AN EXCITING AND UNIQUE EXPERIENCE
Have you ever stayed at a floating hotel in the middle of a tropical jungle?
A luxury retreat on the river, surrounded by lush greenery, is the perfect getaway for a change of pace, offering tranquility far away from city life, to relax, unwind and enjoy nature, but with all the mod cons, of course.
I was super excited to spend several days at the amazing Float House River Kwai in Kanchanaburi Province, Northern Thailand and it exceeded my expectations. Definitely the most unique hotel I have ever experienced. It had been on my bucket list for a while and I finally ticked it off, but only wish I could’ve stayed longer.
Getting to Float House River Kwai
The Float House is not accessible by land at all, only by boat on the River Kwai. There are hills on both sides of the river, with dense jungle, so it is completed surrounded by nature and not much else.
We went by bus to Phutakien Pier located at the city of Kanchanaburi, then taken on a long tail boat down the River Kwai to the resort, about 15 minutes’ ride.
Arriving at the hotel by boat was a magical and unique experience. Our luggage was also transported by boat and loaded on and off for us, so there was no risk of me dropping my suitcase in the river.
Luxury In The Jungle
The Float House River Kwai is as close to luxury as you can get in the middle of the jungle. Even though it’s a remote setting, away from modern life, we had all the conveniences we needed for a very comfortable and relaxing sojourn.
Amidst lush verdant surroundings the Float House has about 20 bungalows in a row, floating on pontoons over the river, all freestanding, but joined by a covered walkway.
The Bungalow
The bungalow was reasonably large, with a high thatched roof and air conditioning. It was delightfully furnished in traditional Thai folk style decor, with mosquito curtains draped over a canopy bed, several armchairs, coffee table, desk, fridge, tv and wifi as well.
There was ample storage and space for luggage. The bathroom had a separate outdoor shower with a curtain for privacy, which was interesting, but I was ok with it.
The cabin had a lovely balcony over the river, with a swing seat and deck chairs. This was a highlight, the perfect spot for a drink whilst appreciating nature and wildlife spotting. Some enjoy jumping into the river from their balcony, and even though the extreme heat makes it very tempting, I refrained from taking the plunge.
I enjoyed the soothing motion of the bungalow gently swaying with the current and waves from boats passing by.
Resort Facilities at Float House River Kwai
There is an open-air restaurant at the resort called Pontoon Restaurant, a large floating pavilion which serves, breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. A variety of dishes are on offer, Thai and International cuisine. I enjoyed delicious buffet breakfasts each day. A buffet dinner was provided for our tour group and a-la-carte dining as well. There is no air-con at the restaurant and reception area, just fans.
Activities provided here are mostly all related to the river – jumping in the river, swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding. There is no pool or gym at the premises. But there is, of course, Thai massage therapies available at the Spa here.
At the rear of the resort are steps to a cave you can explore on land, Lawa Cave.
Laundry service is very cheap at the Float House, so I took advantage of the offer to have a bag of washing done for a relatively low cost.
General Considerations
I had no concerns staying here but these are some of the things to be aware of:
- Quality of the river water here is deemed suitable for swimming and water sports, even though it looks murky.
- River current can be quite swift at times.
- Life jackets should be used in the river.
- Monitor lizards are present in and out of the river, as well as other wild animals.
- Mosquitos can be an issue here.
- Open balconies could be a problem with young children.
- Temperature can be very hot and there is no pool for cooling down.
- No shops nearby.
Finally
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Float House River Kwai, a wonderful retreat and a truly unforgettable hotel experience.
My lovely 3 night stay was part of a Northern Thailand tour with Luxury Escapes and everything was organised for us, including transportation to and from the location and tours each day.
Day Trips From Float House River Kwai
If you don’t want to hang out at the resort all day and want a little more adventure or some sightseeing, there are various sites to visit further afield, perfect for day trips. These are the best sites I enjoyed exploring:
- Bridge River Kwai, walk the historic bridge
- Hellfire Pass, historic trail and museum
- Erawan Waterfalls, trek in national park and swim in 7 natural pools.
All excursions from the Float House require boat passage to and from Phutakien Pier available hourly throughout the day from the front of house. Then, transport from pier carpark.
The concierge can help with boat rides, tours and guides.
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