Sangkla Resort — a lakeside resort on Khao Laem Reservoir in Sangkhla Buri with quiet water views
Picture waking up in Sangkhla Buri, opening the balcony door, and finding Khao Laem Reservoir with a thin layer of mist still drifting over the water, the silhouette of the Mon Bridge stretching out in the distance — Sangkla Resort is a small lakeside resort on Khao Laem Reservoir in Nong Lu, set on a rise above the water, with both stand-alone bungalows and rooms in the main building, many of which look out over the water and mountains from a private balcony · what reviews talk about most is the lake view and the Krua Sankla Thai restaurant, which many people praise for its flavour, plus a breakfast included in the room rate · it is a quiet place to get away from the bustle, well suited as a base for visiting the Mon Bridge and Wat Wang Wiwekaram, with the Mon Bridge about a 2.7-kilometre drive away · from around THB 800/night, scored 8.0/10 from 6 reviews on Trip.com and TripAdvisor 3.7/5
Who Sangkla Resort is right for — to put it as simply as possible, Sangkla Resort is a small lakeside resort that suits people coming to Sangkhla Buri who want "a water view, quiet, and an affordable price" more than they want a luxury resort with full facilities · it is not a five-star property with a pool and a big buffet restaurant, and it is not a boutique stay in town that is a few steps' walk from the Mon Bridge · it is a simple resort set on a rise beside Khao Laem Reservoir (Vajiralongkorn Dam), with stand-alone bungalows and rooms in the main building, many of which look out over the water and mountains · real reviews agree that the people who fit here are couples, small families, and travellers who like peace and quiet by the water, who want to wake up to a misty lake view in the morning and do not mind that you cannot walk to the Mon Bridge or that the facilities are not extensive · another group who say they were happy are people driving themselves who want a quiet place away from the crowds, because the resort is far enough from the busy areas to feel calm while still being a short drive from town and the Mon Bridge · on the other hand, if you expect a swimming pool, a luxury stay, or rooms that are flawlessly modern in every corner, this may not be the answer, because it is a simple resort that mainly sells the view and the atmosphere · put another way, Sangkla Resort plays the "lake view and quiet at a budget price" angle well, without trying to compete with anyone on luxury
Location and getting around — the main draw of Sangkla Resort is the setting on Khao Laem Reservoir that gives you a water view and quiet · the resort sits at 50/11 Moo 2, Nong Lu, on a rise above the water, and the highlight is that you can see the lake and the Mon Bridge in the distance from many parts of the resort · it helps to be clear about the distances from the start — this is not walking distance to the Mon Bridge like a stay in town, but it is about a 2.7-kilometre drive to the Mon Bridge (Uttamanusorn Bridge), roughly 8 minutes, and about 2 minutes' drive to the Sangkhla Buri walking street · from the resort you can also drive to Wat Wang Wiwekaram, the Buddhagaya Pagoda, and the Sunken Temple (the old Wat Wang Wiwekaram), which are the highlights of Sangkhla Buri · the Three Pagodas Pass is about a 20–25 minute drive away · one honest note from the reviews is that the resort itself sits fairly deep off the main road and some people say it is hard to find on Google Maps because the pin can be off, so it is worth calling to ask for directions or for an accurate pin from the resort before you set out · on top of that, Sangkhla Buri itself is a long way from Kanchanaburi town — it is about a 3–3.5 hour drive from Kanchanaburi town along winding mountain roads, so anyone who gets carsick easily should allow extra time and bring motion-sickness medication · and since this is not a stay where you can walk to everything, having your own car makes getting around far easier
"The bungalow is spacious, you can see the lake from the balcony, and waking up to mist drifting over the water in the morning is beautiful. The staff look after you well and the Thai food at the restaurant is tasty — nice and quiet, great for a getaway from the bustle, but you do need a car because it is a bit deep off the main road."
