Nestled in the jungle at the edge of Khao Sok National Park, this resort will give you an experience you won't soon forget.

While the resort is close to the highway, once you get onto the property you see that it is really built to be fully integrated into the natural environment. At the entrance is a mainly outdoor lobby area, with friendly and young staff that really want you to enjoy yourselves.

From the lobby, everything else is down steep hills with flower gardens all around. The first level down is the cliff rooms. We had one of these, a wooden chalet on the side of a steep cliff, with a balcony overlooking the valley below. Facing all the rooms is a towering cliff, perhaps 200 metres high, overlooking the entire resort. The view is stunning, and in the morning, with the mist still in the valley, it feels like you are in another dimension.

The toilet and shower are not what you would get in a five star hotel, but they are good enough, and in keeping with the personality of the place. The room itself is very clean. Our only serious complaint was that the bed, a mattress on a wooden platform, was very hard and therefore quite uncomfortable. Wooden platforms are fine, but then you have to use a mattress that has some quality. (If I go back to this resort, which I probably will, I will have to make arrangements to have a better bed. It was that bad.)

At the same level as the cliff rooms is the pool, small but with jacuzzi jets, so quite a lot of fun.

Further down in the valley is the river, and a series of chalets along the river. These do not have the great view, and they have a little bit more in the way of mosquitos, but they are still integrated into the jungle, which is the main thing. Many families were in this area, and they were obviously having a great time.

Also on this level is the restaurant, a big outdoor area by the river. The food is similar to Thai street food, which is pretty good, but they are in no danger of getting any Michelin rosettes. The breakfast is pretty basic.

There is not a lot to do in the resort itself, but that is not why it's there. There are many treks into the park, whether by foot, by boat, or by ATV. This resort is the gateway to the jungle in Khao Sok National Park.

Except for the bed, this resort was one of those places that you stumble upon on your travels, and then tell friends not to miss. Very good value for the money, genuinely friendly staff, and memories (of flowers, scenery, or the towering cliff) that will stay with you.

Cliff & River lived up to it's (well deserved) reputation. We stayed on 2 separate occasions & were delighted on each. The staff are great, the setting and the views are stunning & the food is excellent. A little touch of paradise. We stayed in 'C' bungalows each time & the balcony is where our focus was instantly drawn. Lounging about watching the 'Dusky Langurs' swinging through the trees on the massive cliff opposite was just amazing. Cliff & River is where you can completely relax in the most beautiful setting - on your balcony, in the pool or around the gardens.... & you have dinner to look forward to! Highly recommended. Only note is that when we were there they did not accept cards, so remember to take cash. Something that we didn't realize but the staff quickly helped us resolve that little problem with no fuss at all.