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20 Best Overwater Bungalows in Thailand | New For 2024

20 Best Overwater Bungalows in Thailand | New For 2024

Thailand is known for its amazing beaches and islands, but did you know there were overwater bungalows in Thailand? Yep, and they have breathtaking views!

The best part about staying in a floating hotel in Thailand is that this luxury is very affordable compared to most other places in the world.

The most unique overwater bungalow in Thailand – Stay in a bubble house over the water.

In Thailand, you can stay over the water in your very own bungalow for less than $50 per night, some even with private pools.

In this article, we are going to explore different regions in Thailand that offer villas over the water being both ocean, river, and freshwater lakes.

Here are the best resorts to stay in a Thailand overwater bungalow to check out on your next trip to Thailand.


Khao Sok Lake National Park Floating Raft Resort

Best Overwater Bungalows in Thailand

There are over 30+ hotels with overwater villas in Thailand, but if I were to pick, my top two resorts in Thailand with over water villas would be:

Cheapest Overwater Villas in Thailand

If you are traveling to Thailand on a budget but want to splurge for a night or two and stay at a resort in a over water villa with breathtaking views, here are the cheapest overwater bungalows in Thailand.


Woman in a long tail boat during a Koh Lipe Day Trip

Where Does Thailand Have Over Water Bungalows?

When you think of bungalows over the water, you instantly think of over the ocean, like Maldives, Thaiti, the Caribbean, etc. Thailand overwater bungalows aren’t just over the ocean. You will find some of the best along the river & freshwater lakes.

When researching “Where are overwater bungalows in Thailand?”, here is where you will find the most and best resorts.

River Kwai Overwater Bungalows – Kanchanaburi

Koh Tao Overwater Bungalows

Koh Phayam


Top 20 Best Overwater Bungalows in Thailand

Panvaree Resort Overwater Villas in Thailand on Khao Sok Lake

1. Panvaree Resort

Just look at the backdrop! We put the Panvaree Resort as the best for several reasons. The location can’t be beaten, the rooms are gorgeous, modern amenities, and the price is really reasonable.

If you are looking for amazing places for an epic honeymoon in Thailand that won’t break the bank, this would be the perfect place. This is where we plan on staying on our next trip.

Khao Soak Lake Park is the largest portion of the relatively untouched & unspoiled jungle in all of southern Thailand. This piece of rainforest is said to be older and more diverse than even the Amazon rainforest.

Check Rates Now – Panvaree Resort

500 Rai overwater bungalow in Thailand

2. 500 Rai Floating Resort

The views from 500 Rai are stunning. Their location is so secluded. It is a 90-minute longtail boat ride from the Pier. This is one of the most expensive overwater bungalows in Khao Sok Lake, as it has been around the longest.

On our last trip, we stopped at 500 Rai for lunch in their scenic overwater restaurant, as the hotel was sold out during our dates. If you don’t stay here, we highly suggest visiting the restaurant.

Check Rates Now – 500 Rai Floating Resort 

Three Bubbles House Bubble overwater hotel in Thailand
Photo Credit: The Three Bubble Houses via Booking.com

3. The Three Bubble Houses

This is one of the most unique places to stay in Thailand. Not only is your room over the water, but you also are staying in a bubble room underneath the start. You have an outdoor bathtub and a hammock over the water too.

Prices are much cheaper than you think. Book now, as there are only three bubble houses. Located in Kanchanaburi, only 3 hours by shuttle bus from Bangkok, click here for the schedule. This is one of the best places to visit in Thailand, but it is often overlooked.

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Float House River Kwai Overwater Bungalow Thailand
Photo Courtesy Agoda.com

4. The Float House River Kwai

Another unique overwater bungalow Thailand experience is in Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai. There are several floating hotels in Kanchanaburi bookable online, but The Float House River Kwai offers boutique villas, each with its own private pier and balcony with mountain views.

The Float House River Kwai has a few longtails from the Resotel Pier. Confirm the boat schedule with them.

