Kanchanaburi Itinerary, Thailand: The Best 3 Days & 2 Nights

Are you wondering how many days to spend in Kanchanaburi? I’ve got you covered with our 3-day and 2-night Kanchanaburi itinerary!

Visiting the city of Kanchanaburi in central Thailand was a highlight of our travels around Southeast Asia. It was one of those places we didn’t plan to visit and didn’t know too much about, but we decided to make a quick 3-day stop on our way to Bangkok.

Jack, more so than me, was extremely interested to learn about the events that took place there during the Second World War. However, once we arrived, we were both gripped by its history, culture and surrounding beauty.

We learned so much about Thailand’s history, not only its part in the construction of the Death Railway but also its ancient history as a kingdom.

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Discover And Explore The Best Of Kanchanaburi In This 3-Day/2-Night Itinerary!

In this post, I’ll share our 3-day and 2-night itinerary to visit Kanchanaburi in Thailand. I’ll also cover topics including:

• A walk-through of the itinerary, including the top sightseeing spots
• Where to stay depending on your budget
• Some of our favourite places to eat and drink
• A handful of our trip expenses to help you budget
• And, the reasons to visit Kanchanaburi

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Kanchanaburi Itinerary: 3-Days/2-Nights

3 days are enough to explore the major attractions around Kanchanaburi including the famous city sites, Hellfire Pass and the stunning Erawan National Park. Of course, it’s possible to stay longer.

If you’re searching for a slower itinerary you could easily spend a week enjoying this riverside location and venturing into the surrounding landscape!

Day 1: Kanchanaburi Sightseeing

Your first day in Kanchanaburi is all about exploring the city. It’s here you’ll find some of the most famous sites, such as the Kwai Bridge and the War Cemetery, among others.

I’d recommend an early start as there’s quite a lot to see and if you’re walking it can take the whole day to explore. To speed things up it’s also possible to jump in a tuk-tuk.

We decided walking to the sites would be a fun and immersive experience, it was, but it does get hot so make sure you go prepared – discover our essential packing items on Amazon here!

I would say there are three must-visit sites to visit on day one. First up, I’d suggest heading straight to the River Kwai. This is where the notorious bridge is located. Depending on where you’re staying it can easily be reached and is located here, unfortunately, there is no riverside walk.

⭐ Pro tip >>You may have heard of the film “The Bridge Over The River Kwai”? If you haven’t, it’s a good film to watch, although it’s not as historically accurate as it’s made out to be!

📍 The River Kwai Bridge

The River Kwai Bridge is a tourist hot spot, however, unlike most tourist traps it’s definitely somewhere that should be visited during your 3-days in Kanchanaburi.

It was constructed under excruciating conditions by the Prisoners Of War (POWs) during the Japanese occupation of Thailand during the Second World War, from a dismantled bridge in Java.  

It’s estimated that 90,000 Southeast Asian forced labourers died, along with more than 12,000 POWs during its construction due to malnutrition and mistreatment. The sad truth to the cruelty inflicted during war.

To reach the bridge we walked for forty minutes from our hostel – Asleep Hostel – and arrived by mid-morning around 10 am. We were really rather impressed by its design, in a sort of sad appreciation.

Its semicircular steel structure was quite interesting, and quite the engineering marvel considering the circumstances. You’ll notice viewing platforms along the edge where it’s possible to stand and watch the passing train.

⭐ Pro tip >> If you time your visit just right you will be able to see a train cross over. It’s possible to board this train too. We watched as it passed us while we were tucked into one of the platforms on the actual bridge.

There is a large market on the opposite side of the river and the immediate area is full of shops and eateries.

👉 Suggested Tour: River Kwai and Death Railway Day Tour. A full-day tour around Kanchanaburi province including a visit to River Kwai Bridge.

📍 The Death Railway Museum

Up next on the agenda is a visit to the Death Railway Museum. Depending on what interests you there are a lot of museums around Kanchanaburi but if you only intend to visit one, this is the one!

