This place was recommended to me by someone who lives in Bangkok. He said it was a great experience and I agree with him!
The rooms and restaurant raft are all floating on the river. You arrive by boat transfer (a lovely 30 minute journey up the River Kwai), and all the rooms are roped together along a central walkway. There is NO ELECTRICITY and an oil lamp is put by your room at about 5pm as it starts to get dark. This gives the entire place a remarkable ethereal romantic feel and all you hear (no music, nobodies stereos or hairdryers!!) is the sound of the jungle on either side and the fast running river. The food is excellent and included in the price (there is no where else to go for dinner), and if you finish your curry it gets replaced with another bowl.
You take one of the free life jackets and walk to the very end raft and jump in and then let the current take you down stream to the last raft, where you catch the step (as in swimming pool steps here), and get out. Then repeat the exercise. Again. And again. Loved it.
By chance we had a room (can't remember the number so ask as you book) where from the back verandah you were 10 feet away from the elephants having their river wash in the morning. Great thing to see, sorry I can't remember number of the room as if you were down the other end near the theatre (traditional life dance and music show each evening, only lasts 10 minutes and some of the 'performers' were more into it than others!), you wouldn't see (so ask for other end of the rafts the other side of the restaurant raft away from the theatre).
Walk up to the local village (5 mins) and the elephants will probably be there and you can buy a large bunch of bananas cheaply and feed them. Sure they would be happier free and wild but they look a million times happier than the poor things we see in Western zoos).
You are very much isolated here, don't use as a base for Kanchanaburi sites, just spend two nights here (you'll need one full day, so travel to the rafts, a day here, then leave next morning) and enjoy the peace of the river. I wouldn't do this on my own (and I'm happy on my own and travel often solo), it's very romantic and so go ideally with a partner, secondly with friends and family.
- River Kwai Jungle Rafts Kanchanaburi
- River Kwai Jungle Rafts Hotel
