Things to do in Kanchanaburi Province

This full-day tour begins when you meet with the group and drive to ElephantsWorld. Learn about this sanctuary for old and rescued elephants, who will spend their remaining years well cared for in a natural environment. Help care for the animals by feeding them, gathering food and bathing them. Around noon, enjoy a buffet lunch before heading out to see the major attractions of Kanchanaburi. Visit the Bridge on the River Kwai, which is part of the infamous Death Railway, built by prisoners during World War II. Continue your tour with a stop at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the final resting place of 6,982 allied prisoners who died during the construction of the railway.

Tour the region of Kanchanaburi in West Thailand and uncover local history on this guided day trip. During this memorable day trip from Bangkok, visit the Death Railway which was put on the map by the 1957 movie, 'Bridge Over the River Kwai.' Begin at one of the country’s best-loved national parks, Erawan National Park. Connect with pristine nature at the Erawan Waterfall which has seven tiers, turquoise pools, and a set of limestone caves at its base.  Continue to the JEATH Museum, dedicated to the Allied Prisoners of War who died building the Burmese railway. This museum is a sad yet important reminder of Thailand’s history. It’s thought that over 100,000 lives were lost during this period.  Finally, visit the historic Bridge over the River Kwai. Have the chance to walk over the bridge, admire the impressive scenery, and take a moment to remember the past, before returning to your accommodations/meeting point in the evening. 

You’ll start your adventure with an early pickup before heading to the elephant sanctuary. ElephantsWorld is a conservation organization dedicated to helping these intelligent and proud creatures. Once there, you’ll listen to an introduction and safety briefing before preparing food for the elephants. Get down and dirty and give the elephants a mud bath before heading to the river to rinse them off. There will be some time to shower before you tuck in to a delicious buffet lunch. After helping yourself to delicious Thai dishes, feed the elephants the food you prepared earlier. At Erawan National Park, you’ll trek through the lush forests and caves before arriving at Erawan Waterfall. This famous seven-tiered beauty with its emerald pools is a great place to take a dip or simply relax and enjoy the scenery.

Learn about the construction of the Burma Railway, also known as the “Death Railway,” on this 10-hour historical tour to Kanchanaburi, approximately 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of Bangkok. Upon arrival, you will tour the well-kept War Cemetery, where the graves of an estimated 9,000 Allied soldiers are tended. They perished while constructing the notorious "Death Railway,” which the Japanese had hoped would stretch all the way to the Burmese border. Uncover the terrible history of the railway at the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, an interactive museum, research, and information center dedicated to presenting the story of the Thailand-Burma Railway built during World War II. See the past recreated and relived with pictures and artifacts. You will also ride a train along the original Death Railway track, with a sumptuous lunch awaiting at the disembarkation station. Return to Bangkok in the late afternoon for your hotel drop-off.

Benefit from very early morning pickup at your hotel in Bangkok, and then travel by private, air-conditioned vehicle to Kanchanaburi, established in the late 18th century by King Rama I as a defensive outpost against attack from Burma. Visit the interactive Burmese Railway Museum, dedicated to presenting the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway built by the Empire of Japan in 1943. See period photos and models to get a better understanding of the background of what happened during World War II. Pay your respects at the War Cemetery and visit the memorial to some 6,000 Allied prisoners of war. Then, take a scenic train ride on the notorious Death Railway, constructed by prisoners of war on the orders of the Japanese. Break for a local lunch at a restaurant, before travelling back to Bangkok.