Check Rates Now – Booking.com

5. Sai Daeng Resort

Wake up literally sleeping on top of the Gulf of Thailand with amazing oceanviews. Some of the private villas even have their own outdoor pool.

Traveling to Koh Tao involves a flight to Koh Samui and then a ferry to Koh Tao. Koh Samui is an easy direct flight from Bangkok and several other Thailand destinations.

Check Rates – Sai Daeng Resort

Private Pool Villa at WangNokkaew Park View
Photo Credit: WangNokkaew Park View via Agoda.com

6. WangNokkaew Park View

This entire luxury resort is gorgeous. We love the design and decor. The overwater bungalow costs are affordable for how large and modern they are.

If the overwater rooms are sold out, they also have really nice swim-up pool access rooms and river view rooms.

Check Rates Now – WangNokkaew Park View

Aerial view of Kwai Tara Riveside Resort
Photo Credit: Kwai Tara Riverside Resort via Agoda.com

7. Kwai Tara Riverside Villas

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Inside Panvaree The Greenery villa over the water in Khao Sok Lake
Photo Credit: Panvaree The Greenery Water Villa via Booking.com

8. Panvaree The Greenery

Wake up on the lake with stunning water views, looking out at the limestone mountain range and gorgeous sandstone rocks that rise 900-1800 feet above sea level.

You might want to avoid May-November as this is one of the wettest regions in Thailand. The mountain range gets hit by the monsoon rains from both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea.

Check Rates Now – Panvaree The Greenery

Related Article: Epic Things to Do in Thailand

Baannai Lake View Resort Thailand with mountain backdrop
Photo Credit: Baannai Lake View Resort Thailand via Booking.com

9. Baannai Lake View Resort Aonang

Check Rates Now Baannai Lake View Resort

night time photo of pool and over water villas at Kept Bangsaray Hotel in Pattaya Thailand
Photo Credit: Kept Bangsaray Hotel via Booking.com

10. Kept Bangsaray Hotel Pattaya

Check Rates Now – Kept Bangsaray Hotel Pattaya

Leaf Lake Kans Overwater villas in Thailand
Photo Credit: Leaf Lake Kans via Booking.com

11. Leaf Lake Kan Resort

Check Rates Now – Leaf Lake Kan Resort

outdoor deck and tub at VeeVaree River Kwai Resort
Photo Credit: VeeVaree River Kwai Resort via Agoda.com

12. VeeVaree River Kwai Resort

Check Rates Now – VeeVaree River Kwai Resort

Aerial view of Cross River Kwai Huts over the water in Thailand

13. Cross River Kwai

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Kao Tao Cabana Resort Drone Photo
Photo Credit: Koh Tao Cabana Resort via Booking.com

14. Koh Tao Cabana Resort

Overwater bungalows in Koh Tao are the most luxurious available in Thailand and the most comparable to that in the Maldives. Click here for the ferry to Koh Tao schedule and to book tickets.

Check Rates – Koh Tao Cabana

Hammock on the floating jungle raft at the River Kwai Jungle Rafts in Thailand
Photo Credit: River Kwai Jungle Rafts via Booking.com

15. River Kwai Jungle Rafts

 Check Rates Now – Booking.com

Aerial view of RIver Kwai Resotel Floating Raft Villas in Thailand
Photo Credit: River Kwai Resotel via Booking.com

16. River Kwai Resotel

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kayaks in the water by the overwater bungalows in Thailand at Poonsiri Resort Aonang
Photo Credit: Poonsiri Resort via Booking.com

17. Poonsiri Resort Aonang

Check Rates Now – Poonsiri Resort Aonang

Outdoor seating area over the water at Blue Sky Koh Phayam Hotel
Photo Credit: Blue Sky via Agoda.com

18. The Blue Sky Resort – Koh Phayam

Escape to a small Thai island barely known to most tourists. If you are island hopping in Thailand, try and work in Koh Phayam. In the Andaman Sea lies Koh Phayam, just south of Myanmar (possibly consider a Myanmar honeymoon), a part of Thailand that still feels raw. Koh Phayam may not be for everyone.

