By rail
Kanchanaburi station, the historic line from Bangkok Thonburi
Southeast Asia · Thailand
Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Waterfalls, river rafts and wartime history
Getting there
By air
Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok (BKK), ~150 km
Best time to visit
November to February — dry and cooler
Don't miss
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Erawan Falls
The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
The Thailand–Burma Railway Centre
Things to do
Swimming the seven tiers of Erawan Falls
Riding the Death Railway
Rafting on the River Kwai
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: PumpkinSky · CC BY-SA 4.0
What to pack
Swimwear for the falls, walking shoes, insect repellent
A quieter corner
Hellfire Pass, a railway cutting with a quiet memorial walk
Questions travellers ask
Can I take the train to Kanchanaburi?
Yes, the historic line runs from Bangkok Thonburi to Kanchanaburi station. Flying in, Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok (BKK) is about 150 km away.
Can you swim at Erawan Falls?
Yes, you can swim the seven tiers of Erawan Falls, so pack swimwear, walking shoes and insect repellent.
Where can I learn about Kanchanaburi's wartime history?
Visit the Bridge on the River Kwai, the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre. Hellfire Pass, a railway cutting, has a quiet memorial walk.
When should I go to Kanchanaburi, and where should I eat?
November to February, when it's dry and cooler. For food, try the riverside floating restaurants or the night market by the station.
About Kanchanaburi
- Riverside
- Forest
Where it is
Kanchanaburi lies in western Thailand, west of Bangkok, where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers meet to form the Mae Klong, with forested hills and national parks stretching to the border with Myanmar.
History
Neolithic finds at Ban Kao and the Khmer-era temple of Prasat Muang Singh show how long these valleys have been settled, and the town guarded a route into Siam used by Burmese armies. In 1942–1943 the Japanese army forced Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers to build the Thailand–Burma Railway through the province, and many thousands died; the bridge over the Khwae Yai became famous through the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai.
People
Kanchanaburi's people speak Central Thai, and its western hills along the Myanmar border are home to Karen and Mon communities; at Sangkhla Buri the Mon Bridge, built by and for the people of the Mon village of Wangka, is the district's best-known landmark. Sugar cane and cassava farming, river fishing and tourism are local livelihoods.
Known for
- The Bridge on the River Kwai
- The seven tiers of Erawan Falls
- War cemeteries and Hellfire Pass
- Riding the Death Railway along the Khwae Noi
- Raft houses on the river
Did you know?
Sapphires were discovered near Bo Phloi in 1918, and the area was a major source of the gems in the 1980s and 1990s.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.