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Bridge on the River Kwai: A Guided War History and Cultural Tour in Kanchanaburi
4.4
262 Ratings
Kanchanaburi
Experience the history and culture of Kanchanaburi on a guided tour of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Visit war museums, a POW cemetery, and take a thrilling speedboat ride. Join fellow customers or go private for a personalized experience.
Experience the history and culture of Kanchanaburi on a guided tour of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Visit war museums, a POW cemetery, and take a thrilling speedboat ride. Join fellow customers or go private for a personalized experience.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- River Kwai - The Khwae Yai River, also known as the Si Sawat, is a river in western Thailand. It has its source in the Tenasserim Hills and flows for about 380 kilometres through Sangkhla Buri, Si Sawat, and Mueang Districts of Kanchanaburi Province, where it merges with the Khwae Noi to form the Mae Klong River at Pak Phraek.
- River Kwai - The Khwae Yai River, also known as the Si Sawat, is a river in western Thailand. It has its source in the Tenasserim Hills and flows for about 380 kilometres through Sangkhla Buri, Si Sawat, and Mueang Districts of Kanchanaburi Province, where it merges with the Khwae Noi to form the Mae Klong River at Pak Phraek.
What's Included
- Speedboat adventure with a long-tailed boat
- Delicious lunch included
- Comfortable air-conditioned transport
- Scenic train journey on the Death Railway (seat fee excluded)
- Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off (central Bangkok only)
- All museum entrance fees covered
- Expert guidance from a professional Thai local
- Speedboat adventure with a long-tailed boat
- Delicious lunch included
- Comfortable air-conditioned transport
- Scenic train journey on the Death Railway (seat fee excluded)
- Convenient hotel pick-up and drop-off (central Bangkok only)
- All museum entrance fees covered
- Expert guidance from a professional Thai local
What's Not Included
- Beverages
- Gratuities
- Beverages
- Gratuities
Additional Information
The Bridge on the River Kwai and Thailand-Burma Railway Tour provides an intriguing exploration of Thailand’s history and scenery during World War II. This guided tour leads visitors to the renowned bridge, a symbol of the challenges endured by soldiers and prisoners of war during the railway’s construction.
The journey begins with a hotel pickup from…
The Bridge on the River Kwai and Thailand-Burma Railway Tour provides an intriguing exploration of Thailand’s history and scenery during World War II. This guided tour leads visitors to the renowned bridge, a symbol of the challenges endured by soldiers and prisoners of war during the railway’s construction.
The journey begins with a hotel pickup from Bangkok, followed by a picturesque drive to Kanchanaburi. Here, participants will learn about the bridge and railway’s historical importance, often called the “Death Railway.” Standing on the bridge, one can admire the breathtaking views of the river and surrounding landscape while contemplating the profound history.
The tour features a ride on the Thailand-Burma Railway, offering a rare chance to travel the same tracks built under difficult conditions. Additionally, visitors will explore the War Museum and the Allied War Cemetery, which pay tribute to those who suffered during this era.
- You must provide your hotel details at time of booking, failure to do so may result in cancellation
- Child rate is priced for children lower than 100cm tall. If Over 100cm, please pay the adult rates.
- Timings at each part of the tour may be changed at the discretion of the guide and the group
- 300baht is payable by all guests on the train which will include a guaranteed seat. This can be paid at the train station in cash to the guide.
- This tour can be taken shared with other passengers OR private with own vehicle and guide
- River Kwai is approx 130km from Bangkok with a stop on the way time permitting.
- Tour includes hotel pick up / drop off and is available from most central Bangkok hotels. This Option can be amended and/or cancelled. You will be able to arrange pick up from your hotel or a nearby location when you call to confirm your reservation. Hotel pick up may be 30-60 minutes prior to tour Start time/Departure time (depending on hotel location).
Location
River Kwai
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(262 Ratings)
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Jean_b
Mar 9, 2025
Bridge over the River Kwai - It’s a definite must do. It’s a very good yet sad experience. You should take the time to reflect on what these men went through. Oom was a wonderful guide and extremely knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
138pauld
Mar 9, 2025
A not to be missed experience - Fabulous
The most informative and friendly tour I have ever been on
The highlight was the speed boat ride to the bridge and the Death Railway
Excellent lunch in a stunning location
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Markscura
Mar 8, 2025
Memorable day - Great day tour is good value. Guide could not speak any English but very friendly. Location is sad but inspiring to the human spirit. It’s was extremely hot so bring plenty of water and sunscreen. A very tiring day. But well worth it. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M3143ahhannahb
Mar 6, 2025
Important history treated with great respect - A long day but totally worth it. I am from Britain and before going on this trip I never realised what a truly tragic episode in our history this was that we don't seem to learn or hear about! Thailand treats the story around the bridge on the river Kwai with great respect and we were humbled and thankful for the care they bring to making sure those who worked and died building the train line are not forgotten.
