Hotel MYS Khao Yai - The Transparent Pool That Required Aquarium Engineers

Forget the beaches – Thailand's landlocked Khao Yai National Park offers something the coast can't: a transparent rooftop pool where you swim seemingly suspended above forested peaks. Hotel MYS Khao Yai, a five-star property on Thanaratch Road, brings Scandinavian minimalism to the heart of the country's oldest national park, a UNESCO-listed reserve of waterfalls and wildlife.

The hotel's engineering feat – a nine-meter cantilevered glass pool that doubles as a reception ceiling – pushes architectural boundaries with specialist input from aquarium designers Reynolds. Cool temperatures from November to February make this a genuine alternative to the perpetually sweltering south.

Stacked Cabins and Cantilevered Glass

The hotel sits in Khao Yai's main business and tourism district, roughly three hours from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and under three hours from Bangkok's center. Urban Praxis architects designed the building around an "elevated ground floor" concept, stacking luxurious forest cabins vertically to work within local regulations while maximizing space.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and warm wooden accents define the Scandinavian aesthetic throughout the exterior, blending contemporary design with the surrounding national park landscape. The building's centerpiece – a transparent rooftop pool cantilevered over the reception – required specialist engineering to achieve its completely see-through design.

Cha La Restaurant & Bar

Cha La Restaurant operates as Khao Yai's first craft dining destination, occupying indoor and outdoor spaces with 29 and 16 seats respectively. The accessible venue serves from 6:30am to 11pm daily. Breakfast runs until 11am, followed by à la carte service and room service until 11pm.

The kitchen combines local ingredients with international imports, creating what the hotel positions as refined fine dining for the region. Thai and international dishes fill the menu throughout the day. The attached Cha La Bar, open the same hours with 15 indoor seats, stocks craft cocktails, an international wine list, and premium cigars.

Accommodation Range

The property houses 16 deluxe rooms (61 square meters), six pool villas (106 square meters), garden terrace rooms (74 square meters), garden view rooms (61 square meters), and a three-bedroom signature villa.

Standard amenities across categories include air conditioning, Smart TVs, free Wi-Fi, minibars stocked with soft drinks and beer, in-room coffee machines, Bamford toiletries (L'Occitane in deluxe rooms), bathrobes, slippers, soundproof windows, and Bluetooth speakers. Fitness equipment arrives on request. All rooms include a pillow menu and daily turndown service.

Cozy Suite

Located on the third floor of Buildings A and B, these 61-square-meter suites pair king beds with private patios. The living room includes furniture for lounging beyond the sleeping area, while two Smart TVs provide entertainment options. SuitePad tablets control room functions.

Bathrooms feature showers, Bamford toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, hand wash, body lotion, body gel), and hairdryers. Safety boxes secure valuables.

Pool Villa

These 106-square-meter villas center on privacy, each with a heated swimming pool and automatic temperature control for year-round use. Super king beds (seven feet) anchor the sleeping quarters, while a separate living room with furniture extends the usable space. Two Smart TVs split entertainment between areas.

The large terrace opens directly to your private heated pool, surrounded by lounging space. Soundproof windows block external noise. Bathrooms upgrade to include showers, toilets, and bathtubs alongside the standard Bamford amenities. Premium Bluetooth speakers outperform the standard room audio.

MYS Villa

The three-bedroom villa represents the property's top accommodation tier. The master bedroom includes a super king bed (seven feet) and private jacuzzi. Two additional bedrooms mirror the master's layout minus the jacuzzi, all with super king beds, Smart TVs, Bamford toiletries, and premium Bluetooth speakers.

The living space features a modern kitchen (available private chef service) and direct views of the glass-bottomed pool above – you can watch swimmers from below. A fully automatic espresso/cappuccino machine, Devialet Phantom II speaker, wine fridge, and free minibar (soft drinks, juices, snacks, international and local beers) stock the space. An outdoor dining terrace includes a BBQ kitchen.

Adjacent to the infinity pool, an entertainment room houses a 100-inch projector, PlayStation 5 with games, and a cocktail bar (private bartender available).

The heated glass-bottomed pool – the villa's signature feature – creates a unique visual experience from both above and below. Sun loungers and umbrellas line the pool deck.

Skylight Pool

Thailand's largest transparent rooftop pool operates daily from 7am to 8pm. The structure's engineering allows swimmers to float seemingly above Khao Yai's mountain landscape with panoramic views in every direction.

The pool's complete transparency, achieved through advanced construction technology and structural design, creates the sensation of swimming into open sky.