River Kwai Jungle Rafts is a floating jungle retreat accessible only by boat. We’d stayed here (pre-kids) twenty years ago, and were excited to return to see if it had maintained the off-grid vibe we remembered so fondly.
We spent two fantastic days switching off completely; jumping into the river, swimming, canoeing, reading, and just hanging out. It was the perfect way to wind down our Thailand trip, which had proved to be one of our favourite ever visits here.
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Arriving to Jungle Rafts River Kwai
Reaching River Kwai Jungle Rafts is quite an adventure and involves a few different modes of transport.
First, we took the 10.30am train from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok, a journey time of 1 hour 35 minutes. This railway line is part of the notorious Death Railway that was built by prisoners of war and forced Asian labourers in the 1940s. Despite its tragic history, it’s one of the best train journeys in Southeast Asia, with the windows down and jungle views streaming past, all enjoyed from the atmospheric third-class carriages. Find a seat on the left-hand side of the carriage for the best views, including crossing the bridge over the River Kwai.
We then arranged a tuk-tuk from Nam Tok Railway Station and visited Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre (a worthwhile detour), before arriving to Phutakien Pier. From here a private longtail was waiting to take us onto the Jungle Rafts.
The twenty minute boat trip from the pier to the Jungle Rafts is included in your booking, if you arrive between 2.00pm and 6.00pm. There’s a fee outside of these times.
The family rooms
The family room consists of two king-sized beds, toilet and separate shower room. Outside, there is a shared veranda with seating, hammocks, and sun loungers.
There’s no electricity in the rooms, which means no wifi, fans or air-conditioning, so the nights aren’t the most comfortable. There are charging points and weak wifi at reception if needed, but the whole point here is to disconnect.
Despite the very hot nights, the beds are comfortable and the room clean. Mosquito nets are positioned above each bed, but we left them tied up; mosquitos weren’t the issue at night, it was the heat.
Electric lamps in the room provide a little light, but it’s a good idea to pack headtorches. All of the windows and doors can be left open during the night which helps a little with the temperatures.
If you need a place with aircon, we suggest staying at the nearby The FloatHouse River Kwai, although they don’t offer family rooms. Alternatively, the River Kwai Resotel (which is the sister resort to River Kwai Jungle Rafts) offers family rooms with aircon, but these are in landed huts, not floating directly on the river.
Things to do
While us parents gazed longingly at the hammocks and could easily have spent a full day reading our books, we have two very active boys with boundless energy to burn.
Float down the river
Grab a lifejacket and jump into the river for a swim (or rather a drift). The rafts are strung in a long line; you jump off one end, let the current carry you along, then climb out and walk back along the rafts to repeat it. It’s great fun but kids need to be supervised at all times and it’s best suited to confident swimmers.
Canoe to the sister hotel
Hire a canoe (THB1500 per canoe) and paddle downstream to the sister resort, River Kwai Resotel, where you can enjoy the swimming pool (free of charge) before taking a longtail back to the Jungle Rafts. Alternatively you can hire SUPs, but as the current is strong in places, you should already be confident using them.
Learn about the Mon People
Wander into the nearby Mon village, home to the Mon community with their own distinct culture and language. There are also Mon dances most evenings to watch for an additional fee.
Further afield
Further afield there is a Treetop Adventure park, Lawa Cave, a geothermal hot spring bath, and waterfalls. These all require boat transfers from the resort, and as this was the end of our busy trip, we were happy to chill on site and just enjoy the river-jumping, canoeing and visiting the Mon Village.
Dining
Breakfast and dinner are included at Jungle Rafts. A basic lunch menu is also available, but there’s an additional charge for this. All drinks are at extra cost, although free filtered water is available at reception.
Dinner is served quite early at 6.30pm, which suits most families and is also timed to catch sunset. You can ask to be served slightly later if you prefer.
The food is simple, local, and very good. But its the setting, especially at night time, that makes dining here so special. If you have any dietary requirements, let the staff know when you check-in and they’ll do their best to accommodate you.
Final thoughts
Although it’s an expensive place to stay (we paid £350 for 2 nights in a family room), there’s something unique about the Jungle Rafts that make it all feel like good value, especially when you include the cost of the meals. A diminishing number of properties are now offering an unplugged, back-to-nature experience, so it feels special when you find somewhere like this.
The days are the best part of the stay, whether you choose to relax on the hammocks, play in the river, or visit the Mon village. There’s no getting away from the fact that night time is less comfortable once you get into bed and attempt to sleep. Thailand without fans or air-conditioning can be a difficult proposition for all ages, and you should prepare the kids for a hot and humid evening.
But once dawn breaks and you head out onto the balcony to take in the river views, all will be forgiven. Jungle Rafts are a special and memorable experience, a chance to go back to basics, enjoy the riverside setting and switch off for a couple of days.
