By Kylian Dev
Bangkok to Kanchanaburi: the options compared
Three ways to go, depending on whether you want the experience or the speed.
| Option | From Bangkok | Time | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary train | Thonburi station, 7.45 am and 1.55 pm | 2.5 to 3 h | 100 THB (foreigner fare) |
| Weekend special train | Hua Lamphong, weekends and holidays | Full day with stops | Higher package fare, booking needed |
| Minivan or bus | Mo Chit van terminal or Southern Bus Terminal | 2 to 2.5 h | About 120 to 150 THB |
| Taxi or private car | Your hotel | 2 to 2.5 h | 2,000 to 3,000 THB per car · Book |
The train is the slowest and least comfortable option, but it is what turns this trip into a memory: countryside, rice fields, small stations, then the bridge itself. The minivan is the practical pick, with departures all day. A private car makes sense for three or four people, even more if you keep the driver for Erawan.
The train from Thonburi
Two departures a day on the historic Death Railway line.
The Kanchanaburi train leaves neither from Hua Lamphong nor Krung Thep Aphiwat, but from Thonburi station, also called Bangkok Noi, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya. Two ordinary trains leave daily at 7.45 am and 1.55 pm, reaching Kanchanaburi around 10.25 am and 4.25 pm.
- A flat 100 THB fare for foreigners, whatever station you get off at.
- 3rd class only: benches, fans, open windows.
- Tickets sold at the counter on the day, up to an hour before departure, passport in hand.
- No reservations: arrive 30 minutes early for a window seat.
The train carries on past Kanchanaburi: it crosses the River Kwai bridge, then hugs the cliff on the Wang Pho viaduct before reaching the end of the line at Nam Tok. Seats on the left give the best river views at the viaduct.
The weekend special train
A day excursion by rail, with stops at the main sights.
On weekends and public holidays, the SRT runs a tourist train from Hua Lamphong. It stops at the great chedi of Nakhon Pathom, the River Kwai bridge and the Wang Pho viaduct, then returns to Bangkok in the evening. The fare is a higher package than the ordinary train, and booking is required.
It is a good option if you only have one day and want the train without juggling connections. You will not see Erawan or Hellfire Pass, though, which are too far from the line.
By minivan or bus
The fastest way without a private car.
Minivans leave from the Mo Chit van terminal and the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), with regular departures during the day. Expect 2 to 2.5 hours and about 120 to 150 THB. Air-conditioned buses also leave from the Southern Bus Terminal, a little slower but with more room for luggage.
- Turning up without checking the terminal: Mo Chit and the Southern terminal are at opposite ends of the city.
- Taking a big suitcase on a minivan: space is tight.
- Aiming for an exact time: vans leave when full.
In Kanchanaburi, minivans and buses arrive at the bus station in the town centre. From there, a songthaew or tuk-tuk takes you to your hotel along the river or near the bridge.
Taxi or car with driver
Door to door, and the driver can stay for day trips.
A taxi or booked car links Bangkok and Kanchanaburi in 2 to 2.5 hours, for 2,000 to 3,000 THB per car. Confirm the total price, tolls included, before setting off.
The most efficient option for a short stay is a car with driver over two days: Bangkok, the bridge, the war cemetery, then Erawan and Hellfire Pass the next day, with a return to Bangkok in the evening. The sights are far apart, and without a car every hop takes time.
What to see in Kanchanaburi
The bridge is only the start: history and nature are an hour’s drive away.
River Kwai bridge
HistoryYou can walk across between trains. Early in the morning it is almost empty.
War cemetery and museums
RemembranceThe POW cemetery and the museums in town tell the story of the railway’s construction.
Erawan Falls
NatureSeven tiers of turquoise pools in a national park, about 1.5 hours from town.
Hellfire Pass
RemembranceThe cutting dug by hand by prisoners, with a trail and a moving museum.
Erawan and Hellfire Pass each take a full day from Kanchanaburi: scooter, car with driver or organised tour. Erawan is a national park with an entry fee payable in cash, and the upper tiers take a proper walk. All the addresses are on our Kanchanaburi page.
How long to stay?
A day for the bridge, two or three days to see it all.
As a day trip you will see the bridge, the cemetery and a museum, with a lot of time on the road. With two nights you add Erawan and Hellfire Pass without rushing, and enjoy the floating hotels on the river. To pick an area, see where to stay in Kanchanaburi.
- Two nights for a first visit.
- Erawan in the morning, before the crowds and the heat.
- Cash for the train, national parks and songthaews.
Timing matters too: Erawan looks best at the end of the rainy season, when the pools are full, and it is very hot from March to May. Details in the Kanchanaburi weather guide.
How to get back to Bangkok
Morning or afternoon train, or a minivan at any time.
The train to Thonburi leaves Kanchanaburi around 7 am and 2.45 pm, with the same rules as on the way out. Minivans to Mo Chit and the Southern terminal leave the bus station all day, and your hotel can book a car.
Where next?
Kanchanaburi combines well with other trips around Bangkok.
- For another day of history north of Bangkok: Ayutthaya.
- For more ideas from the capital: our day trips from Bangkok.
- For the sea afterwards, head south: Hua Hin is about 3 hours by road.
To tie it all together, our itinerary planner works out the travel times between each stop.