Wangyao Riverside Resort — Camping by the River, Mookata Under the Stars Near Khao Yai
If you want a Nakhon Nayok stay where the kids can run around, the adults can dip their feet in the river, and the evening ends with everyone gathered around a mookata grill on the bank — Wangyao Riverside Resort is a name Bangkok weekenders bring up often. The draw isn't polished rooms; it's a stretch of the Nakhon Nayok River you can pitch a tent beside, with the laid-back "Kaeng Wang Yao" feel of coloured umbrellas planted right down to the water. Be clear from the start: this place sells nature and group fun, not spotless rooms.
Wangyao Riverside Resort opened back in 2000 in Sarika, Mueang Nakhon Nayok, on a bend of the Nakhon Nayok River that locals call Kaeng Wang Yao. It's a sprawling property with resort-style rooms, riverfront cottages, and — the part it's best known for — a riverside camping ground. The photo most guests bring home is rows of coloured umbrellas marching down to the water, with thatched salas dotted across the lawn where you can sit and watch the river all day. For a big group or a family with kids, the place works as one oversized outdoor playground.
The star here is the Nakhon Nayok River running past the front of the resort. When the current is gentle, children paddle in the shallows while the adults drag a chair to the edge, dip their feet, and order a cold drink. There's a BBQ area with grills to rent, and plenty of groups haul in their own ingredients for an evening mookata cookout by the water, string lights overhead and a small stage that plays music on some nights. You can fish, too, and there's an outdoor pool for kids who'd rather not get in the river — enough to fill a whole day without driving anywhere.
One family recalls pitching a tent by the water, waking to a thin morning mist, and the kids wading in while they sipped coffee — "worth it for the setting, not the room," as they put it.
On the rooms, let's be straight — the resort has been open more than 20 years, and many of the buildings show their age. On Trip.com, rooms and amenities draw the lowest marks (6.2), while the riverside location scores highest (7.6). Put simply, people come for the river, not the room. Categories run from small twin rooms up to River View Cottages and suites. Every room is air-conditioned with a balcony and bottled water provided, but if you're expecting city-hotel polish, adjust your expectations first.
The location is a real advantage for anyone here to get outdoors. It's about a 5-minute drive to the Khao Yai access road on the Nakhon Nayok side, with Wat Tham Sarika roughly 2.6 km away. Nang Rong and Sarika waterfalls, Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam, Ganesha Park (the giant Ganesha statue), and Wang Takrai are all a 10–20 minute drive out. It suits travellers who want to use the resort as a base and loop around the sights by day. The catch: there's no public transport out here at all — you need your own car.
The overall score sits at 6.7/10 from 21 Trip.com reviews. What guests agree on is the riverside setting, the generous space, and the easygoing vibe. The honest complaints centre on dated rooms and inconsistent housekeeping — some rooms smell musty, hot water can be slow to arrive, and on long weekends the crowds get noisy well into the night. A few reviewers mention plenty of bugs, which comes with the territory at a place this close to forest and water — bring your own repellent and you'll be more comfortable. Worth knowing before you book.
On price, it's easy on the wallet. Rooms start around ฿900–1,200/night, and the camping ground is charged per head per night, cheaper still — bring your own tent or rent one on site. A buffet breakfast runs about ฿200/person, served 07:00–10:00. Rates climb on long weekends and through the cool season (Nov–Jan), when rooms fill fast, so book at least 2–3 weeks ahead. Compare Agoda, Booking and Trip.com every time — the deals differ between platforms.
The bottom line: Wangyao Riverside Resort works best for families or groups of friends who want an affordable riverside spot on the Nakhon Nayok River to camp, grill, and use Khao Yai as the daytime destination. Come for the setting, the fun, and the nature — not for luxury. If you can accept older rooms in exchange for a river view off the balcony and a wallet-friendly bill, the place does its job well. If you want a fresh, spotless room with strong air-con and hotel-grade service, look at a property in Nakhon Nayok town instead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Lovely setting on the Nakhon Nayok River — kids can swim
- ✓ Plenty of space, good for camping and large groups
- ✓ Fun riverside BBQ and mookata cookouts
- ✓ Budget-friendly and a 5-minute drive to Khao Yai
- ! Rooms are dated; some smell musty
- ! Housekeeping is inconsistent and hot water can be slow
- ! Long weekends get crowded and noisy late
- ✓ Riverside location near Khao Yai suits outdoor travellers
- ✓ Family-friendly with a kids' play area and pool
- ✓ Pets allowed for free
- ✓ Large free car park, good for arriving in a convoy
- ! In-room amenities are fairly basic
- ! Plenty of bugs, as expected near forest and water
- ! You need your own car — no public transport
- 💡If you want the best room condition — ask to see real room photos when booking and choose a riverfront cottage or a recently renovated room → older rooms can smell musty and hot water is slow to come through
- 💡If you're coming to camp — book a riverside pitch ahead and confirm tent/grill rental clearly → on long weekends the ground fills fast and the crowd gets noisy late into the night
- 💡If Khao Yai is the plan — you'll need your own car, since there's no public transport nearby → using the resort as a base to loop the waterfalls, dam and temples is the easiest way around