Excursion to Kanchanaburi (1 or 2 days)
A popular excursion from Bangkok is a one or two day trip to Kanchanaburi. Easy to do by bus or train because the distance is only 130 km west of Bangkok. These types of excursions can be booked almost everywhere in Bangkok at the many booking offices and travel agencies or inquire at the reception of your hotel.
Discover the beautiful province of Kanchanaburi on a 1 or 2-day excursion and immerse yourself in its rich history, breathtaking nature and unique sights. You can also combine a trip to Kanchanaburi with an overnight stay in the River Kwai Jungle Rafts. These floating semi-detached houses are very popular for a special and romantic evening.
Kanchanaburi, is best known for the infamous Burma Railway, the Bridge over the River Kwai, the war museum and the honorary cemetery. But there is also a lot of natural beauty in this province, such as enchantingly beautiful waterfalls.
An excursion to Kanchanaburi usually starts with a visit to the infamous Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway. This more than 400 km long railway, which was supposed to connect Thailand with Burma, was built during the Second World War under appalling conditions by prisoners of war under pressure from the Japanese. There were many casualties.
To get an impression of the horrors, a visit to the war museum should not be missed. At the honorary cemetery you will also come across many graves of Dutch victims of the Burma railway.
A boat trip on the River Kwai is also recommended. An overnight stay at the floatel, a floating hotel with linked simple houses on a beautiful spot in a bend in the River Kwai, is a nice memory. From there you can explore the area such as a trip to a nearby Mon village. The Mon are an ethnic minority originally from Myanmar. But you can also opt for more activity such as rafting or hiking.
Another option is a trip to the Sai Yok waterfall in the tropical rainforest. You have a beautiful view of the waterfall from a wobbly suspension bridge. You can also visit the Lawa cave, where you enter the cave under the guidance of an experienced guide for an exciting exploration of the extensive tunnel system.
And then relax in your hammock on your floatel, a floating house on a linked bamboo raft. Oil lamps provide atmospheric lighting in the evening, because electricity is not available. Your room is simple but comfortable. Of course you do have a private bathroom.
1 or 2 days excursion to Kanchanaburi
Day 1: Start your adventure with a visit to the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai, a symbol of World War II history and an important part of the infamous 'Death Railway'. The Thailand-Burma Railway Center and nearby war cemetery are also worth a visit to learn more about the history of the railway and those who lost their lives during its construction.
After a morning of history, relax on a scenic train ride on the Death Railway. Enjoy the beautiful view of the river, the lush jungle and the impressive Wampo Viaduct. Stop at the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum to understand the harsh conditions under which POWs and forced laborers worked.
End your day with a visit to Erawan Falls, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. Erawan National Park is home to seven levels of waterfalls surrounded by a lush green forest. Take a refreshing dip in the natural pools and admire the beautiful surroundings.
Day 2 (optional): If you choose to take a XNUMX-day excursion, spend your second day exploring some of Kanchanaburi's other fascinating attractions. Take a trip to Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, a beautiful, easily accessible waterfall with crystal clear water.
Next, visit the historic village of Mallika, where you can step back in time and experience everyday life in the Siamese kingdom in the early 20th century. Learn traditional crafts, taste local food and take part in cultural activities.
End your two-day excursion with a visit to Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple), a beautiful temple complex with an impressive Buddha statue and stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Climb the steps to the top of the temple for breathtaking panoramic views of Kanchanaburi province.
A 1 or 2 day excursion to Kanchanaburi offers a perfect mix of history, nature and culture. Discover the impressive sights and enjoy the serene beauty of this beautiful province.
On Saturday and Sunday, the special excursion train runs from Bangkok Hua lampong station.
Departure 6.30.
Costs; 120 thb for a return
The train also stops at the bridge, then you take the train over the bridge on your way to Nakhon Pathom
Here a beautiful waterfall and some free time.
The journey to get there is impressive. Lots of nice views
And to think that there was work to be done. Each timetable represents 1 death.
Back in Kanchanaburi there is one more stop to visit the cemetery.
Return time Bangkok about 20.00pm
The journey gives a better impression that by mini bus.
The jungle rafts were set up by a Frenchman. I had a fantastic meal there with fine wine. Since the Frenchman has sold his rafts, the quality of the food has decreased considerably. On my last visit there was still a performance of Mon dancing on a raft: very interesting and incomparable to what we normally see. An absolute must with oil lamp light. There are also elephant camps in the area where a ride through nature can be made and a raft trip on a beautiful stream is included.
You can do the train tour yourself. Feel is used and when you follow the large group everything goes well. The train tour on Saturday is used extensively by the locals. Greenwood books good and reliable tours, but you can do these yourself much cheaper and more fun. Here you are really on the road with an outing that is also very much appreciated among the Thai people and how nice is it to fully integrate for a day. Just do it! I'm going to do it myself again in December.
I made the train journey on a Saturday in May with my wife and 13-year-old grandson.
Super cheap, but a long ride. Friendly conductors who also took an order for a meal on the way back, which wasn't much, but was also cheap and very pleasant.
The stops along the way were interesting and great attention was paid to all passengers so that no one would be left behind.
During the long journey, more and more contacts were made with Thais and the few "foreigners" present.
GREAT.
