The Tree Riverside Resort Kaeng Krachan — a Nordic riverside escape among the Phetchaburi mountains
If you want to leave the city behind and fall asleep to running water and birdsong among the Kaeng Krachan mountains, The Tree Riverside Resort is a name nature lovers keep mentioning. It's a 4-star boutique resort on the Phetchaburi River, opened in 2021, with Nordic-style design that blends into the forest and the water. There are 76 rooms across 8 types, from riverside villas to air-conditioned glamping tents, plus a garden pool, the riverside SAVIO restaurant, and activities like kayaking and river rafting. It's about 2.5 hours from Bangkok, and rooms start from approximately ฿1,600/night. This review is compiled from the voices of real guests — both what they loved and what they flagged honestly.
The Tree Riverside Resort sits on the Phetchaburi River in Song Phi Nong, Kaeng Krachan District. The thing guests mention most in reviews is the riverside setting on a wide, beautiful bend of the river, with mountains as a backdrop. The resort is low-rise, spread through a leafy garden rather than stacked into towers, so it's an easy walk from your room down to a seat by the water. The overall mood is quiet and calm — you hear the river and the birds — which suits anyone who wants to unwind close to nature without rushing.
Rooms are a real strength here because there's so much choice — 8 types across 76 rooms. They range from Superior and Villa Superior rooms for two (some with a mezzanine sleeping loft) to two-story villas with garden or river views, Villa Suites, and family rooms that sleep several. The signature option is the air-conditioned glamping tents, in both canal-view and river-view zones, which give you the feeling of sleeping out in nature while keeping the air-con and a full private bathroom. The Nordic styling is modern, with warm wood tones, and many guests say the rooms are clean and very photogenic.
"Stayed in an air-conditioned riverside tent — opened the door in the morning to mist drifting over the river and birdsong. The staff looked after us so well, and we kayaked all morning. The atmosphere made us not want to leave."
Activities are another selling point. Beyond the free-form garden pool and the fitness center, guests can kayak in the lagoon, take rubber-raft trips down the Phetchaburi River, and ride vintage bicycles around the grounds. There are riverside lounging spots, swings, and Balinese bird-nest seats dotted around for photos. It works well both for couples wanting a chilled-out break and for families or groups of friends who want to do outdoor activities together. There are also meeting rooms for events and a children's playground.
On the food side, the riverside SAVIO Café & Restaurant serves both Thai and European dishes. Frequently mentioned plates include a pork hot pot, local Thai dishes, and pizza made with dough kneaded in-house. Breakfast is a buffet with both Thai and Western options, which several reviewers found varied enough for families. The café is open to outside guests too, and its riverside setting is a spot guests love to photograph. On Trip.com the cleanliness and service categories sit around 9.1 and 8.8, which is high.
By the numbers, The Tree Riverside scores around 8.7 from 48 reviews on Trip.com. The lowest sub-score is location (around 8.3), which reflects how deep into Kaeng Krachan the resort is — it isn't next to shops or a town. That's both an upside and a trade-off: you get full peace and nature, but you should plan ahead because heading out for food isn't as convenient as a city stay. It's about 2.5 hours from Bangkok and close to Kaeng Krachan Dam and Kaeng Krachan National Park, which makes it a solid base for exploring nature.
As for the criticisms in reviews, most are tied to nature and season. Some guests who came in the rainy season found lower water levels in the river and more insects, so the riverside atmosphere wasn't at its best compared with the cool season — though the team made up for it with attentive service. A few reviews note weak mobile or internet signal because of the remote location. These are understandable trade-offs for a resort set in nature, but knowing them helps you pick the right time to go.
To sum up for anyone planning a Phetchaburi–Kaeng Krachan trip: The Tree Riverside Resort suits couples and families who want a riverside stay surrounded by nature, with both a chilled atmosphere and outdoor activities. Its strengths are the lovely riverside setting, the wide range of rooms including the photogenic glamping tents, and kayaking and rafting on the doorstep. Prices start from approximately ฿1,600/night for a Superior room and climb into the higher thousands and beyond for villas and riverside tents. If you want a nature stay near Bangkok that still isn't crowded, this is a dependable choice.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful riverside setting with mountain views and a calm atmosphere
- ✓ Clean rooms, modern Nordic design, very photogenic
- ✓ Air-conditioned glamping tents are a signature of the place
- ✓ Friendly, attentive staff; kayaking and rafting activities
- ! Deep inside Kaeng Krachan, so heading out for food isn't convenient
- ! Lower river levels and more insects in the rainy season
- ! Patchy mobile/internet signal in spots due to the remote location
- ✓ Riverside and surrounded by nature, great for a relaxed break
- ✓ Wide room choice, from villas to glamping tents
- ✓ Varied breakfast buffet, good for families
- ✓ Only about 2.5 hours from Bangkok, easy to reach
- ! Far from shops and town; bring some food and snacks
- ! Riverside atmosphere depends on the season and water level
- ! Busy on long weekends; book ahead
- 💡If you want to head out for meals and walks often — the resort is deep in Kaeng Krachan with few shops nearby → bring snacks and drinks, or plan your main meals at the on-site SAVIO restaurant.
- 💡If you want the riverside atmosphere at its best — water can be low and insects more common in the rainy season → go in late rains to early cool season (Nov–Feb) when the river is prettiest and the air is cool, and book a river-view room.
- 💡If you need to work online during your stay — it's remote and signal can be weak in places → check Wi-Fi with the resort first, or plan a digital-detox stay and enjoy it.