The Mae Ngat Dam floating houses have been one of the most fun and off-the-beaten-path places we’ve been to in Northern Thailand. There is nothing like getting a group of friends together and taking a trip out for a night or two on a freshwater lake in Thai-style floating bungalows!
Picture Camping, But On the Water!
We’ve never been to anything quite like the Mae Ngat Dam floating houses. They combine the best of boating and camping into one amazing rustic package. It sounded too good to be true when our Thai friend, Bee of Be Beez Cafe & Guesthouse, first told us about them.
This was just the place to go for a mini vacation after our trip home to the US. We spent two nights at the floating bungalows having a great time with our friends in Thailand swimming, eating, and catching up over a few beers.
These floating houses are a series of basic one-room cabins connected side-by-side and float on the lake’s surface. There are several companies, each housing a cluster of cabins that open up to a wide wooden deck spanning across their front.
The deck is where the fun happens! There is plenty of space for tanning and relaxing, and it’s the perfect setup to go swimming and tubing. It’s easy to jump in the water from the deck, and some of us were even brave enough to climb a platform and jump from greater heights.
There are wooden tables and chairs on the deck, and even grills. All we had to do is ask for some charcoal, and then Bee worked her magic and made fried chicken wings and German styled potato salad.
| TIP: Ask if there is a karaoke machine nearby. We recommend getting the rooms farthest from the singing since chances are the songs will last into the wee hours of the morning. |
Restaurant
The floating bungalows have Thai restaurants or kitchens to prepare food. They serve delicious whole fish dishes, but there are also pork, chicken, and vegetable stir-fries and soups. Fried and boiled eggs can be easily added to any dish. Breakfast is simple and Thai styled, consisting of jok (rice porridge), fried rice, and omelets. Ours provided hot tea and instant coffee.
We had some meals delivered right outside our bungalow. Other times we enjoyed meals in front of the restaurant at a thatched-roof hut. Wherever we ate, we had a great view of the lake.
Adult beverages can be purchased at near whole-sale prices (translation: cheap cheap!) and include drinking water, soda, soda water, large beers, Thai rum and whiskey.
Bungalows
The bungalows are generally very basic. The single-room cabins have a full sized bed, a vanity, and a fan. A word of warning, these beds were pretty hard! The rooms also have a window and a mosquito net. The fan is plugged into the only two-prong outlet in the room.
Each room has a small bathroom outback with a shower and Western toilet. In ours, we could see the green lake water below between the floor boards! The toilet is flushed using a bucket of water. If you stay in a place with no sink, you can count on there being a water spout to wash your face and hands. Mind you, each company is a little different and have different room standards.
Some floating houses provide two-person tents in the case that rooms are full. These can rented for around 400 baht a night and patrons sleep on the deck. Blankets and pillows are included.
The Mae Ngat Dam Floating Houses Supply
- Metal and ceramic grills; starters and charcoal
- Ice and large coolers
- Drinking glasses, plates, bowls, forks and spoons; cooking utensils
- Condiments (sugar, salt, pepper, chili sauce, chili powder, ketchup)
- Fresh towels and toilet paper
- WiFi (in our experience, it was available at the restaurant only)
You can also rent inner tubes, life vests, fishing rods and basic tackle, and kayaks.
Electricity is limited, and there are certain times when it’s powered on, typically in the evening hours. This is the only time to charge electronics and to connect to WiFi. Cell phone coverage isn’t available for dtac and is spotty at best for AIS and True. But who cares? Take it as a sign to disconnect from the world!
What to Bring to the Mae Ngat Dam Floating Houses
- Soap, shampoo, conditioner
- Sun block, insect repellant, hand wipes
- Plastic bags or trash bags
- Waterproof/floatable shoes to walk around on the hot wooden deck
- Ear plugs (just in case other patrons sing karaoke that night!)
- Portable charger
- Your favorite adult beverage and mixers; snacks
Total Cost for Our Trip to the Floating Houses (3 Days & 2 Nights)
Approximate conversion rat: 30 baht per 1 USD
We love these floating bungalows. It’s hard to beat a three day and two night vacation (with plenty of food, drinks, and activities) for just over $150 for the two of us. And as long as you like the outdoors and rustic features of a floating cabin with grills and beautiful skylines, you’re in for a real treat.
How to Get to the Mae Ngat Dam Floating Houses
The Mae Ngat Dam floating houses are about 60 km north of Chiang Mai City, at the Sri Lanna National Park. The roads are in good condition, so it’s possible to rent a car or motorbike and drive yourself there. There’s overnight parking available if you decide to take your own vehicle.
Directions
- Exit Chiang Mai Old City via Thapae gate heading east on Thapae Road. Cross the bridge over the Ping River and remain straight as it becomes Charoen Muang Road (Route 1006).
- Turn left onto the Inner Ring Road (Route 11), heading counter-clockwise.
- Turn right on Route 1001 (north-bound) and drive about 50 km.
- You will begin seeing signs (in English) for the Mae Ngat Dam. Follow these signs and turn left onto Route 1323.
