Private Tour: Thai Burma Death Railway Bridge on the River Kwai Tour from Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

Take a privately guided tour to Kanchanaburi's famous Bridge on the River Kwai and the beginning of the Death Railway, a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW's and forced laborers who lost their lives in the Second World War. This full day tour from Bangkok also includes a visit to the war museum and the chance to ride on a local train.

There's a kaleidoscope of experiences awaiting you when you visit the Bridge on River Kwai on this private excursion. Fascinating, nostalgic and memorable sums up this full day tour to Kanchanaburi, 80 miles (130 kilometers) west of Bangkok. The province itself is an agricultural area with sugar cane, rice paddies and pineapple plantations all forming significant portions of the stunning Thai rural landscape. Whether a war buff or rail enthusiast, everyone has a different reason to see this symbolic bridge.

The famous bridge and the beginning of the 'Death Railway', which lies 1 mile outside the town of Kanchanaburi, is a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW's and forced laborers who lost their lives in the Second World War. The building of the bridge in 1943 was one part of a huge Japanese wartime project to link existing Thai and Burmese railway lines to create a direct route from Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) in an effort to support the Japanese occupation of Burma. Thousands of POW's and laborers died in the process. During your tour a visit will be made to one of the Allied War Grave cemeteries (often an emotional experience) before visiting the JEATH war museum, which houses pictures and paintings from this period.

An exhilarating long tailed speed boat ride will then take you down river to the famous bridge itself where you have ample time to explore at your own leisure. A ride on a local train is also included before returning to Bangkok city.

USD $106.74

Review by: David	February 2012
A very good day tour but be prepared for for two hours travel from Bankok central each way.

Review by: Debra E	July 2011
Again supurb.

Review by: Michael D	June 2011
This trip was fantastic. A complete and comprehensive day. We visited the Death Railway museum, rode on a speedboat up the river Kwai to the steel bridge where we stopped off to take photos and cross the bridge. Visited the war graves of British, Dutch and Australian soldiers. Finally boarded an ancient wooden train to travel along the Death Railway. At the end of the line we were taken to a forest restaurant for a marvelous buffet lunch. The guide was very informative about the trip and on the way to the first part of the visit gave us a brief insight into the Thai way of life at present. A must do trip

Review by: IAN K	February 2011
This was a good trip. An early start and a full day. The whole trip is decided by the train times, so occasionally we would have liked more time in certain places. Quite a moving experience, but well worh doing. The train ride was something else - well recommended

Review by: Peter W	February 2011
Museum was a real disapointment and guide not really interested in imparting information. Once at the Bridge there was little else to do so returned to hotel before lunch.

Review by: LINDA A	November 2010
A brilliant choice. Quite a long day but the guide was so knowledgeable and managed to guide us through the formalities with ease. Well worth a day out and was actually the highlight of our stay in Bangkok.

Review by: eryl u, Australia	January 2010
great day good giude good driver great lunch recommend it highly

Review by: Eryl U	January 2010
great day good giude good driver great lunch recommend it highly

Review by: Ross P, Australia	August 2009
It was just me, the driver, and the guide in a Mercedes. It doesn't get better than that!

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	January 2009
I took this tour on my birthday! It was awesome. We took a side trip and rode elephants. It was great!

Review by: Anonymous, Hong Kong	July 2008
We came on the tour with low expectations. Fortunately our guide made our tour and exceed our expectations. We had a great time, whilst it was very moving to see what POWs and locals went through to build this railway.

Review by: Stuart R, United Kingdom	November 2007
This was a fantastic tour and all the better for taking the private tour. It was very moving and definitely our best trip to date. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and made sure we made the most of time at Kanachanaburi. We loved it!

Review by: Paula F, Australia	May 2007
The tour content was great and we had plenty of time to look around at the different stops along the way. Our visit to the Saiyok Elephant Park was a delightful and unexpected surprise, and we took the option to go for an elephant ride. The only thing we were a little disappointed in was our guide's lack of enthusiasm - he wasn't very forthcoming with information about the area's history unless asked.

Review by: Moira D, United Kingdom	April 2007
This was something that I was not looking forward to and the experience is very humbling. The guide was excellent and was worth the money. Would recommend.

Review by: William V, United Kingdom	March 2007
The trip was fantastic and the tour guide was fun to be with and had good knowledge of the trip.

Review by: Helen R, United Kingdom	March 2007
I was slightly disappointed, as the train trip was not what I expected. Much of the train ride is through farmed countryside and not at all scenic. The train was very crowded and not everyone had seats. I preferred my previous trip to The River Kwai which incorporated the Floating Market and Orchid Farm.