Imperial Phukaew Hill Resort
by the TopOfHotel team
Imperial Phukaew is a sprawling Swiss-style resort with a pool, a sauna, and an in-resort shuttle — the full-service choice for groups.
Imperial Phukaew is a sprawling Swiss-style resort with a pool, a sauna, and an in-resort shuttle — the full-service choice for groups.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
At #7, the Imperial Phukaew Hill Resort is a large Swiss-style resort spread across hundreds of rai (Thailand's land unit) of mountainside in Khao Kho, with a review score of around 8.0/10 from real guests. The lodges are built in a Swiss-cottage style and perch along the hill among big trees, so wandering the grounds feels a bit like a cold-country mountain retreat. The rooms are spacious, and many open onto mountain views and the greenery around them. The honest thing to flag: this is a long-running property, so a few rooms and buildings show their age, and some in-room equipment — the air-con or water heater, say — can act up. Ask for a renovated room when you book.
Food and amenities
Where Imperial Phukaew pulls ahead of Khao Kho's small boutiques is the amenities — an outdoor pool, a sauna, a steam room, and an on-site restaurant, all in one place. Because the grounds are so vast, the resort also runs an in-resort shuttle to move guests between points. Breakfast is the one spot reviewers tend to ding — many wish it had more variety, so if you are staying several nights you might plan to eat out now and then.
Location and getting there
The resort sits on a hillside in Khao Kho, about 5 km from the main viewpoint, in shaded, forested hills that suit travelers who want to be surrounded by nature. Because it sits in that forested setting, some reviewers ran into mosquitos, so it is worth packing repellent.
Things to know before booking
Three things to weigh. First, the property is older — some rooms feel dated and a few fittings can be temperamental, so request a renovated room. Second, breakfast draws mixed notes for its lack of variety. Third, the forested location means mosquitos can be an issue, so bring repellent. None of these are dealbreakers for the right traveler, but they explain why the score sits below the newer resorts on this list.
Our take
Imperial Phukaew Hill Resort suits families and large groups who want sprawling grounds and a full slate of amenities, in a budget of roughly $57 to $157 a night. If you would rather have a newer, design-led room, look at De Capoc (#4) instead.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- A large Swiss-style resort spread over hundreds of rai (Thailand's land unit) — reviewers single out the views and the mountain atmosphere.
- The amenity list is the fullest on this list: an outdoor pool, a sauna, and a steam room all on-site.
- Reviewers note the rooms are spacious and the staff service is good.
- An in-resort shuttle moves you around, which helps a lot given how vast the grounds are.
- Handles families and large groups with ease, and there is a restaurant on-site for meals.
- This is an older resort, and reviewers note that some rooms feel dated and that in-room equipment such as the air-con or water heater can act up. Ask for a renovated room when you book.
- Breakfast is a common gripe — many reviewers wish it had more variety, so plan to eat out if you are staying several nights.
- The resort sits in forested hills, and some reviewers ran into mosquitos. Pack repellent.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Insider Tips
- Ask for a renovated room when you book — reviewers say the older and newer rooms differ noticeably in quality.
- Bring mosquito repellent, since the resort sits in forested hills.
- Use the in-resort shuttle — the grounds are huge and walking everywhere gets tiring.