Thailand is perhaps the most popular country in Asia for sunny holidays we get a lot of questions about whether there are overwater bungalows or water villas in the Land of Smiles. The answer is a bit complicated because there are two resorts that currently have something along these lines, but neither are the classic design that most people are looking for. There are no overwater resorts in Krabi, but there's one on Phuket and another on Koh Samui that sort of fit the definition. There's also a somewhat mysterious overwater bungalow resort on Koh Chang, plus two others that are priced for backpackers and aren't really proper overwater bungalows.

There's plenty more good news as well, as there are quite a few overwater bungalows in Asia, including one excellent resort in neighboring Malaysia, plus the world's largest selection of over the water villas in the Maldives, which is just southwest of India, and very easy to reach from Europe.

Honestly, if you are looking for a luxurious holiday and you want to stay in a proper water villa, you should head for the Maldives. But if you want a lovely holiday on a tropical island you have many excellent choices among the luxury resorts on Phuket.

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Water villas in Thailand

Here we’ll cover the resorts in Thailand, and below there is information on where to find the best and most beautiful water villa resorts in the world.


Mango House Seafront Suites

  • Overwater villas: 4
  • Total rooms/suites: 4

 

A small overwater resort with only 4 over the water rooms, the Mango House Seafront Suites is a solid choice for travelers seeking a relaxing, simple vacation. Here you won’t find rooms filled to the brim with luxury amenities, but you will find a TV, Wi-Fi, a sitting area, and a private bathroom with a rainfall shower head.

 

Outside of the rooms you’ll find more Wi-Fi access, dry cleaning, a picnic area, a library, a playground for children (there is a family overwater suite available to stay in), an outdoor tennis court, and bicycle rentals. Because of the resort’s convenient location, you’ll easily be able to walk right into town and explore the town’s dining options, shops, and other activities.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$48 per night

>More information about the Mango House Seafront Suites >Check rates

The Blue Sky Resort @ Koh Payam

  • Total rooms/suites: 22

 

Designed for travelers who love to be outside as much as possible, the Blue Sky Resort @ Koh Payam features lots of great outdoor activities to enjoy, ranging from scuba diving and snorkeling, to kayaking and canoeing, to a garden to view and bicycles to rent. There are also some other great activities near the resort which can be easily enjoyed. If you rather just relax at the swimming pool, that’s an option as well.

 

The overwater rooms here offer views of the lush bay, as well as room service, daily housekeeping, a fridge, private bathroom, and little extras like slippers. You’ll also be able to lay down and relax while using the in-room DVD player to watch a movie or two after a day out on the water. There is a dining option on-site as well, but the food reviews aren’t the best. If needed, you could eat at one of the nearby restaurants instead.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$161 per night

>More information about the The Blue Sky Resort @ Koh Payam >Check rates

The Float House River Kwai Resort

  • Water villas: 30
  • Total rooms/suites: 30

 

Featuring overwater villas in a Thai Folk styling, The Float House River Kwai Resort is a great option for visitors who like the idea of being outside as much as possible exploring the area. Here you’ll find lots of local tours, excursions, and hiking opportunities. Some even include waterfalls, which is a big plus for outdoor adventurers.

 

The rooms themselves are nicely appointed with tall ceilings, an entertainment center, bright colors, and ample walking areas, including the private terrace. This terrace opens up to the river, granting each guest views of the stunning nature around them.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$140 per night

>More information about the The Float House River Kwai Resort >Check rates

Kwai Tara Riverside Villas Resort

  • Total rooms/suites: 20

 

A small resort housing 20 rooms, both on land and over the river, the Kwai Tara Riverside Villas are a budget friendly option for travelers who love the idea of being surrounded by nature and not much else. Here you’ll find nature in the form of a beautiful flowing river and the mountains all around. The overwater rooms here are surprisingly large in size, with tall ceilings and ample room to freely walk around without bumping into each other or your possessions.

