff
- 💡If you care about a soft mattress — several reviews say the beds are quite firm → ask the resort ahead for an extra topper, or choose a deluxe room or villa with newer bedding.
- 💡If you plan to eat dinner out every night — the resort is outside the town centre and you will need to drive → plan your evening meal ahead or eat at the on-site Phu Luang restaurant.
- 💡If you want sharp five-star service — this place is strong on grounds and atmosphere, but some details are not polished and English can be limited → set your expectations and state your needs clearly at check-in.