3D2N itinerary to Kanchanaburi: A personal review of what we experienced and how you can do it too!

Arrive @ Suvarnabhumi Airport / Don Mueang Airport

On Day 1, we arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and were promptly picked up by our Klook driver. (For a group of 5 with our month’s worth of luggage in tow, the car was surprisingly big and comfy with reclinable cars too!)

First stop, a little history and photo-taking – Bridge over River Kwai

We slowly made our way to Kanchanaburi only stopping once at a mid-way 7-11 to load up on snacks and drinks before heading to our first stop, the famous Bridge over River Kwai.

Bridge over River Kwai is famous for 2 reasons, a movie in 1957 inspired by the war history of the bridge and its connection to the Death Railway. Second, despite its bloody past, it’s a picturesque location great for photos.

Photo via rachellamay-kasia.durlej

When we were walking over the bridge, we saw local musicians providing a soundtrack to our first adventure with traditional music instruments, an old lady selling fish to be bought and released into the river below for good merit and blessings – as well as locals indulging in a spot of photography.

One of the best Pineapple Fried Rice ever, and by the river too! – Kee Ree Tara Restaurant

After we got off the bridge, we found several stalls selling souvenirs, bracelets and hats beside the bridge – along with riverside restaurants. We settled at Kee Ree Tara Restaurant for lunch and weren’t disappointed.

Photo via TripCanvas

We couldn’t have asked for a better place to have our first lunch of the trip, with its peaceful river views and soothing countryside ambiance.

Photo via TripCanvas

Photo via TripCanvas

The food here was bomb (as in, AMAZING).

The best way to gauge restaurant standards is to try the standard Thai fare like can’t-be-missed Pork Omelette and Basil Fried Chicken – which we ordered, and they did not disappoint.

I also have to say that the Pineapple Fried Rice here was one of the best I’ve ever had! (And I’ve tried many variations of this particular Thai dish.)

Going deeper into Kanchanaburi’s moving history – Hellfire Pass Memorial

After lunch, we headed to Hellfire Pass Memorial to learn more about Kanchanaburi’s history and boy did it give us a more thorough and moving understanding of what happened years ago.

Hellfire Pass Memorial consists of a museum complete with exhibitions and preserved personal artefacts, telling the story of the Prisoners of War who suffered, and lost their lives in the construction of the Death Railway during WWII.

Visitors can also choose to do a short walk through the actual Hellfire Pass, or the longer 2.5km walk.

Not-so-fun Fact: Hellfire Pass was the deepest place in the mountain where POW labourers had to manually cut through 26 meters of rock in order to lay the tracks for the Death Railway.

We did the shorter walk, and it ended up being quite an emotional experience – after understanding the depths of suffering the POW labourers had undergone. Sons, brothers and husbands torn away from their families in the promise of earning good money, who realised that it was all a lie and ended up dying due to the harsh conditions.

There were flowers and memorial stones and reading the messages fully touched our hearts. When you visit Hellfire Pass Memorial, you would really understand that times of peace are not to be taken for granted.

Once we were done at Hellfire Pass Museum, we headed to Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass (see 1-1 above), enjoyed our bonfire BBQ dinner and chatted the night away.

Wake up to breakfast at Hintok River Camp

Waking up fresh and invigorated, ready for Day 2, we had breakfast in the lobby of Hintok River Camp, loaded our luggage in the Klook car, and headed off to our first stop.

Editor’s Note: In this itinerary shared, we’ll be including Erawan Falls, Historic Pak Prak Walking Street and Loft Restaurant & Bar which we did not personally visit. However, we would recommend going to these places instead of where we went – and have shared personal experiences other travellers have had at these places!

If you’re curious, we drove out to Pilok Village to check it out and crossed the nearby border to Myanmar for a cheap thrill too!

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand – Erawan Falls

While we didn’t personally visit this place, we’ve heard plenty of rave reviews of this waterfall, and recommend that you check it out, instead of where we actually went.

Photo via livingnomads

It has 7 tiers of waterfalls with different shapes and beauty of its own. The first two tiers are easy to get to. Once you’re at the 2nd tier, we guarantee you would already want to plunge into cool aqua pool.

This tier is nicknamed “Fish Palace”. You’ll see a school of huge fish in the water. We definitely regret not experiencing a swim here. (If you don’t want to get wet, grab some food for a picnic and enjoy the cool breeze and mist from the water and forest.)

