Bridge on the River Kwai and Thailand-Burma Railway Tour

based on 170 reviews

Duration:9 hours (approx.)
Location: Bangkok, Thailand

From $77.79

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Kanchanaburi's famous Bridge on the River Kwai is a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW's and forced labourers who lost their lives in the Second World War. This full day guided tour from Bangkok includes touching visits to a small war museum and a POW cemetery. The day will also consist of an exhilarating long-tailed speedboat ride, Thai Local Lunch, a walk across the Bridge and a ride along the tracks of the Death Railway on a local train for 90 minutes. This is great value for money with no hidden costs.

This tour can be taken joined with fellow customers OR private with your own vehicle and guide

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. 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.
2. Bridge Over the River Kwai
The bridge on the river Kwai, that many people know from the 1957 movie with the same name or from the book by Pierre Boulle is part of the infamous Death Railway, built during World War II from 1942 to 1943. The railway connected Kanchanaburi in Western Thailand with Rangoon in Myanmar, called Burma back then, and was about 415 kilometers long. On both ends construction began in June 1942 working towards each other. In October 1943 the two sides met, finishing the railway.
3. Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery is the main prisoner of war cemetery for victims of Japanese imprisonment while building the Burma Railway. It is on the main road, Saeng Chuto Road, through the town of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, adjacent to an older Chinese cemetery.
4. JEATH War Museum
This small museum, opened in 1977, mostly focuses on the terrible ordeals of the POWs who built the Death Railway. Their harsh living conditions are shown in many original photos, letters and drawings from that time as well as personal effects and war relics, including an unexploded Allied bomb dropped to destroy the bridge. One of the three galleries is built from bamboo in the style of the shelters (called attap) the POWs lived in.
5. Burma-Thai Railway
The Burma Railway, also known as the Death Railway, the Siam–Burma Railway, the Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, was a 415-kilometre railway between Ban Pong, Thailand, and Thanbyuzayat, Burma, built by the Empire of Japan in 1943 to support its forces in the Burma campaign of World War II. The train is approx 75 minutes long

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CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : M7945NFpaulb
Great to pay our respects to all those who suffered building the Death Railway 1942 to 1943. A long but good day that bought home the scale of the abuse by Japanese Empire in WW2. Great to see the war cemetery, the Death Railway Museum and travel by boat under and travel by train over the remaining bridge on the River Kwai. Points for the improvement are the quality of the transport (our van was old and battered) and the guides knowledge ( I expect the guide to tell us the history in some detail rather than asking the guests to read a plaque).
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-30 05:03:40

Posted By : G6887MNchristinem
A nice day out of Bangkok if you are interested in the war. Pick up and communication by the tour company excellent. We were just a small group and had a comfortable minibus with lots of space in it. Guide was friendly and explained some of the history. A buffet lunch was provided. I can recommend this trip but do remember that it involves a lot of travel and is a long day if you aren’t used to travelling.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-24 14:03:56

Posted By : Edith_L
Found trip very interesting but rushed at the war cemetery i no people don’t want to be there long but we literally had 10 minutes then rushed back onto the bus if hadn’t of had 20 minutes at service station half an hour after leaving we could of had longer stood in the tour we had paid for saying that the guide was very informative but wanted longer stops were it matters
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-09 06:37:33

Posted By : ALH222222222
We booked private tour with Viator that included entry to Hellfire pass & museum. It was a public holiday so not open. The guide knew this but drove there anyway, wasting time when we could have done something else. Really disappointed as it was main reason for booking tour. Why take booking for something that is not open
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-05 04:00:21

Posted By : Roy_G
A very interesting trip and the guide provided details of the railway history that I never knew. I saw the bridge in a whole new light and was able to imagine the suffering during the construction.
Although it was a wartime project built by prisoners and slaves, what was accomplished in those harsh conditions is an engineering marvel.
I really glad I made this trip and will always remember it.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-12-02 03:30:32

Posted By : Carolyn_E
This tour is one for history fans! Learn more about a side of WWII that isn't always in the history books. Just remember there are so many different sides to history ;) I recommend you also walk into this tour with patience too, because it's a lot of time spent driving (2-2.5 hours outside of Bangkok). The cemetery, small museum, boat ride, train ride, and lunch were all as described. Our guide, Oom, was pretty knowledgeable and very passionate about the topic. There were approx. 7 of us (mostly couples - the topic isn't really family-friendly in my opinion), so it felt like a small group. Variety of ages. We would highly recommend this tour because we appreciate the history; however, Bangkok traffic is no joke. We were the last to be dropped off. Other couples claimed to have other flights & dinner reservations, so we were not the priority. The tour was meant to end at 4pm. We arrived back at our hotel at 6:30pm. The first guests were dropped off around 5:30pm. Just keep in mind!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-29 17:15:22

Posted By : Arnina_N
Awesome. Informative and educational. You read this stuff in history books. But to actually walk in a place like this is something else.

You realize why Jehovah is going to get rid of war. And man will learn war no more.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-29 02:41:44

Posted By : Ellie_R
Very interesting and informative trip, our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable and would highly recommend.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-27 21:30:35

Posted By : kieranbrown93
From the well researched and beautifully delivered information from our guide, Um, to the breathtaking landscapes and emotional insights into the daily lives of PoWs, This is an essential day out for any traveller with a passing or detailed interest in WW2.

All aspects of the tour were well thought out, and all areas we visited were poignant, relevant and comfortable. We thoroughly recommend this tour.

P.S. Having the chance to finish Pierre Boulle's famous novel whilst riding along the very tracks he was referencing was an experience I shan't forget for a very long time.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-27 08:39:19

Posted By : Joy_F
The whole tour is amazing . The history is very interesting and the cemetery is very moving . Would recommend this tour and the lunch is nice too
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-11-26 08:13:03