Overwater bungalows in Thailand

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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.

• Bora Bora overwater bungalows – The best clearwater lagoons
• Moorea overwater bungalows – Five deluxe resorts on stilts
• Tahiti overwater bungalows – Two affordable large resorts
• South Pacific overwater bungalows – 10 resorts (this includes Fiji, Samoa, and many smaller islands)