Home » Thailand » Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. By Train, Bus or Road
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Your options for getting from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi include train, bus, taxi and minibus. There is no airport in Kanchanaburi, you can’t fly. Read on for more information on getting to Kanchanaburi, video of what the train is like, information on how to book train or bus tickets plus day tours, hotels in Kanchanaburi and things to do in this fascinating, peaceful, part of Thailand.
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, home to the Bridge on the River Kwae and Death Railway. A must-see destination in beautiful Thailand.
Kanchanaburi Province lies slightly north and west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is also a city, it’s on the map here. When tourists visit Kanchanaburi they normally stay on the River Kwae Yai, south of Kanchanaburi city.
Kanchanaburi City is located at the spot where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai Rivers meet. Yai means big in Thai, Noi means small.
The River Kwae is the River Kwai from the 1957 movie, and the historic bridge on the Burma Railway is here in Thailand, but the movie was actually filmed in Sri Lanka. An interesting fact, my father’s friend was one of the soldiers filmed whistling over the bridge.
If you’d like to book a day trip or tour to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok, that is also possible. We took the Bangkok to Kanchanaburi train to spend a few days relaxing on the laid-back River Kwae, what a great train journey and what a beautiful place Kanchanaburi is.
If you’d like to experience Kanchanaburi’s historical highlights, and care for the elephants, you can take an easy 1 day trip from Bangkok. Book that here.
Or, book a one day tour to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok, including the railway, bridge, etc, but without the elephant sancturay, here.
Kanchanaburi’s most popular attractions, The Death Railway, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Elephant’s World, and Erawan Falls, make for a great trip from Bangkok!
You can also opt for a 2 day trip to Kanchanaburi, spending your time with the elephants and staying in accommodation at the sanctuary. Take a look here.
Also find out here, a perfect way to book transport to Kanchanaburi, online and in advance.
There are multiple ways to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Thailand by road and rail, buses, minivans and private taxis. Kanchanaburi is close enough to visit from Bangkok as a day trip. The road journey should only be about 2 hours and 10 minutes, depending on traffic, the distance by road is 144Km on Route 4 from Bangkok.
The train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi takes longer, usually, depending on which train you take. You can’t fly from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, the nearest airports to Kanchanaburi are the two Bangkok airports Don Muang Airport (DMK)is 113.8 km (70 miles) away, Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is 134.4 km (83 miles) away. Dawe Airport (TVY) in Myanmar is 145.4 km (90 miles) away.
Kanchanaburi is very close to the Thailand/Myanmar border, it’s about 67 Km away, and you can cross the border at Phu Nam Ron pass in the Tenasserim Hills at an elevation of 350 metres (1,150 ft). The border checkpoint in Thailand is in Ban Kao Subdistrict, Mueang Kanchanaburi District, Kanchanaburi Province.
This makes Kanchanaburi a good place to stay on your way to the Myanmar border in Thailand.
There is currently no working train between Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, and Myanmar, but a train line is planned or may already be under construction at time of writing.
The historic bridge on the river Kwai at Kanchanaburi. Kanchanaburi offers lots more, war museums, waterfalls, nature, even elephants. In our opinion, it is a must-visit in Thailand and we’ve just been back for a return trip. 6 weeks here in 2013, a week in 2018, it’s still the same pretty spot.
How to Get to Kanchanaburi From Bangkok
To get to Kanchanaburi to Bangkok, you have a few choices, this was the information we had, a few days ago. Things change, you need to check. There is the train, a regular minibus service, tours and transfers, scheduled buses as well as the options of driving or taking a metered taxi.
Booking Tickets to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok
There are only 3 ways of booking train tickets in Thailand:
We highly recommend booking your tickets through 12 Go, it’s simple, no fuss, minimal expense and reliable. They also handle bus ticket bookings and better rates than many agents will give you. We use them, we recommend them. Book any train or bus here, the page opens on the Bangkok to Kanchanaburi booking page to make booking tickets easy for you.
The Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Train
The train to Kanchanaburi goes from Thonburi Station in Bangkok, that’s not the main train station, it’s a tiny one. It’s not far from the Khao San Rd area, on the other side of the river and is accessible via to MRT metro system.
We paid 150 Baht from the Khao San temple to Thonburi station in a taxi, you could probably find a driver who would charge you less or, ideally, use his meter. We beat our driver down from 200 and then lost the will to fight. He was the sweetest guy, he made the kids little origami flowers while we were stuck in traffic jams.
Taking a river ferry or boat most of the way to Thonburi Station is a cheaper option, the station isn’t far from the jetty.
The train cost us 100 Baht each. We had to pay full price for both of the children (6 and 9), child prices are determined by the child’s height, it seems. The Bangkok to Kanchanaburi train left at 7.50 am or 1.55 pm when we travelled.
Departing Thonburi Station, Bangkok, on the way to Kanchanaburi. The open windows were great.
Video – Bangkok and Kanchanaburi Train
Video from the Bangkok Kanchanaburi train and look at Kanchanaburi itself. You can see exactly what the train and Kanchanaburi are like. As you can see from our teenagers, we’ve done this journey many times in their lives. Check it out!
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi by Taxi
The taxi driver to the station tried to talk us into taking the taxi straight to Kanchanaburi for just over 1000 Baht. It would have been quick and only cost us about 500 Baht or so more than 4 train tickets, but we would have missed out on the pleasant train ride.