I would highly recommend it if you want to learn about the history of the Death Railway. 

The museum is very informative showcasing photographs, letters and compelling statistics, charts and dates along with a short film that documents first-hand accounts from the survivors. 

⭐ Pro tip >> If you’re anything like us and like to read all the information in museums, then give yourself a couple of hours to explore this place! It’s quite small, but there is a good variety of information, plus the short film. 

We actually went to the wrong museum first which was closer to the River Kwai Bridge. It had some interesting sections but there was too much information that it became overwhelming.

⭐ Pro tip >> If you are interested in learning about the history of Thailand’s wars then you might enjoy spending an hour or so there at JEATH War Museum.

The correct museum and the one which should be visited is located opposite Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.

📍 The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery 

The final must-visit site on this 3-day/2-night Kanchanaburi itinerary is a visit to the War Cemetery. Walking along the graves gave me a melancholic feeling but I also an inspiring site.

We found it befitting and incredibly well kept with countless rows of headstones immaculately maintained, some of which had beautiful messages or poems from loved ones however, it was surprising to see how many headstones didn’t have any message at all. 

The cemetery contains just shy of 7,000 British, Australian and Dutch prisoner of war graves of which 6,858 have been identified.

👉  Suggested Tour: If you’re considering a visit from Bangkok why not take a look at this Historical Day Tour to River Kwai?

Day 2: Hellfire Pass

For day two I’m taking you on a journey to the iconic Hellfire Pass. For a complete guide on visiting Hellfire Pass, click here. 

Just so you know, the journey to Hellfire Pass took us around 90 minutes from the centre of Kanchanaburi. So, you’ll need at least 3 hours of travel time set aside for this day. It’s also located on an American military base which we found surprising. 

⭐ Pro tip >> We rented a scooter instead of taking public transport as we thought we could visit Erawan National Park afterwards, in reality, we needed the whole day for Hellfire Pass!

👉 What is Hellfire Pass?

Hellfire Pass is a section of the Burma-Thai Railway which was notoriously deadly and is where the name Death Railway originated from. Due to the terrain and type of rock, it was the hardest part of the path to cut through.

The POWs working on its construction found themselves hand-hammering holes into the rock face to place dynamite before blowing it up to form the opening. 

When we entered the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre (this is what you’ll need to put in the GPS), we were led to a viewing platform that overlooked the jungle to the Burma border. It was quite an amazing sight and provided a good perception of the terrain the men had to work through. 

Before you follow the steps down to the railway itself there is a small but interesting museum which showcases a short documentary, similar to the one in the Death Railway Museum. If you have time stay and watch this. 

One unbelievable fact we learned from the museum was the amount of food the men were given per day, which was minuscule. It was shown in a bowl next to the amount of rock they were required to blast through.

There were also multiple photographs depicting these men underfed and extremely unwell. If you’re visiting Kanchanaburi I really recommend spending a day at Hellfire Pass, this was a highlight of our trip!

👉 Suggested Tour: Kanchanaburi River Kwai & Hellfire Pass Private Tour

👉 Hiking Hellfire Pass

There is a twenty-minute walk to the memorial which sits at the end of Hellfire Pass. It was lovely to see flowers tucked into the rock face; flags, letters and trinkets left by family members visiting the memorial. 

Some of the hammered holes were still evident and the sheer size of the rock is incomprehensible until you visit the site. We were completely shocked that the construction was even achievable and under such horrible conditions, it was unimaginable!

This walk is the most popular with visitors and isn’t very strenuous. If you go on a day tour this is where you will be taken unless specified otherwise.

The reason we spent the whole day at Hellfire Pass was because we decided to continue along the railway passing the memorial for another two hours.

It was a tough hike as we had underappreciated the heat and humidity but it was well worth the sweat. If you choose this route you’ll be given a headset with stops along the way providing detailed explanations on construction and facts from POWs.

For example, we passed some trenches where there would have been bamboo bridges and learned that many of them were intentionally blown up by the POWs to slow down the completion of the railway.

