Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi: Where Tragic History Meets Breathtaking Nature

Welcome to Kanchanaburi, a sprawling province just a few hours west of Bangkok that will truly take your breath away... and then make you stop and think. This is a land of two powerful stories. One is of jaw-dropping natural beauty, with turquoise waterfalls, lush jungles, and serene rivers. The other is a dark, poignant tale of war, sacrifice, and the infamous "Death Railway."

It's this incredible contrast that makes Kanchanaburi one of Thailand's most compelling and unforgettable destinations. Ready for an adventure thatā€™s both thrilling and deeply moving?

What's the Vibe in Kanchanaburi?

Kanchanaburi is a must-do for any traveller. Itā€™s an essential part of the Thailand story.

An orange and red train crosses the iconic Bridge on the River Kwai, a black metal trestle bridge, over the wide river in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, viewed from a lush, green bank under a blue sky with clouds.

The Kanchanaburi Bucket List: Waterfalls, Railways & Reflection

You'll need a few days here. Trust us.

Hike the 7 Tiers of Erawan National Park

This is the superstar! Erawan Falls is a spectacular seven-tiered waterfall that cascades down a mountainside into dozens of emerald-green and turquoise pools. The hike up can be a fun scramble, and you can swim in most of the pools along the way. Don't be surprised if the local fish come to nibble your feetā€”it's a free spa treatment! šŸ 

Walk the Bridge on the River Kwai

This is the landmark you've read about. The infamous Bridge on the River Kwai is a surviving portion of the "Death Railway," built by Allied prisoners of war and forced labourers under horrific conditions during WWII. Walking its tracks is a powerful, humbling experience.

Ride the Death Railway

Don't just see the bridge, ride the rails! A section of the original Death Railway is still in use today. The train ride from Kanchanaburi (or the bridge) to Nam Tok is one of the most scenic in Thailand, clinging precariously to the side of a cliff as it winds through the jungle and over the trestle viaducts built by the POWs.

Pay Your Respects at Hellfire Pass

Prepare for a deeply moving experience. Hellfire Pass is a 500-meter-long railway cutting that was dug by hand through solid rock by POWs, many of whom died during its construction. You can walk through the pass itself while listening to an audio guide that recounts the survivors' stories. The adjacent museum is excellent and essential for understanding the history.

Sleep on a Floating Raft House

For a truly unique Kanchanaburi experience, skip the hotel and book a night on a floating raft house on the River Kwai Noi. These rustic (and sometimes luxurious!) bungalows float right on the water. Spend your days reading in a hammock, leaping into the river, and letting the gentle current drift you downstream. Itā€™s pure relaxation.

How to Get There

Kanchanaburi is very accessible from Bangkok.

By Train: The best way! A scenic, leisurely train departs Bangkok's Thonburi Station a couple of times a day and takes you right to the Kanchanaburi city center and even to the bridge itself.

By Bus/Minivan: The fastest and most frequent option. Buses and minivans leave from Bangkok's bus terminals (like Mo Chit and the Southern Bus Terminal) all day long and take about 2-3 hours.

Pro-Tip: Kanchanaburi province is huge! To explore the waterfalls and Hellfire Pass (which are far from the city), it's best to rent a scooter or car.

The Provinces of Central & Western Thailand...

Wat Muang is located in Hua Taphan sub-district, Wiset Chai Chan district. It is presumed that the temple was constructed in the late Ayutthaya Era

Ang Thong

View of the Chao Phraya River looking south from Bang Rak

Bangkok

A golden Buddha statue nestled on a hillside.

Chai Nat

An ancient temple.

Kamphaeng Phet

Macaque monkeys play on the green entrance sign for the ancient stone temple of Phra Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi, Thailand.

Lopburi

A high-angle, scenic view looking along the crest of the massive Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, with its reservoir on one side and a lush green valley and forested hills on the other, under a partly cloudy sky.

Nakhon Nayok

The magnificent golden stupa of Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, glows against a deep blue twilight sky, with a Buddhist monk in orange robes standing in the foreground courtyard.

