The Float House River Kwai

Two and a half hours outside of Bangkok, set against a spectacular backdrop of the famous River Kwai, is the majestic Float House. As the name suggests, this unique Thai folk-style resort floats atop the River Kwai and is surrounded by tropical forests and mountains of Saiyoke. Comprising a collection of bamboo-walled twin rooms naturally cooled by the river passing beneath, The Float House offers a sense of tranquility you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world. Truly setting the stage to make you feel like Thai royalty, you’ll even arrive to the hotel on a long boat.

Top tips

1. While all the rooms and suites of The Float House are beautifully decorated in traditional Thai style, and are incredibly well-appointed, many guests have suggested booking one of the chalets that are upstream and away from the reception area. Not only will you be further away from the noise of the common areas, you’ll also be further away from the noise of the boats tha come from downstream.

2. Larger groups of travellers or families with young children will be pleased to know that The Float House offers adjoining chalets. These are, however, low in supply so make sure to book them well in advance of your stay. Pro tip: if you are travelling with children, make sure to keep a close eye on them as the river is quite fast-moving and could potentially be dangerous.

3. There are plenty of activities offered by the hotel to keep anyone entertained. From bamboo rafting, jungle hiking, bird watching, even a traditional Thai massage, there is truly something for everyone. One of the signature activities of The Float House is floating downstream (with a life-jacket, of course) from your very own chalet to the other end of the hotel (another reason, you should opt for a room that’s further upstream).

4. To make full use of your stay at The Float House, it is highly recommended that you rent either a car or a motorbike. Having your own ride will open up the area to you, allowing you to run over to Hellfire pass easily and even jump over to Erawan waterfall for the day.

5. Even though Bangkok (and Thailand as a whole, to be honest) is known for its party scene and nightlife, there isn’t a whole lot to do in the area surrounding The Float House after the sun goes down. Even the restaurant and bar of the hotel close relatively early. So if you’re looking for somewhere to party till dawn, this is probably not the hotel for you.