The tour itself was great. We were picked up at 6am from our hotel in Bangkok and were met by Rach, our tour guide. He was very friendly and welcomed us onto the mini bus with a bottle of water and a smile. The journey to the river was over two hours but the bus was air conditioned and we stopped for a toilet and coffee break along the way.
We saw what was left of one of the war camps and were informed of the history of the Death Railway by Rach. We then took a boat up the river to the bridge, where we could walk on it and get a picture. We then rode the train along the railway for about an hour before getting off and walking along a bit of the track that runs along a mountainside (which was cut into by hand by the workers on the railway to make room for the track).
We then went into a cave in the mountain that was used as a hospital, before being treated to a delicious Thai-food buffet. The journey home was about 3.5 hours and we were stuck in traffic at the end, but we did stop for breaks along the way (including a stop at the cemetery where some of the prisoners of war who died on the railway are buried). We arrived back at the hotel about 12 hours after leaving.
All in all, it was a physically and mentally exhausting day, but incredibly worth it. It was so interesting and we were able to see every aspect of the bridge and the railway. Rach the tour guide was brilliant and very knowledgeable and considerate. Highly recommend this tour as it's important to keep this history alive, but do make sure to stay cool and hydrated!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D2420ylilarias
Feb 25, 2025
Don't miss it! - Despite the rainy day it was a very nice and interesting experience!
Our guide, Rach, was truly outstanding in rearranging all the planned visits, commutes and activities that the rain made more difficult.
It was possible to walk on the bridge and take the boat to see it from another perspective but the most fun and the best experience was being able to take the train on the Kwai River for a stretch.
Buffet lunch with very good local food, really recommended day experience if you are in Bangkok!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Savvysuek
Feb 23, 2025
Take a trip back in time.... Emotional, though provoking, a lesson in history... - The emotion and history that runs through this trip is difficult to put into words, but a must when visiting Bangkok.
The journey there and back is long and the day itself is a long one, but it is worth it in more ways than one.
We first did this trip 20 years ago on our very first trip to Thailand and we were left feeling emotional, deep in thought, deep in discussion and 20 years later it was like stepping back in time.....
The visit to the cemetery where many fallen heroes from the war, the prisoner of war camps and disease/infections are laid to rest is very sad 😔. The plots are beautifully laid out and maintained, fellow countrymen laid to rest together (British, Australian, Canadian, Dutch and many more....) and it is hard to absorb some of the young men who died were sooo young.
Then a tour round the museum with the harrowing pictures of the camps and the treatment of the young men with the tour guides narrative, sends many thoughts and emotions through you.
Onto the Longtail boat ride up the River to the bridge, this is a must do very enjoyable and if not included in your trip then certainly pay to do this.
The bridge itself has a story and much history, well worth learning about. Then the train ride which in itself gives a gist of what those men who built it must have endured.
Overall, a day of history and emotion well spent, we were a small group of 9 and our tour guide, was very informative bringing the story alive and raising the emotion. But his sense of humour was also welcome to raise a smile or more along the way.
The negatives as mentioned is the journey there and back, but a necessity. The free time spent to wander and do your own thing was probably too much at times especially in the heat of the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Journey689615
Feb 20, 2025
It was a very significant tour. - He was a careful guide and Japanese, but he cared.
I learned a lot from him because he efficiently went around the highlights.
The people on the tour were very warm to us, and it was a one-man tour for the Japanese, but we didn’t have any strange thoughts about it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D0nbech
Mar 3, 2025
Good experiences - All in all very good experience. Capable driver and friendly and knowledgeable guide. It's a long trip from Bangkok so consider staying overnight next time. Kids found the train ride memorable. Only drawback is heat (weather very hot in March).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
218frankl
Mar 2, 2025
Great trip to the kwai bridge - What a great trip this was. Really interesting tour of the museum, the bridge itself, and the war graves.
Our guide was very informative and couldn’t do enough for us
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lee_m
Mar 2, 2025
Going to the bridge and... - Going to the bridge and the train ride was OK but the whole trip was marred by a tour guide that doesn't like tourists. And if you're not as young as you used to be getting in and out of a flat bottom boat isn't easy.
Review provided by Viator
