Thailand bungalows: guesthouses, Thailand accommodation & hotels

The bungalows and other accommodations that PaddleAsia employs vary in quality from place to place. Some bungalows are very nice and very clean, while others are not exactly what we desire. We are working on this. Still, this is often the price we have to pay to access some of the most beautiful destinations in southern Thailand. We go off-the-beaten-path. Join us as we explore the areas that have yet to be impacted by mass tourism.

Khao Sok National Park bungalows

Khao Sok National Park reservoir bungalow styles are very simple, but not very well-kept. The are owned and operated by the national park. They are made from very simple, low impact material such as bamboo, small diameter timber and thatched roofs.

The walkways require constant attention as they are floating merely by the air chambers within the bamboo. The walkways flex with the motion of the water and whenever anyone walks on them. Care must be taken with negotiating these walkways.

The floating bungalows have bamboo flooring as well. The mattresses are thin and firm. Mosquito nets are provided though mosquitoes are extremely rare. Click here if you'd like to read more and see photos of the floating bungalows in Khao Sok.

The Tropical Islands of Trang Bungalows

The first place we usually stay is at Pakmeng Resort. Set in a lush garden environment with plenty of trees, flowers, epiphytes and shrubs, Pakmeng Resort provide a very comfortable setting. A variety of birds frequent the foliage... an added bonus.

The rooms are very clean and they have proper beds instead of mattresses on the floor. They have either air conditioned rooms or fan rooms. The restaurant is one of the best around. One of their specialities is a grilled long eggplant salad.

On Ko Muk (Pearl Island), the first island we visit, the bungalows are simple but comfortable (see image on the right). They have proper beds and fans.

The restaurant at Ko Muk Resort is great. Every dish that they make is very tasty. Their cashew salad is one of our favorites. When is season, they'll put thin slivers of green mango in the salad to give it a bit of sourness.

The other islands we visit have similar bungalows. Naturally, their restaurants are top-notch as well. We often choose our accommodations based on the quality of their restaurants.

Tarutao National Park guesthouses and bungalows

We meet our guests in Pak Bara, the small Muslim fishing village with the pier that supports all boat traffic to the 51 islands of Tarutao National Park. There are many fine guesthouses in Pak Bara and the nearby town of Langu. We use several different guesthouses or bungalows depending on the group size and availability. The Grand Villa in Pak Bara is more of a substantial hotel and it's spotlessly clean and is another option for our guests. Our Tarutao office is located here.

Once we are out on the offshore islands, we usually stay at Varin Resort Bungalows. They are simple, but clean. There are bungalows with one bed and bungalows with two beds. The matresses are not on the floor. Each bungalow has a front deck with a very nice view.

The restaurant at Varin Resort Bungalows is very good, but they tend to make authentic Thai style food, which means that it is tasty... well, that is if you can taste the food through the chillies!

There are other bungalows that we have used, but these are our preferred choices. During special holiday seasons such as Chinese New Year (mid February) it is often difficult to get the rooms we desire. The rooms at the other bungalow operations are nice, but their restaurants are not quite as good. That's no problem of course as we can stay at one place and eat at another.

Click here to see pictures of the Varin Resort Bungalows.

Phang Nga Bay Long Beach Bungalows

Some of the nices bungalows we use are on Ko Yao Noi (Long Little Island). The view from the bungalows is superb. Several small islands sit just off the long beach infront of the bungalows. Early birds can get some wonderful photos as the sun rises over the islands. The mountains of Krabi Province stand tall behind the islands. Stunning scenery? ... you bet!

Each room has two proper beds and a fan. The bungalows are clean. The restaurant is one of the best that we visit. Everything they make is special.