Post-sunset at Boutique Raft Resort up-county on the River Kwai Noi.Last visited February-March 2012
Kanchanaburi is the Bridge on the River Kwai town. Actually this page is nigh the Kanchanaburi district which contains some of the most interesting tourist attractions unopen to Bangkok.
Okay, it aint just a beach or isle - but a skilful proportion of travellers who Earth inwards Bangkok see this expanse so a page is non wasted. Plus it's 1 of my favourite locations.
Modified Google basis picture showing the lower one-half of the Kanchanaburi say within 80km of Kanchanaburi town contains the mass of the tourist attractions. The say extends out of pic nigh an equal distance farther north-north due west to the Burmese border. This edge turns abrubtly southwards as well as follows the Kwai Noi River to its due west - that is the edge draw cutting the 40km scale draw at nigh the 18km mark.The Kwai Noi as well as Kwai Yai rivers run into at Kanchanuburi town from where the combined waters flow ssw into the Gulf close its north-west corner.
The white draw represents the Death Railway. It starts at Bangkok's Thonburi, runs upward thru Kanchanaburi town as well as at nowadays terminates at Nam Tok station close Sai Yok Noi falls.
KANCHANABURI TOWN
This is a typical Thai provincial majuscule nigh 2 hours past times jitney out of Bangkok. It is also a major tourist destination on draw of piece of work organization human relationship of:
- The Bridge on the River Kwai as well as associated wartime materials similar the state of war cemeteries as well as museums
- Some neat accommodation on rafthouses as well as stilts correct over the river which initially attracted backpackers as well as weekending Thais. Now accommodation of all standards tin can live flora all over town.
- H5N1 lively expat community which sees many bars as well as the inevitable bar-girl merchandise which inwards plow attracts a fair amount of sex-tourists. BTW this is no argue to avoid the town - the bar daughter activity is non inwards your human face upward similar some other locations.
- H5N1 fabulous hinterland making Kanchanaburi the perfect base of operations for daytrips as well as overnighters up-country.
Kanchanaburi town at the coming together of the Kwai Yai (top) as well as Kwai Noi (bottom-left) rivers. There are dozens of places to remain - I've entirely marked the ii I've used. The primary draw of piece of work organization district is centered or so the jitney station as well as the tourist accommodation as well as services inwards the expanse of backstreets I've marked inwards below the railway station. There is some other station at The Bridge.
This is the ticker of the tourist area, River Kwai Road, which runs from the due west boundary of the fundamental state of war cemetery downwardly to the span (although the 2nd one-half is much quieter than this to a greater extent than eastern department which is a jumble of restaurants, bars, locomote agents, convenience stores, bike hire joints etc). There is plenty of accommodation along hither but a lot to a greater extent than inwards side sois leading downwardly to the river. I thought accommodation costs, meals as well as booze were considerably less expensive than the typical isle prices I'm used to paying.
The Bridge on the River Kwai sure packs them in. There are fewer than one-half a dozen trains a 24-hour interval so tourists are gratis to walk across. When a develop arrives it crosses at walking footstep which gives runway trekkers fourth dimension to larn to the other side or saltation into 1 of the many waiting sections at the side.In belatedly November/early Dec the Bridge on the River Kwai Festival is held. The highlight is a nightly Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation as well as fireworks exhibit which enacts the bombing of the bride past times the Americans inwards WW2. Explosions, searchlights, fires beside the span depicting collateral harm to PoW encampments. The finale is the arrival of a genuine steam loco, whistle hooting similar crazy, followed past times a huge explosion as well as a pair of rails lashed nether the span falling into the water. Sounds corny but my viewing inwards 1998 was really enjoyable. The fact I as well as a bunch of immature homo backpackers were moored front-row 50m downriver from the span on River Guesthouse's navigable pontoon with copious amounts of beer Chang may receive got had something to practise with it - the best seats inwards the family at a cost of nigh $2 compared to the large baht paid for the grandstand seating on the river banks. Post exhibit was hilarious every bit xx or so similar pontoon barges, some of them enormous, manoeuvred to plow or so as well as and then raced each other dorsum downwardly river.
Note the Festival is really pop with Thais so if yous are planning to see at this fourth dimension volume good ahead.
The banks both sides of the span are packed with restaurants, a pretty prissy identify for a repast or a belatedly arvo drink. Plenty of places where yous tin can hop into a longtail for a fang on the river.Note that or so the Bridge Railway Station is a 24-hour interval marketplace with really competitive prices.
The fundamental state of war cemetery at Kanchanaburi. There are thousands of Brit, Aussie, New Zealand, Canadian as well as South African graves here. Even a fair few American despite the U.S. repatriating every bit many bodies every bit possible after the war. There is an following state of war museum, 1 of several arround town.
What I flora most tragic was the youth of so many of the interred. This bloke perhaps didn't fifty-fifty receive got a girlfriend.
Some didn't fifty-fifty receive got identities. Most bodies were transferred at war's destination from the makeshift graves up-valley close the Death Railway structure sites. Easy to lose identification at that spot or inwards transit.DAYTRIPS OUT OF KANCHANABURI
The hinterland offers an array of attractions - hot springs, waterfalls, rafting, temples, the Death Railway, state of war cemeteries, elephants, tigers, caves, ethnic villages etc. One of the best ways to view some is to receive got 1 of the packages which combines four or five activities into a total 24-hour interval with carry past times van as well as often for business office of the trip past times develop - often throwing inwards a trip on the river past times raft, longtail or fifty-fifty a fast 2km drift downstream inwards a life-jacket detailed to me past times 1 enthusiastic middle-aged Aussie lady.
