Hotels Guide Thailand
Where to stay in Kanchanaburi – town, river and national parks
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Central Thailand

Where to stay in Kanchanaburi – town, river and national parks

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Kanchanaburi town, the River Kwai raft resorts, Erawan and Sai Yok, and Sangkhla Buri compared. Where to stay and what to see.

Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok on the Myanmar border, combines Second World War history with waterfalls, rivers and forested national parks. It is close enough to Bangkok for a weekend but large enough to fill a week.

Choosing an area

  • Kanchanaburi town is the base for the Bridge over the River Kwai, the war cemeteries and the museums. Guesthouses and hotels line the river along Mae Nam Kwai Road.
  • Riverside and raft resorts along the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers, outside town, offer floating rooms and bungalows. Many are best reached by car or by the resort’s own boat.
  • Erawan and Si Sawat are convenient for Erawan National Park’s seven-tiered waterfall and Srinagarind Dam.
  • Sai Yok and Nam Tok are close to Hellfire Pass, the Sai Yok waterfalls and the end of the Death Railway line.
  • Sangkhla Buri, far to the north-west, is a peaceful town on a reservoir known for its long wooden Mon bridge.

When to go

The cool season from November to February is the most comfortable. Waterfalls are fullest at the end of the rainy season, around September to November. The River Kwai Bridge Week festival, with a sound-and-light show, is held in late November or early December.

Getting there and around

Trains run from Bangkok’s Thonburi station to Kanchanaburi and on along the historic Death Railway to Nam Tok. Buses and minivans leave from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal. To reach the national parks and Hellfire Pass, use local buses, hire a car with driver or rent a vehicle.

History

The Thailand–Burma Railway was built in 1942–43 by Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers forced to work by the Japanese army; tens of thousands died. The Kanchanaburi and Chungkai war cemeteries, the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre and the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre tell their story.

Things to do

  • Erawan Falls

    Seven tiers of turquoise pools in Erawan National Park. How to visit Erawan Falls, what to bring and when the water is best.

Festivals and events

  • River Kwai Bridge Week

    A light-and-sound show at the famous bridge, plus fairs and remembrance. When it happens and how to plan your stay.