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River Kwai Explorer

Best Seller

4 days

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

Duration

4 days

Starts

Bangkok

Ends

Bangkok

Range

Handpicked

Tour Guide

Yes - escorted by a tour guide

Group Size

Min 2 / Max 24

Minimum age

4 yrs, accompanied by an adult

Departs

Daily

Hotel Rating

4 star

Countries

Thailand

Arrival Transfer

Yes

Departure Transfer

No

Meals included

Breakfast: 3, Lunch: 3, Dinner: 2
1
of 2 pages
Per person from
R 8,905.00
Total From
R 17,810.00

Tour Highlights

Bangkok - Explore Thailand's bustling capital city, home to lively street markets and exciting cultural landmarks
Thai Wartime History - Learn about Thailand's wartime history with visits to the Thai-Burma Railway Centre, Allied War Cemetary, Hellfire Pass and the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
Floating hotel - Spend a night in a floating hotel room at River Kwai Jungle Rafts
Mon Tribal Village - Enjoy a visit to a Mon Tribal Village and witness their traditional dance performance
River Kwai - Take a long-tailed boat ride along the famous river and visit the Bridge on River Kwai
Death Railway - Take a train ride down this historic railway, built during WWII by prisoners and laborers under harsh conditions

Included

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 2 dinners
3 nights accommodation; inclusive of 1 night in 4 star hotel, 1 night in safari-styled tent and 1 night in floating hotel
Airport arrival transfer on day 1
Escorted by an English-speaking Thai tour guide
All transportation and transfers in private air-conditioned vehicles
Guided sightseeing - Kanchanaburi
Entrance fees for all included sites
All applicable taxes and service charges
Note: Touring is operated in conjunction with other tourist groups, not solely On The Go. Guiding may be in an additional language to English.

Not Included

International flights and visas
Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
Departure airport transfer

Itinerary

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?

Overnight: Bangkok

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.

Overnight: Kanchanaburi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Overnight: Kanchanaburi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Tour Reviews

Very 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!

Everything 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

The 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.

Overall, 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?

A 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

If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.

Pre Tour Accommodation Bangkok

Double

R 1,115per passenger

Twin

R 1,115per passenger

Single

R 2,225per passenger

Pre tour accommodation - Bangkok

Double

R 1,115per passenger

Twin

R 1,115per passenger

Single

R 2,225per passenger

Post tour accommodation - Bangkok

Double

R 1,115per passenger

Twin

R 1,115per passenger

Single

R 2,225per passenger

Additional Excursions

Enhance your tour with these optional extras, helping you to get the most from your adventure.

Add-on: Bangkok airport transfer (one way) from price

R 735

per passenger

Tour Extensions

Extend your trip with our multi-day tour extensions, including accommodation, sightseeing and free time.

Phuket Freedom Beach
Add-on: Phuket Beach Stay

This add-on is a 4-day tour of Phuket that can be booked in conjunction with any of our Thailand tours beginning/ending in Bangkok.

Double

R 11,625per passenger

Twin

R 11,625per passenger
Krabi
Add on: Krabi Beach Stay

This add-on is a 4-day tour of Krabi Beach that can be booked in conjunction with any of our Thailand tours ending in Bangkok.

Double

R 11,495per passenger

Twin

R 11,495per passenger

Single

R 17,975per passenger

Hotels

The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.

If you are interested in booking pre or post-tour accommodation, here are some of the hotels we typically use.

Mandarin Hotel Bangkok
Bangkok

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.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Silom
Bangkok

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.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
4 Star Hotel
Hintok River Camp
Kanchanaburi

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.

Our Rating
Standard
Local Rating
Standard Camp
River Kwai Jungle Rafts
Kanchanaburi

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.

Our Rating
Superior
Local Rating
Mid Range Lodge

Prices & Dates

All departure dates are guaranteed to operate when there are 2 persons booked on the tour. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room. We also offer a triple share option on this tour, please contact us for details.

2024
Twin/Double
Single
22 Nov - 25 Nov
Sold Out
Sold Out
23 Nov - 26 Nov
Sold Out
Sold Out
24 Nov - 27 Nov
Sold Out
Sold Out
25 Nov - 28 Nov
Sold Out
Sold Out
26 Nov - 29 Nov
Sold Out
Sold Out
27 Nov - 30 Nov
Sold Out
Sold Out
28 Nov - 1 Dec
R 8,905
R 12,785
29 Nov - 2 Dec
R 8,905
R 12,785
2025
Twin/Double
Single
1 Jan - 4 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
2 Jan - 5 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
3 Jan - 6 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
4 Jan - 7 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
5 Jan - 8 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
6 Jan - 9 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
7 Jan - 10 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785
8 Jan - 11 Jan
R 8,905
R 12,785

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