Room types and decor — Sangkla Resort is a small resort with both stand-alone bungalows on the rise by the lake and rooms in the main building to choose from · on booking platforms you usually see the Deluxe Double Room (one queen or king bed) as the main room you can book, while the bungalows suit people who want more privacy and a water view · the decor is simple in an up-country resort style, focused on function more than luxury · every room has air conditioning, a fridge, a flat-screen TV, an en-suite bathroom with a water heater, and a private balcony that in many rooms looks out over the lake and mountains, which is what sets this place apart from stays in town · reviews agree that the bungalows are fairly spacious and the water view from the balcony is lovely, especially in the morning when mist drifts over the lake · something to know, which reviews do mention, is that the rooms are simple and basic — some rooms have no kettle, and certain details are not as complete as at higher-priced resorts · cleanliness is where reviews are fairly mixed: some say it is clean and tidy, while others feel there are still details to improve, which reflects that this is a simple resort that is good value for the view and price more than a place that is spotless in every corner · if you value the water view, the quiet, and the private balcony more than a luxurious room, this place delivers — but you should set your room expectations at "basic and clean" rather than "luxurious and modern"
Facilities and the restaurant — to be honest from the start, Sangkla Resort has no swimming pool and does not pack in facilities like a big resort · but what it does have, and what gets talked about most, is the Krua Sankla Thai restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which reviews praise for tasty, fresh Thai food · the resort itself also has the draw of the lake view and a waterfront seating area that many people use to take in the view in the morning and evening · other facilities include free private parking (very important since most people drive themselves), free Wi-Fi that reviews say has a good signal, luggage storage, laundry and dry-cleaning service, a KTV room for singing, a meeting room for groups, a boat service for cruising the lake and the Sunken Temple, and a 24-hour front desk that is handy for late arrivals · overall the facilities at Sangkla Resort are designed to be "just enough" for a quiet lakeside resort — a good restaurant, a nice view, easy parking, and a boat to take you out on the lake, more than a luxury resort meant to keep you inside all day with a full slate of activities · anyone planning to lounge by a pool or wanting a spa and fitness centre should adjust their expectations here before booking
Food and breakfast — food at Sangkla Resort revolves mainly around the Krua Sankla restaurant, and it is a point that gets fairly consistent praise · breakfast is included in the room rate, served buffet-style from 7:00 AM–10:00 AM, with options including rice soup, congee, and an American breakfast (fried egg with sausage) · reviews on breakfast are fairly mixed — many praise it as tasty and love that the setting by the lake is great, while some feel the breakfast options are fairly simple and not as varied as at a big resort · for lunch and dinner, the Thai food from Krua Sankla earns genuine praise for its flavour, with many reviews mentioning Thai dishes and fried items that are done well, which leads many people to eat at the resort itself rather than going out to find somewhere every meal — handy since the resort is deep off the main road · what helps is that if you want a change of scene, it is a short drive into Sangkhla Buri town, which has restaurants, cafés, and a market to wander for more food, especially local Mon dishes and rice-and-curry shops that many people come specifically to try · the bottom line on food is: do not expect a big buffet or a fancy dining room, but in terms of the flavour of the Thai food and the convenience of having a good restaurant at a lakeside resort, this is a strength of the place
Service — service is another point that earns praise in real reviews · even though it is a small resort, many reviews mention the staff's attentiveness and friendliness, along with their willingness to help with travel and to recommend places to visit in Sangkhla Buri · the service score on booking platforms is a touch higher than the other categories, which reflects that the team looks after guests well for the size of the resort · there is a boat service for cruising the lake and the Sunken Temple, luggage storage, and a 24-hour front desk, which is a plus for people arriving late after a long drive · to be straight about it, since this is a small resort with not many accumulated reviews, the service experience may still be inconsistent at times, and some reviews note that the resort "does not particularly cater to foreign guests," so English communication may be somewhat limited · but the overall picture from the reviews that exist is positive and a strength of the place
What real reviews say (both praise and criticism) — pulled together from Trip.com, Agoda and TripAdvisor, the picture is fairly consistent · on the praise side: the Khao Laem Reservoir view from the balcony and the waterfront area are lovely, especially in the misty morning; the bungalows are fairly spacious; the Krua Sankla Thai restaurant has good food; the staff are friendly and the service is good; the Wi-Fi works well; it is quiet and good for a getaway from the bustle; and it is good value for the view relative to the price · on the watch-out side: what comes up is that the resort sits deep off the main road and is hard to find on Google Maps, so you should ask for an accurate pin before travelling; the rooms are basic and simple and some have no kettle; cleanliness draws differing opinions, with some satisfied and some feeling it could improve; prices in some periods are higher than at some nearby stays; the breakfast options are fairly simple; and the resort does not particularly cater to foreign guests, so English communication is limited · on top of that, it is a small resort with few reviews — the 8.0/10 on Trip.com comes from a base of just 6 reviews, and the TripAdvisor 3.7/5 is also from a small number of reviews, so it is worth reading the most recent reviews before deciding · overall these criticisms are things you can manage by setting the right expectations, preparing your route well, and choosing a water-view room, rather than being major problems
"The Thai food at the restaurant really is tasty, the lake view is beautiful, and the staff are lovely · the only catch is that the way in is a bit hard to find — Google Maps had me going in circles a little, so next time I will call for directions first — and the rooms are simple, not luxurious, but if you come for the view and the quiet it is fine."
