River Kwai Village Resort (Jungle Resort) is set amidst sylvan surroundings and mountain ranges in the Kanchanaburi province of Thailand. About 70 km from the world famous Bridge on the River Kwai, the resort offers wide ranging activities and adventure tourism options for both leisure travellers and MICE guests By Joy Roy Choudhury
River Kwai Village Resort (Jungle Resort) is ideally located in Kanchanaburi, the third largest province in Thailand which is known as much for its history as it is for its natural attractions. It is here where the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers converge into the Mae Klong river. The province is also famous for its natural attractions such as forests, mountains, caves, jungles and waterfalls and is frequented by tourists from the world over. Here, tourists can hike through jungles to see elephants, explore temples and the war museum, take a kayaking trip on the Mae Klong river or hike through national parks, caves and waterfalls. Nestled amidst this backdrop, the 220-room jungle resort is situated very close to the Sai Yok Waterfalls.
The resort offers four different styles of air-conditioned accommodation options – Raftel, Mountain Wing, the River Wing and the newly set up Royal Wing. Out of these, staying at the floating rafts amidst natural surroundings and the legendary river Kwai flowing underneath your bed is a memorable experience. This unique all wooden accommodation or a Raftel as it is called floats on the Kwai river, offers a panoramic view of the mountains and the jungle.
The 54 rooms of the River Wing are situated in a three-storey building located on the banks of the river Kwai. The Royal Wing rooms are luxuriously decorated in Thai styles with a panoramic view of the Kwai river.
Suchin Jienjitlert, assistant managing director, River Kwai Village Resort (Jungle Resort) says, “This was the first jungle resort to be set up in Kanchanaburi by my father. For the past many decades, we have been offering an ultimate vacation experience to guests far from the hustle and bustle of the city life, amidst natural surroundings. Here one can find the perfect blend of nature mixed with contemporary lifestyle, modern amenities and the goodness of Thai hospitality.”
The resort takes great pride in its loyal clientele. “We always go out that extra mile to meet our customer’s needs and requirements. Today a large section of the foreign tourists staying with us are repeat clients,” states Jienjitlert. Majority of the overseas guests are from China and Russia, the rest are from other ASEAN nations.
Pointing out that Kanchanaburi is fast emerging as a natural tourist destination in Thailand after popular places like Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, Jienjitlert adds, “We would soon see a rise in foreign tourist arrivals in the province. Asian tourists too are coming and we hope that there would be an increase in their arrivals in the coming years.”
Diverse facilities
The Jungle View Restaurant at the resort offers a variety of sumptuous menus ranging from authentic Thai cuisine to European cuisine for its guests. A wide selection of light snacks and cool beverages can be enjoyed by guests who choose to leisurely relax at the swimming pool surrounded by natural waterfalls or take a raft on the river. Jungle Pub, Safari Bar, Jungle Raft Snacks Bar and Pool Bar are the other outlets at the resort to take care of the F&B needs of the guests.
Long-tailed boats from the resort take guests to the Rock Valley Hot Spring & Fish Spa, on the opposite bank of river Kwai Noi, which offers a full range of spa services including massages. The Rock Valley has hot herbal pool, hot pool, cold pool and fish pool spa.
The resort has a strong focus on attracting the MICE segment, including from India. The three banquets in the resort – Saiyok, Erawan, Thakeantong are fully equipped to take care of all the conferencing and banqueting needs of different sizes. The combination of stunning architecture, elegance and distinctive hospitality makes it the preferred location for business and pleasure.
“Whether it’s a tea-coffee session, business meet/ conference or a team-building event, anything is possible. Our dedicated events team and cutting-edge technology would ensure a seamless event,” mentions Jienjitlert.
Adventure sports
The resort offers several options for families or groups looking for adventure and sports. They can opt for boating or bamboo rafting trips on the river Kwai. At the resort, guests can rent bicycles, which they can ride on the facility’s paved track or surrounding areas of the hotel. They can even rent an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) to enjoy mountain-biking. Guests can also go for the walking trail. Besides, the resort features on-site waterfalls and swimming pools, including one that has water slides for adults.
Bubble Football is another activity at the resort. Guests play football wearing an inflated zorb which covers the player’s upper-body and head. It is an ideal mix of adventure and fun. This kind of football can be played by anyone over the age of 12 years. It is a popular as a corporate team building activity apart from stag/ bachelor parties.