 

Outside of the rooms you’ll find a restaurant, bicycle rentals and a daily raft tour along the river. You’ll also find plenty of nearby activities to enjoy, making it so that you’ll want to have your own rental car so that you can travel easily back and forth.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$97 per night

>More information about the Kwai Tara Riverside Villas Resort >Check rates

Panvaree Resort - Thailand

  • Water villas: 10
  • Total rooms/suites: 10

 

A very small resort with lots to offer, the Panvaree Resort is a great option for travelers seeking an overwater resort stay that’s completely surrounded by nature, both by water and mountains. Situated on a lake, the 10 overwater rooms here impress with views of pretty much everything, while still offering privacy with a private bedroom and bathroom, along with a terrace.

 

The rest of the resort aims to please as well with a dining and bar option, water activities, local tours, and a gift shop. Designed to cater to both couples and families, young children here will find a kid friendly menu, alongside books and games.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$344 per night

>More information about the Panvaree Resort – Thailand >Check rates

500 Rai Khao Sok Floating Resort

  • Water villas: 18
  • Total room/suites: 18

 

Designed for nature lovers looking to escape into the wild every chance they can, the 500 Rai Khao Fok Floating Resort caters with local tours that display wildlife, mountains, and the water. You’ll also find that connection with an outdoor swimming pool that sits above the water next to the overwater rooms.

 

The rooms here are basic and lack internet and a TV, but do provide fantastic views of both the lake and the mountains that surround it. They’re also big enough for a group of people, each and every one. This makes it so that a family can easily stay in a single bungalow without feeling squeezed in like a regular hotel room.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$455 per night

>More information about the 500 Rai Khao Sok Floating Resort >Check rates

Angsana Laguna Phuket – Thailand

  • Water villas: 18
  • Total rooms/suites: 297

 

Formerly known as the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket, the Angsana Laguna Phuket is a large resort that features 18 private villas over its own enclosed lagoon. So these water villas aren’t the traditional kind like you find in the Maldives, but they are luxurious and the closest thing you’ll find in Thailand.

 

The resort itself is huge and surrounded by other big resorts, so it offers an endless list of things to do and restaurants to visit. The guest rooms run the gamut from nice to extraordinary, and things are only likely to get better when it eventually reopens.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$281 per night

>More information about the Angsana Laguna Phuket – Thailand >Check rates

KC Resort & Over Water Villas – Koh Samui, Thailand

  • Water villas: 16
  • Total rooms/suites: 95

 

A most unusual overwater hotel, the KC Resort and Over Water Villas is up on a hill overlooking Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui in Thailand. Its 16 “over water villas” are each set on stilts above a large and private infinity-edge pool, so guests can swim beneath their room or watch their partner through the glass floor in the bedroom area.

 

This is a luxury resort with full spa facilities that offers good value for the area. The service is excellent and the rooms are large and filled with high-end amenities, so if you just want the thrill of swimming beneath your own hotel room in Thailand this could be the perfect place.

 

Overwater bungalows starting at US$218 per night

>More information about the KC Resort & Over Water Villas – Koh Samui, Thailand >Check rates

Other overwater resorts in Thailand

Koh Chang Sea Hut – This appears to be an actual overwater bungalow resort, but there’s very little information on their website, and email questions bounced back as undeliverable, so it’s hard to tell if the place is still in business or not. If they are then they seem to offer some unknown number of rooms at good prices, at the southern tip of Koh Chang, which is not far from Bangkok.

 

Baan Puu Paan on Koh Samet – This place doesn’t even have a website, opting for a Facebook page instead. Reports are that it’s a cheap and simple place with 6 total rooms, 3 of which are over the water, but we are guessing that they are just off the shore or part of a traditional overwater village, so not much like the honeymoon-style places.


