How to Get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok
Kanchanaburi is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated destinations in the whole of Thailand. It has some of the most stunning landscapes within the country, a fascinating history, and it is a little bit off the beaten path, meaning you get a more authentic Thailand experience.
One of the reasons I think it does not get quite as crowded as other places is that it is a little bit tricky to get to. The easiest place to get to Kanchanaburi from is Bangkok. I will discuss the prices, the travel times involved, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Traveling to Kanchanaburi by Train from Bangkok
Let us start with the train because I think this is going to be the most rewarding and interesting experience for those who dare to take it. If there is one thing to know about Kanchanaburi, it is that it was devastatingly affected by the tragedies of World War II, especially with the construction of the Thai Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway.
The Death Railway was built in World War II by Allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers. They were all forced to work in brutal conditions day and night to construct the railway to Burma. Workers endured extreme conditions, including heat, malnutrition, and disease, and over 100,000 people died in its construction.
Learning about the construction of the Death Railway is one of the main reasons people come to Kanchanaburi. There are less depressing reasons too, such as the beautiful landscapes. However, this is still one of the main reasons people visit.
Traveling by train manages to kill two birds with one stone, as you get to explore some of the history, see some of the major landmarks, and actually get to Kanchanaburi on the train. You will pass over the bridge over the River Kwai, which is one of the most important landmarks. You will then stop at Tham Krasae, which is a cave and one of the most important points on the Death Railway.
Once you get off at Tham Krasae, you can explore the area and walk along the track itself. You can also explore the cave of Tham Krasae, which has a Buddhist monument dedicated to those who perished during the construction of the railway.
When I visited Kanchanaburi, I actually did not go by train, but I ended up having to take the train to get this experience anyway. So, like I say, this will kill two birds with one stone. To catch this train, you must first make your way to Thon Buri train station. There are two trains that leave each day, one at 7:45 a.m. and one at 1:55 p.m.. It appears that you cannot actually buy tickets online. You must go there in person to buy the tickets. The journey takes about 2 and 1/2 hours and costs only 100 Thai Baht, so this is a very cheap way to travel to Kanchanaburi. This will be the most scenic route too. It will take you through the back streets of Bangkok, then through the outskirts of the city and the countryside. You get to see a lot more of the Thai country this way.
Traveling to Kanchanaburi by Bus from Bangkok
This probably is not the most convenient or comfortable way to travel, but it will probably be the most rewarding experience. It might be a little difficult to do, but that, for me, is part of the fun.
It is approximately 120 km, or about 75 mi, from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, and taking the bus is one of the simpler ways to take this journey. The bus ride lasts a little longer than a train, at about 3 and 1/2 hours, but the buses are fairly comfortable and have air conditioning and comfortable seating.
There are lots of buses running each day. Sometimes it might be a minivan, and sometimes it might actually be a full-size bus. You can catch these from the Southern Bus Terminal, or the minivans from Mo Chit station. There are over 20 buses that run each day, so you can choose pretty much whatever time you want to leave. Services start as early as 5 a.m. and finish around 7:00 p.m., and they cost 140 Thai Baht.
The buses will take you to the center of town, which will be a short walk or taxi ride to your accommodation for most people.
Taking a Private Driver to Kanchanaburi
If you want to make it even more convenient, it is possible to rent a taxi driver or a private driver to take you all the way there. This has the added advantage of their picking you up from your hotel and dropping you off directly at your next hotel.
If you are doing this as a one-way pickup and drop-off service, this costs around 3,000 Thai Baht and can be done in 2 hours.
Kanchanaburi Day Tours from Bangkok
Now, if you are planning to visit Kanchanaburi as a day trip without spending the night, you can do this as part of a tour. This will include your transport to and from Kanchanaburi, as well as an English-speaking guide who will take you to the main sites.
There are a number of different tour operators offering different trips from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, and they will take you to different sites. When you go to Kanchanaburi, there are a lot of different things you can see. You can go to Erawan waterfalls, you can go to the River Kwai, and you can see some of the war cemeteries.
This is probably the most convenient option because you are going to have an English-speaking tour guide as well, and you really just do not have to worry about how to get from place to place once you are there. If it is a one-day trip, though, it is unlikely you will be able to see everything that you want to see. That is fine if you have only got a short amount of time.
The cheapest options I am seeing come in at around $75 per person, which is around 2,500 Thai Baht, with the higher ones coming in at over $200 per person, which is around 7,000 Thai Baht. In my opinion, if you are traveling in a group, even the lower-end tours could get pretty expensive. The higher-end ones are more expensive, so I am not entirely sure what you are getting for that $200. I would be a little wary and make sure you are getting exactly what you want from that tour because it is a bit on the pricey side, especially if you are traveling with more than one person. But if your aim is to have the best experience possible in the shortest amount of time, then it might just be worth it for you.
You could also try to get a private driver to take you not just to Kanchanaburi, but I reckon you could probably get this done for around 5,000 Thai Baht for the driver. So, if there are two or three of you, this is probably a better way to go.
One thing to know is that if you are trying to travel to Kanchanaburi, explore all the sites, and return back to Bangkok within one day, this is a lot of traveling. You will be in the car for at least 5 hours, so you will be pretty exhausted by the end of the day.
