Kanchanaburi is a popular tourist destination in Thailand. While there are plenty of things to do in Kanchanaburi, the main attractions can be covered in 2 -3 days. In this extensive 3-day Kanchanaburi itinerary I will give you all the information you need to visit the Kanchanaburi top sights.
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Table of Contents - The ultimate 3-day Kanchanaburi itinerary
Where is Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is a town located about 140 km east of Bangkok, in Thailand. Many people visit it as a day trip while staying in Bangkok, but that makes your visit really rushed. I recommend staying at least 2 nights in Kanchanaburi in order to really enjoy your time here.
What is the best time of year to visit Kanchanaburi
The best time to visit Kanchanaburi is in November or December. The dry season is from November until May, but in January the burning season starts. This is when farmers burn their lands to clean and fertilize them. During the burning season, the sky turns very hazy and the air quality is bad. Also, the later in the dry season, the more the temperatures rise and the dryer the land gets.
We visited in February, right before heading to Southern Thailand, which is not as affected by the burning season. Skies were hazy all day and the air quality was not the best. We still enjoyed our visit but noticed how November and December would have been a better time of year to visit Kanchanaburi.
How to get to Kanchanaburi
It’s easy to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok. You have the option to go by train or by bus. Both are at a similar price and take more or less the same time.
The train costs 100 baht ( less than 3 EUR/USD, a fixed price for foreigners for any leg on this train line) and the journey takes about 2.5 hours. There are two services a day: one at 7:50 and one at 13:55 (at the time of writing), leaving from the Thonburi Railway Station in Bangkok. Both trains only offer 3rd class seats, which are carriages with fans and small, straight up seats. While this train line goes over the famous River Kwai Bridge, the bridge is located after the Kanchanaburi and River Kwai train stations. So do keep this in mind if this is your reason to take the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.
The bus costs 110 baht and also takes about 2.5 hours. This service is more frequent though, with vans leaving every hour from the new southern bus terminal in Bangkok. There is no need to go to the ticket offices upstairs. Just head to where the busses/vans are waiting and you’ll see stands that say “Kanchanaburi”.
We took the bus there and the train back, and I found the van a bit more comfortable compared to the train.
Where to stay in Kanchanaburi
We absolutelly loved our stay at Ban Rai Khun Ya. This accommodation is not located in town, but close to the Hellfire Pass museum (one of the activities included in this Kanchanaburi itinerary) and right next to the River Kwai. It’s more expensive than the accommodation I normally recommend, but if you’re looking to stay in the middle of nature rather than in a city and/or if you love bird watching it’s well worth the money.
The only downside is that there is no public transport that leaves you at the doorstep. But they can pick you up from the Hellfire Pass museum (2 hours from Kanchanaburi by bus) for a small fee. They can also organize private transport from Kanchanaburi or the closest train station. A taxi from Nam Tok train station is approx. 500 baht (EUR 13/USD 15). You can also consider renting a motorbike in Kanchanaburi and making your own way there if you wish to remain more flexible.
The ultimate 3-day Kanchanaburi itinerary
Day 1 - Arriving and exploring town
Take a bus or train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. Today is more of a relaxing day, so there is no need to arrive at a certain time. Drop your luggage at your accommodation and head over to the most famous sight of Kanchanaburi town: The River Kwai Bridge. If you want to photograph the bridge while the train passes, make sure to check the current schedule as there are only 2 train services a day each way.
You can also check out the war cemetery and there are plenty of temples to visit. There is a park too where you can relax and if you’re arriving on a Friday, you can visit the floating market in the evening (5pm – 9 pm). On Saturdays, you can visit the walking street (from 6 pm – 10 pm).
If you’re staying at Ban Rai Khun Ya, spend your afternoon cooling down at the river and/or birdwatching on the terrain. If you’re feeling like something a bit more active, ask for a bike and visit Wat Hat Ngio just across the river.
Day 2 - Erawan Falls
Erawan Falls is a gorgeous 7-layered waterfall in the middle of a lush jungle green jungle with crystal clear water. It’s the highlight of this Kanchanaburi itinerary. You can hike up to the 7th layer and take a refreshing dip in several of the tiers. There are fish in the pools, which will nibble on the dead skin of your feet. Free fish spa!
Many people visit Erawan Waterfall as a day trip from Bangkok, or as part of a combined tour from the town of Kanchanaburi. It’s a beautiful place though, and if you want to hike up to the 7th tier and relax at the pools, you don’t want to be rushed for time. So I recommend to plan a whole day for your visit. You can bring a picnic, but note that no food is allowed above the second level. You’d need to eat it while at the lower levels, before heading up. There are also restaurants and toilets available near the park entrance.