⭐ Pro tip >> If you plan to walk the entire trail, make sure you have plenty of water, a hat and bug repellant. There were many small insects flying around our heads, which became a nuisance!

Day 3: Erawan Waterfall

After all the history and museums I think heading to Erawan National Park to splash around at its popular Erawan Waterfall is the best way to end your trip!

For this journey, we ditched the scooters and caught the local bus making sure we were up early so we could have a full day. If you want to do this too, all the information is in our full guide to visiting Erawan Waterfalls here. 

FYI: Erawan National Park is around one and a half hours from the centre of Kanchanaburi. 

When we arrived it was a lot more built-up than we had expected which put us off at first, thinking it was another tourist trap we were apprehensive about paying the rather high entrance fee of 300 THB.

However, it was really something spectacular and I would certainly recommend a visit!

Once we had paid the fee and entered we headed straight to the very top. Erawan Waterfall is made up of six tiers, each tier having its own set of waterfalls. Most of them are swimmable with plunge pools at their bases.

👉 Suggested Tour: Private Tour to Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Elephant Care

👉 Hiking At Erawan Waterfall

I would recommend starting early to ensure you have enough time to reach the top tier. If like us, you want to see all the waterfalls you’ll have to hike to the top and slowly make your way down to stop at each tier.

All seven waterfalls were stunning in their own right but tier 3 waterfall was magical. It was the tallest one with a large blue plunge pool to swim in. I also enjoyed tier 7 the most as it had the small fish that nibble at your feet, fee Pedicure anyone?

Pro Tip: You are required to wear life jackets from tier 3 downwards. These can be rented from a booth at the base of the first tier. 

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Where To Stay In Kanchanaburi?

During your 3 days and 2 nights in Kanchanaburi, you’re going to want somewhere nice and comfortable to stay so you can explore with ease.

We stayed at the Asleep Hostel which was nice and close to the train station but for those seeking a more luxurious stay, I’ve also included two other options.

📍High-End Suggestion: U Inchantree Kanchanaburi
📍 Mid-Range Suggestion: Chez Bure – Bure Homestay
📍Budget Suggestion: Asleep Hostel

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Honest Thoughts About Kanchanaburi

In all honesty, both Jack and I were a little disappointed when we first arrived in Kanchanaburi. For some reason, we had expected it to be evergreen with open spaces and parks. 

The walk from the station to the hostel didn’t help as we took a turn along a couple of industrial buildings and a large open car park, (which actually turned out to be a buzzing night market), all giving the impression of a lifeless concrete city.

However, as the saying goes: never judge a book by its cover! In the end we had the best time exploring Kanchanaburi. It’s got a fantastic mix of history, culture and natural beauty that made it an all-rounder kinda place.

Top Reasons For Visiting Kanchanaburi

With its blend of history, nature, culture, and adventure, Kanchanaburi is a destination that promises an unforgettable experience. These are the top reasons for visiting:

✔️ Historical Significance: Kanchanaburi is home to the iconic River Kwai Bridge and many other historical sites. If you enjoy learning and visiting historical sites, you’ll enjoy your time in Kanchanaburi.

✔️ Natural Beauty: The city is blessed with breathtaking landscapes. Erawan National Park was fantastic. The lush surroundings and wildlife provide an enchanting escape perfect for nature and hiking.

✔️ Death Railway Exploration: The Death Railway offers a sombre yet fascinating journey. I do recommend taking the train ride along the historic route, witnessing the captivating scenery while reflecting on its historical significance is a great reason for visiting!

✔️ Cultural Immersion: Engaging with the local culture and community in Kanchanaburi but also in the surrounding villages. Additionally, the Wat Tham Sua temple complex offers panoramic views.

✔️ Adventure Opportunities: From kayaking and bamboo rafting along the River Kwai to jungle treks in Sai Yok National Park and rural cycling, Kanchanaburi offers adventure enthusiasts a variety of thrilling activities.

