A floating hotel on Srinakarin Dam, with memorable architecture and arguably one of the most visually striking stays in Kanchanaburi.
Here are our thoughts after staying at Z9 Resort Kanchanaburi—a peaceful retreat that works especially well for those who enjoy swimming, spending time by the water, and simply taking a moment to recharge.
This review is not sponsored
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At A Glance
Z9 Resort Kanchanaburi
Access: By personal/rental car, limousine services
Room type: Standard
Price: ~4,000 baht
Location: Srinagarindra Dam, Si Sawat
Style: Getaway, Nature
Check-in/out: 14:00/12:00
Our recommendation: Subjective Stay*
Activities:
Kayaking
Paddle Boarding
Wake surf
Jet skis
Boat ride
First Impression at Z9
Dear Readers,
We will provide you with our honest opinion on staying at Z9 Resort Kanchanaburi.
This floating hotel sits further up Srinakarin Dam, around 30–40 minutes past Erawan Falls. It is the kind of place you come to for a quiet stay away from the crowds, with plenty of space to slow down and recharge.
The first thing that struck us when we arrived was the resort’s recognisable architecture. Built around the concept of a “continuous curve,” the design is meant to feel as though you are being “embraced by the mountains.” It manages to blend into the surrounding landscape while still standing out as something distinctive.
After the usual welcome drink and check-in process, the staff will lead us down the hill towards our room, which floats directly on the water.
The walk down is also when you get your first proper look at the rooms. Seeing them in person does raise your expectations, and in a certain way, the setting may even remind you of overwater resorts in places like Fiji or the Maldives.
The Room
Our honest opinion of the starting room is that it feels a little underwhelming and somewhat forcefully divided.
In terms of scale, the room is essentially half the size of the more premium category, with one floating raft divided into two rooms. The layout works, but it does feel a little compact for the price.
That said, we are not saying the room itself is bad. It is clean, functional, and well decorated. What we mean is that, with an exterior so elegantly designed, it is natural to expect the interior to impress just as much. Compared with the architecture outside, however, the room does not quite meet that expectation. This is one of those places where the exterior feels more memorable than the interior.
Beyond that, the setting itself is still captivating. The reservoir almost feels like a vast natural swimming pool that you can jump into whenever you like, with life jackets already prepared in the room. That direct connection to the water is what makes the stay feel much more special than a typical hotel experience.
The Bathroom
This is where the room falls a little short for us. The bathroom could be better, although we understand the limited space given the nature of the floating accommodation. Still, at this price point, we feel the shower head could use an update, the tiles could be better maintained, and the bathroom amenities—particularly the soap provided—could be improved.
Regardless, everything remains functional, with reliable warm water and the essentials you need for the stay.
The Water
Unlike a floating room on a river, the water here feels calmer and more open, with gentle ripples created mostly by the wind. You also do not have boats constantly passing by your room, apart from the occasional guests enjoying water activities.
The scenery offers a pleasant break for the eyes, and the surroundings feel quiet and calming. The water has a deep green hue and is deep.
Note: The movement of the water can still be felt quite clearly inside the floating room. You may feel slightly unsettled when you first step in and adjust to the motion. Throughout our stay, we could notice the room gently rocking, almost like being on a boat, although more subtly. Compared with some of the other floating hotels we have stayed at, the movement here was the most noticeable so far.
For a floating hotel on the river, we recommend Cherlynn Resort Kanchanaburi.
The Breakfast
Complimentary with standard room
Breakfast is served buffet-style in one of the restaurants located in the main building above the water, with a selection of both Thai and international dishes.
A few of the Thai options were quite good for a hotel breakfast buffet, although beyond that, we found the overall selection fairly standard.
Breakfast was included with our room, and given the resort’s remote location, we would say it is almost essential unless you are planning to drive out in the morning, which would mean travelling a fair distance just to find another option.
The Activities
This is where the hotel really excels, with plenty of activities available on the water. The range of equipment available to borrow or rent is quite extensive, including kayaks, wakesurf boards, paddleboards, jet skis, and boat rides.
