River Kwai Jungle Rafts Floating Hotel เเพ จังเกิ้ลราฟท์ รีสอร์ท กาญจนบุรี — Hotel in Kanchanaburi Province

Difficult to review and I’ll be as fair as possible…

I’ll start with the good, the location is amazing, sat floating on a full and thriving jungle river steeped with history. The Mon village which neighbours the hotel is very interesting and to explore is a must if you stay here with it being on the door step. The location is everything you would hope and expect it to be, with the common method of access being a short long tail boat ride (15 minutes) from the pier (the boat ride in and out of this stay for us was the highlight of the stay). The hotel at first glance is aesthetically charming and simple. The concept of the back to basics, sustainable, eco friendly hotel is a massive appeal and a big draw for a lot of people.

Unfortunately this is where the positives end.

The service provided by the whole staff who are all locals to the area and Mon village was on the whole pretty terrible (especially when you consider the fact that staying at this accommodation is not cheap at all!). there were Only two, three moments of smiley, happy faces that actually made us feel welcome. we felt like an inconvenience to the staff the whole of the stay, the staff did help upon request but it did seem like you were asking the earth from them.

The food, breakfast is extremely basic, 2 fried eggs, slice of tomato and 2 wedges of cold potato coupled with a self serve mini buffet which didn’t exactly get the senses tingling. The coffee and tea provided is a basic gesture but the lack of fresh milk just seems extremely frugal. At the end of breakfast and dinner we are treated with the same quartered pineapple and water melon which was the best part but repetitive. Dinner is served for you on multiple plates with the ability to refill. Dinner again is basic, Thai cuisine but compared to almost every other meal we have had in Thailand the food is bland and boring. Slight variation is made each night.

There is free water available in a large container, other drinks are bought at the bar which isn’t cheap. 100 baht - small Chang beer, small bottle of water - 25baht, small cocktail 190+ baht.

The rooms, basic and a little dated but simple and charming, the white sheets on the bed seemed to be clean and fresh each day however the thicker blanket didn’t seem fresh. There is a good quality and large mosquito net…thank the heavens. The bathroom- extremely basic 😂 a toilet that seems like it would dislodge from the floor if you sat down at speed, the shower was cold to very cold (no problem with this as it’s nice to cool you down). Be able to see In the dark, no electricity and two dim lights provided for night time. The sink and shower drain directly to the river, unfortunately so do all the toilets it seems. So if you were thinking about dunking in the river as we did (before we figured out the toilet situation) keep this in mind and keep your mouth closed 😂

If you want to get out to do and see things, sadly we found this to be a massive downfall of this hotel. tours are available at incredibly inflated prices, it felt as though you are trapped and they know it. Private hire of long tail boat will cost 1000baht (I assume it’s both ways but it may even be each way, for a 15-20 minute boat which shuttles people every hour anyway)

quoted a price for a tree top adventure, which thankfully is a short and easy walk around 15-20 minutes also) 1700baht full price. But only half the adventure was apparently available so price reduced to 1200baht (still seems very excessive) so we walked to the treetop adventure to get the tickets direct. 1000baht each for the full adventure. 15 minute walk saved us 1400 baht.

Wandi the elephant was nice to see but concerning. I suspect she lives a lonely life.

Summary… it’s a tourist trap. Everything over priced, while the hotel operates very frugally. ‘Eco hotel’ not at all! 100+ kerosene lamps burning every night… just get solar power and warm led candles. raw sewage into the river… animal tourism… extremely loud boats disturbing wildlife

Sadly, Could be so much better!! Greed will...

We were very much looking forward to our stay here and were very disappointed.

Staff attitude was generally poor. Upon arrival in a group (we took a bus tour from Bangkok but booked the accomodation separately) we were not greeted just told to sit down for lunch and despite the fact we had our own accomodation booking were instructed we had to sit with the others from the boat.

Small meals, no choice and almost no meat content, guests complained meals were quite bland. Staff would offer more food and the next plate would come out half empty. Lunch and dinner was the same each day. Breakfast was a cold fried egg, cold piece of tinned ham and some cold bread. No water provided with meals it must be purchased from the bar. Website says they provide a western menu and a large variety of food (I love Thai food) and when other guests enquired of the western menu they were told coldly there was only Thai food.

We were aware there is no power and we thought we were going to a place so remote as to not have power, a short trip upstream and downstream on the boat showed other hotels in the same group with cooling and power less than 500m away - owned by the same company. Nights were insufferable with the temperature at 30-32 overnight. Some guests demanded transfer to the hotel down the river with cooling.

Our room (number 9) had termites in the bathroom and the bathroom stunk. The kerosene lamps stink and don’t provide much light. Beds were hard and bathroom very dark.

Overall a huge departure from the “eco oasis” we were expecting. Rude staff who changed our activity schedule with no explanation and the feeling that despite the high price we paid that costs were being cut wherever possible. If you stay here remember to bring some money for water and any drinks you might want and activities you may want to book as despite all staff having their mobile phones on hand there are no credit facilities. I would book at one of the other numerous hotels a short distance from this one and enjoy their buffet dinners and cooled rooms.

One star for the fun activity of swimming along the hotel and one star for the...

Our three-night stay at the River Kwai Jungle Rafts Floating Hotel was nothing short of extraordinary. Nestled in the heart of nature, floating gently on the historic River Kwai, this unique resort offered a perfect escape from the modern world. With no electricity and only lanterns lighting the way at night, the sense of isolation was both peaceful and enchanting.

From the moment we arrived, our guide Pot made the experience truly exceptional. His deep knowledge, warmth, and enthusiasm enriched every aspect of our adventure, from exploring hidden caves and wandering the waterfalls to immersing ourselves in the unique culture of the local Mon village. Travelling by long-tail boat along the river allowed us to visit Kanchanaburi and Hellfire Pass, adding a profound historical dimension to our journey. In the evening, the staff captivated us with traditional Mon performance in a specially designed riverside theater, offering a fascinating glimpse into their cultural heritage. Our visit was not only immersive and engaging but also incredibly educational on multiple levels.

A true highlight of our stay was the daily elephant feeding, where we had the chance to interact with a gentle giant up close. It was a heartwarming experience that added to the magic of our jungle retreat. The floating hotel itself is great—drifting off to sleep to the sounds of the river and waking up to tranquil sunrise views was simply unforgettable.

The food was abundant, freshly prepared, and absolutely delicious, showcasing the best of Thai cuisine. Whether it was a flavorful curry, grilled fish, or tropical fruits, every bite was a delight.

After a day of exploring, returning to our serene raft accommodation, dipping our feet in the cool river, and soaking in the tranquility was pure bliss. We only attempted one float on the river with our life jackets firmly secure, the speed of the river was exhilarating.

A wonderful off-the-grid retreat surrounded by nature, culture, and adventure. A huge thank you to Pot and the entire team for making our stay...