To view a typical alternative google Noble Night Guesthouse - its trips as well as prices I flora were really competitive to other offerings or so town.
You tin can practise these daytrips out of Bangkok but frankly fifty-fifty inwards a large comfy aircon jitney the nearest up-country attraction is at to the lowest degree three hours one-way from the city. I'd live looking at an overnight or three 24-hour interval trip if I wanted to brand Bangkok my base.
You tin can also practise these places when staying inwards 1 of the dozens of upcountry accommodation places. If this involves walking downwardly to the nearest rafting platform or hiring a moto for a few km trip to the local waterfall, fine - but driven multi-location total 24-hour interval trips volition unremarkably cost to a greater extent than because smaller economies of scale unremarkably hateful yous hire the whole van or car.
THE DEATH RAILWAY
Nam Tok boundary develop crosses the River Kwai span at KanchanaburiOriginally constructed past times the Japanese inwards WW2 using prisoners of state of war as well as press-ganged SE Asian labour at the cost of thousands of lives, the draw originally ran all the way to Burma. Trains at nowadays run from Thonburi inwards Bangkok to Kanchanaburi inwards a fleck nether ii hours as well as onwards to Nam Tok close the Yai Sok Noi (small) waterfall inwards a fleck over some other ii hours.Like all Thai trains punctuality is non skilful - I read a recent written report from a guy went all the way Bangkok to Namtok where the develop was nearly an lx minutes late, had five minutes to purchase a provide ticket instead of a one-half lx minutes for a quick await around, as well as arrived dorsum inwards Bangkok after 10 nearly continuous hours of clickety-clack. Fortunately at that spot are plenty of local nutrient as well as drinkable sellers working the carriages.
I've done three trips on the develop including the journeying Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok inwards Feb 2012 when I was changing accommodation from town to up-valley as well as receive got to say that the nearly three hours spent on the develop (it was belatedly as well as ran slow) was plenty - much of the trip is thru similar carbohydrate cane Earth which is pretty dry out as well as really hot that fourth dimension of the year.
The best way to practise the trip is position on past times the many daytrip operators - they driblet yous past times van at 1 of the intermediate stations as well as yous run the best business office of the draw which includes the really scenic Thamakase viaduct - yous are as well as then picked upward at a station a one-half lx minutes or so farther along hence avoiding the to a greater extent than irksome sections as well as allowing yous to achieve Nam Tok or the River Kwai Bridge to photograph the train's arrival.
The Thamakase viaduct. Our 2012 daytrip dropped us at the station on the northern approach a skilful xl minutes earlier the develop arrived. This gave fourth dimension to walk the viaduct - at that spot is a station at the other destination (way upward close the top of shot - if yous click to expand yous may live able to view it) as well as if the develop arrives early on (as if!) it crosses at walking footstep so yous won't live caught short. I had plenty of fourth dimension to walk upward as well as back, cheque the Krasae Cave left of photographic tv set camera as well as purchase a beer at the small-scale marketplace following northern station with a skilful arrive at of eats as well as drinks as well as common touristy trinkets.
Shot from close the reverse southern end. Country each side of the viaduct is really scenic.
Only five minutes late!
Slow progress across the viaduct is likely every bit much for photographic opportunities every bit safety.
The thought certain gets them in. H5N1 spot on the western side of the railroad vehicle (left up-valley, correct down-valley) is an advantage.
The Krasae Cave. Nothing to larn excited nigh unless it is of religious significance to you. Only goes some other 20m behind camera. Interestingly a local pooch was taking it piece of cake inwards a cul-de-sac to correct of frame. Smart canine - it was nigh 35 degrees celsius outside.HELLFIRE PASS
So named for the flinty sparks every bit workers' picks struck the stone during black excavation, this was 1 of the most hard sections of the railway to construct. About thirty km farther northward of the acquaint destination of the draw at Nam Tok, the Australian Returned Services as well as Army receive got built a circular walkway as well as a really prissy airconditioned museum with lots of photographs, models as well as other data nigh go inwards the area. If yous don't bask crowds as well as ceremony, 1 fourth dimension of twelvemonth to avoid may live or so Apr 25, Australia's Anzac day, when lots of Aussies are making this location a must-visit.
A department of the quondam draw has been relaid inwards the primary cutting.
You tin can walk the quondam railway bed for some distance northward of the cutting. I turned dorsum after abt 500m at a sign advising daytrippers that their van may non hold back for ever.ERAWAN FALLS
I consider these a must non miss. H5N1 serial of half dozen small-scale waterfalls inwards a nicely rainforested National Park nigh 40km upward the Kwai Yai river from Kanchanaburi town. I visited past times hire-motorcycle inwards 1998 as well as every bit business office of a multi-destination daytrip inwards 2012. You tin can also grab a jitney upward from Kanchanaburi jitney station hourly (note the lastly provide jitney is or so 1430). I also noticed quite a few large coaches arriving from Bangkok or so 11oo-1200. This would receive got required a 0800-0900 take-off. Note that every bit a National Park expanse at that spot is an entrance fee for westerners of 200baht (40 for Thais) although ours was included inwards the 890 baht trip fee which also included a prissy tiffin inwards the restaurants inwards the HQ area, visits to Hellfire Pass, Krasae Cave, a develop ride across the viaduct as well as downwardly draw a ways as well as a telephone telephone inwards at the River Kwai span for a walk, photography as well as some shopping inwards the daymarket.