People sometimes go from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi for the day by taxi, or private tour, they check out the sights and return to their Bangkok hotels at night. Bangkok to Kanchanaburi isn’t far. See tour options below.
Minibusses to Kanchanaburi
There are a million travel agencies in the Khao San Rd area that will put you on a backpacker’s minibus to everywhere from Cambodia to Burma.
The one we tried quoted us 250 Baht per person to Kanchanaburi from central Bangkok. So for a family, it was quite pricey, children pay the same price.
Interestingly, the return minibus from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok seemed to only be 150 Baht according to the signs on the street in Kanchanaburi town. Buses and minibuses in Thailand and all of Southeast Asia can also be booked through 12Go Asia here.
As always with minibuses in Thailand, shop around and compare prices, don’t take the first offer. Be aware that these drivers go very fast where they can.
The Train Journey – Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
The Bangkok to Kanchanaburi train takes about 2.5 hours, so the journey doesn’t drag on and get tedious. Our journey took almost 3 hours, we arrived at around 5 pm, plenty of time to walk the few meters from the station to the main strip of guest houses.
Trains are a wonderful way to travel, the older the better. The passenger is compelled to do nothing, just gaze out of the window at the changing countryside.
The train to Kanchanaburi stops a few times at small Bangkok stations, this doesn’t go on for long, the time between stations get longer and eventually, you’re rolling through some of the prettiest rural scenery you can imagine.
We saw goats, cows, water buffalo, hundreds of cranes, egrets, ducks and chickens around the rice fields. The seats are wooden, no padding, the windows are open, keep an eye on your kids!
My boys thought it was great just looking out of the window. If you are hungry or thirsty vendors will keep you supplied with snacks. I can recommend the omelette rice with spicy chicken. Train food is usually good because it’s made for the locals, not the tourists.
I’m not sure if there were toilets, we didn’t look. It rained hard for a while, you can pull up the windows then. The open windows give you a lovely breeze and there are ceiling fans that help a bit when you are sitting at stations
How far is Kanchanaburi from Bangkok?
Kanchanaburi is 201KM, 125miles, as the crow flies, from Bangkok.
How Long Does The Train Take From Bangkok to Kanchanaburi?
This seems to vary. Some trains are faster than others. Check the timetables, our journey took 3 hours, but the timetable said 2.5 hours. Travelling by road should be quicker if traffic is good.
1 Day Tours from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
Want to see elephants in Kanchanaburi? You can. Elephants World is an ethical elephant sanctuary and you can spend a day hanging out with them, feeding them and swimming with them in the River Kwai. You can even book this as a day trip from Bangkok ( see link below). My kids LOVED this day and learned loads about Thailand’s elephants and their care.
Of course, if you are short of time or not keen on handling all of these arrangements yourself, you can easily book a 1 day tour to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok and have everything taken care of for you.
We generally use Get Your Guide for these tours, we’ve used them in several countries now, but Viator are another good option.
They have a best price guarantee. If you can find the tour cheaper elsewhere they refund the difference and offer all the reassurances of being a large, well respected international company. Try the following:
River Kwai and Death Railway Tour From Bangkok (here)
Kanchanaburi Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Visit From Bangkok (here)
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary and Historical Highlights of Kanchanaburi, Tour from Bangkok by minivan (see it here)
Kanchanaburi Tour from Bangkok including Death Railway WWII and River Kwai (here)
How to Find the Best Deals on Hotels, Guest Houses, Hostels, Rafts or Resorts in Kanchanaburi
We recommend checking the two booking platforms below to find the best price on your dates.
Agoda are Asia specialists and they often have a bigger selection. To get a refundable deal, a long time in advance (some people reserve 3 or 4 hotels and confirm closer to the date) Booking.com usually works best.
Accommodation in Kanchanaburi includes guest houses, river rafts, hostels, resorts and hotels from cheap to luxury. We found prices to be good. Kanchanaburi is cheaper than Bangkok. Scroll further down for a few recommendations or see our post on where to stay in Kanchanaburi.
We found this little gem in Kanchanaburi. Huge, clean, modern family rooms with private bathroom at Warm Well (see link below). They call it a hostel, but it has a motel feel with some dorm rooms available. Basic breakfast included.
For Warm Well Hostel see here (on Agoda) and here on Booking.com. We used this hostel recently, the family room pictured above, and were very impressed by it. It’s new, clean, cheap, smart and spacious. It’s an easy walk from this Kanchanaburi hostel or hotel to the riverside or the famous bridge on Kwae Yai.
Alternatively, a local Kanchanaburi motorbike taxi can drop you anywhere. These days we always book our accommodation in advance.
On arrival in Kanchanaburi by train on our first trip, we hadn’t reserved anywhere. We didn’t want to trawl up and down finding the best place at that time in the afternoon. Instead, we went with the first cheap place we found, the Jolly Frog, an old Lonely Planet favourite that’s now very run down, but cheap. 2 twin rooms cost us just 200 Baht each. (we wouldn’t recommend this place and it looks like it’s closed down now.)
Kanchanaburi was so much cheaper than Bangkok when we visited. The next day we moved to popular Sugar Cane Guest House (click through here for current rates on Agoda, we don’t think this one is on Booking) for a simple, affordable raft room on the stunning river. They serve good food, we revisited recently to eat and enjoy their views while staying at Warm Well (above). Sugar Cane are in the top 20 hotels in Kanchanaburi on Trip Advisor. Their rooms are simple but the location is perfect.
