A weekend getaway from Bangkok: two days in the Korat hills

Bangkok is a great city to live in and a hard one to switch off in. If you want mountains, misty mornings and a quiet balcony without booking a flight, the hills of Sikhio in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) are about 2.5 hours away by car. This guide is for anyone planning a weekend getaway from Bangkok: how to get there, a simple two-day plan, where to stay and what to know before you set off.

Why the Korat hills for a weekend

• No flight, no early alarm. It is about 2.5 hours by car on Highway 2, so you can leave after breakfast and still have the afternoon on the hill.
• Nature starts at the door. The 2 km Khao Chan Ngam nature trail begins at the edge of the resort, and the prehistoric rock paintings are 890 m away.
• A view from every room. All 56 rooms at ChanNgarm Mountain View Resort have a private balcony and a mountain view.
• Easy side trips. The Khao Yai Thiang wind turbine viewpoint is 15–18 min away, and Pak Chong is on your way home (≈ 54 min).

Getting there from Bangkok

How	Time	Good to know
Car	2.5–3 h (≈ 210 km)	Highway 1, then Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road) past Saraburi and Pak Chong
Train	To Ban Mai Samrong / Sikhio station, then ≈ 15 min by taxi	Check the State Railway of Thailand timetable before you go
Bus or van	To Sikhio town, then a local taxi up the hill	Make sure your service stops in Sikhio

Arrive before dark the first time: the last stretch is a winding road up the hill. We don't run a shuttle. Every route in detail: Bangkok to Sikhio by car, train or bus.

A two-day plan

Day 1: from Bangkok to the hill

When	Plan
Morning	Leave Bangkok after breakfast
Late morning	Lunch and coffee in Pak Chong, then ≈ 54 min on to the resort
14:00	Check in, open the balcony door and let the view do its work
Late afternoon	The evening walk on the nature trail, or a swim in the Sky Pool (open 07:00–20:00)
Sunset	Watch the light go from your balcony

The resort restaurant is open 11:00–17:00. For dinner at the resort, tick Dinner under extra services when you book, and our team will confirm the details with you.

Day 2: trail, rock paintings and Khao Yai Thiang

When	Plan
06:00	Sunrise walk on the nature trail: 2 km, 45–60 min
07:00–10:00	Breakfast at the resort
09:00	The Khao Chan Ngam rock paintings (890 m) and Wat Khao Chan Ngam (2.1 km)
By 12:00	Check out
Afternoon	Khao Yai Thiang viewpoint (15–18 min), on your way back towards Bangkok
Late afternoon	Cafés and farms in Pak Chong, then home

With a third day, add forest bathing or a hematite dyeing workshop with a local community. Our front desk can arrange both. More ideas in our Khao Yai Thiang guide and on Things to do.

Where to stay

ChanNgarm Mountain View Resort has 56 rooms on the hillside, from ฿1,900 a night. Rates include breakfast for 2, VAT and service charge. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out by 12:00. Parking: Free, on site.

Your weekend	Our pick
A couple's break	Deluxe, 45 sqm, with room to spread out
A special occasion	Honey Moon Suite, 100 sqm on two floors, with a bathtub with a view
Friends or a small family	Deluxe or Suite with an extra bed (THB 1,000 a night)
Best value	Standard L, 30 sqm

Compare every room on the rooms page, or check availability.

Stay a few more days?

If Monday comes too soon, stay on and work from the hill. Every room has a work desk and Wi-Fi good enough for video calls. In our latest test, the room Wi-Fi measured about 405 Mbps download and 432 Mbps upload. See Workation & Long Stay.

Good to know

• Arrive before dark the first time. The road up the hill is easy in daylight.
• Leave early on long weekends. Highway 2 is the main road to the north-east.
• Bring walking shoes for the trail. Its level: Easy to moderate.
• No car? Hire a local taxi for the day to visit Khao Yai Thiang.
• Non-smoking rooms · no pets.

Weekend FAQ

How far is ChanNgarm from Bangkok? ≈ 210 km, 2.5–3 h by car via Highway 2 (Mittraphap Road).

Is one night enough? One night is enough for a reset. Two nights give you a full day on the hill without watching the clock.

Can I do this trip without a car? Yes. Take the train or a bus to Sikhio, then a local taxi up the hill. The trail, pool and restaurant are all on site.

Can I bring children? Yes. Children under 6 stay free with breakfast, using the existing beds. From 6, add an extra bed for THB 1,000 a night, breakfast included.

Can I book without a Thai bank account? Yes. Call 082-319-8333 (English), message us on WhatsApp or LINE, or email info@channgarmgeopark.com, and our team will book your room with you.

See the rooms · Things to do around Sikhio · How to get here · Book a room