Fall #1, nigh 10 minutes walk from the National Park HQ. This as well as Fall three likely receive got the best swimming - both receive got alter facilities. 
If yous go out your feet withal inwards the pools, fish volition come upward up as well as nibble whatever unloose peel etc. May non live a skilful location for skinny-dippers.
The highest puddle at #6 took me nigh an lx minutes to achieve including several stops for photography. Easy going to Fall 4, as well as then a fleck to a greater extent than hard but non every bit good bad. It is easier to back-track from Pool five to the Falls five by-pass rather than receive got the much to a greater extent than hard direct runway from #5 to puddle 6.The puddle at half dozen is prissy as well as had quite a few swimmers - most people are pretty hot past times the fourth dimension they achieve here. The actual H2O driblet is left of shot - at that spot is a hollowed-out department behind the falling H2O which is a neat refuge. Several lower pools receive got similar.
If yous are actually keen yous tin can scramble to the really top higher upward puddle 6. The flow descends a steep gradient as well as and then drops vertically perhaps xv meters into the pool. Pretty tricky getting upward hither as well as I wouldn't similar to endeavour it when the rocks were moisture from pelting or heavy creek flow. Hint - caput upward to the left from the small-scale cave to left of the vertical falls. Modest flow reflects the fact that this is dry out flavor on a small-scale tributary to the Kwai Yai River.
Erawan is really pop with Thais, specially on weekends. The identify was relatively uncrowded when my van arrived or so 0900 on a Dominicus but every bit I returned from Fall #6 after 1100 at that spot was a constant flow of locals addition westerners (a really large proportion Russian tour groups) heading upward the runway as well as at the pools.This is shot dorsum at National Park HQ - every bit said at that spot are restaurants inwards this area, addition National Park bungalows as well as a military camp site. I flora sign-posting (both inwards Thai as well as English) as well as full general status of facilities way amend than my showtime see inwards 1998.
SOME OTHER UP-COUNTRY ATTRACTIONS
THE TIGER TEMPLE is 1 of the best known as well as polarising for many people. It does non appeal to me but everyone I receive got talked to who has visited were super enthusiastic.
RAFTING is some other I've missed, but having seen dozens drift past times from the veranda of my Boutique Raft Resort's floating bungalow at Sai Yok, it is definitely on my to practise listing following visit. You tin can also kayak, canoe or ride the river on longtail boat.
Bamboo rafts float nether suspension span at 1 time upstream from Boutique Raft Resort. River was flowing belatedly dry out flavor at a fast jogging footstep so it does non receive got every bit good long to comprehend a skilful distance.SAI YOK YAI WATERFALL - although a unmarried driblet into a large pool, this expanse is otherwise similar to Erawan inwards that it is a National Park expanse with entrance fee, camping, bungalows, restaurants etc. It is some other 20km or so up-valley from Hellfire Pass. I meant to cheque it out this latest trip but ran out of time.
SAI YOK NOI WATERFALL is much simpler with gratis entry as well as really unopen to Boutique Raft Resort. I receive got some pix down-page.
ELEPHANTS - riding elephants doesn't float my boat, but I did bask photographing a few inwards the small-scale elephant military camp close Boutique Raft Resort.
CAVES - the expanse has dozens. Apart from the Krasae Cave shown up-page I also rode a wheel upward to Lawa Cave from Boutique Raft Resort. That turned out to live a fleck of a disaster - details down-page.
HOT SPRINGS - are flora at Hin Dat 40+km northward of Hellfire Pass, a fair distance upward valley. I went at that spot every bit business office of my packet daytrip inwards 1998. Pretty enjoyable as well as really pop with Thais. From memory, fans of ultra hot natural spas may live disappointed. I don't receive got pix - 1998 was during my ultra-lite locomote stage without camera.
THREE PAGODAS PASS
This is way upward valley, at the edge to Burma - perhaps 200km from Kanchanaburi. When I showtime visited inwards 1998 at that spot were promotions all or so town re daytrips. On the latest 2012 see such promotions were scarce. Noble Night Guesthouse's locomote way was showing a 2 black or to a greater extent than trip which makes to a greater extent than feel to me - 200km as well as and then provide is way every bit good far for a daytrip addition at that spot are quite a few other attractions inwards the upper business office of the valley worth visiting.
Note that the edge fluctuates betwixt opened upward as well as closed depending on the political situation. At the fourth dimension of writing the Burmese government are having 1 of their appeasement periods so it should live open. When opened upward yous tin can plainly see a local marketplace inwards the Thai edge town as well as practise some nearby cultural stuff.
ACCOMMODATION
There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of places to remain roofing all cost levels both inwards town as well as up-country. Below is some information on the three places I've stayed at:
NOBLE NIGHT GUESTHOUSE - KANCHANABURI TOWN
This was our showtime halt inwards the expanse during our 2012 visit. We were looking for a lower midrange articulation with air, hot water, a puddle as well as hopefully a frig as well as after looking thru the many offerings, reading user descriptions etc though Noble Night would practise the job. Which it did. Good spot inwards a small-scale soi off the busier business office of tourist fundamental River Kwai Road - non far from the railway station, the fundamental state of war cemetery - nigh 2km from the jitney station (see 2nd Google Earth image).
Pool at Noble Night Guesthouse. Very welcome on typical 35C Feb afternoons. Shady puddle cafe is behind left - our room behind right. Efficient aircon shortly overcame the estrus sink from the afternoon Sun on the wall. We were worried nigh puddle as well as cafe dissonance at black but the cafe seemed to unopen or so 1800 as well as the puddle at 2000 so no problems.
