The Bridge on the River Kwai; JEATH Museum; train ride to the historic viaduct at Tham Kra Sae; military cemetery; Cave Tham Kra Sae; elephant camp with elephant bathing and washing.
Our licensed tour guide will either meet you at the meeting point Sathorn Pier Saphan Taksin which we will inform you about, or he will pick you up at your hotel depending on your booking.
After our guide has picked you up, we can start the tour reliably and safely. We drive from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, after the 1957 film of the same name by David Lean with actor Alec Guinness, in which prisoners were asked to build a wooden bridge. The music for this film is the well-known River Kwai march, Le Pont de la Riviere Kwai, which you have probably heard before. The river called Mae Nam Khwae Yai with the bridge was a central target of attack by the Americans during the war years, who eventually partially destroyed the bridge. Not only did many civilians die, but also American prisoners of war. The Japanese prisoner of war camp was only a few kilometres away from the bridge.
This has been reconstructed and you can still see old exhibits from that time. Therefore, we first go to the JEATH Museum to give them a first impression of what happened there at that time. The name JEATH stands for Japan, England, Australia/America, Thailand and Holland, which provided most of the labour. The museum was opened in 1977. Many pictures bear witness to the construction period of the "Death Railway" and the suffering of the people involved. The next destination is the bridge on the River Kwai, which you can see up close and also walk on. Here you can see the historic site that was death for many soldiers and civilians at the time. Afterwards, you will go on an impressive drive through a beautiful landscape.
The old steam-driven train takes you on the "Death Railway" for about an hour to Tham Kra Sae and we cross the famous wooden Wam Pho Viaduct, built by prisoners of war, at walking pace. It is a very special experience that you will never forget when you cross the viaduct at a crawling pace with a view of the river. In earlier times, when the railway line was built by prisoners and civilians, the stretch up to the viaduct was pure jungle and dangerous for every prisoner and ended in death for many prisoners and civilians. At Tham Krasae you can buy the book in which the survivors' stories of the war days and the endless suffering were recorded. At the Tham Krasae station we have lunch with a very nice view of the Wam Pho viaduct and the River Kwai.
We also visit a cave near Tham Kra Sae. Such caves can be found again and again in Kanchanaburi, as the inhabitants can also celebrate their faith here. After lunch with a beautiful view of the River Kwai, we visit an elephant camp where you have the unique opportunity to bathe and wash with the elephants. This is something very special and you should not miss it, so take towels and swimwear with you. After this experience, we go directly to the military cemetery near the bridge on the River Kwai. Many Allied soldiers were buried here during the war years and you can always see relatives visiting the place. After this interesting journey through time, we return to Bangkok to our starting point.
130 € p.P. Tour price from hotel or Sathorn Pier Saphan Taksin | Tour with air-conditioned van
The tour itinerary and the individual sightseeing objects may possibly deviate due to weather or traffic conditions, airline departure times or closures of the sights. The decision to change the tour itinerary is then up to the tour guide, who will then determine an equivalent new destination, if necessary in consultation with the guests. It is advisable to bring headgear and sunscreen, at least for those who are sensitive. If you intend to bathe with the elephants, it is advisable to bring a change of underwear and towels. These can be stored in the air-conditioned van and used as needed.
We look forward to your visit to Bangkok and we warmly welcome you.
Your team from Green Bangkok Tours TSB day tours