Not everyone wants to travel as budget as we did on that occasion, luckily there are plenty of options to suit every pocket.
Hotels in Kanchanaburi
A selection of Kanchanaburi hotels, with good reviews and recommendations. We checked the Trip Advisor ratings at the time of publication, these may have changed.
Upmarket Resort with Pool Dheva Mantra Resortand Spa, this Kanchanaburi hotel usually ranks well on Trip Advisor. The Dheva Mantra is on Booking.com here. This hotel is visually stunning with a huge pool, near the river. It even has a floating restaurant. This place is very affordable at about $80 US per night for 2 people, family rooms are available. You can also find it on Agoda here.
Riverside Hotel U Inchantree Kanchanaburi Hotel This hotel is more expensive than the one above, but still good value. It has a beautiful riverside setting and great reviews. #3 on Trip Advisor. On Agoda, and on Booking.com here. The location is great, riverside, but peaceful, and a short walk from the bridge. Family rooms seem to have enough beds for 3, or kids can share existing beds, check terms.
Mid-Price Riverside Hotel Xanadu 2008 Resort #2 on Trip AdvisorClick here for prices and availability on Agoda This hotel has a country setting and is comprised of private bungalows for couples or families. Children under 13 can normally stay for free in existing bedding. This one is about 5-6 Km from the bridge but can arrange transport for you. It gets rave reviews for it’s food and staff.
Kanchanaburi Province is rich in war history and well supplied with museums. You will find many natural attractions and national parks in the area, including waterfalls. For lovers of the great outdoors there are many activities such a kayaking, mountain bike trails and adventure activities. Boat trips and cruises are also popular.
Kanchanaburi is also of note for its Neolithic history, artefacts have been found here and you can find a display at the Jeath War Museum.
The following things to do and see are in or near Kanchanaburi and in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.
The famous Bridge on the River Kwae or Kwai,
The Hellfire Pass and Memorial Museum,
The Jeath War Museum,
Don-Rak War Cemetary,
Chonk-Kai Cemetary,
The Bridge War Museum,
Three Pagodas Pass,
Erawan National Park,
Ban Khao National Museum,
Sri Nakarin National Park,
Pong Teuk
Elephants World,
Sai Yok Yai,
Prasat Muang Singh National Park.
Wat Dong Sak
Alternatively, why not take a cruise on the river or enjoy a local cookery course.
The infamous Tiger Temple and Safari Parks are also near Kanchanaburi and now there is an ethical elephant rescue park, Elephants World.
Our favourite thing to do in Kanchanaburi, just relax!
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi – Conclusion
This is the river view from The Jolly Frog guest house. Isn’t it gorgeous?
The Beautiful River Kwai, Kanchanaburi as seen from the Jolly Frog guest house.
We love Thailand’s capital and there are endless things to see and do in Bangkok, but Kanchanaburi is something entirely different. Kanchanaburi is peaceful. This makes it a desirable destination for digital nomads and slow travellers along with the daytrippers, backpackers and holidaymakers
It’s well worth the short train ride from Bangkok to spend a weekend or a few days checking out the attractions or chilling on the River Kwai. And getting to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok is half of the fun. If you’d like more information on travel in Thailand, don’t miss our main Thailand Travel Blog page, plenty of information there for singles, couples or families taking any sort of trip in Thailand.
We also suggest you take a look at this company to get a quote for all kinds of the more tricky adventure or extended travel insurance.
Try Stayz / VRBO for an alternative way to find rentals on homes/apartments/condos in any country!
About the author
Alyson Long
Alyson Long is a British medical scientist who jumped ship to chase dreams. A former Chief Biomedical Scientist at London's West Middlesex Hospital she started in website creation and travel writing in 2011.
Alyson is a full-time blogger and travel writer, a published author, and owns several websites. World Travel Family is the biggest.
A lifetime of wanderlust and over 6 years of full-time travel, plus a separate 12 month gap year, has given Alyson and the family some travel expert smarts to share with you on this world travel site.
Today Alyson still travels extensively to update this site and continue her mission to visit every country, but she's often at home on her farm in Australia.
66 thoughts on “Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. By Train, Bus or Road”
Hi, thank you for your posts and the information you shared. We are planning to travel in late November with a toddler almost two years old, planning to visit Kanchanaburi, coming from Bangkok, before heading to Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi. Is Kanchanaburi family-friendly with a toddler, infrastructure, transportation, restaurants, etc.?
Oh yes! Kanchanaburi is lovely. I don’t see any problem with a young child.. Are you taking the train? That could be a bit hard with a toddler. It’s kind of a long jourrney and not very safe. You just keep them safe. I don’t see how there’s anything to worry about in Kanchanaburi so long as you are vigilant, it’s lovely there. But it’s maybe a bit of parental supervision.
I’m travelling to Thailand as a single mum today. Pick big busy, modern places to stay with good reviews and plenty of other rooms. Don’t wander around after dark in dodgy looking places. Look confident and like you know what you’re doing. We’ve never been robbed or had any issues in Thailand. A door wedge can give peace of mind at night. Keep a bag in front of you never behind, or cross body / anti theft. Don’t carry huge amounts of cash. Don’t look like a rich first time tourist ready for fleecing, dress like the locals – jeans etc.
