River Kwai Highlights

Reflecting on the past and seeing how Kanchanaburi has evolved with the passing of time.

Take three days to get to know Thailand's Kanchanaburi region. Your time is spent getting to know the area’s sombre history, visiting historic landmarks like the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, War Cemetery, and the Bridge over the River Kwai to gain a deep understanding of the atrocities that happened here, culminating on a trip on the Death Railway itself.

Tour type Short Add On Tour

Duration 2 nights

Visiting Kanchanaburi

Recommended itinerary

Day 1

Kanchanaburi

From your Bangkok hotel, you’ll travel to Kanchanaburi, 80 miles west of the city. Your first stop is at the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai, built by Allied Prisoners of War during World War II. A visit to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre follows, with time to explore this interactive museum and research facility dedicated to presenting the history of the railway. Next, you’ll visit Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, DonRak, a memorial to some 6,000 Prisoners of War who perished. At the Pak Prak Heritage Community, there’s time to venture through historical lanes lined with shophouses built during the reign of King Rama V, incorporating Chinese, European, and Thai styles. You’ll hear stories of the Kanchanaburi residents and their interactions with the Japanese and the Prisoners of War.

Day 2

Kanchanaburi

After breakfast, you’ll depart for Erawan Waterfall, a beautiful seven-tiered waterfall in Erawan National Park. The best time to visit is during the rainy season, from May until September. You can walk up to each tier of these picturesque falls, so bring walking shoes and a swimsuit. Afterwards, you’ll drive to Phra That Cave, a remarkable mountain cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. After lunch, you’ll visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, established as a memorial dedicated to the Prisoners of War who were forced to build the 415-kilometre railway from Thailand to Burma during World War II. Next, you’ll trek through a nearby canyon and walk along the Hellfire Pass Memorial Walking Trail, which overlooks the hills of Myanmar.

Day 3

Kanchanaburi

After checking out of your hotel, you’ll take a historic ride on the Death Railway train, passing over the original wooden viaduct constructed by Allied POWs. After lunch, you’ll travel to Nakhon Pathom, stopping to visit Phra Pathom Chedi, the oldest Buddhist structure in Thailand. This impressive chedi can be seen from far away and is the largest Buddhist chedi in the world, standing at 120 meters high.

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