River Kwai Explorer
Embark on a 4-day adventure from Bangkok, delving into the haunting history of the Thai-Burma Railway Centre and paying respects at the Allied War Cemetery. Enjoy serene long-tailed boat rides, immerse in the culture of the Mon Tribal village, and experience the poignant Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, all culminating with a journey on the Death Railway, making this tour an unforgettable exploration of Thailand's past and cultural heritage.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Welcome to Bangkok
Day 1 Welcome to Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok, the bustling capital city of Thailand! A world-renowned tourist destination, this vibrant city offers an eclectic mix of lively street life, cultural landmarks, and busy shopping areas.
Arriving at Suvarnabhumi or Donmuang Airport, transfer to your hotel for check in. Time permitting, spend the day at leisure exploring Bangkok. While you're here, why not try some tasty street food or take a thrilling tuk tuk ride?
Day 2 Thailand's Wartime History
Day 2 Thailand's Wartime History
Bangkok - Hintok River Camp. Today begins with a historical exploration tour to the Kanchanaburi province, where we will learn about the region's wartime history. We will depart bright and early, at 6am.
Our first destination is the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, an interactive museum that commemorates the infamous 'death railway.' Continuing our journey, we pay our respects at the Allied War Cemetery, a solemn resting place for over 6,000 prisoners who sacrificed their lives during the railway's construction.
The next stop is the world-famous Bridge on the River Kwai. After lunch, we visit the chilling Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum. Exhibits and audio displays within the museum pay homage to the workers and their sacrifices.
Then, we walk along Hellfire Pass itself, a challenging section of rock cutting that stands as a symbol of peace amidst the jungle. As the day winds down, enjoy the afternoon at leisure. At night, enjoy a BBQ dinner.
Overnight at Hintok River Camp, in Safari-style tents.
Day 3 Boat Ride on the River Kwai
Day 3 Boat Ride on the River Kwai
Hintok River Camp - River Kwai Jungle Rafts. This morning, we take a long-tail boat ride to the River Kwai Jungle Rafts, where we will spend the night in unique floating hotel rooms. After checking in, we visit an ethnic Mon Tribal village.
We will also visit the Golden Rock, explore the Buddha image cave, and tour a quaint village school. We'll have time to converse with the Mon people, gaining insights into their history, religion, and culture. We'll watch traditional dance performances, learn to wear the sa-rong costume, and play the saba game. Additionally, we'll make tanaka powder from tree bark, used as a natural cosmetic, sunscreen, and insect repellent.
After a walk along the riverbank trail to a stunning viewpoint of the River Kwai, the rest of the afternoon is free to relax and explore. You can also partake in river jumping or bamboo rafting (booked locally).
At night, enjoy dinner followed by a 45-minute traditional Mon dance display.
Day 4 Goodbye
Day 4 Goodbye
River Kwai Jungle Rafts - Bangkok. After a morning at leisure, we will take another long-tail boat ride down the River Kwai.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will take a journey on the infamous 'death railway,' - the actual train link built by the Allied prisoners during World War II. The train ride along this historic route gives us a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those who built it.
As the day draws to a close, we bid farewell to the River Kwai and make our way back to Bangkok arriving around 6pm depending on the busy Bangkok traffic. We recommend booking a post night accommodation.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Hotels
The Mandarin Hotel Bangkok is recognized by its iconic white Mandarin building and has evolved into a renowned luxury destination for global travelers seeking both leisure and business comforts. Boasting two wings—the original Mandarin wing and the Princess wing added after refurbishments in 1981—the hotel's 367 modern and tastefully furnished rooms and suites, including Deluxe, Premier, Executive, and Grand Suite options, offer a comfortable and contemporary experience. There is an outdoor pool, fitness center, spa and restaurant on site.
Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom (formerly the Novotel Bangkok Silom Road Hotel) is a well-situated and versatile hotel in the heart of Silom, Bangkok. The hotel boasts an array of amenities, including an outdoor pool, two dining options, 24-hour room service, and complimentary WiFi. Its proximity to key attractions like the Jewelry Trade Center and Patpong Night Market, along with business facilities and a fitness center, makes it suitable for both leisure and business guests. With spacious, well-equipped rooms and various services, Hilton Garden Inn caters to a diverse range of traveler needs.
Nestled overlooking the historic River Kwai and Hintok Mountain, the unique Hintok River Camp offers a nature retreat in luxurious canvas tents with free WiFi. The spacious tents feature wooden furnishings, en suite bathrooms, outdoor showers, and private verandas. The camp includes a restaurant set amidst tropical trees, a natural spring-water pool, and daily campfires. The camp pays homage to its history as a British PoW camp, with a museum and artifacts on display. The camp's cave is home to the world's smallest bat. Glamping at Hintok River Camp balances nature and comfort, providing a serene escape.