Hi Alyson, I’m hoping you can give me some advice. We’re planning a trip to Thailand with our 2 boys ( will be almost 8 then) in late October/ early November. Firstly are we likely to see a lot of rain then?
Also we would like to visit the Kanchanaburi area, visit the Elephant Santuary, ride the Death Train and stay at the RiverKwaiRaft Jungle. We would happily get the train but not sure the best way to get to do what we want from there. Any thoughts?
Off the top of my head, October is a very good time to visit Thailand. I know my first trekking holiday in Thailand was in October. Just get a tuk tuk locally, or book a tour with GetYourGuide, which should include pick up from your hotel. But check what’s included.
Can’t say thank YOU enough Alyson. Your info is so complete,vivid and detailed. Lovely family. Staying in Bangkok 2 weeks and 1 week in Krabi mid January 2022. Your article couldn’t come at a better time. You are an awesome writer/traveler. Thanks again for showing and sharing your amazing traveling experience through your eyes and heart…Thi P.
Thanks for your comment. As always in Thailand, finding a driver prepared to use his meter is an art form and dependent on time and patience. I think we fully explained the circumstances in the post. It’s always very easy to just Google correct fares if you can’t be bothered to look for an honest taxi driver and stick to your price. But sometimes … who cares?
Hi! thank you so much for your post!
just a question-when booking a minivan to get to Kanchanaburi – do we need a carseat for our 21months old son? Should we take a carseat with us to Thailand?
If you were to take one I’m not sure you’d be able to fit it. Seat belts are a bit of a rarety. But you probably wouldn’t have to buy him a ticket as he could sit on your lap. If you feel you want him in a car seat you’d have to check with the provider that it was possible in their vehicle. Likewise taxis and Ubers, it’s not unusual for there to be no back seat seatbelts.
Hi Alyson, I was searching some information on Kachanaburi and came across your post.
Its wonderful.
I am also planning to visit this place with my wife and daughter(5 yrs old).
Can you suggest how safe this place to visit?
Thailand had the most dangerous roads last time I looked at the statistics. Great if they’re no longer the most dangerous. I wonder which country has the highest road death rate now? I’ll Google.
Wow! Libya is beating Thailand by miles now! Some crazy roads you have there, Every other country on the most dangerous top 10 for 2020 is in Africa except Iran. I have to say, roads in Thailand mostly aren’t that bad in our experience.
Thanks Alyson for your helpful article , We, family of 4 adults , plan to travel to Kanchananburi then travel to Ayutthaya then back to Bangkok . Is the Away Dheva Mantra Hotel the best hotel in Kanchananburi. Is the Night marketworth a visit . Oriental Escape tours wants to charge AUD 870 per person for land tour component excluding hotel prices .Are they overcharged?.Many Thanks in advance .Have you visit Vietnam yet?
Yes, we lived in Vietnam for 6 months last year. Check the current hotel prices using the links in this post. I don’t see why you need to book a tour like that. Just book train or bus tickets using 12 Go Asia ( links also in this post). Book your hotel using Agoda or Booking dot com. The night market is OK, there’s some good food but mostly it’s clothes for the locals. It’s not really a tourist night market as you would find, for instance, in Luang Prabang.
Thanks Alyson for your prompt reply and your invaluable advice regarding my upcoming trip to Thailand . Wow you stayed in Vietnam longerthan all my visit to VN in the past 5 years ( I was born in VN but now residing in Sydney for the last 40 years . Have you done a review about Phu Quoc . we also plan to visit this island after Thailand in December regards Tan Letran
Wow 6 months in Hoi An you must have picked the local dialect which is very hard to master even for an expat Vietnamese . We were there 2 years ago and plan to return to Danang this year . The people of Hoi An and Danang are the best in Vietnam with the exception of the inhabitants of the Mekong Delta ( I am biased because I was born in the Delta) regards
I love your blog! I am planning to take my husband and 7 and 8 year old to Thailand this coming February and I’m using lots of the recommendations that you have posted. I can’t wait, we’ve never been to Asia before.
I have a question about travel to Kanchanaburi – would it be crazy to rent a car and drive there?
I very much want to go to the elephant sanctuary and stay in a raft house type place, but sadly, we don’t have a ton of time to spend, My possible plan is to rent a car at Don Muang on a Wednesday morning, drive to Kanchanburi and visit the elephant sanctuary, stay overnight in Kanchanaburi and then leave early the next morning to catch a plane to Ranong out of Don Muang. Is that crazy? It might be! Please let me know what you think. Thank you very much for your help!
Hi Karen, personally, I wouldn’t drive. Get a taxi maybe? The roads are pretty crazy around Bangkok and the death / accident rate is very high in Thailand. We prefer trains and big buses.
Hi
I’m travelling to Bangkok next April with my family 2 adults and 3 kids (9,,12 and 13) would like to go to Kanchanaburi for 1 night 2 days.
The private tours seem very expensive.
I’m thinking elephant sanctuary, river Kwai, rafting, would you recommend anything else and what is the best way to get there and back
Could you confirm that the tourist train from Hua Lampong to Nam Tok still runs on Saturdays and Sundays?
I plan to visit River Kwai and Nam Tok waterfall and Kanchanaburi as 1-day trip in December 2018.
Hi there! My husband and I are researching train rides from Bangkok to Kanchanburi. But all we’re seeing are vans and buses. The 12go website says that there’s no trains available for the dates we want to go in September. Do you have any tips on how else to book trains online?