Photo via doyoutravel

The trail leading up to higher tiers is clearly marked, but less maintained and rockier as you go higher – and there’s lesser people the higher you go. If you make it to the top tier at the 7th level, you can reward yourself by jumping into the cool and refreshing turquoise water set against big white boulders.

Photo via craigccc86

If you look close enough, those boulders will look like Erawan, a mythical 3-headed white elephant in Hinduism. (It’s the namesake of these waterfalls!) We recommend going early in the morning to avoid the crowd. Just visit one or two tiers, unless you’re up for all 7!

Photo via andy.jonas.adventure

Go back in time and visit this ancient village from the olden days – Mallika R E 124 Village

All 5 of us had a blast here. Stepping into the huge gate of Mallika Village, was like travelling through a time portal to the past.

This ancient village has been painstakingly preserved, from the layout of the village, to shopping in its original ancient coin, Satang.

The first thing we had to do upon arrival was to change our Baht into Satang, so that we’d be able to pay for things in the village. It was pretty interesting carrying these ancient coins on a string and happily exchanging them for drinks and food.

Apart from that, we had a tour of the grounds and saw the old ‘foodcourt’ (have your lunch here!) and ancient village stores – selling everything from really traditional Thai desserts to candle-making, and even how they used to process rice in the olden days.

You can even try your hand at all of these things and join the villagers as they make the traditional Thai desserts, traditional perfumes, candle-making and others. In fact, the locals were joking about how the rice processing place was where villagers went to get a good workout in the past – much like an ancient gym.

There’s also a small floating market here where you can buy goods like oven-fired terracotta mugs. (If you purchase a drink at the drinks store, they come in the same terracotta mugs that you get to bring home – and it only costs 30 Baht after converting from Satang!)

Another interesting thing we got to see, were the houses of the noblemen in the village and the normal folk, and the differences between the houses. There are ample photo ops in this village, enough to fill an entire album!

For those who want to see a little more of the local culture/shopping – Historic Pak Prak Walking Street

As mentioned in the disclaimer above, we didn’t get to visit this place personally, but we wish we had and definitely recommend it.

The historic Pak Prak Road is lined with rows of Chino Portuguese buildings built during WWII and the Pak Prak community has embraced its past and turned it into a Heritage Walking Street.

Photo via we_are_nachano

This is where you can visit old shops and hear the stories from people who live here. When you need a coffee break, check out Sitthisang coffee shop. You surely won’t miss the bright mustard coloured building that’s been converted to a cool and homey coffee shop!

Photo via thirapong_th.safety-icenapat_sw-dream_river

When night falls, the street really comes alive. It transforms into a walking street with hundreds of street vendors, artists selling their art, and street food stalls. It’s fun and romantic all at the same time.

Photo via mosslom94-tipmano

The merchants here even get into a character as they sell vintage food and dessert which you’ll very rarely see elsewhere nowadays. The community preserves its history and turns into a hip and chic destination full of memories waiting to be told – and visited!

Enjoy your last dinner in Kanchanaburi with a view and karaoke – Loft Restaurant & Bar

Walk into Loft Restaurant’s resort-like entrance, and grab a seat at the stylish riverside deck just north of the WW2 bridge.

 A beautifully laid out terrace is available (if the weather permits), complete with a view! Diners can enjoy the cool breeze, while the twilight reflected in the river makes this place remarkably scenic – gifting you a night to remember.

Photo via rabbitzyjan

Photo via dragonbenz

If you really wish to have a spellbound time, select your favourite wine from the wine cellar and indulge in a incredible dinner over live music here.

Last but not least, if you and your friends love to sing, end the last night in Kanchanaburi with a karaoke session!

PS: We heard their duck chilli sauce is to die for!

Photo via theeyex-eat_oclock

PS: Once we were done with dinner on Day 2 which we had at a different location, we headed back to River Kwai Jungle Rafts (see 1-2) – where a shocking digital detox and mesmerising Mon traditional candle dance awaited!

Have breakfast before setting off – River Kwai Jungle Rafts

Before setting off for the day, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast at River Kwai Jungle Rafts. While we were halfway through our breakfast, the elephant from the neighbouring Elephant Camp was brought to the bridge connected to the lobby beside the restaurant! We got to feed the elephantand take some cute photos with it, before finishing our breakfast.

Editor’s Note: In this itinerary shared, we’ll be including Muang Singh Historical Park, Dejtosapak Restaurant and Baan Hom Tian which we did not personally visit. However, we would recommend going to these places instead of where we went – and have shared personal experiences other travellers have had at these places!