Price and value — the room starting price is around THB 800/night (roughly USD 20–28 per night as shown on international platforms) in normal periods, and it can climb during long holidays and the peak travel season (the cool season, November–February, when Sangkhla Buri has beautiful mist, is the peak) · compared with other stays in Sangkhla Buri, Sangkla Resort sits in the group of budget waterfront stays that mainly sell the lake view · what makes it genuinely worth it is the water view from the balcony, the quiet atmosphere, and the good Thai restaurant, which together give you the feel of a lakeside resort at a price that is not expensive · the trade-offs are no pool, basic rooms, and a location deep off the main road that means you need a car · to be straight about it, some reviews say prices in certain periods are higher than at some nearby stays relative to the room condition, so you should compare prices across several platforms and pick a period where the price makes sense · if the goal of your trip is a clean base within walking distance of the Mon Bridge, there may be better-value options in town — but if the goal is to wake up to a quiet lake view from the balcony and eat good Thai food by the water, Sangkla Resort offers its own kind of value
Good to know before booking — a few things help make the stay smoother · one, prepare your route well, because the resort is deep off the main road and hard to find on Google Maps, so call to ask or get an accurate pin from the resort before you travel, especially if you arrive in the evening · two, if the view matters to you, ask for a room or bungalow on the side that looks out over the lake at the time of booking, because not every room gets a water view · three, this is a simple resort, so set your room expectations at "basic and clean" and check whether the room has a kettle if you need one · four, there is no swimming pool, so if you plan to lounge by a pool, look at another stay · five, Sangkhla Buri is about a 3–3.5 hour drive from Kanchanaburi town along winding mountain roads, so set off early, allow extra time, and bring motion-sickness medication · six, you should have your own car because the resort is set deep and is not within walking distance of the Mon Bridge, and getting around is easiest with a car · seven, the cool season (November–February) is high season for Sangkhla Buri thanks to the cool weather and beautiful mist, so stays fill up fast and prices rise, so book ahead and compare several platforms
The bottom line — from all the real reviews, Sangkla Resort is the resort that suits people coming to Sangkhla Buri who want a quiet lakeside stay with a water view from the balcony at a budget price best · the misty morning view over Khao Laem Reservoir, the fairly spacious bungalows, the good food at the Krua Sankla Thai restaurant, and the friendly service make it an appealing choice among the city's affordable waterfront stays · if you are after a luxury resort with a pool, modern rooms, or a stay within walking distance of the Mon Bridge, this may not be the answer, and you should consider a boutique stay in town or a floating raft house on the water instead · but for a Sangkhla Buri trip where you want a quiet lakeside base to wake up to a water view, eat good Thai food, and drive out to the Mon Bridge and Wat Wang Wiwekaram — Sangkla Resort meets that need at an affordable price, as long as you set the right expectations about the rooms and the route before you go
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Lovely Khao Laem Reservoir view from the balcony, with mist in the morning
- ✓ Fairly spacious bungalows with a private balcony
- ✓ Good food at the Krua Sankla Thai restaurant, free breakfast
- ✓ Friendly staff, Wi-Fi works well, free parking
- ! No swimming pool, rooms are basic and simple
- ! The resort is deep off the main road, hard to find on Google Maps
- ! Some rooms have no kettle, cleanliness draws differing reviews
- ✓ Quiet lakeside location, good for a getaway from the bustle
- ✓ Boat service to cruise the lake and the Sunken Temple
- ✓ Short drive to the walking street and the Mon Bridge
- ✓ 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, laundry service available
- ! You need your own car, not within walking distance of the Mon Bridge
- ! Prices in some periods are higher than at some nearby stays
- ! Does not particularly cater to foreign guests, English communication is limited
- 💡If you do not have your own car — the resort is deep off the main road and not within walking distance of the Mon Bridge → you should have a car, and call to ask for an accurate pin from the resort before you travel
- 💡If you want a swimming pool or a luxurious modern room — there is no pool here and the rooms are basic and simple → consider a boutique stay in town or a floating raft house on the water instead
- 💡If the water view matters to you — not every room looks out over the lake → ask for a room or bungalow on the water-view side at the time of booking