Spacious room (this is the Superior Room as well as at 1000bhat incl breakfast was way superior value compared to what 1000 volition larn at many Andaman locations high flavor these days). See website as well as hotel booking sites for other rooms, prices.
Good eatery upward at street bird with prices lower than the budget beach bungalows restaurants I'm used to. Travel desk run thru associated Kanchanaburi Travel Center seemed to receive got the same form of trips as well as competitive prices to exterior places.
Noble Night has a rafthouse out dorsum (this is shot from the puddle sundeck) on a small-scale branch of the river - rooms hither are described every bit backpacker but with hot water, tv are perhaps a measurement up.
BOUTIQUE RAFT RESORT - PAK MENG (SAENG) PIER , SAI YOK
For the 2nd business office of our 2012 see nosotros decided to remain up-country. I'm a sucker for raft houses (see my Khao Sok page) as well as after much enquiry thought lower-midrange Boutique Raft Resort fitted our wants best. So nosotros jumped on the develop to Nam Tok where a gratis shuttle was waiting from Boutique to receive got us the 2km or so downwardly to the Pak Meng Pier expanse on the Kwai Noi.
Boutique Raf Resort. nine raft rooms addition the bigger honeymoon raft closest camera. Extra hotel vogue rooms are nether the large opened upward sided eatery high background left.
Small puddle at left had mesh ends as well as cane bottom - the mesh cutting electrical flow so I flora it piece of cake to swim against - no jeopardy inwards the river.
If yous click to expand shot yous volition amend view a rafting outfit's pontoon as well as eatery downwardly close the bridge. Pack Meng pier is merely this side of the rafting outfit - consisting of a smallish landing stage for longtail passengers as well as a rather skilful boat ramp thingy.
Bridge inwards background goes to the western side of the valley - at that spot is a small-scale elephant military camp at 1 time to the left 1 time across as well as a baan or hamlet nigh 500m farther upward the road. The mountains close the Burma edge addition Lawa Cave, to a greater extent than elephants, resorts etc are farther on.
This is shot from the master copy crossing - a suspension span inwards pretty misfortunate repair but first-class for nine twelvemonth olds to saltation into the river ......
.... as well as having a mental historic menstruation of nine years I merely couldn't resist. Several times a day. Because of current's speed at that spot is a demand to caput straight for the rafthouses from mid-stream landing. It would live hard at speed to haul onto the rafthouses - I floated past times these as well as at 1 time headed for the depository fiscal establishment which got me close the concrete boat ramp 50m onwards - banker's complaint electrical flow non rigid unopen to ramp. Ramp non slippery, dissimilar similar tabular array salt H2O ramps. 200m walk dorsum to rafthouses.
Swimming backwards. Quickly. I tin can swim at a skilful walking pace. But the river is flowing the reverse direction at a fast jogging pace.
The longtails ferrying bamboo rafts dorsum upstream to the starting platforms could practise a lilliputian amend against the current- they tended to displace at a slowly walking pace. I figured it was to bring down hydraulic harm to the rafts - the longtail motors didn't audio nether total load.
By the way, some people warned that longtail dissonance was 1 of the few negatives of the raft houses. Now I HATE long tail dissonance - but it did non worry me here. Traffic during the 24-hour interval was non over-heavy as well as none at night.
On our lastly 24-hour interval some guys came as well as made makeshift repairs at correct to the suspension bridge. Amazingly I saw a local ride a motorbike across the 24-hour interval before. That biggest gap has to live good over a meter broad as well as he must receive got ridden across 1 of the longitudinal joists which would live no to a greater extent than than 75mm (3 inches) inwards diameter.
View from rafthouse pretty prissy - a skilful spot for an afternoon relax on veranda with elcheapo Thai rum watching bamboo rafts as well as tourists inwards longtails cruise past. Room itself rather prissy - bamboo thatch walls as well as polished timber. Most comfy of trip queen as well as unmarried beds. Plenty of storage. Aircon, refrigerator. Insects didn't seem a problem. Serviced daily. Nice bath with hot water. The other negative trip reviews mentioned, sparse walls, did non touching on us. We didn't receive got honeymooners following door.
Restaurant (top floor) reception (lower). Food nice, views great. Service excellent. Prices perhaps 20% dearer than budget restaurants which is pretty skilful given the setting. American breakfast included inwards tariff non bad.
This is the small draw of piece of work organization expanse or so Pak Meng Pier, a three infinitesimal stroll from Boutique Raft Resort.
Real tranquillity inwards this shot but after abt 1230 at that spot are often three or to a greater extent than large coaches unloading trip groups into restaurants or to the landing stage at the pier behind photographic tv set camera for a longtail trip up/down river. Or perhaps to the rafting identify for a quick drift.
Apart from restaurants, at that spot is a full general store which also has meals, accommodation, internet, motorbike as well as wheel hire addition trip-booking as well as carry services all or so the area.
Note that Boutique Raft Resort also offered the latter, but inwards both cases trips to Erawan etc tend to live to a greater extent than expensive unless yous receive got a fair sized grouping because yous hire the whole vehicle.
Calm earlier the tempest - biggest eatery in the Pakmeng Pier precinct merely earlier the tourist coaches as well as longtails larn inwards for the gear upward lunch. We flora a la card prices, nutrient skilful as well as service surprisingly slick fifty-fifty when the identify was crowded.