Go on a short trek and check out this indigenous tribe – Mon Village, Elephant Camp

After breakfast and before getting on the boat and heading to Phutakien Pier, make sure to head out for a short trek to the Mon Village and Elephant Camp. Connected to River Kwai Jungle Rafts via a bridge, there are signs and maps along the way directing you to different places.

We made it to the Mon Village where we got to see the local school, way of life, temple and even a small museum.

We also managed to see the little elephant camp they had along the way – which was the elephant from breakfast at River Kwai Jungle Rafts! Here, you’ll be able to get up close to the elephant and feed it a little more if you wish. (Simply purchase a hand of bananas and enjoy feeding your new friend!)

We didn’t have more time to spare and was unable to continue the trek. If you do have more time, you might want to check out the rest of the locations on the map such as the Hotsprings!

The hill-top temple that gave us an overview of Kanchanaburi’s sprawling riverside country – Wat Tham Suea

At Wat Tham Suea, we got to experience a little more of the local life before making our way back to Bangkok. This is where we took a short cable car ride up an extremely steep slope. (It always felt scary at some point due to how steep it was!)

Once we were on top, we made our way to the giant golden seated Buddha image resting in an open dome. We saw locals engaging in the Thai tradition of making merit for good luck and blessings, by dropping coins in a tray on the conveyor belt that carried them to the center bowl.

Photo via brandibollig

Photo via EAK8_HM, TripCanvas

We also checked out “Ket Kaew” pagoda, an interesting 8-story polygonal structure with Buddhist relics.

Photo via chanansy, TripCanvas

When we were here, what we enjoyed most were the panoramic views of rural Kanchanaburi with rice paddies, the mountain range, and river stretching far beyond the horizon. It’s Kanchanaburi’s signature peace and tranquility on full display!

Photo by Tom_Santi

Tip: Appropriate attire is required for women to visit this temple. Do remember to cover your shoulders and your legs, no shorts are allowed. But no worries, sarongs are available for rent at the entrance to temple.

Travel back in time and witness the ingenuity of Khmer architects – Muang Singh Historical Park

You don’t need to go to Cambodia to witness the fallen civilisation of Khmer empire. Muang Singh (or Lion City) Historical Park was once the last outpost of Angkor back in the 12th century.

Photo via arthur_shooting

After you enter the park, there are several buildings and small ruins throughout the park. But the most significant building is the main shrine, Prasat Mueng Singh – at the center of the site built in Bayon style.

Photo via starwallll

Inside, you will find an 8-armed statue of Lokeshvara – and witness the ingenuity of Khmer architects who used massive blocks of sandstone to build such an impressive structure that still stands today.

The ground and perimeters of the park are well maintained with trees and flowers. Perfect for leisurely roaming around and just enjoying a little time travel back to the 12th century!

Photo by arthur_shooting-NammiiDiary

Dangle your feet, or hang out on a net over the river – Dejtosapak Restaurant

We do so wish we made a stop here for lunch… Serene, calm and relaxing ambience are some of the words to describe Dejtosapak Restaurant. This open-air restaurant with river, mountains and green vistas is exactly what you need to have a memorable dining experience in Kanchanaburi.

Head indoors and the rustic wooden décor is perfectly placed to provide the right amount of privacy for diners. Outdoors, the scene takes a different turn. Right below your dining table, the space is open for you to hang your feet through the platform (there are no chairs!) as you indulge in authentic Thai food.

Dejtosapak restaurant vows to not accept money if the food served is not fresh. Now, that’s called a deal!

Photo via longukyim

There’s a net mesh at the edge of the outdoor platform, right above the water to accommodate 3. So, roll back, relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Photo via took_took311

Photo via jane nathamon

A history of candle-making with a shooting range and more! – Baan Hom Tian

As we made our way back from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok, one place we missed out on was Baan Hom Tian. Especially great for friends on a road trip, this is one quirky place for a quick stop!

(In Thai, “Ban” means Home, “Tian” means Candle, and “Hom” means Aroma!)

It started off as a candle shop, and has since expanded into a marvellous weekend destination with a shooting range and adventure tours available! There’s interesting history and culture behind Baan Hom Tian with rare old collectibles such as toys, lamps, and other vintage accoutrement.

Photo by verybangkok

Photo by 4goompa-lookchan_j

It’s the perfect place to have a mini adventure and bond as you fight it out over the shooting range. It’s truly a pity we didn’t get to spend some time here – and we wouldn’t want you guys to miss out!

PS: Once you’re done with Baan Hom Tian, you can continue making your way back to Bangkok, you’ll already be more than halfway there!