How to get to Kanchanaburi and Erawan Falls, and what to do there

By bus

Buses to Kanchanaburi leave from the Southern Bus Terminal about every 30 minutes. It costs 120 baht (US$3.75) and takes 3 hours.

By train

The train is another option, leaving from Bangkok Noi Station in Thonburi. It takes between 3 and 4 hours and costs 100 baht (US$3.10).

Private tour

If you'd rather have everything taken care of and travel more comfortably, you can book a private tour here.

By car

The second time we visited, we went by car. We rented a pickup at Bangkok airport, went to Kanchanaburi for a day, then on to Ayutthaya and back to Bangkok. The road is in very good condition and, if you're up for it, it's a good way to see the area.

It's a small city that the River Kwai runs through, and it's ideal for escaping the chaos of Bangkok. It's also a good base for seeing places like Erawan Falls and the bridge over the River Kwai, riding the famous Death Railway and visiting temples.

1. Erawan Falls

With their 7 tiers and sky-blue water, these falls are not to be missed on your way through Kanchanaburi.

A bus leaves every 40 minutes from Kanchanaburi Bus Station and takes you to Erawan National Park. You can catch it at the station itself or at the various stops along the road. Ask at your hostel, because they'll be able to advise you. We stayed at a hostel 3 km from the station, and they told us we could also catch it on the road, 1 block from where we were.

The first bus leaves at 8 in the morning, the last at 17:45, and one comes by every 40 minutes. The trip takes 1 hour and 30 minutes and costs 50 baht (US$1.50).

The entrance fee to the national park is 300 baht (almost US$10). The park is open from 8:00 to 16:30.

As we mentioned, the falls have 7 tiers, and a 2 km (1.2 mile) trail takes you through them. It's very well signposted, so it's impossible to get lost. We recommend bringing comfortable shoes, a swimsuit and a towel, plus water and a snack. We also recommend seeing all of them, since each one has something different.

You can sleep in the national park, in bungalows or a tent. Here's a link in case you're interested: places to stay in Erawan National Park. There are also lots of really pretty places to stay along the river before you reach the park. We only recommend this option if you have a car or motorbike.

Tip: Go right when they open and avoid weekends, since it tends to fill up with people.

2. The bridge over the River Kwai

The famous bridge over the River Kwai, also known as the Bridge of Death, was built by the Japanese during World War II.

It was built to connect the capital of Thailand with the capital of Myanmar, as a way to link up the Japanese army and supply it with materials and troops. Building the railway line took a year, and the labor force was made up of prisoners of war, Thais and Burmese. Working conditions were so dreadful that around 100,000 people died building it, hence the name Bridge of Death.

Once you cross the bridge, you'll find a market with food stalls and places selling things. Across from the market there's a very pretty Chinese temple.

3. Wat Tham Suea temple

Also known as the Tiger Cave, this is the most famous temple in Kanchanaburi.

It has a giant Buddha image. Entry is free, and it's 17 km from central Kanchanaburi.

When we went, it was under repair, but here are some photos from other travelers to give you an idea.

4. Wat Ban Tham

This temple inside a cave sits high on a mountain. The best part: to get in, you climb a staircase shaped like a dragon. The route continues through a cave, and you can climb to the top of the mountain.

Entry is free, and it's 13 km from central Kanchanaburi, very close to the Tiger Cave.

5. Ride the Death Railway

As we explained earlier, it doesn't get its name from being dangerous, but from the deaths its construction caused. Today the railway runs from Bangkok to Nam Tok. The scenery it passes through, all green, with rice fields and gentle hills, makes it a tourist attraction. The full route (Bangkok-Nam Tok) takes 5 hours.

You can board it in Kanchanaburi and get off at one of the stops after that. From this city, you can catch it at Kanchanaburi's central station or at River Kwai Bridge Railway Station.

Most tourists who take the train in Kanchanaburi get off at Tham Krasae Bridge, almost 1 hour and 45 minutes from Kanchanaburi. From this station, you can take the train back, a taxi or a bus. Many get off here so they can walk along the famous Tham Krasae Bridge.

It's also worth continuing to the last station, Nam Tok. That way, you can also visit Sai Tok Noi waterfall and Hellfire Pass.

The train costs 100 baht (US$3.50), whatever stretch you ride.

• Schedule from Kanchanaburi: 6.07 am, 10.35 am and 4.26 pm.
• Schedule from Nam Tok: 5.20 am, 12.55 pm and 3.30 pm.

TIP: Sit on the left side when heading toward Nam Tok, so you can get a better look at the incredible views.

6. Hellfire Pass

True to its name, Hellfire Pass was the hardest part of the railway to build. Day and night, the prisoners worked in brutal conditions.

It's 80 km from central Kanchanaburi. If you took the train and decided to get off at Nam Tok station, you're only 20 minutes from Hellfire Pass. You can take a tuk-tuk or a shared taxi. From there, you can catch a bus back to Kanchanaburi.

It's very easy to get from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya. You'll need to take a bus and a minivan.

First, from Kanchanaburi Bus Station, you have to take a bus going to Suphanburi Province, 80 km from Kanchanaburi. It's a public bus, so don't expect air conditioning or very comfortable seats. It's a very local experience, which we love. The bus costs between 80 and 100 baht (US$2.50 to US$3) and takes 2 hours. Yes, that's way too long for just 80 km!

From Suphanburi station, you have to take a minivan to Ayutthaya. So find a local, tell them where you want to go, and they'll help you find the right van. Suphanburi is 40 km from Ayutthaya and, luckily, the minivan is quite a bit faster than the bus, taking about 30 minutes. In theory, the minivan costs 50 baht (US$1.50), but we couldn't get the driver to go below 100 baht (US$3). Minivans leave the station at 1-hour intervals.

IMPORTANT: You have to leave Kanchanaburi before 13:00 to be able to catch the minivan in Suphanburi.