Journal ·
Where to stay in Korat with a mountain view: Sikhio as your base
Korat city or Sikhio? Real travel times from the resort, day trips around Korat, and what staying on the hill is like.
There are plenty of places to stay in Korat. If your trip is about business in the city, a hotel in Korat city makes sense. But if you want to wake up to mountains, walk a forest trail before breakfast, swim with a valley view and still reach the big sights easily, Sikhio is the part of Korat many travellers overlook.
ChanNgarm Mountain View Resort sits on a hill in Sikhio, near Highway 2, between Pak Chong and Korat city. This guide explains why Sikhio works so well as a base for Korat, Pak Chong and Khao Yai, with real travel times from the resort to each place.
Where Sikhio is in Korat
Sikhio is in the south-west of Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) province, on the edge of the Khorat Plateau. Mittraphap Road, the main road from Bangkok to the north-east, runs through it: driving from Bangkok you pass Saraburi and Pak Chong first, then Sikhio, and only then Korat city.
Sikhio is one of the five districts in the Khorat UNESCO Global Geopark area, which joined the UNESCO Global Geoparks network in 2023 and is known for cuesta ridges, dinosaur fossils and petrified wood. (ChanNgarm is an independent hotel and is not affiliated with or endorsed by UNESCO.)
Travel times from the resort
| Place | Distance / time |
|---|---|
| Khao Chan Ngam rock paintings | 890 m (walkable) |
| Wat Khao Chan Ngam | 2.1 km |
| Khao Yai Thiang viewpoint | 15–18 min |
| Pak Chong and Khao Yai | ≈ 54 min (≈ 59 km) |
| Korat city | ≈ 1 h 12 min (≈ 83 km) |
| Ban Mai Samrong / Sikhio train station | ≈ 15 min (≈ 12 km) |
| Bangkok | 2.5–3 h (≈ 210 km) |
Pak Chong and Korat city are a similar drive in opposite directions, so you can explore both sides from one base without moving hotels halfway through your trip.
Korat city or Sikhio: which suits you?
Stay in Korat city if you have business in town, want shopping malls, or are attending an event there.
Stay in Sikhio if you are here to rest: a mountain view from your room, cooler air on the hill, and nature on the doorstep. Sikhio is also on the way to Pak Chong and Khao Yai, and from Bangkok it is a shorter drive than Korat city.
If your trip has a bit of both, stay on the hill in Sikhio and drive into Korat city (≈ 1 h 12 min) only on the days you need to.
Day trips from Sikhio
- Khao Yai Thiang: wind turbines on a ridge above Lam Takhong reservoir, 15–18 min away. Read our Khao Yai Thiang guide.
- Pak Chong and Khao Yai: a day in Khao Yai National Park with stops at the cafés and farms of Pak Chong, then back to the hill for the evening.
- Lam Takhong Dam: for anglers.
- Mountain Creek golf course: for golfers.
- Wat Noen Kum (Luang Pho To): a temple visit.
- Korat's yearly festivals: the Silk Festival in Pak Thong Chai, the Flower Festival in Wang Nam Khiao, the Phimai Festival and boat races, and the Thao Suranari Victory Festival in Korat city. Dates change every year, so ask us before you plan.
Next to the resort, on foot
- Khao Chan Ngam rock paintings: red figures of people, animals and daily life on a sandstone cliff, painted 3,000 to 4,000 years ago by an early farming community, 890 m from the resort. Go in the morning for soft light and cool air, and dress modestly in the temple grounds.
- Khao Chan Ngam nature trail: about 2 km through dry evergreen forest and sandstone shaped by wind and rain, ending at Mushroom Rock. Allow 45–60 min.
- Natural dyeing with hematite: a workshop with BD Earth Dyed using the red, iron-rich earth of the area. You take home the scarf you coloured.
- Pad Mi Korat and the morning market in Sikhio town.
The name ChanNgarm comes from Chan-Pha, a fragrant tree that grows wild on steep mountain cliffs. It grows naturally in the resort grounds, and its flowers give off a cool scent as the rains give way to the cool season.
Staying at ChanNgarm Mountain View Resort
- 56 rooms in five types, each with a private balcony, a mountain view, a work desk and free Wi-Fi.
- The Sky Pool on the edge of the hill, with the valley in front of you as you swim. Open 07:00–20:00.
- The Daowadueng Restaurant: Korat dishes from Sikhio produce, a healthy menu and vegetarian dishes at every meal. Breakfast 07:00–10:00.
- A fitness room, a yoga room, a children's pool and gardens.
- Meeting rooms for seminars and team building, with a hall for ~200 people.
Rooms start from ฿1,900 a night. Rates include breakfast for 2, VAT and service charge. Check-in from 14:00, check-out by 12:00. Parking: Free, on site.
Planning the journey
By car from Bangkok, take Highway 1 and then Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) past Saraburi and Pak Chong: 2.5–3 h. The resort sits on a hillside and the last stretch is a winding road up the hill, so arrive before dark the first time.
Without a car, take the train or a bus to Sikhio and a local taxi from there. The resort does not run a shuttle. Every option is explained in Bangkok to Sikhio by car, train or bus.
FAQ
Where can I stay in Korat with a mountain view? Sikhio, on the edge of the Khorat Plateau, has hills and forest all around. ChanNgarm is on a hill in Sikhio, and every room faces the mountains.
How far is ChanNgarm from Khao Yai? Pak Chong is ≈ 54 min (≈ 59 km) by car, so Khao Yai National Park is an easy day trip.
How far is it from Korat city? ≈ 83 km, ≈ 1 h 12 min by car on Mittraphap Road.
Is breakfast included? Rates include breakfast for 2, VAT and service charge.
Can I stay without a car? Yes. The restaurant, pool, fitness room and nature trail are all on site. For day trips you will need a taxi or a rental car.
See the rooms · Things to do around Sikhio · FAQ · Book a room