That’s really odd as I’ve taken that train many times. It doesn’t go from the main Bangkok station though, it goes from a smaller one. Is the name of the station not in the posts? If not I’ll have to rack my brains.
Hi Is there a day tour in the elephant sanctuary from Kanchanaburi instead of from Bankok since were planning to stay a few days in the area anyway? Thanks
Hi, im visiting bangkok next week and would like to explore kancanaburi. May i ask if i would like to visit these places Bridge on the River Kwai, Erawan National Park, Ban Khao National Museum, Wat Dong Sak, which train station i need to drop off?
HI,
If I travel alone to kanchanaburi using train,will it be hard to go anywhere in there for visiting many places ?or it will be better if I just take kanchanaburi tour?or is there any tour that can be booked when I already In kanchanaburi?
I’ll be in Thailand on this 24th December
Hello! thank for this blog. I wonder if its possible to take the train from Kanchanaburi direcktly to Don muang airport? or must i change train to taxi in BKK ?
Is it only 2 train depuatre /day from-and to Bkk-Kanchanaburi?
Hi Karin, no, the train from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok and the train from Bangkok to Don Muang are totally different lines. You need to switch stations in Bangkok. Probably best to get a mini bus as they go direct to both airports from Kanchanaburi. Cheers
ro say
07/03/2015
we planning to go from Bangkok/bkk airport to kanchanaburri by train what is the best way to get to the train station and how far is it from the airport
Hi, thanks for this post — i love trains but was skeptical about it but this helps! Had a question – i plean to take the afternoon train to Kanchanaburi. I would like to return the same evening/night to Bangkok as i have a flight the next morning. Do you think that is a feasible plan? Arriving by the afternoon train and taking the last bus back to bkk?
Hi AT, I’m wondering why you’d want to do that, you’d have to practically run around seeing the river, the bridge and the museum. I guess you could, but I’d give Kanchanaburi at least a couple of days. Save it for next time maybe.
We’re planning a Family trip to Thailand in January 2015. I’m trying to plan the details of our trip, I noticed you mentioned that you were offered a taxi ride from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi for 1000Baht…Total? or per person? Could you advise where we could arrange for such a taxi ride?
Total Gail. It was the taxi driver who was driving us to the station, he was trying to persuade us not to take the train. Taxis are really good value around Bangkok, particularly if they use their meters, we never used public transport. Tuk Tuks are normally more expensive unless you can bargain like a local. Just make sure you walk a little way from the main tourist areas before you flag one down and agree a price or make sure the meter is on before you set off. Prices are never per person.
I just got an interesting topic over your visit from Bangkok to Kanchanburi by train . I am planning to visit Thailand with my family within a period of three months . I stay in Guwahati ,Assam , India , from where I will be arriving Bangkok within three hours duration by Druck Airways ( Bhutan ) .
hi!!! I really envy your passion in travelling the whole world! how do you that? I mean, perhaps quitting you day job in Australia and traveling full time with your kids! Wow!!! I dream of traveling the world too, but budget permits me to save and save and soon travel one step at a time. I wish I could do what you have managed to do, or perhaps I could be your adopted daughter. haha just kidding!!!
enjoy the world, and thanks for inspiring me!
*** ps have you been to my beloved country-Philippines? hope you had!
Hi Emilie, I actually quit work when my children were born, it was the husband who quit the full time grind. No, haven’t been to Philipines but it’s very high on the list for next year!
Awesome! You rock. I only traveled around Bangkok with my two and half year old. It was pretty crazy on the water taxis with him on my back. Looking forward to having more adventures with my kids just like you are doing too.
Really helpful info! People. Au also find it useful to know not all taxi drivers know where the station is… 2/3 that we asked didn’t know! So useful to find it yourself on a map first and keeping looking for another taxi driver who does know where he is going! Luckily we got up extra early and had time to search a little. Great journey eye opening! And gives you a glimpse of Thailand beyond Khao San Rd!
hi…thanks a ton for the tips… i am gonna be in bangkok on the 9th of Sep….planned to head from the airport directly to Kanchanburi for the Tiger temple visit… Can you help me plan this trip? How long would the trip from the Swarnbhumi airport to the Thonburi station be? and what would it cost me in Bahts? I land at 12.30 p.m and i believe the train leaves at 1.55 p.m… would that be cutting it too short?
You’d be cutting it very fine, it will take you a while to get out of the airport and through immigration ( we were in a queue for almost an hour) plus maybe an hour in a taxi depending on the traffic. Traffic is a big factor. I’d stay a night in Bangkok to make it easier on yourself Abhinav, unless you’re really short of time. There is a taxi rank at the airport, you won’t have to negotiate a price, they’ll charge you accurately, so that’s something you don’t need to worry about. Did you see that a girl was mauled at the Tiger Temple last week? We haven’t been and won’t be going, so I can’t tell you anything about that. Erin over at Travel With Bender has been.
thanks a ton Allyson! We’re gonna spend the night in bangkok and get to the tiger temple on day 2.. Just need help with one final question.. We plan to head to suratthani directly from the tiger temple.. This is the part of the trip that i’m not sure of.. Would you know the closest train station from the temple from where we can take an overnight train to suratthani..so we spend the night of day 2 in the train.