Water villas close to Thailand

The closest resorts with bungalows out on stilts over the open water are the water villa resorts in Malaysia. There are three small resorts operated by the El Nido company in the Philippines, so if you are starting in Thailand those should be among the first you consider. Check our main water villas in Asia page for all the information.


The best water villas in the world

Coco Bodu Hithi – Maldives

If you’ve seen photos of a thatched-roof hut on stilts over a calm and clear blue lagoon, chances are the photo was taken either in the Maldives or in the South Pacific. The Maldives has over 70 of these resorts, each on its own private island, ranging in price from surprisingly affordable to extreme luxury.

 

If you are coming from Europe then the Maldives is the easiest location to reach, but if you are coming from anywhere in the Americas then the South Pacific is where you should go. There are more overwater bungalows in Bora Bora than anywhere else, but there are nearly 20 other resorts on Moorea, Tahiti, and other islands in the South Pacific.

>More information about the Coco Bodu Hithi – Maldives

Maldives

Water villas in the Maldives – Over 70 resorts ranging from 3-stars to 5-star deluxe


South Pacific

Le Tikehau by Pearl Resorts – South Pacific

>More information about the Le Tikehau by Pearl Resorts – South Pacific
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14 thoughts on "Overwater villa holidays: How to begin planning yours"

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  1. My family and I live in Asia and we are looking for a trip to anywhere with water bungalows and hopefully clear, turqoise water with snorkelling and water activities available, and is also budget friendly if possible. We are two adults and one child who is a little over 17. Are there any suggestions or recommendations? Thank you

    Reply

  2. I am looking to plan a family vacation that is budget friendly. I would love to stay in an overwater hut. Can you tell me the best and most reasonable place to stay with a family the kids are 12 & 16

    Reply

    1. Kris,

      Since you aren’t even sure which part of the world you want to visit, I’d recommend starting with this list of the world’s cheapest overwater resorts on our other site. Most of those resorts only allow 3 guests per room, even though almost all of them have a pull-out couch in addition to a king bed. You might find some good choices in Central America or in Asia other than the Maldives. And of course it really depends on where you are starting from because the cost of flights could cancel out any savings from a cheaper resort. I hope that helps and I’m happy to help with other questions if you have them. -Roger

      Reply

  3. I would like to attend an over water bungalow resort for me and about 7 of my closest friends to celebrate my 45th Birthday. As most resorts are for honeymooners, are there single friendly resorts that can accommodate a "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" week long celebration. We live on the East coast and realize we will have to fly West for all the bungalows you have described above. All feedback is appreciated to guide me in the planning phrase.

    Reply

    1. Kim,

      That sounds like a lot of fun. You won’t find many resorts that are great options for “solo” travelers, but groups of singles will fit in with many other groups there. Most of the resorts in Bora Bora and Moorea allow 3 guests per bungalow, and they all have a sleeper sofa in them for that purpose (most don’t allow 4 guests per room though). So if two of your group are okay sleeping on a pull-out couch then you can get by with 3 bungalows.

      It’s true that many of the guests at these resorts will be honeymoon couples or anniversary couples, but there are also families with older children and multi-generational groups. I think your group would have fun at just about any of those resorts, but I’d probably focus on one that has some nightlife each evening such as a band or DJ. Some of the smaller resorts only have a beach bar and it’ll mostly be couples in those. Long story short, I think I’d look at one of the larger resorts on Moorea or Bora Bora or even Tahiti. The places with at least 100 total rooms (including beach and garden bungalows) should also have plenty of things to keep you happy and a diverse clientele.