Around Boutique Raft Resort
Sai Yok Noi (small) Waterfall is entirely 2km upward the route from Boutique Raft Resort - as well as a lilliputian to a greater extent than than 1 km from the destination of the Death Railway draw at Nam Tok station (plenty of carry waiting if yous don't desire to walk). This is an easy-access waterfall - walk upward the brusque gear upward of stairs from primary route bird as well as thirty m on yous volition larn this thought - really pop with both western as well as Thai visitors but banker's complaint most people upward nether the top falls were western.
This is the thought at street level. At 1 stage I counted nine coaches waiting. Lotsa restaurants as well as other touristy stores to correct - a skilful identify to grab a beer or ii if yous receive got cycled upward from Pak Meng Pier inwards 35C temps.
Business district starts behind far tree as well as runs some other 800m or so due south - has a depository fiscal establishment as well as 7Eleven alongside other services. The draw of piece of work organization district also continues from this expanse upward towards the station which is nigh 500m left from the primary road.
I was struck past times the dozen+ accommodation signs both inwards town but to a greater extent than downwardly roads towards the river along this small-scale department of the primary road.
Take the showtime dirt runway left across river on the large span close BRR as well as yous achieve a small-scale elephant camp. I'm non a fan or riding pachyderms but immature homo guests were really enthusiastic nigh the river-bathing session which starts or so 1500.
The Lawa Cave. Small disaster. The daughter inwards the bicycle-hire identify tells me I'm crazy riding the 18km one-way upward to the caves inwards the 36 degrees C the thermometer on her desk is showing. I'm all bullshit as well as bluster - Nah, gets to 40+ where I live. Well it does, but non every bit good often.
Slightly uphill for the showtime 14km on a skilful route due west of the river - as well as then the turnoff has signs showing STEEP SLOPES. Hell! But I figure if it's hard going upward it volition live piece of cake coming downwardly - as well as fortunately each upgrade is relatively brusque as well as rideable.
So after nigh an lx minutes from base of operations I achieve the caves downwardly close the river, climb the 130 stairs to the entrance. The sign says at that spot are low-cal switches within - but nope, I can't view whatever despite the assistance of my camera's flash. There is no-one nigh to ask.
So all I larn is this pic of an outer section. I subsequently discover some within pix on the mesh - this is non a small-time cave similar the Krasae but a 500m long tunnel with some pretty impressive limestone formations, colours etc.
Hey, for some argue the ride back, despite downhill, takes nigh the same time. Maybe it was the darn spot post, no way close long enough. Experienced riders volition know how hard this makes things after a while.
The River Kwai Resotel Resort merely off the cave access road. This is a to a greater extent than upmarket articulation - most accommodation is inwards prissy pavillions behind camera. Those are the eatery as well as rafting-boating pontoons inwards shot. This expanse is pretty unopen to Hellfire Pass nigh 6km futher northward on the other side of the river. Mainly Russian guests when I called in. The reveal of Russians inwards Thailand these days, all seemingly travelling upmarket from your humble observer belies the crap status of the Russian economic scheme apart from stone oil as well as gas. But I've said crap for years nigh most European Community economies - recent history is perhaps proving I'm non completely nuts.
RIVER GUESTHOUSE - KANCHANABURI
This is a 2012 shot of the backpacker stilt-house articulation I stayed at inwards 1998. Hadn't seemed to receive got changed much. It's on an opened upward department of the river a fleck closer the fundamental state of war cemetery, railway as well as jitney stations than Noble Night. H5N1 skilful value identify with a neat bar pontoon barge nosotros would drinkable beer on as well as spotter movies at black - this is the pontoon nosotros took upward to the Bridge low-cal exhibit subsequently inwards the week. My showtime black a flotilla of barges came downwardly river returning from the River Kwai show. I cry back they had an unofficial race on -sounded similar a G bomber raid. Our pontoon rocked similar crazy every bit they passed.
Quite a few similar joints addition some skilful restaurant/bars with river views inwards this area.
GETTING TO KANCHANABURI AND SURROUNDS
Many accommodation websites etc receive got the latest up-to-date information on carry times as well as costs - sawadee.com's Kanchanaburi section is really skilful inwards this observe as well as also has a killer interactive map as well as a lot of other skilful info.
So I'll stick to an outline here:
To Kanchanaburi from Bangkok:
- cheapest is past times develop or jitney as well as yous are looking at betwixt 2 as well as three hours for the trip. Most days at that spot are entirely 2 trains but buses every xx minutes go out from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai), less often from the Northern Bus Terminal at Mo Chit.
- faster, slightly to a greater extent than expensive minivans go out from the Khao San Road expanse as well as Victory Monument.
From Kanchanaburi up-country
- the develop runs every bit far every bit Nam Tok upward the Kwai Noi river valley. From the jitney station roughly hourly buses also stitch this valley on route 323 but much farther northward to Sangklaburi close the Burmese border. That would live a looooong trip.
Buses also stitch the Kwai Yai valley 0n route 3199 - every 50 minutes or so to Erawan Falls as well as to the large dam farther north.
Transport away from Kanchanaburi to to a greater extent than distant parts is good facilitated. If yous expand the higher upward pic which is typical of accommodation places as well as small-scale locomote agents (in this representative Noble Night Guesthouse) yous volition view at that spot is a minibus to Hua Hin on the Gulf coast from where yous tin can larn trains as well as buses to the southern Gulf as well as Andaman for the islands. The minibuses to Ayuthaya as well as direct to the aerodrome would live useful for a lot of travellers.
