Fabulously beautiful province
Kanchanaburi is a fabulously beautiful province in central Thailand where rivers, waterfalls and densely vegetated hills dominate the landscape, where elephants, macaques, snakes and rare birds live in the wild.
Starting point is the quiet town of Kanchanaburi which is sandwiched between the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers. These two rivers meet here, to continue flowing as Mae Klong River. After visiting the night market, it's great to relax in the waterfront restaurants. Spend the night in a floating hotel surrounded by the sounds of nature.
Dense green jungle, waterfalls, flowing rivers and rolling valleys make Erawan National Park the most beautiful natural park in Kanchanaburi, a true paradise thanks in part to the picturesque waterfalls with pools to swim in. The famous Erawan Waterfall has multiple levels with pools of bright blue to emerald green water, where you can bathe in the company of schools of curious fish. Time flies as you float down the Kwai River on a bamboo raft. Where the world can't find you....
Macabre past
The beautiful landscapes were the backdrop of a macabre past, the absolute low point being the period around World War II. Historical monuments and war cemeteries recall this period, the poignant stories are explained at the JEATH War Museum.
Bridge over the River Kwai
The infamous Bridge over the River Kwai was originally a wooden bridge, since decades it has been replaced by a steel structure. The construction of the wooden bridge - over which the railroad line between Burma and Siam was to run - cost the lives of more than 100,000 civilians and prisoners of war. The same connection also required cutting a passage in the rocks, the Hellfire pass, where many succumbed to the enormous heat, hard work and poor conditions.
