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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  1. I’m wanting book a overwater (for a couple) from Honolulu for 2 nights in November 2022.
    What is the instruction ? Could I contact you privately ?

    Reply

    1. Martine,

      We are simply an online guide to overwater resorts around the world and we don’t do bookings. We have links to the best source to book each resort on each of the pages. Best of luck! -Roger

      Reply

  2. I’m wanting to take my family to a vacation in a bungalow..over water.
    Swimming pool..I have 6 adults and 2 kids. Can u help?…send name of place or pics

    Reply

    1. Hank,

      Unfortunately there are no overwater bungalows that can accommodate 8 people. Most of them are built for 2 or 3 people and even the rare resorts with 2-bedroom units charge a fortune for those. You are best off looking for 3 separate normal overwater bungalows for your group. -Roger

      Reply

    1. Katherine,

      I cover most of this in my article on when to go to the Maldives. The short version is that there are pros and cons to any time of the year. It’s really only late May through early July when you might get hours of rain at a time. The rest of the year the rain tends to come quickly and usually end in 20 minutes or less. I think most people actually prefer to go to the Maldives when the weather is worst where they live, because it’s always warm and pleasant in the Maldives. -Roger

      Reply

  4. I’m just in the beginning stages of planning an anniversary vacation for around Sept if next year so I know it’s to early to book but wanted to know where I should be looking for the best rates on fights from atlanta Georgia. We want an over water bungalow all inclusive or mostly all inclusive lunch and dinner with drinks/alcohol included. And a few activities. If you know of 2 or 3 options that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you..

    Reply

    1. April,

      There are a few very expensive all-inclusive overwater bungalow resorts in the Caribbean, but none in Bora Bora or anywhere else in the South Pacific. If you really want all-inclusive then the Maldives is your best bet as they have about 25 resorts there that are all inclusive or offer all-inclusive options. You’ll probably get the cheapest flights from Atlanta to the Maldives about 5 months out. And you’ll usually get the best rates at a resort from 3 to 6 months out. Have a great trip. -Roger

      Reply

  5. Hi
    I am very interested to know how to build a bungalow and the conditions ex. Water deep , power of waves , etc
    Tnx

    Reply

    1. M,

      I get this question a lot and it always surprises me. I wish I could help, but we are an online guide to overwater hotels and we have nothing to do with construction of them. You might consider contacting construction firms in the Maldives, since most of the world’s overwater resorts are there and they keep building new ones. -Roger

      Reply