- The road twists and turns. At the T-intersection, follow the Mae Ngat Dam sign and turn right.
- A few hundred meters you’ll see a brown Sri Lanna National Park sign. Turn left here.
- Follow a second Sri Lanna National Park sign as the road curves right and then slightly left.
- At the T-intersection, there will be another Sri Lanna National Park Sign pointing left. Follow this down a few hundred meters until the park entrance, hanging left at the Y in the road at the “Entrance” sign.
We’ve also gotten to the Mae Ngat Dam floating houses by songthaew. We’ll ask the driver to stop at one of the markets along the highway and buy chicken wings, potatoes, easy-to-eat fruit, fried pork rinds, sticky rice, Thai chili paste, water, and beer. Then we’ll tell him to come back and pick us up at a specific time the next day.
The entrance fee to the Sri Lanna National Park is 100 baht per person and another 20 baht per vehicle.
The final drop-off point is a brief ride around the bend in the dirt road. Here we waited a few minutes for the next available longboat, which costs 600 baht (20 USD) per round trip per group. The boat ride from the pickup spot to the bungalows is roughly 15 minutes.
View Mae Ngat Dam Floating Houses in Chiang Mai in a larger map
Contact Information
There are several floating house companies at the Mae Ngat Dam, each with various facilities and prices. Most have staff that speaks Thai with limited English, so we recommend asking a Thai friend to make reservations.
Aj Wit Floating House: (081) 180-3055 or (085) 864-6269
Eakachai Floating House: (083) 480-5679
Nong Ann Floating House: (081) 961-3369
Nong Mae Floating House:Â (085) 616-4337 or (081) 951-5987
Pun Piron Floating House: (081) 253-3996 or (086) 425-7065
Sainatee Floating House: (081) 960-5357 or (086) 396-9453
Hey there,
Is the 600 for the boat the total for a round trip or per person?
Cheers!
It’s for the entire boat, roundtrip.
Hello! We are planning on going to the house boats. I just wanted to find out where I could find a songthaew to take us there. Should we try one of the bus terminals? Thanks in advance 😊
Songthaews are aplenty in the Chiang Mai’s City Center. As long as you’re standing on one of the main streets within a 3-kilometer radius of the square moat, you should have no problem hailing one down, negotiating a price, and hopping aboard. If you happen to be near the bus terminal or train terminal, or one of the major temples like Wat Doi Suthep, then yes, you’ll find one easily there, too. Have a great trip!
Hi! My nephew is on a group trip and from his itinerary he is enjoying “floating bungalows”
We think its your establishment. We haven’t heard from him….do you have wifi there? The group is free and easy traveler. First time away from home for this long….Thanks!
It’s not our company, we just wrote about our experience at the floating bungalows :) Depending on which bungalow he stayed at (there are at least 10 owned and operated by different people company) he may or may not have Wifi. Even if he has it, he’s probably just relaxing like we do when we go out there! We hope he contacts you soon, though.
Hello! I am going to be in Thailand in a couple of weeks, and I booked a night through Eakachai. We will be heading there from Chiang Mai, but then we will want to head to Pai afterwards. I don’t think a songteaw would work for this, and I am not comfortable on a motorbike. Would you recommend renting a car then? Any advice would help!
We agree – the ride to Pai is miserable in a songthaew and dangerous on a motorbike. Renting your own car is the way to go. There are several rental car agencies in Chiang Mai but we recommend Red Ride. Have a great trip!
hi. we are 3 girls planning for chiang mai. we would like to know how can we make bookings in the eakachai boathouse and what is current rate. also pls help us with contact number if anybody have
Hi, the contact info is at the bottom of the post. It is best to call them for current rates.
is it possible to go there for one day trip?
Yup! You’ll have to pay the boat fee and of course they’ll want you to buy something like lunch or rent kayaks and tubes (don’t just go there with your own food and booze). Have fun!
Thanks!
Hi!
We’ve booked the Nong Ann Floating House since it was listed in this post – how do we find out where it is located? Do we just go into the park entrance and then assume there will be signs?
Ruen Pae Nong Ann seems to be another name for the Nong Ann Floating House.
Thanks for making this blog post – very helpful!
At the parking area at the park’s entrance there will be one or two songthaew/trucks that hang around – tell the drivers and they will call ahead to the house boat before taking you a few hundred feet down to the lake. Have fun!
We are wanting to go to a place for one month Oct – Nov 2017 (I know a long time still) and things we are looking for are: beautiful place, fishing with own gear, small village nearby to get supplies etc, internet (as have to work – doesn’t need to be super fast or even ok via cellphone). Do you know of houses or houseboats that do a monthly rental at reasonable price in that area? It looks amazing in your blog.
It’d be worth asking around. We don’t know why they wouldn’t offer a monthly rental – at the very least you’d pay the daily rate, which for some are 500 baht per person per night. Seeing as though you’ll be there at the tail end of slow season, they might be willing. As far as work, the electricity is on a cycle – you’d have to stay at a place where they don’t shut off the power during the day. AIS and TRUE cell service does not work out there, either, so you’d have to borrow their internet. It’s worth… Read more »
My question is should we Book the bungalow before hand or c’s we wait till the day we go to book it ?