There is now an ATM in Koh Phayam, but it often doesn’t work, so bring cash. There are also no cars and no worries. But if you ask us, The Blue Sky Resort on Koh Phayam is the place we’ve been searching for.

Check Online Specials Booking.com 

overwater bungalows at Z9 Resort in Thailand
Photo Credit: Z9 Resort via Booking.com

19. Z9 Resort

Hammocks in an overwater bungalow in Thailand
Photo Credit: Tonmai Aquablue via Booking.com

20. Tonmai Aquablue – Koh Lanta Yai

Check Rates Now – Tonmai Aquablue Koh Lanta Yai

Koh Lanta is easily reached by ferry from several other Thai islands or by car from Krabi. Click here for the ferry to Koh Lanta schedule and to book tickets.

Wooden houses in Koh Lanta, Mango House Seafront Suites
Photo Credit: Mango House Seafront Suites via Agoda.com

21. Mango House Seafront Suites – Lanta Old Town

For a more local overwater bungalow, head to the Mango House Seafront Suites on Koh Lanta. They offer wooden pole houses located in an old Chinese fishing village often referred to as Lanta Old Town.

Staying in Lanta Old Town, you’ll get a good look at a traditional Thai village, yet you are only 15 minutes away from the main tourist beaches and hotspots. Click here to book online.

Related Article: Top Things To Do In Krabi 


woman in a hammock at Sandals Grande St Lucian - Overwater bungalows Caribbean

Staying in a hut over the water was a bucket list item for us, and we were lucky to spend five weeks island hopping in the Maldives. The Maldives is home to two-thirds of all the overwater bungalows in the world.

We only stayed in 3 Maldives resorts. Our personal favorite was Summer Island Maldives. There is something special about waking up on the water looking out your window, and being surrounded by ocean views.

Some of these overwater bungalows in Thailand may not be over the ocean, but they still are unique resorts and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Staying in a floating villa on the River Kwai sounds like a peaceful vacation and a place to relax for a few nights after 3 days in Bangkok or during 2 weeks in Thailand.

Longtail boat on sunrise beach in Koh Lipe Thailand from our honeymoon
A colorful longtail boat sways in the turquoise waters of Koh Lipe, Thailand. If we were to do it again, our honeymoon would definitely be here!

Several Thai islands don’t have overwater bungalows but still have amazing beachfront villas. Our personal favorite is Koh Lipe, which is nicknamed “The Maldives of Thailand,” a name well deserved.



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Have you visited any of these overwater bungalow Thailand destinations? Where did you stay?  

 

An

Friday 25th of January 2019

Hi Hannah,

This was exactly what I was looking for, so thank you for a great summary and photos to drool for. My holiday destination list just got a tad longer :)

Adam

Monday 4th of February 2019

Glad we could help! Happy planning!

Carol Puopolo

Thursday 9th of August 2018

Is the water turquoise? Is it swimmable? Can you snorkel?

Adam

Wednesday 15th of August 2018

All the waters will be swimmable, but depending on the location, not all will be turquoise, but some will.

Therie

Thursday 20th of April 2017

Awesome round up, Thailand has some of the best overwater bungalows!

Hannah Lukaszewicz

Sunday 23rd of April 2017

Thailand does have some great and unique overwater bungalows. We can't wait to get back to Thailand and explore them all.

Jade Mortimer

Sunday 16th of April 2017

These look incredible. I love how accessible places like this are becoming - before, this type of accommodation seemed to only be for the rich and famous! Definite honeymoon destination - Thailand is my favourite place anyway so a chance to stay in these would be immense!

Adam

Wednesday 31st of May 2017

There are lots of interesting accommodation options in Thailand, and the best part is they are all pretty cheap for what you get!

Samuel

Sunday 16th of April 2017

Hey Hannah, Thanks for this post. It since to see that you can get bungalows as such a great rates. What’s nicer is that you can escape the crowds Thailand are known for with the list of hotels you’ve put here. Thanks again! Cheers,

Hannah Lukaszewicz

Monday 17th of April 2017

There are great escapes in Thailand to be found. Overwater bungalows can be affordable! Safe travels.