The water activities make very good use of the resort’s location on the dam. For those looking for a little more excitement, the boat tours and jet skis add both sightseeing and fun to the stay, although they come at an additional cost.
For us, however, we were here for a more peaceful experience. Simply jumping into the cool water directly from our floating room and enjoying a slow kayak around the vicinity was already more than enough.
Hotel Space
For those who do not want to spend the entire stay in the room, the hotel grounds, while not particularly large, still have several beautiful spots that are perfect for a short walk, sitting down, and simply spending some time outside.
We did notice quite a few water striders around the floating rooms, which is understandable given the setting, although seeing them gathered in larger groups can be a little unsettling.
As a whole, the areas guests come into close contact with are generally well presented. However, there are also a few less pleasant views around the property. To put it simply, the hotel looks its best when you are facing the rooms and the main architecture; in some of the surrounding areas, the plants, edges, and landscaping around the water could be maintained more carefully.
When It Rains
For those who are staying here during the rainy season or who worry about whether it will rain during your stay. We experienced the rain here during our stay, and would say that it is not much of a problem.
We found ourselves spending most of our time in our room, and the rain benefits us in a way; sitting beside the window looking out at the raindrops hitting the water surface and listening to the sound of the rainfall has a calming aspect to it; one perfect for relaxing.
If we wanted to go swimming, we found that an hour or two is plenty of time to do so; thus, rain would not completely ruin the plan. In Kanchanaburi, even during the rainy season, it does not often rain non-stop for the whole day; it did happen during our trip once, but the chances are you will probably not experience it.
For those reasons, we would say you could enjoy a stay here even during the rainy season or when it does rain. You could also benefit from a lower room rate and might even find it a pleasant addition.
Note: For those with motion sickness, we do notice that strong winds and heavy rain make the swaying motion in the floating room more noticeable.
Our Recommendation
If you are looking to stay at Z9, we would recommend spending more for the more premium room types. The surroundings and the architecture are there, but what held us back from seeing the stay as a special one was probably the standard room we stayed in.
Therefore, if your budget is able to accommodate the higher price, we would recommend going for it.
For the duration of the stay: We would say one night is enough to feel the complete experience and enjoy some quiet time with your friends or loved ones here. The location is a bit further away from any attractions or notable sightseeing spots. Although we do recommend it as a good place to spend a night if you want to visit Erawan Falls, that can be done on your way up here before checking in or on the way down after you check out.
If some quiet and the ability to swim around the vast area is what you are looking for, then this place might suit you better, and you would enjoy spending time here longer.
Our Score & Summary
Review Summary: Z9 Resort (Floating Hotel)
Style of review: Rural, Getaway
Do note that under this criterion, our evaluation will assume a personal (rental) car as the default form of transportation, considering the location. The criteria will also be set for a quiet rural area, which will not mark the lack of a convenience store or nighttime activity as a minus.
Our scoring has also taken into account the price point: ~4,000 THB per night (Standard room type with breakfast included)
* Prices are subject to change according to the season, the number of guests, room type, etc.
Our recommendation: Subjective Stay
For the standard room, the setting of the hotel, along with its captivating architecture, is what impress the most during our stay. Albeit being pricey in comparison to some other hotels in the province, its location offers a different feeling to the overall experience.
If you would like to enjoy your time swimming and kayaking on the dam, then this hotel may be the place for you.
*Hand-Picked → 1, Preferred Choice → 2, Selective Choice → 3, Subjective Choice → 4
The hotels that fall into these ratings are all satisfactory experiences; the categories capture how far they exceeded our satisfaction level and are not a ranking that implies which hotel is good or bad. The rating is highly reliant on our preferences and personal experience.
Z9 Resort
Overall atmosphere:
Room type: Standard (floating room)
Clean: 7.5/10
Location: 8/10
Convenience of the stay: 7/10
Ambience: 6/10
Concept: 7/10
For more places to stay in Kanchanaburi, see our recommendation of five hotels we stayed in Kanchanaburi. Also, see our 6-day itinerary in Kanchanaburi for more to do, eat, and see around the province.
We Hope you will enjoy your stay,
Travel Tegami