Kanchanaburi
Best known in the West for being home to the Bridge on the River Kwai, the picturesque town of Kanchanaburi sits on the border with Myanmar. During World War II, Allied prisoners and slave laborers from across Southeast Asia were forced to build a bridge across the mighty river; toiling in inhuman conditions, thousands died - commemorated by an extensive cemetery and the JEATH Museum.
Today, Kanchanaburi is pleasant and comfortable, located near a series of waterfalls and scenic national parks, and home to a number of diverse ethnic minorities. Notable sights include a train ride over the deadly Burma Railway, the source of much suffering during World War II and outdoor adventures along the Mekong and the area outside Kanchanaburi.
Experiences
A handpicked selection of experiences endorsed by our experts. If you can’t see what you’re looking for, let us know, as our extensive network of local contacts can open many doors.
JEATH Museum
Visit the JEATH War Museum with a curator. JEATH stands for Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland, representing the nationalities of the prisoners of war (POWs) who were forced to work on the Death Railway. This impressive memorial and tribute was established to show actual items that were connected with the construction of the Death Railway by POWs between 1942-1943.
Mon Village
Visit a Mon village and spend time in a school teaching English, exchanging details with the students about your lives (with the help of your expert guide as translator). As this school exists outside the Thai schooling system, it is usually open even when the normal school year is over.
Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor activities abound in Kanchanaburi’s fertile, rugged landscape. Options for the adventurous traveler include rafting on the River Kwai, a tributary of the mighty Mekong; kayaking; elephant trekking; and hiking to the seven-tiered Erawan Waterfall and the Tharn Pratat cave, with its dramatic stalactites and stalagmites.
Train Ride
Board a local train that will take you over the bridge and other parts of the “Death Railway,” one of the Burma Railway’s more direct sobriquets.
Thailand Regions
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below on the right.
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With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Travelogues
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
Kayaking the Kwai: Exploring Death Railway After 75 Years
- Author
- John McMahon
John McMahon takes his kayak on a 160-kilometer journey up the famed River Kwai for the 75 anniversary of the completion of Death Railway, armed with a paddle and a copy of One Fourteenth of an Elephant by Ian Deny Peek.
On a Knife’s Edge
- Author
- Dave Stamboulis
Close to Bangkok, but a world removed from Thailand’s crowded tourist hubs, the dramatic peaks of Kanchanaburi province offer prime opportunities for wilderness hiking.
October Picks from #TakeMeToRemoteLands
- Author
- Varuni Kaensacha
Celebrations in Papua New Guinea, Trains in Thailand, statues in Angkor Wat, and dancing in Bali – we choose our favorite shots from our readers’ Instagram feeds.
What Others Say
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A Family from New York City
The guides are what make the experience and in this trip they most surely standout [...] We look forward to our next experience that you and your team help us to create.