Top Places To Eat In Kanchanaburi

After some exploring, we found the livelier streets and upbeat areas in Kanchanaburi, there is quite a vibrant night scene – the main strip is along the eastern end of Mae Nam Khwae Road. For entertainment purposes, there are plenty of local restaurants and bars to enjoy in the evening.

Opposite our hostel, there was an amazing night market – JJ Night Market. It was one of the best ones we visited in Thailand and where we ate every night. We set a challenge to try something different each time… 

There were fruit stalls and smoothie stalls, stalls selling chicken feet, noodles and deep-fried sandwiches. Other stalls sold dumplings, bbq meats and fish. There were plenty of dessert stalls selling ice creams, coconut milshakes and pancakes too.

A handful of great restaurants to try include:

✔️Ons Issan-Thai: We passed it by chance and luckily, our host provided us with the best meal in Kanchanaburi. So it’s our fav on the list. The quality of food and price was perfect – that is it’s budget-friendly – it’s also a vegetarian restaurant with many vegan options; the lady also offers cooking classes.

✔️Schluck Restaurant: A good western restaurant on the opposite side of the river, they serve a lot of choices including meat, pasta, pizza and noodles.

✔️Gravite: If you’re searching for a decent cup of coffee head here. They provide organic coffee and Thai craft beer, for 200 THB it’s worth it!

👉 Suggested Tour: A Cooking Class In Kanchanaburi

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Kanchanaburi Itinerary: Expenses

These costs are based on our trip and are indicative only, I’ve added them to help you budget for your trip but make sure you check prices with your hotel before you travel.

Death Railway Museum	150 THB
War Cemetary/ Kwai Bridge/ Hellfire Pass	Free
Scooter Rental (1-day)	250 THB
Full Tank Petrol	140 THB
Night Market (per stall)	20 to 50 THB
Erawan Waterfall	300 THB
Public Transport (Bus – 1hr 20mins)	50 THB there + 100 THB back

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Resources For Thailand

Is it your first time visiting Thailand? We’ve written lots of useful posts to help you plan your trip. You can check them all out on our Thailand Page here, but below are some of our most popular articles:

• Read this article to find out why we think Thailand is worth visiting.
• Also read this article to discover even more reasons to visit Kanchanaburi.
• After Kanchanaburi, visit Ayutthaya, the ruined capital city of Thailand!
• Find out why we loved visiting Chaing Mai, the best place to see elephants.
• Read this if you’re wondering how to get to Chaing Mai from Ayutthaya.

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How To Get To Kanchanaburi?

Depending on where you’re departing from you can catch the public bus or private transfer. Most travellers will depart from Bangkok. Here are some suggested options.

• Bangkok to Kanchanaburi: bus, mini-van or private cars/taxi – check prices
• Ayutthaya to Kanchanaburi: bus, mini-van or private car/taxi – check prices
• Surat Thani to Kanchanaburi: mini-van or private car/taxi – check prices

It’s also possible to jump on a train. For us, we arrived on one of Thailand’s famous sleeper trains. It carried us through the night to Nakhon Pathom, a smaller station between Khao Sok National Park and Bangkok.

Since we had come from Khao Sok where there is no direct route via train we made a couple of changes and we were extremely tired when we arrived.

One train change was during the unforgivable morning hours which left us waiting 3-hours until we could board the final train to Kanchanaburi! It made us two very sleepy backpackers as we arrived hoping to find some rest at our hostel and praying it wasn’t too far away from the station. 

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Kanchanaburi Itinerary: 3-Days/2-Nights

We really enjoyed visiting Kanchanaburi. It was really sad to learn about the history but I’m so glad we did. It’s inspiring to read about what these men accomplished during their time in the camps building the Death Railway and walking through Hellfire Pass.

Even if you aren’t historically inclined, there’s so much to learn and lots of fun to be had come the evenings. I hope our 3-day and 2-night Kanchanaburi itinerary has helped you plan your trip!