Stay in a riverside raft house by the River Kwai in Thailand — truly escape the hustle and bustle of the city and sleep under the stars

▲ Floating raft houses at Sai Yok View Raft Hotel on the River Kwai. (Photo by reporter Li Ziyi, the same below)

Reporter Li Ziyi / Reported from Thailand

Driving from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok to the northwest city of Kanchanaburi, besides visiting the famous attraction “Bridge on the River Kwai” and trying the must-eat frog feast at the “Inong” restaurant, another must-do isthe riverside raft house “Sai Yok View Raft Hotel”on the River Kwai. Here, you can jump into the river from your room’s balcony to play in the water, enjoy a free bamboo raft drifting tour, and get away from the noise of the city to fully relax and connect with nature.

As you drive from the bustling urban area of Bangkok to the rural scenery of Kanchanaburi, the view gradually shifts from boldly colored and vibrantly painted buildings to natural countryside landscapes. When you approach the raft house, the road becomes more winding, and the roadside scenery changes to natural decorations like cassava and eggplants. If not for someone guiding you, how would you know that along the River Kwai in this country lane, there are actually floating “raft houses”?

After getting off the car and carrying your luggage, what you see are wooden and thatched cottages quietly situated along the upper reaches of the River Kwai. There’s no Wi-Fi here, no TV in the rooms, and the facilities are simple. This setup is perfect for travelers on vacation to disconnect from the outside world, truly escape the city noise, and relax fully while connecting with nature.

▲ The second entrance in the room leads to a shared space where you can lounge on a daybed and admire the beauty of the River Kwai.

The rooms are built next to each other,and each room has two doors — one leading to the hallway and the other opening directly to the riverbank. Open the door and you’re greeted by the view of the small river. “Splash!” An Western guest in a life jacket jumps off the balcony into the river, holding onto the rope under the cottage to play and splash around near the entrance, bringing a bit of liveliness to the tranquil environment.

▲ Guests jumping from the shore into the river need to hold onto the white rope in the water to avoid being carried downstream by the current.

The complimentary bamboo raft drifting experience includes being pulled upstream by a motorboat, after which guests jump off the boat and drift gently downstream, relieving the heat of 36°C and providing a refreshing coolness. The entire activity lasts about 30 minutes. Those who don’t want to get in the water can stay on the raft, dip their feet into the water, enjoy the breeze, and take in the scenery along the River Kwai.

Go and experience it.Riverside raft houses on the River Kwai — escape the city noise and converse with nature.

▲ The bamboo raft drifting activity involves a long-tail boat towing a raft that can carry dozens of people upstream, after which guests jump in to enjoy floating in the river.

The bamboo raft drifting activity starts in the afternoon, just in time to meet the sunset, offering a unique charm. After returning to shore, if you’re still not ready to call it a day, you can head to the pool in the courtyard, put on your swimsuit, soak up some sun, and can’t help but think — this is what a vacation should be like.

▲ Tourists floating down the River Kwai, perfectly timed with the setting sun.

After a quick freshen-up, it’s almost dinner time. Already starving, the dinner is an open buffet. The aroma of Thai cuisine, with its signature sweet and sour flavors, is irresistible, and you can’t help but pile your plate with various authentic dishes not commonly seen in Taiwan.Tour guide Anan especially recommends a bright red dish called “Soup of the Forest.” Just looking at it, you can tell it’s quite spicy — those not used to spicy food may find their mouths numbed after just a couple of spoonfuls.Other dishes include Thai-style salads, fried chicken, fruits like pineapple and watermelon for dessert. Though the selection isn’t extensive, it’s more than enough. After the meal, no one is in a rush to leave their seats, as the view outside is simply captivating. With a gentle breeze, a starry sky above, and flowing water below, it feels not unlike the Peach Blossom Spring described in Tao Yuanming’s poetry.

▲ The starlit buffet dinner.

▲ Left: Soup of the Forest; Right: Thai-style salad.

Sai Yok View Raft Hotel has a total of 88 rooms, priced per person at 1,400 baht, with up to three people per room. The price includes the bamboo raft drifting experience as well as breakfast and dinner. There is also a traditional Thai massage service available for 400 baht (plus a 50 baht tip).

▲ Double room.

▲ Bathroom.

As for the mosquito issue that many travelers worry about, since the accommodation is right by the flowing river, mosquitoes cannot breed easily, so there isn’t a particularly bad mosquito problem.

Sai Yok View Raft Hotel
Address: Sai Yok National Park, Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand
Official website:http://saiyokviewraft.com/?lang=en
Check-in and check-out times: 3:00 PM, 12:00 PM

Go and experience the River Kwai riverside overwater bungalows – away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and in conversation with nature.