Burma-Thailand Railway - 4 Days River Kwai & Railway Explorer

Before the movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, the River Kwai was known as the Maeklong River. This unique four-day tour will take you on a journey following the Maeklong River from its lower reaches north to the River Kwai. Along the way, you will learn the story of the Burma-Thailand Railway and delight in the Thai culture and food and be wowed by the amazing scenery.

Day 1
Depart hotel: 7:00am
Finish: 3:30pm approx.

Depart your Bangkok hotel and travel west to visit the Maeklong Train Market on the lower reaches of the Maeklong River. Walk along the market that hugs the railway line observing local daily activity and then take a safe advantage point to witness the preparation for the train’s arrival as awnings are folded back and produce moved and then watch as the train passes by.

A short distance away is the Damneon Saduak Floating Market. Very touristy, but an interesting place to watch the locals selling their wares to people in canoes, on the canal. Take time to look around and be swept up by the hive of activity and after an early start, it is an excellent location to grab something to eat Try a coconut ice cream or mango and sticky rice (your guide will help)!! All tasty and cheap.

About 1.5 hours away, arrive at the JEATH Museum at Kanchanaburi on the now upper reaches of the Maeklong River. View the pictorial display showing some original photos of the Burma-Thailand Railway before enjoying a long tail boat ride travelling past the start of the River Kwai where the Kwai Noi River joins the Kwai Yae River and continuing further up the Kwai Yae, to gain a unique perspective of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai from the river itself.

Have lunch at the Floating Restaurant giving you an amazing view of the bridge as you eat. After lunch, take time to make the return walk across the bridge and then examine the nearby Japanese Memorial, built by the Japanese during the war in memory of all those who died in the construction of the railway. And finally, before making the short distance to your overnight accommodation, check out the original railway rolling stock kept on display at the nearby Bridge Station.

Arrive at your accommodation with time to enjoy the pool or a relaxing drink on the banks of the River Kwai with a good view of the Bridge over the River Kwai.

Meals: Lunch
Hotel: U Inchantree Kanchanaburi Resort (or similar)

Day 2
Depart hotel: 8:30am
Finish: 5:00pm approx. 

The first stop of the day is the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Walk around these beautifully landscaped grounds where nearly 7,000 POWs are buried or commemorated and begin to understand why the railway became known as the “Death Railway”.

Next, visit the nearby Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, a museum of world renown overlooking the war cemetery. Dioramas, artefacts (retrieved from various camps and work sites along the railway) and personal stories of POWs, all combine to give you a better appreciation of the railway story.

Take a short drive to the Kanchanaburi Railway Station where you will join the morning train on a still operating section of the Burma-Thailand Railway. Get off at Tham Krasae, the site of the spectacular Wang Pho Viaduct. Here the POWs built a series of bridges where the railway hugs the cliffs on one side and a steep drop to the River Kwai on the other. Explore the viaduct and Krasae Cave before having lunch at a nearby restaurant.

After lunch, travel to the Erawan National Park and the Erawan Waterfalls. Seven waterfalls in all, there is time for the energetic to do all seven. But for those wishing a more relaxed visit, the first three waterfalls are within easy walking distance and provide good opportunities to have a swim and escape the heat of the day.

Arrive at tonight’s accommodation, a ‘raft’ resort, where your room is located out over the River Kwai. Take time to relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the river flowing by, from your room.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Boutique Raft Resort (or similar) 

Day 3
Depart hotel: 8:30am
Finish: 4:30pm approx. 

Travel a little further north to an area rarely visited by Australians but significant to the POW story when constructing the railway. Inside the picturesque Saiyok National Park, is an area known as Kinsaiyok which was a major railway junction on the Burma-Thailand Railway. Stop at the site of the railway station where the remnants of the coal dumps still exist. See examples of the teak trees and understand why they were used in the building of bridges and viaducts along the railway. Visit the Japanese and POW camp site areas and the Japanese Ovens. Afterwards, discover the natural beauty of the park at the Saiyok Waterfalls on the River Kwai itself.