From upward Earth yous demand to larn dorsum to Kanchanaburi to receive got payoff of these but accommodation places tin can adjust direct carry eg faced with the cheapest aerodrome alternative from Boutique Raft Resort to Bangkok International Airport which would receive got taken half dozen hours minimum given skilful connections, nosotros took the resort's auto which cutting the locomote fourth dimension to three hours inwards aircon comfort. It wasn't inexpensive at 3000baht but worthwhile given nosotros were looking at a 10 lx minutes flying home.
I similar to destination a page with a sunset shot but okay, this is sunrise - dorsum at Boutique Raft Resort.
But wait, there's more! I flora this peachy shot on Wikepedia. They say it shows riverside housing but locals can't afford to position their houses on pontoons. Looks similar the articulation was a backpacker touchstone rafthouse some fourth dimension inwards the past. Note nearest raft looks to receive got a eatery deck. Note every bit good the depression bird of the river (mud at bank-side) - perhaps shot inwards fourth dimension of drought. I noticed river would fluctuate a small-scale 150mm or so during the day, highest mid-morning. H5N1 immature homo invitee told me the large dam upriver lets extra H2O out each morning.
I wonder how high the river gets as well as how fast it flows at the peak of moisture season?
This shot expands hugely if yous click picture on the Wikepedia page linked higher upward - expands less on this page.
If yous view mistakes or receive got extra information, delight postal service below. If yous receive got a question, delight enquire it on THE FORUM accessed thru the index link top correct of page. I seldom cheque private pages this far downwardly but I endeavour to monitor the Index daily when non travelling.
BACK TO BEACHES AND ISLANDS INDEX
Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/
ELEPHANTS - riding elephants doesn't float my boat, but I did bask photographing a few inwards the small-scale elephant military camp close Boutique Raft Resort.
CAVES - the expanse has dozens. Apart from the Krasae Cave shown up-page I also rode a wheel upward to Lawa Cave from Boutique Raft Resort. That turned out to live a fleck of a disaster - details down-page.
HOT SPRINGS - are flora at Hin Dat 40+km northward of Hellfire Pass, a fair distance upward valley. I went at that spot every bit business office of my packet daytrip inwards 1998. Pretty enjoyable as well as really pop with Thais. From memory, fans of ultra hot natural spas may live disappointed. I don't receive got pix - 1998 was during my ultra-lite locomote stage without camera.
THREE PAGODAS PASS
This is way upward valley, at the edge to Burma - perhaps 200km from Kanchanaburi. When I showtime visited inwards 1998 at that spot were promotions all or so town re daytrips. On the latest 2012 see such promotions were scarce. Noble Night Guesthouse's locomote way was showing a 2 black or to a greater extent than trip which makes to a greater extent than feel to me - 200km as well as and then provide is way every bit good far for a daytrip addition at that spot are quite a few other attractions inwards the upper business office of the valley worth visiting.
Note that the edge fluctuates betwixt opened upward as well as closed depending on the political situation. At the fourth dimension of writing the Burmese government are having 1 of their appeasement periods so it should live open. When opened upward yous tin can plainly see a local marketplace inwards the Thai edge town as well as practise some nearby cultural stuff.
ACCOMMODATION
There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of places to remain roofing all cost levels both inwards town as well as up-country. Below is some information on the three places I've stayed at:
NOBLE NIGHT GUESTHOUSE - KANCHANABURI TOWN
This was our showtime halt inwards the expanse during our 2012 visit. We were looking for a lower midrange articulation with air, hot water, a puddle as well as hopefully a frig as well as after looking thru the many offerings, reading user descriptions etc though Noble Night would practise the job. Which it did. Good spot inwards a small-scale soi off the busier business office of tourist fundamental River Kwai Road - non far from the railway station, the fundamental state of war cemetery - nigh 2km from the jitney station (see 2nd Google Earth image).
Pool at Noble Night Guesthouse. Very welcome on typical 35C Feb afternoons. Shady puddle cafe is behind left - our room behind right. Efficient aircon shortly overcame the estrus sink from the afternoon Sun on the wall. We were worried nigh puddle as well as cafe dissonance at black but the cafe seemed to unopen or so 1800 as well as the puddle at 2000 so no problems.Spacious room (this is the Superior Room as well as at 1000bhat incl breakfast was way superior value compared to what 1000 volition larn at many Andaman locations high flavor these days). See website as well as hotel booking sites for other rooms, prices.
Good eatery upward at street bird with prices lower than the budget beach bungalows restaurants I'm used to. Travel desk run thru associated Kanchanaburi Travel Center seemed to receive got the same form of trips as well as competitive prices to exterior places.
Noble Night has a rafthouse out dorsum (this is shot from the puddle sundeck) on a small-scale branch of the river - rooms hither are described every bit backpacker but with hot water, tv are perhaps a measurement up. BOUTIQUE RAFT RESORT - PAK MENG (SAENG) PIER , SAI YOK
For the 2nd business office of our 2012 see nosotros decided to remain up-country. I'm a sucker for raft houses (see my Khao Sok page) as well as after much enquiry thought lower-midrange Boutique Raft Resort fitted our wants best. So nosotros jumped on the develop to Nam Tok where a gratis shuttle was waiting from Boutique to receive got us the 2km or so downwardly to the Pak Meng Pier expanse on the Kwai Noi.
Boutique Raf Resort. nine raft rooms addition the bigger honeymoon raft closest camera. Extra hotel vogue rooms are nether the large opened upward sided eatery high background left.Small puddle at left had mesh ends as well as cane bottom - the mesh cutting electrical flow so I flora it piece of cake to swim against - no jeopardy inwards the river.
