Leave the bustling city of Bangkok behind for a full-day journey to Kanchanaburi, a province steeped in both history and natural beauty. This tour provides a moving glimpse into the legacy of the Death Railway while showcasing the lush landscapes of Erawan National Park.
Your day begins with a visit to the iconic Bridge on the River Kwai, a poignant symbol of courage and suffering during World War II. Built as part of a strategic railway to Burma, the bridge was constructed under brutal conditions by Allied prisoners of war, along with local laborers. Work that Japanese engineers expected to take at least five years was completed in just 16 months. The harsh reality of forced labor, malnutrition, illness, and mistreatment claimed the lives of more than 100,000 workers. Visiting the bridge is a powerful reminder of this difficult chapter in history.
From the bridge, embark on a short longtail boat ride along the river to the JEATH War Museum, taking in the scenic surroundings. The acronym JEATH stands for the primary nationalities involved in the construction of the railway: Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, and Holland. This small museum displays original tools, photographs, and a bamboo hut replicating the shelters where prisoners lived. You can even see a dud bomb left from an Allied attempt to destroy the bridge.
After a reflective morning, we continue to Erawan National Park to immerse yourself in its stunning natural beauty. The park is home to the famous seven-tiered Erawan Falls, named after the three-headed elephant of Hindu mythology. The emerald pools invite a refreshing swim, while a hike to the top of the falls rewards you with panoramic views over the lush jungle.
At the end of a full day of history and nature, relax on the journey back to Bangkok, where you’ll be dropped off at your original meeting point, taking with you memories of both the region’s breathtaking scenery and its remarkable story.
Important notes:
- The journey from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, with an additional 1.5 hours from Kanchanaburi city to Erawan National Park. It’s a long day, but packed with fascinating history and stunning natural beauty, making every moment worthwhile.
Pick up/Meeting point:
We provide hotel pick-up only from accommodations located on/near Khao San Road and on Siam Square.
If you are not an actual guest at one of the hotels in our pick-up area, the designated meeting point will be our office on Chao Khamrop Road in Chinatown. Our office in Chinatown is just a short 5-minute walk from Wat Mangkon MRT (metro) station.
For the exact location of our WanderSiam office on Google Maps, please click HERE.
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58 Comments
5
Awesome experiencing the RiverKwai & Erawan waterfalls
We had an amazing day with our tour guide Rampai who was very personable and knowledgeable. Mr Eak our driver got us there safely and in good time. Seeing & walking on the River Kwai Bridge was a great experience and the Erawan National Park waterfalls are so beautiful!
Highly recommend this tour.
5
Great Tour!
This is a great tour! It is a very long day (over 6 hrs of driving) but the railway and falls are worth it. Pai was a great guide! She gave us so much history and good information along the way and was so easy to be with. She even climbed all seven levels of the falls with us! We had a great lunch overlooking the river and the falls were beautiful. At the end of the tour, Pai even stayed with us until we were safely in our taxi. Our driver, Mr Eak was also exceptional. He was very nice and we felt safe with him on the busy roads.
5
Erawan Falls is truly a beaut!
Appreciate the fact that it was a small group, and the guide of the day, Pai as well as Khun Driver were just perfect ambassadors!
Truly recommend the trip!
5
A fantastic experience
Surina was the perfect tour guide for this amazing day. She had an immense passion and knowledge for the history and was incredibly warm, welcoming and kind. would highly recommend both her and this tour for an unforgettable day 🙂
5
Great experience with knowledgeable guide
5. It was informative, beautiful and a once in a lifetime experience. The hike up to the 7 waterfalls was beautiful but know that it can be physically demanding. There are plenty of beautiful places to stop along the way. Take a dip in some of the pools of water to refresh yourself.