      If your budget can handle a bit over US$2,000 per night you might even consider one of the Sandals resorts on Jamaica because the flights will be so much shorter and cheaper. The overwater bungalows there are huge (I just toured both resorts recently) and the nearby beach rooms are really wonderful there as well. The beach rooms start at around US$500 per night, but they are premium all-inclusive with even many activities included so they would be really fun for a group. In other words, maybe you could get 1 (or 2) overwater bungalows and a couple of beach rooms, and take turns in each? And you could mostly hang out in the overwater bungalow during the day, which is plenty big enough for everyone. When you add in the cost of flights and all that time flying to Los Angeles and to Tahiti then the Jamaica plan could look even better. Also you have to factor in the cost of meals and drinks and activities. In the South Pacific the room includes breakfast, but everything else is extra, while in Jamaica it’s ALL included in the price. Let me know if you have any other questions. -Roger

      Reply

  4. My wife and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary. It would be wonderful to stay at an over water bungalow.

    Is Tahiti, Bora Bora gay-friendly islands? Are any island more friendly than others?

    Reply

    1. Merchel,

      Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora are all part of French Polynesia, and the French culture there is quite strong. With that in mind, I’d expect that the islands and the resorts in particular would be quite LGBT-friendly. I don’t recall seeing anything in particular that stood out when I’ve been there, but I have a strong hunch that the resorts are all very progressive with that sort of thing. The island people seem to be quite open minded, and French people are famously tolerant. I wish I could give you more certainty. Best of luck with this. -Roger

      Reply

  5. I am trying to plan our 10 year wedding anniversary. We are both pretty easy to please regarding vacations.

    I do know that my wife would really love to stay at an over water Bungalow for this trip.

    We would be traveling from Wichita, KS to Bora Bora or somewhere similar.(hopefully if price is right).

    I have browsed a bit and can’t find much for our budget (around $3-4k per person). Obviously I would love to be on the low end of my budget and save as much as possible.

    If not in Bora Bora, we would be okay with over water bungalow’s elsewhere.

    Travel dates would be leaving August 26th and Returning September 2nd (can go 1 day either way if needed).

    Reply

    1. Michael,

      We are simply an online guide to overwater bungalows and not a travel agency. You’ll find the best deals online for these resorts. You can usually get better value in Moorea, which is another gorgeous island right off Tahiti itself. The room rates are a bit lower and transportation is faster and cheaper as well. If you have any specific questions just let us know. -Roger

      Reply

  6. We our planning our honeymoon and live near San Francisco. We’d love to go to an amazing bungalow but the issue is we have only around 7 days for our trip, so the long flights really eat into our time. Is there an island you recommend we go to which is easy to reach from SFO? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Andrew,

      From San Francisco the closest overwater bungalows are in Tahiti, which is only a couple hours farther than Hawaii. It looks like you’d have to fly down to LAX first, as that’s where all the flights to Tahiti start. There are two resorts not far from the Tahiti Airport that offer overwater bungalows. Those resorts are pretty nice, but there are 4 nicer ones on Moorea, which is a 5-minute flight or one-hour ferry ride from Tahiti. If you are going all that way, it’s probably worth going to Moorea, as it’s also a much prettier island than Tahiti itself. Bora Bora is a 60-minute flight from Tahiti, and it has even more options. Those islands are so gorgeous and wonderful that I think it’s worth the flight, even for a week. Best of luck with this. -Roger

      Reply

  7. Hi
    We live at the Gold Coast, Australia so can fly out of here or Brisbane. For our 20 year wedding anniversary in April we want to stay at an overwater bungalow – this will probably be a one-off so I want it to be in the clearest water with white sand so that the swimming and hopefully snorkelling is great. Maybe even some other water activities like sailboarding nearby? What do you recommend also considering ease of getting there? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Margo,

      There are actually a few resorts in the South Pacific that aren’t far from you, including one in New Caledonia. Have a look at our list of resorts in the South Pacific for more details. The next closest to you are in the Philippines and Malaysia. You can find those under the Asia tab on the top of this page.

      But really you’ll find the best affordable resorts in the Maldives, which has 80 different overwater hotels, each on its own island. Click on the Maldives tab for all of that information. And of course Bora Bora, which also isn’t too far from you, has many of the world’s best overwater resorts if price isn’t a major factor. Best of luck and let me know if I can help more. -Roger

      Reply