Private Tour
Full-Day Kanchanaburi River Kwai & Death Railway Private Tour
Overview
Available languages
10 hours
Mobile ticket
Travel west from Bangkok into historic heart of Kanchanaburi, where memories of World War II echo along banks of River Kwai. This full-day private tour brings you face to face with one of darkest chapters in Asia's history, building of infamous Death Railway by Allied prisoners of war.
Guide and driver welcome you early morning for 3-hour journey westwards where city skyline disappears for rural Thailand. First pay respect at Allied Cemetery, final resting place of close to 7000 prisoners-of-war who perished during construction.
Visit Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, interactive museum with eight themed galleries. Short boat trip follows bringing guests to foot of famous Bridge over River Kwai, immortalized in film. Board local train over original parts of Death Railway offering scenic experiences.
Journey traces original tracks, museums, and war memorials. Local Thai lunch served before return to Bangkok around 5pm, arriving with moving memories of incredible resilience and loss.
Additional Info
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply.
Transfers are only operated within the downtown Bangkok areas and restricted to main hotels only. Regions outside the central business district such as Khao San Road, Rattanakosin, Nonthaburi, Thonburi, Minburi, both International Airports, Ratchadapisek and upper Sukhumvit (Soi 55 and further) are excluded and supplementary charges apply
We regret that are unable to provide pick-up and drop-off transfer services from and to apartment complexes, local guest houses or private apartments. We advise you kindly to head on your own arrangement to the nearest hotel inside the downtown Bangkok area.
We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant; • Due to the nature of this tour, we regret to inform you that this excursion is not suitable for wheelchair users.
We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
The protection of the country’s flora and fauna is of immense importance for us. We will not pursue any activities for guests that are not in line with our animal, wildlife and environment protection principles.
It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Customers are warmly welcomed by our guide and driver at your hotel lobby early in the morning. The road westwards to downtown Kanchanaburi will take approximately 3 hours where the city skyline slowly disappears and makes way for the more suburban and rural side of Thailand. Upon arrival in downtown Kanchanaburi, we first pay respect to the Prisoners-of-War at the Allied Cemetery who perished during the construction. The well-maintained cemetery is the final resting place of close to 7000 prisoners-of-war who perished during the construction of the "Death Railway.
The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre
Right next to the cemetery lies the Thailand - Burma Railway Centre, an interactive museum with information and research facility dedicated to presenting the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway trough eight themed galleries.
What‘s Included
A professional English-speaking guide.
Transportation by car / mini-van / coach with professional driver
All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
All taxes and service fees
Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)
Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees
Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement
Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)
Pickup points
Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort
257/1-3 Charoennakorn Rd, Samrae Thonburi Bangkok Thailand
Bangkok City Hotel
268 Petchburi Road Bangkok Thailand
Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
155 Rajadamri Road Bangkok Thailand
Century Park Hotel
9 Ratchaprarop Road, Pratunam-Victory Monument Bangkok Thailand
Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
2 Sukhumvit Soi 57, Klongtan Nua, Wattana, Klongtan Nua, Wattana Bangkok Thailand
Options
Private Tour (25-26) season
Pickup included
Reviews
35 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Not good!
reginahernaez,Nov 4, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We were not able to see the bridge over river Kwai because the guide didn’t speak good English and she’s hard to understand. She just made a lot of pointing, didn’t give us our ticket to the museum and we totally missed going to the bridge. We were taken to a public waterfalls. We hated this tour. On our way back to Bangkok it took us 5 hours because the driver didn’t use the highway!
Excellent service
loralees62,Oct 17, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour is very good! The guide is knowledgeable and kept us all on track so we didn't run over time. The short train ride is beautiful, and the lunch was excellent.
Trip to short.
Holiday2710,Oct 14, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Only spent three quarters of an hour at the bridge. The rest of the day spent on train and waterfall. As the tour was for the bridge I was very disappointed. There was nearly one and a half hours at some waterfall when we could have spent the day at the bridge, had a meal etc. Total waste.
Great trip but a very long day!
candc2015,Sep 22, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We found this trip to be really fascinating and very moving. However, whilst our guide was excellent it is a very long day - over 12 hours from our pick up to return into Bangkok. Might have been better to avoid a Friday as the afternoon traffic in BKK is even worse than usual.
full day and not expensive
Flyer681855,Aug 22, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00really enjoyed the trip as we had the car to ourselves which made it very relaxing. guide was very good and new a lot about what we were seeing.
A full day trip worth the cost
John G,Jul 22, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Asian tours organised our collections to join the main large bus ( lrg busses not allowed in city center). It is a long trip so be prepared with water. There is a stop about half way for toilet and a coffee. Have small notes on you for food. Our hotel provides a pack breakfast and we found this very handy as we would other miss out. The bridge is very poniont as well as the museum. Great educational history. Lunch is rustic but good local food and toilets adiquate. Mobility can be accomodated at all loctions. not much to buy if you want surveniers except at the museum. Good coffee and snacks at museum and as it is a long trip do not go hungry especially if you are unsure of eating Thai food. Train ride is an experience not to be missed as well as water buffello stopping our bus. Our guide was a laugh but informative and friendly. We enjoyed the day out but be prepared for a long day
River Kwai
Alexander R,May 5, 2019
- Review from Viator
4.00Tour is very interesting, good organized. Guide is professional but his English hard to understand ——————————————————————————————————
River Kwai
Y5169ZApaulinew,Apr 26, 2019
- Review from Viator
5.00Trip was well organised and was full packed. Please be prepared for it being a very long day. Food was wonderful. Overall a very pleasing trip.
Must see location
William E,Apr 16, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Visiting the bridge was on my bucket list and I wasn't disappointed. I stayed on the river and arranged my own "tour" which was very easy, simple to do. A great trip, nice, helpful folks everywhere I went.
Highly recommend!
DianaB319,Mar 16, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This trip packs in a lot for just one day and is excellent value for what you get. Hotel pick up and drop off. Lunch. Entry fees, train trip and boat ride! And lots of extra nice touches. Wow we were very happy! When you get to the museum, don’t muck about reading everything - buy the big red book. 250baht. Have a good look at the displays and leave yourself about 20 mins to walk around the cemetery across the road. Wear your life jacket on the long boat - for comfortable padding on the wooden seats. Sam, our guide was a darling. Very knowledgeable, organised and caring. Lunch was amazing- far exceeded our expectations and was all ready for us when we arrived. For 150baht we upgraded our carriage on the train. Comfortable, spacious and free water. The alternative will give you the local experience which would be good too. There is no mucking about on this trip and the ride back to Bangkok in the luxury coach was very relaxing after a fairly big day.
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Operated by Asian Trails LTD