Head back down the highway and a short drive away is the Australian Government supported Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre. Displays, photos and dioramas depict the construction of the railway through this mountainous section and the hardships that the POWs had to endure. Walk down the stairway from the Centre to the disused railway bed below and proceed to Hellfire Pass. Be amazed at how this huge railway cutting was built with little more than basic hand tools while the POWs worked 16 to 17 hours a day. Take time for some quiet reflection on the sacrifices of the POWs at the Weary Dunlop and the Hellfire Pass Memorials.

Enjoy lunch and continue back towards Kanchanaburi. Visit the Passat Muang Sing Historical Park where the remains of two Khmer temples built in the 13th and 14th centuries, are located. Explore these intriguing ruins before taking the short trip to Kanchanaburi and your overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Natee, The Riverside Hotel Resort, Kanchanaburi (or similar)

Day 4
Depart hotel: 9:00am
Finish: 3:30pm approx.

Travel across the other side of the River Kwai, to the Chungkai War Cemetery. This was the site of the Chungkai POW railway construction camp and later, a hospital camp. As a mark of respect to those buried here take a moment of quiet reflection, then see the remnants of the death trenches that fortunately, were never used.

Return to Kanchanaburi and drive-by the residence of Boonpong who was instrumental in assisting sick POWs at risk to his own life. Visit his museum (if open) and then stop at the Kanchanaburi Skywalk which provides incredible views of Kanchanaburi, the mountains of the Kwai valley to the north and the confluence of the Kwai Rivers.

Begin your journey back to Bangkok. Have lunch along the way and discover your birth Buddha and colour when you visit the Phra Pathom Chedi at Nakhom Pathom, the largest Buddhist Pagoda in Thailand. Nearby, was a large POW hospital camp where the well-known Australian railway doctor, Weary Dunlop, was based from mid-1944 until the end of the war. The chedi is a substantial landmark and was clearly visible to the men at the camp.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Own arrangement

• Pick-up/Drop-off at your Bangkok hotel

• Accommodation (3 Nights)

• Meals as indicated (Note: Drinks not included)

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Comfortable, air-conditioned car/minivan with driver

• All touring as indicated

• Train & long tail boat rides

• All entrance fees (excluding Boonpong's residence)

• Airfares, passports and visa expenses

• Bangkok accommodation

• Meals and services not mentioned

• Entrance fee to Boonpong's residence

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.)

• Tips to Guide and Driver

If you find that you are unable to join a tour that has been booked, confirmed and paid in part or in full, the paid amount of that tour less any unrecoverable costs, may be converted to a voucher. The value of that voucher may be used towards the same tour with a later departure date or any other HWT tour.

If a refund is requested, the following cancellation fees may be deducted from the paid amount:

·      Greater than 10 days prior to tour start date - 10% of total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• 10 Days or less (including 'no show') prior to tour start date - No refund

• Greater than 10 days prior to tour start date - 10% of total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• 10 Days or less prior to tour start date (including 'no show') - No refund

Day 1:

• Maeklong Train Market - Moderate

• Damneon Saduak Floating Market - Moderate

• JEATH Museum - Low

• Long tail boat ride - Low

• Bridge over the River Kwai - Moderate-High

Day 2:

• Kanchanaburi War Cemetery - Low

• Thailand-Burma Railway Centre - Low-Moderate

• Train ride - Low

• Wang Pho Viaduct & Krasae Cave - Moderate

• Erawan Waterfalls - Moderate-High

Day 3:

• Saiyok National Park - Moderate-High

• Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre - Low

• Hellfire Pass – Moderate-High

• Passat Muang Sing Historical Park - Moderate

Day 4:

• Chungkai War Cemetery - Low

• Kanchanaburi Skywalk - Low-Moderate

• Phra Pathom Chedi – Moderate