River Kwai Jungle Rafts Resort offers a unique accommodation experience right on the flowing Kwai Noi River. All floating rooms are tucked into a floating bamboo lodge moored along the historical River Kwai Noi surrounded by lush green mountains and jungle. The walls are weaved from local bamboo decorated with wooden furniture reflecting Mon living style. Each is appointed with en-suite private bathroom, balcony and a hammock. To work in harmony with the natural surroundings, the property does not use electricity and kerosene lamps are provided to light the rooms and evoke a romantic atmosphere.
Tour Reviews
River Kwai Explorer - 4 daysEmbark on a 4-day adventure from Bangkok, delving into the haunting history of the Thai-Burma Railway Centre and paying respects at the Allied War Cemetery. Enjoy serene long-tailed boat rides, immerse in the culture of the Mon Tribal village, and experience the poignant Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, all culminating with a journey on the Death Railway, making this tour an unforgettable exploration of Thailand's past and cultural heritage.
Handpicked4810Very organised, great transport maybe the option not to have to sit together as a group when food is served can be awkward if you’re an introvert like me! Would be good if all tour guides just gave a quick explanation at the tour spots - like explaining we are now going on a walk it will take approximately this amount of time etc. sometimes not much communication at all. Destination is breathtaking nature is the true star!
River Kwai Explorer - 4 daysEmbark on a 4-day adventure from Bangkok, delving into the haunting history of the Thai-Burma Railway Centre and paying respects at the Allied War Cemetery. Enjoy serene long-tailed boat rides, immerse in the culture of the Mon Tribal village, and experience the poignant Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, all culminating with a journey on the Death Railway, making this tour an unforgettable exploration of Thailand's past and cultural heritage.
Handpicked4810Everything ran smoothly and as expected. The various guides were all very friendly and helpful. The camp and riverside accommodations were wonderful. Our only criticism would be that we felt rushed at the Thai-Burma Railway Center and didn’t have any time left to visit the Allied War Cemetary
River Kwai Explorer - 4 daysEmbark on a 4-day adventure from Bangkok, delving into the haunting history of the Thai-Burma Railway Centre and paying respects at the Allied War Cemetery. Enjoy serene long-tailed boat rides, immerse in the culture of the Mon Tribal village, and experience the poignant Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, all culminating with a journey on the Death Railway, making this tour an unforgettable exploration of Thailand's past and cultural heritage.
Handpicked4810The advertised 'included' Transfers on the first and last day should be an optional cost as they were refused to us, as we were not coming directly from the airport and ended up being an additional cost. Tour guides at Hintock River Camp and floating hotel were outstanding. The others were average . The itinerary was very interesting and quality of accommodation was good. The drivers in and out of Bangkok were very below average. The driver returning us to Bangkok was downright dangerous. I understand that road rules are different in Asia and have travelled extensively but this was absolutely unacceptable anywhere in the world. The guide left the tour early and we were left trying to explain to the angry non- English speaking driver where the hotel was.
River Kwai Explorer - 4 daysEmbark on a 4-day adventure from Bangkok, delving into the haunting history of the Thai-Burma Railway Centre and paying respects at the Allied War Cemetery. Enjoy serene long-tailed boat rides, immerse in the culture of the Mon Tribal village, and experience the poignant Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, all culminating with a journey on the Death Railway, making this tour an unforgettable exploration of Thailand's past and cultural heritage.
Handpicked4810Overall, a very satisfying tour. All went to plan, with no hiccups. Accommodation on the River (in jungle) was a pleasant adventure and I really enjoyed it. Only complaint was an issue that I flagged with you before I left for the tour. Pre and post nights were at the same hotel in Bangkok as per tour (three nights total). I was charged AUD300 per night for the two pre & post nights and this was over TWICE as much as the same room would have cost if I had booked it myself. A look on booking sites showed an average room at around AUD100 - AUD130 per night. Perhaps an issue for you to address with you agents in Thailand?
River Kwai Explorer - 4 daysEmbark on a 4-day adventure from Bangkok, delving into the haunting history of the Thai-Burma Railway Centre and paying respects at the Allied War Cemetery. Enjoy serene long-tailed boat rides, immerse in the culture of the Mon Tribal village, and experience the poignant Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, all culminating with a journey on the Death Railway, making this tour an unforgettable exploration of Thailand's past and cultural heritage.
Handpicked4810A good tour which enabled us to learn about the culture/history of the area. Two out of three of our guides were excellent - engaging, friendly, attentive and passionate about their part of the tour. However one gave us the wrong written itinerary and thought that the way of making us understand what he was saying was to shout the words us at several times! We were also subjected to a history lesson, using a pointer and a map, which was long winded and boring. To top it all, when on the train over the River Kwai, he gave us no commentary as to what we were suppose to be looking out for - he just closed his eyes and fell asleep!
Extras and add-ons
Add-on: Bangkok airport transfer (one way) from price
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