The entrance fee is 300 baht (EUR 7,75/USD 8.45, at the time of writing) and you’ll need to rent a life jacket for 20 baht if you want to swim (mandatory). Do note that it is not possible to pay the entrance fee in cash. You’ll need to pay through the QueQ app, which you can download from Google Play or the App Store . For updated entry fees, see the website of the National Park.
Getting to Erawan Falls by public transport
The Falls are located about 53 km from Kanchanaburi, and can be reached by public transport. The bus leaves every 1-2 hours throughout the day. Check the schedule which is available at the busstation for up to date times. A ticket is 60 baht (less than 2 EUR/USD, at the time of writing). The park is open from 08.00 until 16.30.
If you’re staying at Ban Rai Khun Ya, and don’t have your own transport, you can either take the bus to Kanchanaburi, and take another bus to Erawan Falls from there. This is the cheapest way, but also quite time consuming. If you prefer a more efficient way, they can organize a private van for you for 2.500 Baht (about EUR 64, USD 70) + 30 baht entrance fee for the van. Especially if you are a bigger group/family, this might be worth it to save time. The driver will wait for you at the parking lot until you’re ready to leave.
Day 3 - Hellfire Pass
Make your way to the Hellfire Pass Museum in the morning. Hellfire Pass is the name of a railway cutting of the former Burma Railway. Both Thailand and Myanmar where occupied by Japan during World War II and the Japanese built this railway in order to move troops and weapons. The railway was built by forced labor, mainly by war prisoners. It’s known for its harsh laboring conditions and high death toll.
It’s an interesting place to visit if you like history. The entrance is free and you’ll get an audioguide to explain what you’re looking at and what happened here. You can walk along a 2.5 km (one way) trail through the cutting. The path is rather rocky, so wear comfortable shoes.
Bring snacks or a packed lunch, as there are no restaurants at Hellfire Pass. The museum is open daily from 09.00 till 16.00.
Wat Hat Ngio – Close to Hellfire Pass, there is a cute little temple with lots of Buddha statues: Wat Hat Ngio. So if you have some time left, it’s a nice place to visit too. It’s a 3 km walk oe motorbike ride from the museum to the temple.
Getting to Hellfire Pass by public transport
The best way to get to Hellfire Pass from Kanchanaburi is by renting a scooter, as the last transport back is relatively early. If you don’t want to rent a scooter, you can also take a bus from the Kanchanaburi Terminal which will drop you in front of the museum. The bus ride takes about 2 hours and costs 60 baht (less than 2 EUR/USD). Busses leave roughly every hour, with the first one leaving at 7.30 am. I recommend taking an early bus, to make the most out of your day.
For your way back you have two options: a direct bus or a bus/taxi + train combination.
By bus: The last bus from Hellfire Pass is at 4.20 pm and takes you straight to de Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal.
By train: If you’re ready to head back early and are looking for a more scenic experience, you can opt for the train. In order to take the train, you will first need to take a bus to Nam Tok. From here, you can take the 3.30 train back to Kanchanaburi. Note that this is the last train back, so if you miss it you will need to wait for a bus. If you’re running late for a bus to Nam Tok but still want to take the train, you can also take a taxi for approx. 500 baht (EUR 13/USD 15 at the time of writing). The ride takes about half an hour.
Besides the fact that the journey is more scenic, another reason to take the train back is because it will cross the River Kwai Bridge. If you’re not bothered about either one of these, the bus is easier and cheaper.
There are a few restaurants in Nam Tok, so if you’re traveling by motorbike or taking the train from here you can grab lunch in Nam Tok.
If you’re staying at Ban Rai Khun Ya, you have a more relaxing day today, as you don’t have a 2 hour trip to to Hellfire Pass, but you can just walk here. So you can visit Hellfire Pass, and Wat Hat Ngio if you haven’t yet or chill at the river for a bit before heading back to Bangkok.
Getting back to Bangkok
The last bus scheduled back to Bangkok is at 7 pm, but do confirm this at the bus terminal to make sure you are able to get back today if you only have 3 days. If you’re not in a rush, you can travel back the next morning for a more relaxing trip.
This was the ultimate 3-day Kanchanaburi itinerary
This Kanchanaburi itinerary contains the main attractions in Kanchanaburi, but there are more things to do if you love it here and want to stay longer. If you’re looking for less touristic natural attractions, look at Sai Yok National Park or the Huai Mae Khamin Waterfall. There are also Elephant Sanctuaries around if you want to visit one.
