Phanom Bencha Mountain Resort

The property looks striking, surrounded by nature, and the owner welcomed me and showed me around. At first it felt peaceful, and the food was good. I booked through Booking.com after seeing the positive reviews and photos, so the first impression was promising. That changed when I saw dozens of Red-whiskered Bulbuls kept in cages all day. Their noise was constant, and they kept jumping and flapping inside the cages. I found it upsetting. When I asked if they could fly outside the cages, the owner got defensive and said, "You think you know everything but you don't! This is my business. Do not comment on it". He tapped my shoulder aggressively and told me not to worry about the birds. As a woman, I found the exchange uncomfortable and disrespectful. There was also talk of elephant trips presented as a sanctuary experience. Another guest and I questioned how the elephants were treated and whether it was really a sanctuary. The owner laughed and ended the conversation, which gave me the impression that animal welfare wasn't a priority. The "pool" was another concern, with numerous fish suffocating in dirty water. After these moments, the welcome no longer felt genuine. The focus seemed to be on selling activities rather than care or transparency. The place is beautiful on the surface, but I left uneasy and disappointed. If animal protection matters to you, I'd look elsewhere.

This is a small family-run place, so message the owner on Whatsapp to coordinate. They can arrange airport pickup from Krabi and tours for jungle trekking, swimming, and hiking in Phanom Bencha National Park. It's the only hotel property near the national park. There's a lovely stream nearby, and the mountain scenery is great. You really are in the jungle, but they have a restaurant, drinks, hot water, coffee, showers, bathrooms, and nice amenities. The family takes care of everything and treats you like one of their own. They're so friendly and welcoming. Come with the right expectations and enjoy their hospitality.

The natural pool was magnificent, and we found the whole place so peaceful and relaxing. It's in a superb spot surrounded by nature. The staff were really kind and attentive. Such a lovely stay 🫶🏻

The people running the place were very welcoming, and the food was decent, but it felt expensive for what we got. The bathrooms were pretty disgusting and had no toilet paper. We were strongly encouraged to join a holiday dinner, then found it was very basic, without drinks or dessert, and cost just under 1000 baht. Nobody told us the price beforehand. We knew the rooms would be basic, but they still cost quite a bit compared with other places we stayed in the south, some of which were better located and higher quality. Getting transport outside the resort is difficult, so we had to depend on their own rides, which were overpriced too. The photos and positive reviews had made us excited to visit, but we didn't enjoy our stay. Nothing was an especially major drawback on its own, yet the accommodation felt far too expensive for what was offered.