DAY 1: BANGKOK - KANCHANABURI - BAN KAO (L, D)
Depart from Bangkok by coach to Kanchanaburi via Nakorn Pathom.
Short stop to visit highest Chedi in Thailand called “ Phra Pathom Chedi” which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia.
Visit to Khao Noi Cave temple (Wat Tham Khao Noi) located on the west bank of the river. The monastery was constructed on a hill, decorated in the form of Chinese architecture and cultural art. From the top of the monastery, observe the beautiful scenery of Kanchanaburi and its mountainous horizon.
Also visits to Tiger Cave temple (Wat Than Sua) nearby, built in the form of Thai cultural art. The great Buddha image and pagoda placed in the temple are respected by all Buddhists.
Continue to Kanchanaburi and visit to JEATH War museum, a realistic depiction of a prisoner of war (POW) camp with bamboo huts which give a inkling of the grim living conditions and atrocities endured. On display are tools, bombs, photographs, original sketches, testimonies, pictorials and phusical memorabilia dating from World War II.
Embark RV River Kwai at Nong Ya dock. Lunch on board while crusing on Kwai Noi river.
Visit Wat Tham Khaopoon, a Buddhist temple which served as a big camp of World War ii. There’s a middle cave containing stalactites and stalamites and many remarkable Buddha images. Behind the temple enjoy a marvelous view down the valley of the Kwai Noi river.
Proceed by coach to visit Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin park, located in the kanchanaburi Agriculture college. It is known as “Stone Garden” covering 200 rai (96 acres), since most of its area is scattered with stones of different sizes and shapes, similar to animals.
Return to boat and continue cruising upriver to Wang Pla Moo Bridge.
(Optional: RV River Kwai Elephant driving licence
Basic information on elephants.
Lecture part one
Break
Lecture part two
If you decide to book our optional “RV River Kwai Elephant Driving Licence”, please bring with you 1 photo of a size 2,5 cm x 2.5 cm)
Dinner and over night on board near Ban Kao
DAY 2: BAN KAO - SAI YOK (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board while cruising upriver on the Kwai Noi river to Muang Singh.
Visit “Prasat Muang Singh”, historical park with Khmer architecture from the late Lopburi period, some 700-800 years ago. The extensive ruins of the temple beside the river Kwai Noi are potent reminder of the vast expanse of the Khmer empire. The ancient border town of Muang Singh, “City of the Lions”, was probably established as a trading post.
Continue by coach to Tha Klen train station.
Take a 3rd class train to Saphan Tham Krasae cave situated on the bank of the Kwai Noi river, an excellent view point. The cavern houses a Buddha image.
Continue by coach and short stop at Sai Yok Elephant village located right on the river bank, upriver from Wang Pho bridge.
(Optional: Enjoy half an hour elephant riding through the jungle and along Kwai Noi river).
Training and practical exam for elephant driving licence.
Lunch on board while cruising upriver.
Afternoon free at leisure on the boat.
Dinner and overnight on board near the Resotel.
DAY 3: SAI YOK - YOK YAI - BAN HIN DAD (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board.
Walk up hill to visit Kaeng Lava cave. From the landing a short trail leads to the cave which boasts admirable stone draperies and concretions in large chambers. The stalactites and stalagmites are a spectacular creation by nature.
Cruise upriver to Ban Haad Ngiu and continue by coach to Hell Fire Pass, a part of the Death Railway cut through the stone mountain. Trails lead to Hin Tok bridge and Konyu Cutting where a plaque commemorates the ordeal of Australian and British POW’s who undertook the hazadous work in precarious conditions at the aptly named pass. The memorial complex (Hin Lek Fai) is intended to honor the Allied Prisoners of War and conscripted people from India, Myanmar, Malaysia and other countries who died during construction of the railway, as well as all who suffered as a consequence of the hardships.
Rejoin the boat at Kaeng Pa Lorm.
Lunch on board while cruising upriver, passing Sai Yok Yai waterfalls. Afternoon at leisure on the boat.
Visit a boarding school nearby the bank of Kwai Noi river built under the patronage of H.R.H. Crown Princess Siridhorn for refugee children. Back to boat and cruise upriver.
Dinner and overnight on board near the Daowadueng bridge.