If you are planning to book during the 1) high season (especially weekends) which is Nov through April or 2) around a Thai holiday, we would say book the bungalow as soon as you can. Otherwise, call the day prior and double check a vacancy before making the trip. Have fun!
Hi! What an amazing place. My new husband and I are thinking of going here for a few days as we Honeymoon through Thailand. We will be staying at the Spicy Villa Ecolodges for two nights and were hoping to spend two nights at the floating houses. It seems a challenging thing to book if you don’t know how to speak Thai or know anyone in the area. I saw you help folks create itineraries for their travel to Chang Mai. Is this something you could assist with? Thank you!
Absolutely! Send us an email with some more details and we’d be happy to help.
Hey guys!
My bf and I are planning a trip to Thailand in April. Will probably fly into Chiang Mai. Do you live in Thailand? And any advice you could give us on traveling from the U.S. To Thailand??
Hi Katelyn! Yes, we currently live in Chiang Mai and know the ins and outs of the Old City. We offer Chiang Mai Custom Itineraries for people just like you and your boyfriend seeking our advice. We share the best activities and places to visit during your time in Chiang Mai as well as give you preparation tips before your flight and additional traveling advice once you land in Chiang Mai. If this is something that is a good fit for you, let us know. We’re happy to help you make the most of your trip in Chiang Mai!
HI Guys, would you say that these bungalows are safe for a roaming 15 month old who toddles out of bed at night? Is there a locked door?
Hey guys! Eh… we wouldn’t go so far as say the bungalows are a safe place for toddlers. Our first thought is that there is no railing around the pier and patio area that would prevent her from accidentally going into the water! But, to answer your question, the bungalow doors have a horizontal bar latch that a 15 month old couldn’t open (or reach, for that matter, if we remember correctly). They lock both the front door to the patio area and the back door to the bathroom. Also, while the patio area has smooth wood planks for easy… Read more »
Hi Chris and Angela!
Thank you for writing this post, seems very cool! I’m a solo female traveler and would love to go here, but do you think it’s a good idea to go alone?
Absolutely! Most of the people we see going there are Thai families and some non-Western tour groups. We’ve been there when groups of teenagers are visiting for the day, but everyone seems to be respectful and simply looking for good old fashioned water fun. The floating houses don’t seem to attract the rowdy or aggressive type (karaoke lovers sometimes, but that’s as “bad” as it gets). We don’t recommend place if we didn’t think it was safe, but even as a solo female traveler, we’d think you’ll love relaxing here for a day or two. Have fun!
great I like your post
Is it safe to swim in the water? Seems that sewage sanitation would be a concern?
The authorities seem to have tight control over the business and people that live/operate in, on, and around the dam. From our three experiences at the dam we found the water to be clean [by no means are we water treatment experts]. Groups of us swam for hours at a time without issue. We’ll never recommend places that we feel are unsafe or questionable.
Sorry this is off topic but you guys seem to alway be in the know :) is it true.. No more back to back toursit visas? Wondering what it looks like for a person who has a triple entry tourist visa. Would I not be allowed back in after I make the first exit on the visa(90 days with extension) ?? Thanks! Love your blog!
That’s the big question, Brianna. Only time will tell for sure. We know.. you’ve already be pre-approved with your triple-entry tourist visa, but it’s ultimately up to the the Thai immigration officers at the border and in the airports who will let you through or now. We wish we knew more!
This looks fantastic, what a great experience.
We’re in Chiang Mai & North for 3 weeks late December and may give it a try, unless it’s too cool n the water that time of year :)
It was pretty cool last December (70s during the day) but we’re not sure if the water will be too cool to swim. Still worth a shot if you like kayaking and fishing!
What fun! They kind of remind us of houseboats people rent for a week on Shuswap Lake here in British Columbia – the houseboats have waterslides and BBQs.
Awesome! Water boats are such a great option for vacations :)
Great details! What’s the average cost of beer there? :) We are currently in Costa Rica and as first timers here, we were surprised at how expensive it is to drink. Since we are moving our way slowly to Thailand, we are curious as to what the cost will be! Thanks again, you guys always do a great job breaking it down, especially for an over-planner like me.
A large bottle of the local brew (close to 24 oz) is about $2 to 2.50 USD. A small pint of the local run/whisky is about $7 USD. Cheap if you ask us :) Check out our cost of living breakdown (monthly budget in CM and monthly bills).
So awesome. Thanks for sharing all of your experiences. Enjoy your world to the fullest extent and just always be safe. Like reading the posts. How’s the little scooter working out?
Haha, little? That thing’s a beast! Best purchase we could have made :)
This place is definitely on my must visit list. What is the weather like these days? Thank you for another beautiful picture.
It’s been much cooler now. In the 80s, with rain about 4 or 5 times a week. Clear blue skies – perfect for the dam!