River Kwai Jungle Rafts Hotel Kanchanaburi

This has got to be one of the most special places I ever stayed in and it certainly was one of the highlights of my trip to Thailand. Imagine going upstream of the River Kwai until you suddenly arrive at a series of floating huts, covered by complete darkness. Lack of electricity makes it necessary to use oillamps, resulting in a very idyllic and romantic atmosphere. Every room comes with its own oillamp, a small hammock outside (right next to the river) and a simple bathroom. These simple facilities are more than made up for by the atmosphere, the enormously kind staff and the fine food and drinks (check out the cocktail bar).

Talking about the staff, the floatel is operated by the people of the nearby Mon village, one of the minorities living in this region of Thailand. They seem to be very intelligent, quickly picking up words in other languages and offering you a cup of coffee in whatever way you may refer to it at home (in our case, not the regular Dutch 'kopje koffie?' but the slang 'bakkie pleur?'). In the nearby village of the Mon the kids are happy to play some soccer with the guests and you can also see their elephants. And as you can imagine, this remote location offers you wonderful peace and tranquility, only to be broken by the performance of the traditional Mon dance by the children of the village. The latter might not be everybody's cup of tea. ;-)

If you're near Kanchanaburi, for instance to see the 'bridge over the River Kwai' or the war cemetary, make sure you stay here for at least two nights. You won't regret it, and to be completely honest it's a whole lot more interesting and entertaining than the aforementioned bridge.

THE place to stay for your jungle experience. We stayed there for 2 nights in oktober 2003. We arrived at night in the quit of the jungle. Not much of the hotel was visible because just a few candles lighted the hotel. After dinner wich was very good and some cocktails at the bar we went to bed. It's a clean small room with a simple showe, no luxery. When we got up in the morning and opened the door the view was amazing!!!! The hotel is build on the water and connected whot a small bridge to the mainland. Staying here is a really great experience and wants to make you come back, at least we want to go back somewere in the future.

TIP: At 7 in the morning the elifants are wasched at the hotel great to take a picture up close

http://www.sawadee.com/hotel/kanchanaburi/junglerafts/

Your trip to this quiet jungle place starts when you hop onto the longtail boat. The scenery will become much greener while sailing to the floating raft hotel. In this hotel you've got anything you've got. Floating water from the river, oil lamps, marvelous authentic breakfast and dinner made by the hotelstaff. It's really nice and relaxing in one of the hammocks. Or just jump into the water but don't miss the last stairs of the raft otherwise you're not able to swim against the strong current of the river. If it's almost dark the oillamps will be lit. And just take care of the inhabitants of the jungle, we had an enourmous white spider but fortunately it wasn't poisonous :-)