Jer
Perhaps a day at Elephants World. bookable in kanchanburi. Elephantsworld, unlike the other elephant camps, is a camp where the elephant does not have to work and does not have to go on rides with tourists. But despite that you have the day of your life. I volunteered there for a month and every day I saw the day tourists (who are necessary because feeding an elephant is very expensive) leave with a huge smile on their faces. And an additional plus, the lunch that is included in the price is fantastic. I wouldn't recommend it if I even remotely thought the elephants are treated badly. I first wanted to work in the tiger temple, but after 1 hour I had already seen it there; exploitation of animals, which are probably drugged. These animals are pulled and lashed in order to be photographed as favorably as possible with tourists, and there are dozens of them per hour.
Unfortunately, in 2019, I have to come back to this. I have volunteered for several years. I stopped doing it in 2017. The owners have dollar signs in their eyes. Elephants are no longer important. They now have to follow a strict program and are no longer allowed to go about their business. Continuous selfies with tourists, knowing and taking a bath when tourists want this... very sad, the males are hidden away in the bushes on a chain, while at the time people offered to pay for a bullproof fence. But they do not want to provide insight into the income, which is very strange. The owners would rather buy cars for themselves and males to breed (small elephants bring more visitors) than take good care of their elephants. I have seen so many elephants die unnecessarily. In short…my wonderful animal-friendly place…became hell on earth for elephants…all because of greed
Diana
Unfortunately, in many reservations, camps, or whatever you want to call it, it ends like this.
The lure of money making is difficult for many to resist and they do not want to face the consequences for, in this case, the elephants.
Still, I appreciate your honesty in retracting your previously posted message. Many would also turn their heads away from this.
Let's hope people come to their senses for those animals, but I think this is too much wishful thinking on my part.
Unfortunately.
It was always a great place where a lot of good work was done under the inspiring leadership of Agnes. Agnes didn't leave for nothing either. It's a pity that money wins out over love for the animals in the end. Fortunately, she has found a new place where they run a hands-off park. The elephants there are genuinely well cared for and you can see them up close but not go on rides or anything. The interests of the animals come first
An absolute must is Hell Fire Pass at 85km from Kanchanaburi. There you first realize the horrors that 18 and 19 year olds have had to endure in the 4 years of horror. Walking the Hell Fire Pass as a tourist is already very grueling
Do you have difficulty walking? There are electric carts that drive you down and back for free. The part you have to cover on foot is a flat part of about 250m below in pass.
Beautiful surroundings much to see from recent history from WW 2. Great ride with the train. We also spent the night on such a raft and ate well in the evening. However, the breakfast was even more special. With the raft half an hour upstream and back afterwards. Don't know anything about the quality of the breakfast. But certainly have never had breakfast in such a beautiful environment
Read a lot on this website in recent weeks, learned a lot. First wanted to make a tour but now I'm actually ready to go on my own. Still, this raises the question for me that if you, for example, make a trip from Bankok to RiverKwai for a few days, where you leave all your luggage. I don't think it's worth carrying it around with you. Does anybody have experience with this?
If you come back to the same hotel in Bangkok, you can usually leave luggage there.
In most hotels you can leave your luggage for a small fee. I often do because I always take too much with me. If you then come to collect your luggage, you will still stay in the hotel for 1 or more days. That's a kind of customer loyalty.
Kanchanaburi has so much to offer that one or two days is not enough.
Hell fire pass an absolute must
Been living there for a year now, after several years in Bangkok.
If you come from Bangkok you are normal because air pollution is concerned.
But despite the beautiful nature, we have not been spared from air pollution here either.
mainly because of the burning of the fields. Shame.
Not really healthy at the moment, but I have the impression that we are past the worst.
https://www.airvisual.com/thailand/kanchanaburi
Just come back from Kanchanaburi. Reasonably beautiful nature, butrrrrrr…..absolutely bad air quality. Beats Bangkok, Pattaya and Korat by lengths. For lung patients ( me ) a downright disaster.
It hasn't been good for the last 2 months. Even bad.
But the fact that Bangkok is correct in terms of length is also nonsense. I lived in Bangkok for too long before that. Moreover, Bangkok is bad all year round. Kanchanaburi only a few months.
Kanchanaburi
https://www.airvisual.com/thailand/kanchanaburi
Bangkok
https://www.airvisual.com/thailand/bangkok
I mean, of course, air quality on an annual basis. At certain times, and when burning large quantities, there can certainly be peak periods that exceed those of Bangkok.
But in the meantime it has already subsided and I think we are gradually heading to the end. Although I saw some fields burning last night and it will take some time before everything is back to normal.
Fortunately, in our house in Kanchanaburi it is not the case that everything is blackened by the emissions from traffic and industry, as is/was the case in our Bangkok house.
By the way, there are now also enough resources to consult the air quality via the internet.
Then use it as a lung patient, I would say, and don't look it up either.
There are devices that purify the air in your room.
The light indicates how the air quality in your room is / will be.
When it slowly changes from red to blue, the air quality gets better and better.
Bought from Lotus for 4000 Baht
Know them. About 5 years ago, I was allowed to use such a device for a few days as a test by someone we knew who distributed such devices. Looked like a mobile air conditioner. It was a lot more expensive to purchase than the 4000 Baht. I thought it was more like around 20 Baht and that meant having to buy new filters every so often, which also had their price.
Actually, my sentence was over immediately, but with us everything is open all day and therefore of little use.
We then put it in the bedroom and it took hours for the light to go from red to orange, but eventually we woke up in the morning with a green light. Yes, maybe you have a healthy bedroom air if you close the room and let that thing run all day and night, but of course a day lasts longer than the hours of sleep you spend in that room.