Kanchanaburi: River Kwai Bridge & Burma Railway Tour
Activity provider: I Asia Thailand
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This is an 11-hour guided day trip from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, built around the Bridge on the River Kwai and the Thailand-Burma Railway, known as the Death Railway. It suits anyone interested in the history of the Second World War in Thailand, and it is listed as suitable for all fitness levels. The group is capped at 15, with a professional Thai local guide in Thai or English.
What the day looks like
The River Kwai stop is the longest block of the day, with about 300 minutes allowed, and it includes a long-tailed speedboat ride. The Khwae Yai River flows for around 380 kilometres through Kanchanaburi Province. A buffet lunch is included.
The Bridge on the River Kwai gets 30 minutes. It is part of the Death Railway, built between 1942 and 1943 to link Kanchanaburi with Rangoon, a line of about 415 kilometres. Many visitors know the bridge from the 1957 film or from Pierre Boulle’s book. The tour also includes a train ride along the Death Railway.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery follows, for about 20 minutes. It is the main prisoner of war cemetery for those who died building the Burma Railway, and it sits beside an older Chinese cemetery. The JEATH War Museum is the last stop, also for about 20 minutes. It is a small museum, opened in 1977, with original photographs, letters and drawings of the prisoners’ conditions, and one gallery built from bamboo in the style of their attap shelters. Entry to both is included.
Good to know
- Included: the speedboat ride, buffet lunch, air-conditioned transport, the Death Railway train ride, all entrance fees, the guide and hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Not included: personal expenses, and the mandatory seat fee for the train, which is paid in cash to the guide at the station.
- Pickup: centrally located Bangkok hotels only, and you need to give your hotel details when you book.
- Timings: the guide and group can adjust the time at each stop. Plan your day around that.
- Kanchanaburi: see the Kanchanaburi guide for more on the area.
Itinerary
River Kwai
The Khwae Yai River, also known as the Si Sawat, is a river in western Thailand. It has its source in the Tenasserim Hills and flows for about 380 kilometres through Sangkhla Buri, Si Sawat, and Mueang Districts of Kanchanaburi Province, where it merges with the Khwae Noi to form the Mae Klong River at Pak Phraek.
River Khwae Bridge
The bridge on the river Kwai, that many people know from the 1957 movie with the same name or from the book by Pierre Boulle is part of the infamous Death Railway, built during World War II from 1942 to 1943. The railway connected Kanchanaburi in Western Thailand with Rangoon in Myanmar, called Burma back then, and was about 415 kilometers long. On both ends construction began in June 1942 working towards each other. In October 1943 the two sides met, finishing the railway.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is the main prisoner of war cemetery for victims of Japanese imprisonment while building the Burma Railway. It is on the main road, Saeng Chuto Road, through the town of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, adjacent to an older Chinese cemetery.
JEATH War Museum
This small museum, opened in 1977, mostly focuses on the terrible ordeals of the POWs who built the Death Railway. Their harsh living conditions are shown in many original photos, letters and drawings from that time as well as personal effects and war relics, including an unexploded Allied bomb dropped to destroy the bridge. One of the three galleries is built from bamboo in the style of the shelters (called attap) the POWs lived in.
Included
- Long-tailed speedboat ride
- Buffet lunch
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Train ride along the Death Railway (exclude 300 Baht Seat Fee)
- All Entrance Fees
- Professional Thai local guide
- Hotel pick up and drop-off (centrally located Bangkok hotels only)
Not Included
- Any personal expenses
- Mandatory Fee for Seat on the train
Good to know
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Before you go
Suitable for all physical fitness levels You must provide your hotel details at time of booking, failure to do so may result in cancellation Child rate is priced for children lower than 100cm tall. If Over 100cm, please pay the adult rates. Timings at each part of the tour may be changed at the discretion of the guide and the group 300baht is payable by all guests on the train which will include a guaranteed seat. This can be paid at the train station in cash to the guide. This tour can be taken
Frequently Asked Questions
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