I have no idea really Abhinav, we think you’re going to have to retrace your steps back to Bangkok and go from there on the train. Another option could be the backpacker minibuses that go all over the country. There are about a million travel agents in Kanchanaburi, one of them will operate a minibus service to wherever you want to go. We took the minibus back to Bangkok, it was only 3 hours, it dropped us at Khao San Rd. we got a taxi from there to the train station ( 50 Baht), but there may be a minibus service down to Surat Thani.
Abhinav, we took the train from Bangkok to Surat Thani yesterday. I’m writing a post about it this morning, there is a scam to watch out for, which we fell for..duh!!
It’s lovely here Kate, I have an ‘office” overlooking the River Kwai, or Kwae. It’s warm with a lovely breeze and the kids are busy playing around the houseboats, watching people fishing or collecting lotus buds and spotting fish and monitor lizards ( Boo swears he saw a crocodile). I wish we had more time to spend in Kanchanaburi but our visa won’t last forever, we need to move on to Laos. Hope you’re doing great back home. Alyson x
Hi, thank you for your posts and the information you shared. We are planning to travel in late November with a toddler almost two years old, planning to visit Kanchanaburi, coming from Bangkok, before heading to Koh Samui, Phuket, and Krabi. Is Kanchanaburi family-friendly with a toddler, infrastructure, transportation, restaurants, etc.?
Oh yes! Kanchanaburi is lovely. I don’t see any problem with a young child.. Are you taking the train? That could be a bit hard with a toddler. It’s kind of a long jourrney and not very safe. You just keep them safe. I don’t see how there’s anything to worry about in Kanchanaburi so long as you are vigilant, it’s lovely there. But it’s maybe a bit of parental supervision.
Hi
I am a single mum traveling to thailand this coming november [2023]
Woud there be any advise more saftey orientated for me? This is my first year travelling so very new.
Thank you in advance and I love your website hope you are all well
Emma from UK
I’m travelling to Thailand as a single mum today. Pick big busy, modern places to stay with good reviews and plenty of other rooms. Don’t wander around after dark in dodgy looking places. Look confident and like you know what you’re doing. We’ve never been robbed or had any issues in Thailand. A door wedge can give peace of mind at night. Keep a bag in front of you never behind, or cross body / anti theft. Don’t carry huge amounts of cash. Don’t look like a rich first time tourist ready for fleecing, dress like the locals – jeans etc.
Hi Alyson, I’m hoping you can give me some advice. We’re planning a trip to Thailand with our 2 boys ( will be almost 8 then) in late October/ early November. Firstly are we likely to see a lot of rain then?
Also we would like to visit the Kanchanaburi area, visit the Elephant Santuary, ride the Death Train and stay at the RiverKwaiRaft Jungle. We would happily get the train but not sure the best way to get to do what we want from there. Any thoughts?
Off the top of my head, October is a very good time to visit Thailand. I know my first trekking holiday in Thailand was in October. Just get a tuk tuk locally, or book a tour with GetYourGuide, which should include pick up from your hotel. But check what’s included.
Can’t say thank YOU enough Alyson. Your info is so complete,vivid and detailed. Lovely family. Staying in Bangkok 2 weeks and 1 week in Krabi mid January 2022. Your article couldn’t come at a better time. You are an awesome writer/traveler. Thanks again for showing and sharing your amazing traveling experience through your eyes and heart…Thi P.
Awww thanks. That’s so nice. We’re still not allowed out of Australia. Enjoy Thailand!
250 baht is “pricey”?
Lol.
That’s like $8.
Yet you paid a taxi 150 for a route that’s 70 baht on the meter.
Go home farang ki nok.
Thanks for your comment. As always in Thailand, finding a driver prepared to use his meter is an art form and dependent on time and patience. I think we fully explained the circumstances in the post. It’s always very easy to just Google correct fares if you can’t be bothered to look for an honest taxi driver and stick to your price. But sometimes … who cares?
Hi! thank you so much for your post!
just a question-when booking a minivan to get to Kanchanaburi – do we need a carseat for our 21months old son? Should we take a carseat with us to Thailand?
Thank you
Marketa
If you were to take one I’m not sure you’d be able to fit it. Seat belts are a bit of a rarety. But you probably wouldn’t have to buy him a ticket as he could sit on your lap. If you feel you want him in a car seat you’d have to check with the provider that it was possible in their vehicle. Likewise taxis and Ubers, it’s not unusual for there to be no back seat seatbelts.
Hi Alyson, I was searching some information on Kachanaburi and came across your post.
Its wonderful.
I am also planning to visit this place with my wife and daughter(5 yrs old).
Can you suggest how safe this place to visit?
It’s never even crossed my mind that it could be in any way unsafe.
Well, Thailand has the second deadliest roads in the world. By your own admission mini van drivers speed and rarely have seatbelts.
Gee, wonder how that could be unsafe.
Lol!
Thailand had the most dangerous roads last time I looked at the statistics. Great if they’re no longer the most dangerous. I wonder which country has the highest road death rate now? I’ll Google.
Wow! Libya is beating Thailand by miles now! Some crazy roads you have there, Every other country on the most dangerous top 10 for 2020 is in Africa except Iran. I have to say, roads in Thailand mostly aren’t that bad in our experience.