DAY 4: BAN HIN DAD - THONG PHA PHUM - BAN HIN DAD (B, L, D)
Oferring foods to monks (making merit in Buddhist style) at nearby temple.
Breakfast on board.
Depart by coach to visit Vachiralongkorn Dam, an immense lake created from the waters of three rivers harnessed by the hydroelectric dam, which stretches to the far horizon. The thick jungle through which the railway line cut a swathe in recent times has been tamed and the surrounding fertile land now supports agricultural crops - sugar cane, tapioca, tobacco, maize nad cotton. The admirable rugged scenery of the lake set against rolling hills on the distant horizon ai ample reward for the long journey.
Drive back to Thong Pha Phum and visit local market.
Rejoin RV River Kwai at Daowadueng bridge.
Lunch on board.
Visit Daowadueng cave, which contains fantastically shaped concretions.
Return to the RV River Kwai at Daowadueng bridge and cruise downstream on Kwai Noi river.
Dinner and over night on board at Sai Yok Yai waterfalls.
DAY 5: BAN HIN DAD - SAI YOK YAI - SAI YOK (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board while cruising downriver.
Travel by coach at Kaeng Pa Lorm and continue to visit Hin Dad hot spring, formerly called Kui Mang. It was accidentally discovered by Japanese soldiers who were supervising the construction of the Death Raiway. The natural hot spring features two large pools and private baths. The mineral in the spring is believed to cure many diseases, e.g. beriberi (lack of vitamin B), arthritis, ect...
Visit Pha tad waterfall located in the western zone of Si Nakharin Dam national park, which originates from a small stream called Huai Kui Mang. Pha Tad is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Kanchanaburi province and flows into the Kwai Noi river.
Return to RV River Kwai at Kaeng Pa Lorm.
Lunch on board while cruising downriver to the Floatel Jungle Raft.
River rafting or canoeing downtream on Kwai Noi river. If time allows, visit the Mon village nearby.
(Optional: Enjoy one hour Thai traditional massage)
(Optional:Enjoy 45 mins Mon dances performance)
Dinner and over night on board near the Resotel.
DAY 6: SAI YOK - BAN KAO (B, L, D)
Breakfast on board while cruising downriver.
Morning at leisure on board.
Lunch on board while cruising downriver to Wang Pho bridge.
Depart by coach to visit Ban Kao National Museum, constructed beside a Neolithic burial ground. When Dr. Van Heekeren, a Dutch archaeologist was working as a prisoner of war on the construction of The Death Railway during World War II, he accidentally found numerous stone tolls in the Ban Kao area. When the war was over, the archaeological excavations were systematically conducted at the delta of the Kwai Yai rivers. A large number of prehistoric skeletons, potteries, stone tools and ornaments were uncovered and exhibited at this museum.
Continue by coach to visit the Indochinese Tiger Conservation Project at the Wat Pa Luang Ta Bua (Forest temple). This forest temple has a wide area of 438 rai (700,800 square meters) unnatural scenery lively with so many kinds of wildlife such as peacocks, deer, gibbons, wild boars, ect... and where we can see how the tigers befriend with the monks.
Rejoin RV River Kwai at Wat Yang Ko and cruising downriver.
Farewell dinner and over night on board, near Ban Kao.
DAY 7: BAN KAO - KANCHANABURI - BANGKOK (B, L)
Breakfast on board while cruising downstream to Wat Tham Khaopoon.
Continue by coach to Kanchanaburi to visit the world-famous bridge over the river Kwai. The iron bridge spanning the river Kwai Yai, which was a crucial part of the Death railway, was built in some 16 months by Allied bombing raid towards the end of World War II and was later rebuilt by the Japanese as war reparations. Continue to the Thailand-Myanmar Railway Center Museum, an interactive museum which provides a remarkable research and information center dedicated to presenting the story of the Thailand-Myanmar Railway.
Finally, visit the Donrak War Cemetery which contains the remains of 6,982 Allied prisoners of war who perished during the construction of the “Death Raiway”.
Rejoin RV River Kwai at Saphan Mai and lunch on board while cruising towards Nong Ya dock.
Disembark RV River Kwai at Nong Ya dock and return to Bangkok by coach.
Arrive at Bangkok and transfer to your hotel.