Burma-Thailand Railway - 5 Days In the Footsteps of the Railway POWs

Day 1: (Transfer from Bangkok via Ban Pong; Museum; Local historical tour; Long-tail boat ride; Bridge on the River Kwai)

Meet 7:30am at your Bangkok hotel and travel to Kanchanaburi (about 3 hours from Bangkok) via Ban Pong where the POWs arrived from Singapore, by train. Continue and on arrival at Kanchanaburi, visit the 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 POW’s, all combine to give you a better appreciation of the railway story. Then, visit the adjacent Kanchanaburi War Cemetery before having lunch in the museum’s café.

In the afternoon, take a personally guided tour around Kanchanaburi visiting several significant railway locations. This includes the Aerodrome (& F Force transit) & Officers Camp, the F & H Force Hospital Camp where F Force survivors returned after completion of the railway, Chungkai Cemetery and site of the POW Camp, Chungkai Cutting and POW work area consisting of large embankments, bridges and cuttings.

Take a long-tail boat on the Kwai rivers to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Learn the true story of the Bridge including the nearby Tha Makham Camp which supplied the labour for the bridge. Finish with a visit and walk on the bridge before checking in at the U Inchantree Kanchanaburi Resort, a well-located resort on the river, within easy walking distance to the Bridge, a good restaurant, swimming pool and English-speaking staff.

Includes: Transfer from Bangkok in air-con vehicle with TBRC Guide, lunch & refreshments, admission to Museum/Research Centre, local historic tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, long-tail boat trip, accommodation.

Day 2: (Start of 2 Day personal historical tour with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide)

Check out at 8:30am for your historical tour following the railway. Visit the various camps along the way and learn the deep history of events. Proceed directly north through Lat Ya, Tha Dan and across country to Wang Yai and Tha Sao where they linked up with the railway. Continue up country through the camp sites of Kannyu and then to Kinsaiyok to view remnants of the railway.

Continue through the camp locations of Lin Thin, Hindat, Prang Kasi, Tha Khanun, (passing Tamuron Part, Konkoita, Shimo Ni Thea & Ni Thea). Finish the day exploring the area of Shimo Songkurai, learning about this difficult work area of F Force. Overnight at Suan Magmai Resort at nearby Sangklaburi (about 230kms from Kanchanaburi) not far from Three Pagodas Pass and the border with Myanmar (Burma).

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, all day historical tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, admission to Saiyok National Park for Kinsaiyok camp site access, accommodation.

Day 3: (Day 2 of personal historical tour with TBRC Researcher/Historian, TBRC Guide & Train trip)

After breakfast take in some of the interesting local cultural sights before departing for the short trip via the F Force camp sites and work areas of Songkurai and Kami Songkurai from May 1943, finishing at Three Pagodas Pass. Discover where the railway crossed from Thailand into Burma and where the seriously sick from F Force were taken to Thanbaya Hospital Camp in Burma towards the end of 1943.

Start the return trip along the railway visiting locations not covered on the previous day. This will include major sites such as Hellfire Pass (including the Australian Government operated Memorial and walking trail) and the Wang Pho Viaduct learning more on these remarkable work areas and their history. Return on the last leg of the journey by taking the train on the still-working section of railway from Tham Krasae back to Kanchanaburi. Arrive back late afternoon at the U Inchantree Kanchanaburi Resort.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, all day historical tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, train ride and accommodation.

Day 4: (Local interest/cultural sights and activities in the morning; Afternoon return journey to Bangkok)

The morning can be spent on local/cultural sights and activities prior to leaving for Bangkok. These include Prasat Muang Sing (ancient Khmer ruins) and Erawan National Park and waterfalls.

Early afternoon depart for Bangkok and on the way visit Nakhon Pathom where there was a large hospital camp set up for the chronically ill in 1944 and where the well-known Australian railway Doctor Weary Dunlop was based from mid-1944 until the end of the war. Visit the nearby Phra Pathom Chedi, the largest Buddhist Pagoda in Thailand and a substantial landmark very visible at the time to the men in the Nakhon Pathom camp. Continue to Bangkok and your hotel.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch & refreshments, TBRC Guide, morning and afternoon programs, all admission charges and air-con vehicle return to Bangkok.

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

• Accommodation (3 Nights)

• Meals as indicated (Note: Drinks not included)

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Railway Researcher/Historian as indicated

• Comfortable, air-conditioned car/minivan with driver

• All touring as indicated

• Train & long tail boat rideride

• Entrance fee - Thailand-Burma Railway Centre

• Airfares, passports and visa expenses

• Bangkok accommodation

• Meals and services not mentioned

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

• 30 Days or less (but more than 14 days) prior to your tour start date – 50% of the total amount + any unrecoverable costs

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

Day 1:

• Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (museum) – Low-Moderate

• Kanchanaburi War Cemetery – Low

• Afternoon historical tour – Low-Modate

• Long tail boat ride - Moderate

• Bridge over the River Kwai – Moderate-High

Day 2:

• Day 1 of historical tour to Three Pagodas Pass – Low-Moderate

Day 3:

• Day 2 of historical tour to Three Pagodas Pass – Low-Moderate

• Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre - Low

• Hellfire Pass – Moderate-High

• Wang Pho Viaduct – Moderate

• Train trip – Low

Day 4:

• Morning local/cultural sights – Low-Moderate

• Phra Pathom Chedi – Moderate