Thanks Alyson for your helpful article , We, family of 4 adults , plan to travel to Kanchananburi then travel to Ayutthaya then back to Bangkok . Is the Away Dheva Mantra Hotel the best hotel in Kanchananburi. Is the Night marketworth a visit . Oriental Escape tours wants to charge AUD 870 per person for land tour component excluding hotel prices .Are they overcharged?.Many Thanks in advance .Have you visit Vietnam yet?
Yes, we lived in Vietnam for 6 months last year. Check the current hotel prices using the links in this post. I don’t see why you need to book a tour like that. Just book train or bus tickets using 12 Go Asia ( links also in this post). Book your hotel using Agoda or Booking dot com. The night market is OK, there’s some good food but mostly it’s clothes for the locals. It’s not really a tourist night market as you would find, for instance, in Luang Prabang.
Thanks Alyson for your prompt reply and your invaluable advice regarding my upcoming trip to Thailand . Wow you stayed in Vietnam longerthan all my visit to VN in the past 5 years ( I was born in VN but now residing in Sydney for the last 40 years . Have you done a review about Phu Quoc . we also plan to visit this island after Thailand in December regards Tan Letran
No, never been to Phu Quoc, we were in Hoi An mostly.
Wow 6 months in Hoi An you must have picked the local dialect which is very hard to master even for an expat Vietnamese . We were there 2 years ago and plan to return to Danang this year . The people of Hoi An and Danang are the best in Vietnam with the exception of the inhabitants of the Mekong Delta ( I am biased because I was born in the Delta) regards
We did a language class but didn’t get much beyong please, thank you and can I have the bill please. It’s easy to get by in English and fluent menu.
Hi Alyson,
I love your blog! I am planning to take my husband and 7 and 8 year old to Thailand this coming February and I’m using lots of the recommendations that you have posted. I can’t wait, we’ve never been to Asia before.
I have a question about travel to Kanchanaburi – would it be crazy to rent a car and drive there?
I very much want to go to the elephant sanctuary and stay in a raft house type place, but sadly, we don’t have a ton of time to spend, My possible plan is to rent a car at Don Muang on a Wednesday morning, drive to Kanchanburi and visit the elephant sanctuary, stay overnight in Kanchanaburi and then leave early the next morning to catch a plane to Ranong out of Don Muang. Is that crazy? It might be! Please let me know what you think. Thank you very much for your help!
Karen
Hi Karen, personally, I wouldn’t drive. Get a taxi maybe? The roads are pretty crazy around Bangkok and the death / accident rate is very high in Thailand. We prefer trains and big buses.
Hi
I’m travelling to Bangkok next April with my family 2 adults and 3 kids (9,,12 and 13) would like to go to Kanchanaburi for 1 night 2 days.
The private tours seem very expensive.
I’m thinking elephant sanctuary, river Kwai, rafting, would you recommend anything else and what is the best way to get there and back
Thanks Julie
A nice informative blog this!
Could you confirm that the tourist train from Hua Lampong to Nam Tok still runs on Saturdays and Sundays?
I plan to visit River Kwai and Nam Tok waterfall and Kanchanaburi as 1-day trip in December 2018.
Sorry, I can’t.
Hi there! My husband and I are researching train rides from Bangkok to Kanchanburi. But all we’re seeing are vans and buses. The 12go website says that there’s no trains available for the dates we want to go in September. Do you have any tips on how else to book trains online?
That’s really odd as I’ve taken that train many times. It doesn’t go from the main Bangkok station though, it goes from a smaller one. Is the name of the station not in the posts? If not I’ll have to rack my brains.
Hi, will be visiting K’buri soon! Wondering if you were able to take luggage with you on the train with you~>? Thanks!!
yes, no problem.
Hi Is there a day tour in the elephant sanctuary from Kanchanaburi instead of from Bankok since were planning to stay a few days in the area anyway? Thanks
Yes, of course, just click through ( same link as BKK tour) and have a look.
Also Lilian, we now have a full post on Elephant World, with video. You’ll see links on this page.
Hi, im visiting bangkok next week and would like to explore kancanaburi. May i ask if i would like to visit these places Bridge on the River Kwai, Erawan National Park, Ban Khao National Museum, Wat Dong Sak, which train station i need to drop off?
Thanks
HI,
If I travel alone to kanchanaburi using train,will it be hard to go anywhere in there for visiting many places ?or it will be better if I just take kanchanaburi tour?or is there any tour that can be booked when I already In kanchanaburi?
I’ll be in Thailand on this 24th December
Probably just get a tuk tuk or taxi will be fine.
Hi just a quick question, do you take the train from thonburi station or thonburi railway?
Hello! thank for this blog. I wonder if its possible to take the train from Kanchanaburi direcktly to Don muang airport? or must i change train to taxi in BKK ?
Is it only 2 train depuatre /day from-and to Bkk-Kanchanaburi?
Karin from sweden.
Thank you =)
Hi Karin, no, the train from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok and the train from Bangkok to Don Muang are totally different lines. You need to switch stations in Bangkok. Probably best to get a mini bus as they go direct to both airports from Kanchanaburi. Cheers
Such a helpful blog. Thank you so much. I hope i could make it tomorrow to see the historical bridge and erawan national park.
ro say
07/03/2015
we planning to go from Bangkok/bkk airport to kanchanaburri by train what is the best way to get to the train station and how far is it from the airport
Which airport Rosina? We got a taxi, metered of course.