Nakhon Pathom

A panoramic view from a high vantage point in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, looking out over a dramatic, forest-covered limestone peak and a vast plain of green and yellow patchwork agricultural fields stretching to the horizon under a blue, cloudy sky.

Nakhon Sawan

A modern cable-stayed bridge with a distinctive pylon topped by a golden, traditional Thai spire, spanning a wide river in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The foreground is filled with green water hyacinths under a clear blue sky.

Nonthaburi

A traditional Thai temple with an orange-tiled roof sits in the middle of a tranquil pond in Pathum Thani, Thailand. A large, ornate Naga serpent statue encircles the structure, its body forming a walkway leading to the entrance. The building and a blue sky are reflected in the water, and the scene is framed by dark green leaves in the foreground.

Pathum Thani

A scenic view of the Wat Pha Sorn Kaew temple complex in the mountains of Phetchabun, Thailand. A massive, white seated Buddha statue and an ornate, golden pagoda are nestled in the lush green hills, with layers of distant mountains visible in the background.

Phetchabun

A white pickup truck with a boat trailer parked on the dirt shore of a large, calm lake in Phetchaburi, Thailand. In the distance, mountains line the horizon under an overcast sky, with dramatic sunbeams breaking through the clouds and shining onto the water.

Phetchaburi

The ancient brick ruins of a temple in Phichit, Thailand, are illuminated by the warm, golden light of sunset, with surrounding trees and a clear sky.

Phichit

A scenic, high-angle view of the patchwork rice paddies in Phitsanulok province, Thailand. The fields, some flooded with water and others a vibrant green, stretch towards a line of dense trees with rolling hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Phitsanulok

The red brick ruins of the ancient temples at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Thailand, with crumbling walls in the foreground and several towering prangs against a blue sky with clouds.

Pra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

An elevated, panoramic view of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand at sunset. A red-roofed temple is nestled in the foreground, overlooking a vast landscape of winding rivers, aquaculture farms, and a small town, with dramatic limestone mountains rising in the hazy, golden-lit background.

Prachuap Khiri Khan

A long-exposure photograph of a river with milky, flowing water cascading over smooth, dark boulders, surrounded by the lush green trees of a forest in Ratchaburi, Thailand.

Ratchaburi

A riverside view of Phra Samut Chedi in Samut Prakan, Thailand, at sunset. The chedi is brightly illuminated in pink and white, reflecting on the calm water next to a traditional temple and docked boats under a colourful sky.

Samut Prakan

A large, golden statue of a mythical bird stands before an ornate Thai temple in Samut Sakhon, featuring a multi-tiered red and gold roof, all set against a clear blue sky.

Samut Sakhon

A red and yellow train approaches on a track running directly through the center of a bustling market in Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Crowds of tourists stand inches from the track, holding up their phones to photograph the train as it passes the colourful market stalls.

Samut Songkhram

A wide stone staircase with ornate Naga serpent railings leads up to the magnificent golden Mondop of Wat Phra Phutthabat temple in Saraburi, Thailand, under a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Saraburi

A white Thai temple in Sing Buri with an ornate, multi-tiered red and gold roof. In the foreground, on a manicured green lawn, are several colourful and whimsical statues, including two large pink rabbits, a rooster, and a black elephant.

Sing Buri

An aerial view of the sprawling temple ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand, showing numerous ancient brick stupas and pillars set amongst green lawns, trees, and ponds, with mountains visible in the distance under a warm, hazy sky.

Sukothai

A massive, golden dragon statue at the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri, Thailand. The dragon is coiled over stylized clouds with its mouth wide open, spouting a cascade of water onto a structure below. Visitors walk on the paved plaza in front of the immense statue under a clear blue sky.

Suphan Buri

An aerial view of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province, Thailand, a large, curved concrete structure surrounded by lush green mountains and a vast reservoir under a cloudy sky.

Tak

An ornate, multi-tiered golden temple in Uthai Thani, Thailand, featuring intricate gables and numerous pointed spires set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. In the foreground is a manicured garden with red flowers and green hedges.

Uthai Thani