Day 1: In the early morning at 7:30AM, your personal guide and driver will meet you at your hotel lobby in Bangkok. You will begin with a visit to the floating market of Damnoen Saduak. Close to the market you will board a fast long-tail boat, which will bring you through the narrow "khlongs" to the market. At the market you will enjoy watching farmers selling fruit and many kinds of local products in their boats. If you want, you can take one of the paddle boats to cruise through the market (optional). Following this great experience, you will continue your trip to the bridge over the River Kwai, the Allied Forces Cemetery, and the JEATH war museum. You will then travel once more by long-tail boat to the Jungle Raft, a unique, floating hotel in the middle of the jungle, made from wood and bamboo. The resort offers a unique accommodation experience right on the flowing Kwai Noi River. All floating rooms are tucked into a floating bamboo lodge moored along the historic River Kwai Noi and surrounded by lush green mountains and jungle. At this "floatel", the historic River Kwai Noi flows underneath your bed. The walls are weaved from local bamboo decorated with wooden furniture reflecting the Mon living style (hotel subject to availability). Day 2: Following breakfast, your guide will take you by long-tail boat back to your private vehicle. After another 45 minutes to 1 hour of travel will take you to Erawan National Park, where you will find the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand: the Erawan Waterfalls. The waterfall consists of 7 plateaus, and you can hike to the highest level through a small jungle path. After reaching the top, you will still have plenty of time to discover the natural fish spas, see the natural shaped slides, and go for a swim. Following lunch, you will be taken back to your hotel in Bangkok.

Take a relaxing break in the peaceful and natural surroundings of Elephants World. Visit the Erawan National Park and swim in the clear pools. Start your adventure by heading to the elephant sanctuary. Elephants World is an environmental conservation organization and animal rescue facility dedicated to helping ill, old and abused elephants. Listen to an introduction and safety briefing before preparing to feed the elephants. Get down and dirty and give the elephants a mud bath before heading to the river to rinse them off. There will be some time to shower before you tuck into a delicious buffet lunch. After helping yourself to delicious Thai dishes, feed the elephants the food you prepared earlier. At Erawan National Park, trek through lush forests and caves before arriving at Erawan Waterfall. Enjoy the impressive 7-tiered waterfall and emerald pools. Take a dip or simply relax and enjoy the abundance of native flora and fauna around you.

Meet and greet your guide at the lobby of your hotel in Bangkok at 7 AM. Start your full day private tour to the highlights of Kanchanaburi province and the most important WW2 memorial sites. The drive to Kanchanaburi province will take about 2 hours. First, visit the JEATH war museum, war cemetery and the Bridge over the River Kwai. Learn about how the notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. Discover all of the bridge's history at the museum. Afterward, take a train ride on the Death Railway. After lunch and another 45min drive, see and learn more about the history at the Hell Fire Pass and Memorial. End the day with a visit to one of the most beautiful waterfalls of the country, Saiyoke Noi. Enjoy time to relax and take in the beautiful environment. Finally, head back to your accommodation in Bangkok.

Enjoy your full-day private tour from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi with your personal tour guide. Start with pickup from your hotel in Bangkok in the early morning. Visit the top destinations in Kanchanaburi by a private air-conditioned car. Begin your trip by visiting Bridge Over the River Kwai, the famous attraction of Kanchanaburi which was made famous by the movie of the same name. Continue to Erawan Waterfall National Park, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand with an altitude of 500 meters above sea level. Walk from the national park office to the waterfall. Relax at the waterfall or take an optional trek up to the top of the waterfall on the 7th tier (about 1,500 meters). After the waterfall, enjoy an optional lunch at a local restaurant. Visit Krasae Buddha cave and board the train to ride along the former railway for about 30 minutes. Then return to your hotel in Bangkok.

You’ll start bright and early and head to Srinakarin Lake, built as a result of the Srinakarin Dam on the Kwai Yai River. The peaceful lake offers fantastic views of the reservoir and the surrounding mountains and forests. Admire the lakeside views and get your photos in before heading to your next destination.  Erawan National Park is named after the three-headed white elephant in Hindu mythology. The park is most famous for housing the Erawan Waterfall, a cascade that tumbles down seven tiers – said to resemble the god Erawan. Take a quick dip in the emerald green pools, scout the nearby caves, and take in the lush surrounding forest of the park before digging in to a tasty lunch at a local restaurant. Up next is the infamous Siam-Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway. Ccatch a train and chug past stunning views of the Tham Krasae Bridge and River Kwai. You’ll end the day with a stop at the Bridge On The River Kwai, where you’ll learn about its cultural and historical significance while admiring fantastic views.