Hi, thanks for this post — i love trains but was skeptical about it but this helps! Had a question – i plean to take the afternoon train to Kanchanaburi. I would like to return the same evening/night to Bangkok as i have a flight the next morning. Do you think that is a feasible plan? Arriving by the afternoon train and taking the last bus back to bkk?
Hi AT, I’m wondering why you’d want to do that, you’d have to practically run around seeing the river, the bridge and the museum. I guess you could, but I’d give Kanchanaburi at least a couple of days. Save it for next time maybe.
We’re planning a Family trip to Thailand in January 2015. I’m trying to plan the details of our trip, I noticed you mentioned that you were offered a taxi ride from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi for 1000Baht…Total? or per person? Could you advise where we could arrange for such a taxi ride?
Total Gail. It was the taxi driver who was driving us to the station, he was trying to persuade us not to take the train. Taxis are really good value around Bangkok, particularly if they use their meters, we never used public transport. Tuk Tuks are normally more expensive unless you can bargain like a local. Just make sure you walk a little way from the main tourist areas before you flag one down and agree a price or make sure the meter is on before you set off. Prices are never per person.
I just got an interesting topic over your visit from Bangkok to Kanchanburi by train . I am planning to visit Thailand with my family within a period of three months . I stay in Guwahati ,Assam , India , from where I will be arriving Bangkok within three hours duration by Druck Airways ( Bhutan ) .
hi!!! I really envy your passion in travelling the whole world! how do you that? I mean, perhaps quitting you day job in Australia and traveling full time with your kids! Wow!!! I dream of traveling the world too, but budget permits me to save and save and soon travel one step at a time. I wish I could do what you have managed to do, or perhaps I could be your adopted daughter. haha just kidding!!!
enjoy the world, and thanks for inspiring me!
*** ps have you been to my beloved country-Philippines? hope you had!
emilie
Hi Emilie, I actually quit work when my children were born, it was the husband who quit the full time grind. No, haven’t been to Philipines but it’s very high on the list for next year!
Thanks for all the precious info, me and my girlfriend will be on the way to Kanchanaburi that Sunday ! Can’t wait to go in the train.
Awesome! You rock. I only traveled around Bangkok with my two and half year old. It was pretty crazy on the water taxis with him on my back. Looking forward to having more adventures with my kids just like you are doing too.
Really helpful info! People. Au also find it useful to know not all taxi drivers know where the station is… 2/3 that we asked didn’t know! So useful to find it yourself on a map first and keeping looking for another taxi driver who does know where he is going! Luckily we got up extra early and had time to search a little. Great journey eye opening! And gives you a glimpse of Thailand beyond Khao San Rd!
hi…thanks a ton for the tips… i am gonna be in bangkok on the 9th of Sep….planned to head from the airport directly to Kanchanburi for the Tiger temple visit… Can you help me plan this trip? How long would the trip from the Swarnbhumi airport to the Thonburi station be? and what would it cost me in Bahts? I land at 12.30 p.m and i believe the train leaves at 1.55 p.m… would that be cutting it too short?
You’d be cutting it very fine, it will take you a while to get out of the airport and through immigration ( we were in a queue for almost an hour) plus maybe an hour in a taxi depending on the traffic. Traffic is a big factor. I’d stay a night in Bangkok to make it easier on yourself Abhinav, unless you’re really short of time. There is a taxi rank at the airport, you won’t have to negotiate a price, they’ll charge you accurately, so that’s something you don’t need to worry about. Did you see that a girl was mauled at the Tiger Temple last week? We haven’t been and won’t be going, so I can’t tell you anything about that. Erin over at Travel With Bender has been.
thanks a ton Allyson! We’re gonna spend the night in bangkok and get to the tiger temple on day 2.. Just need help with one final question.. We plan to head to suratthani directly from the tiger temple.. This is the part of the trip that i’m not sure of.. Would you know the closest train station from the temple from where we can take an overnight train to suratthani..so we spend the night of day 2 in the train.
I have no idea really Abhinav, we think you’re going to have to retrace your steps back to Bangkok and go from there on the train. Another option could be the backpacker minibuses that go all over the country. There are about a million travel agents in Kanchanaburi, one of them will operate a minibus service to wherever you want to go. We took the minibus back to Bangkok, it was only 3 hours, it dropped us at Khao San Rd. we got a taxi from there to the train station ( 50 Baht), but there may be a minibus service down to Surat Thani.
thanks Alyson for your prompt replies.. Really helpful.. Hope the family travels far and wide. Cheers!
Abhinav, we took the train from Bangkok to Surat Thani yesterday. I’m writing a post about it this morning, there is a scam to watch out for, which we fell for..duh!!
That train ride looks pretty cool.
Ohhh. It looks absolutely delightful. Hope you’re all chillin’.
It’s lovely here Kate, I have an ‘office” overlooking the River Kwai, or Kwae. It’s warm with a lovely breeze and the kids are busy playing around the houseboats, watching people fishing or collecting lotus buds and spotting fish and monitor lizards ( Boo swears he saw a crocodile). I wish we had more time to spend in Kanchanaburi but our visa won’t last forever, we need to move on to Laos. Hope you’re doing great back home. Alyson x
Kanchanaburi is on our list of places to go, will be taking note of where you stay!
Love that last photo! That’s a reflection of the sun, right? Not a pot of gold.
I really don’t know Suzanne, something weird going on with the camera I think. Maybe fairies on The River Kwai?