If yous click to expand shot yous volition amend view a rafting outfit's pontoon as well as eatery downwardly close the bridge. Pack Meng pier is merely this side of the rafting outfit - consisting of a smallish landing stage for longtail passengers as well as a rather skilful boat ramp thingy.
Bridge inwards background goes to the western side of the valley - at that spot is a small-scale elephant military camp at 1 time to the left 1 time across as well as a baan or hamlet nigh 500m farther upward the road. The mountains close the Burma edge addition Lawa Cave, to a greater extent than elephants, resorts etc are farther on.
This is shot from the master copy crossing - a suspension span inwards pretty misfortunate repair but first-class for nine twelvemonth olds to saltation into the river ......
.... as well as having a mental historic menstruation of nine years I merely couldn't resist. Several times a day. Because of current's speed at that spot is a demand to caput straight for the rafthouses from mid-stream landing. It would live hard at speed to haul onto the rafthouses - I floated past times these as well as at 1 time headed for the depository fiscal establishment which got me close the concrete boat ramp 50m onwards - banker's complaint electrical flow non rigid unopen to ramp. Ramp non slippery, dissimilar similar tabular array salt H2O ramps. 200m walk dorsum to rafthouses.
Swimming backwards. Quickly. I tin can swim at a skilful walking pace. But the river is flowing the reverse direction at a fast jogging pace.
The longtails ferrying bamboo rafts dorsum upstream to the starting platforms could practise a lilliputian amend against the current- they tended to displace at a slowly walking pace. I figured it was to bring down hydraulic harm to the rafts - the longtail motors didn't audio nether total load.By the way, some people warned that longtail dissonance was 1 of the few negatives of the raft houses. Now I HATE long tail dissonance - but it did non worry me here. Traffic during the 24-hour interval was non over-heavy as well as none at night.
On our lastly 24-hour interval some guys came as well as made makeshift repairs at correct to the suspension bridge. Amazingly I saw a local ride a motorbike across the 24-hour interval before. That biggest gap has to live good over a meter broad as well as he must receive got ridden across 1 of the longitudinal joists which would live no to a greater extent than than 75mm (3 inches) inwards diameter.
View from rafthouse pretty prissy - a skilful spot for an afternoon relax on veranda with elcheapo Thai rum watching bamboo rafts as well as tourists inwards longtails cruise past. Room itself rather prissy - bamboo thatch walls as well as polished timber. Most comfy of trip queen as well as unmarried beds. Plenty of storage. Aircon, refrigerator. Insects didn't seem a problem. Serviced daily. Nice bath with hot water. The other negative trip reviews mentioned, sparse walls, did non touching on us. We didn't receive got honeymooners following door.
Restaurant (top floor) reception (lower). Food nice, views great. Service excellent. Prices perhaps 20% dearer than budget restaurants which is pretty skilful given the setting. American breakfast included inwards tariff non bad.
This is the small draw of piece of work organization expanse or so Pak Meng Pier, a three infinitesimal stroll from Boutique Raft Resort.Real tranquillity inwards this shot but after abt 1230 at that spot are often three or to a greater extent than large coaches unloading trip groups into restaurants or to the landing stage at the pier behind photographic tv set camera for a longtail trip up/down river. Or perhaps to the rafting identify for a quick drift.
Apart from restaurants, at that spot is a full general store which also has meals, accommodation, internet, motorbike as well as wheel hire addition trip-booking as well as carry services all or so the area.
Note that Boutique Raft Resort also offered the latter, but inwards both cases trips to Erawan etc tend to live to a greater extent than expensive unless yous receive got a fair sized grouping because yous hire the whole vehicle.
Calm earlier the tempest - biggest eatery in the Pakmeng Pier precinct merely earlier the tourist coaches as well as longtails larn inwards for the gear upward lunch. We flora a la card prices, nutrient skilful as well as service surprisingly slick fifty-fifty when the identify was crowded.Around Boutique Raft Resort
Sai Yok Noi (small) Waterfall is entirely 2km upward the route from Boutique Raft Resort - as well as a lilliputian to a greater extent than than 1 km from the destination of the Death Railway draw at Nam Tok station (plenty of carry waiting if yous don't desire to walk). This is an easy-access waterfall - walk upward the brusque gear upward of stairs from primary route bird as well as thirty m on yous volition larn this thought - really pop with both western as well as Thai visitors but banker's complaint most people upward nether the top falls were western.
This is the thought at street level. At 1 stage I counted nine coaches waiting. Lotsa restaurants as well as other touristy stores to correct - a skilful identify to grab a beer or ii if yous receive got cycled upward from Pak Meng Pier inwards 35C temps.Business district starts behind far tree as well as runs some other 800m or so due south - has a depository fiscal establishment as well as 7Eleven alongside other services. The draw of piece of work organization district also continues from this expanse upward towards the station which is nigh 500m left from the primary road.
I was struck past times the dozen+ accommodation signs both inwards town but to a greater extent than downwardly roads towards the river along this small-scale department of the primary road.
Take the showtime dirt runway left across river on the large span close BRR as well as yous achieve a small-scale elephant camp. I'm non a fan or riding pachyderms but immature homo guests were really enthusiastic nigh the river-bathing session which starts or so 1500.
The Lawa Cave. Small disaster. The daughter inwards the bicycle-hire identify tells me I'm crazy riding the 18km one-way upward to the caves inwards the 36 degrees C the thermometer on her desk is showing. I'm all bullshit as well as bluster - Nah, gets to 40+ where I live. Well it does, but non every bit good often.Slightly uphill for the showtime 14km on a skilful route due west of the river - as well as then the turnoff has signs showing STEEP SLOPES. Hell! But I figure if it's hard going upward it volition live piece of cake coming downwardly - as well as fortunately each upgrade is relatively brusque as well as rideable.
So after nigh an lx minutes from base of operations I achieve the caves downwardly close the river, climb the 130 stairs to the entrance. The sign says at that spot are low-cal switches within - but nope, I can't view whatever despite the assistance of my camera's flash. There is no-one nigh to ask.
So all I larn is this pic of an outer section. I subsequently discover some within pix on the mesh - this is non a small-time cave similar the Krasae but a 500m long tunnel with some pretty impressive limestone formations, colours etc.
Hey, for some argue the ride back, despite downhill, takes nigh the same time. Maybe it was the darn spot post, no way close long enough. Experienced riders volition know how hard this makes things after a while.
The River Kwai Resotel Resort merely off the cave access road. This is a to a greater extent than upmarket articulation - most accommodation is inwards prissy pavillions behind camera. Those are the eatery as well as rafting-boating pontoons inwards shot. This expanse is pretty unopen to Hellfire Pass nigh 6km futher northward on the other side of the river. Mainly Russian guests when I called in. The reveal of Russians inwards Thailand these days, all seemingly travelling upmarket from your humble observer belies the crap status of the Russian economic scheme apart from stone oil as well as gas. But I've said crap for years nigh most European Community economies - recent history is perhaps proving I'm non completely nuts.RIVER GUESTHOUSE - KANCHANABURI
This is a 2012 shot of the backpacker stilt-house articulation I stayed at inwards 1998. Hadn't seemed to receive got changed much. It's on an opened upward department of the river a fleck closer the fundamental state of war cemetery, railway as well as jitney stations than Noble Night. H5N1 skilful value identify with a neat bar pontoon barge nosotros would drinkable beer on as well as spotter movies at black - this is the pontoon nosotros took upward to the Bridge low-cal exhibit subsequently inwards the week. My showtime black a flotilla of barges came downwardly river returning from the River Kwai show. I cry back they had an unofficial race on -sounded similar a G bomber raid. Our pontoon rocked similar crazy every bit they passed. Quite a few similar joints addition some skilful restaurant/bars with river views inwards this area.
GETTING TO KANCHANABURI AND SURROUNDS
Many accommodation websites etc receive got the latest up-to-date information on carry times as well as costs - sawadee.com's Kanchanaburi section is really skilful inwards this observe as well as also has a killer interactive map as well as a lot of other skilful info.
So I'll stick to an outline here:
To Kanchanaburi from Bangkok:
- cheapest is past times develop or jitney as well as yous are looking at betwixt 2 as well as three hours for the trip. Most days at that spot are entirely 2 trains but buses every xx minutes go out from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai), less often from the Northern Bus Terminal at Mo Chit.
- faster, slightly to a greater extent than expensive minivans go out from the Khao San Road expanse as well as Victory Monument.
From Kanchanaburi up-country
- the develop runs every bit far every bit Nam Tok upward the Kwai Noi river valley. From the jitney station roughly hourly buses also stitch this valley on route 323 but much farther northward to Sangklaburi close the Burmese border. That would live a looooong trip.
Buses also stitch the Kwai Yai valley 0n route 3199 - every 50 minutes or so to Erawan Falls as well as to the large dam farther north.
Transport away from Kanchanaburi to to a greater extent than distant parts is good facilitated. If yous expand the higher upward pic which is typical of accommodation places as well as small-scale locomote agents (in this representative Noble Night Guesthouse) yous volition view at that spot is a minibus to Hua Hin on the Gulf coast from where yous tin can larn trains as well as buses to the southern Gulf as well as Andaman for the islands. The minibuses to Ayuthaya as well as direct to the aerodrome would live useful for a lot of travellers.From upward Earth yous demand to larn dorsum to Kanchanaburi to receive got payoff of these but accommodation places tin can adjust direct carry eg faced with the cheapest aerodrome alternative from Boutique Raft Resort to Bangkok International Airport which would receive got taken half dozen hours minimum given skilful connections, nosotros took the resort's auto which cutting the locomote fourth dimension to three hours inwards aircon comfort. It wasn't inexpensive at 3000baht but worthwhile given nosotros were looking at a 10 lx minutes flying home.
I similar to destination a page with a sunset shot but okay, this is sunrise - dorsum at Boutique Raft Resort.
But wait, there's more! I flora this peachy shot on Wikepedia. They say it shows riverside housing but locals can't afford to position their houses on pontoons. Looks similar the articulation was a backpacker touchstone rafthouse some fourth dimension inwards the past. Note nearest raft looks to receive got a eatery deck. Note every bit good the depression bird of the river (mud at bank-side) - perhaps shot inwards fourth dimension of drought. I noticed river would fluctuate a small-scale 150mm or so during the day, highest mid-morning. H5N1 immature homo invitee told me the large dam upriver lets extra H2O out each morning. I wonder how high the river gets as well as how fast it flows at the peak of moisture season?
This shot expands hugely if yous click picture on the Wikepedia page linked higher upward - expands less on this page.
If yous view mistakes or receive got extra information, delight postal service below. If yous receive got a question, delight enquire it on THE FORUM accessed thru the index link top correct of page. I seldom cheque private pages this far downwardly but I endeavour to monitor the Index daily when non travelling.
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