During our most recent visit to Thailand we decide we finally wanted to see the famous River Kwai Bridge. So we embarked on an adventure and took the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi! In this blog we’ll tell you all about our door-to-door journey, how to get train tickets and which hotel we stayed at.
River Kwai Background Information
The bridge on the River Kwai was built by the forced labor of war prisoners during the second world war. It was part of a large railroad structure that was meant to connect the south-east Asian continent all the way up to Burma (now known as Myanmar).
During the construction of the bridge many workers suffered and died under horrendous circumstances, which is why the railway has been dubbed as the ‘Death Railway’.
Part of the railroad and a rebuilt version of the bridge are still in use today, and the bridge was made famous in the 1957 movie ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’.
Because of its history and the beautiful nature surrounding the area, we decided on taking the train from Bangkok and head to the town of Kanchanaburi.
Getting to the train station from Bangkok
If you want to leave from Bangkok then taking the train to Kanchanaburi requires some planning. Important to know is that there are only two trains leaving from Bangkok per day. You’ll need to board the train with destination: Nam Tok. One of these trains leaves at 07:45 in the morning and the other one at 2 in the afternoon.
We wanted to make the most out of our time there and decided on the early morning train.
As opposed to other rail connections, the train to Kanchanaburi does not leave from Bangkok’s main train station. Instead it leaves from station Thonburi, which is located on the western side of the Chao Phraya River.
For us getting to Thonburi station wasn’t convenient with public transport. Instead we went to Charan(Jalan)Sanitwong which is also an MRT metro stop.
Now of course we could’ve opted for a taxi, but you have to keep in mind that Bangkok’s rush hour can take a lot of time if you’re coming from your hotel in the Sukhumvit area of the city. Since there are only two trains leaving per day, we were not taking any chances.
Tickets for Kanchanaburi Train
A one-way ticket for the train costs 100 Thai Baht per person, no matter which stop you get on or off. You can buy your ticket at the station if you’re leaving from station Thonburi, or in our case buy them from the ticket inspector since it wasn’t possible to buy a ticket at Jalan Sanitwong. Do make sure to have the exact fare ready.
Train ride to River Kwai
The Bangkok to the River Kwai train only has 3rd class seating and does not have AC onboard. Luckily there are fans installed instead. The seats are comfortable enough for the 2,5 hour ride and with the windows open you’re treated to a nice breeze.
The train makes frequent stops and at many stops vendors will come on-board to sell their snacks. We were feeling snack-ish so we bought Mango strips that come with a dip made of sugar, salt and chili flakes. A must try in Thailand!
Lastly for the train’s features, there’s also a toilet on board and it was pretty clean for a train toilet.
Arrival in Kanchanaburi, River Kwai
At around 10:30 the train arrived in Kanchanaburi town. Depending on where you need to go within Kanchanaburi you either get off on this stop or at the next one, which is the River Kwai stop right in front of the bridge.
Upon arrival at the River Kwai stop you’ll see many people waiting to actually board to train. From here on the train will continue its journey by crossing the bridge and head to Nam Tok. This part of the death railway is one of the most beautiful stretches of the journey, providing stunning views.
Everyone will try to get a good spot on the left side of the train, because this guarantees the best views. So if you’re looking to go to Nam Tok, make sure to either start your trip in Bangkok or get on at Kanchanaburi Town’s main train station to get the best seats possible.
Kanchanaburi Hotel
Upon arrival in Kanchanaburi we immediately made our way to our hotel. We booked the aptly named River Kwai View Hotel. As the name suggests the hotel provides views of River Kwai and the Bridge. It’s a basic and affordable hotel and it’s conveniently located at a 2 minute walk from the train stop. In the morning they provide a small breakfast, but if you want there’s also a 7-eleven and a Café Amazon right next to the hotel building.
While the hotel itself isn’t anything special, we do recommend it. It’s clean, affordable and well located!
Kanchanaburi Activities
The River Kwai bridge is of course the ‘main attraction’ of the town and because the train doesn’t go over the track that often, you’re allowed to cross it by foot. This is a really fun experience, since walking on the tracks is generally not very safe. Here it’s no problem though! When the train does cross over you need to be off the tracks, but the train is hard to miss with its loud horn.
On the other side of the bridge you’ll find a Chinese Temple that’s nice to check-out, but doesn’t require more than 10 minutes. Back in the main part of the town you’ll find two history museums. One is named the Jeath War Museum and the second one is the Death Railway Museum and Research center. For the most detailed account of the railway’s history we recommend finding a tuk-tuk and go to the railway museum and research centre. The entry fee isn’t a lot and you’ll find detailed information about what the conditions were like for those forcibly working on the rail road.
Our recommendation for a River Kwai Visit
You don’t really need a lot of time in Kanchanaburi. In fact the town is pretty small and aside from some nice restaurants and a few market stalls, there isn’t much going on during the day.
If you’re just looking to see the bridge, take a stroll and maybe visit the museum, then you can also make it a day trip. In that case you can take the early train out of Bangkok, arrive at around 10:30, see the sights and take the train back at 2:45 in the afternoon from Kanchanaburi station.
But if you would like to take the train all the way to the end of the line at Nam Tok, visit the Erawan waterfalls or if you’re just looking to travel slow and enjoy Kanchanaburi town then we highly recommend spending a night or two at a hotel. This way you’ll have enough time to see everything!
Thanks for reading our blog about going from Bangkok to the River Kwai by train and we hope you have a great time on your trip! Be sure to read our other Thailand Blogs to prepare for your up coming trip!
– Laurens & Laura from Yes and Explore
p.s. For more Yes and Explore, check-out our Youtube Channel or watch our video about the Train to River Kwai below:
