Tour overview

This 3-day short break takes you from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai, with local guides and transport arranged. There is no tour leader travelling with you. You stay two nights at a resort on the river, with breakfast and lunch daily.

You are picked up in Bangkok and travel west to Kanchanaburi, where the Second World War Death Railway was built. You visit the famous bridge and the war cemetery and museum, and ride a section of the railway.

Read more

The next day you explore Erawan National Park, with its seven-tiered turquoise waterfalls and pools for swimming. After a final morning of sightseeing around town, you return to Bangkok.

The physical rating is low. This break suits independent travellers and families with a few days to spare in Bangkok.

Trip highlights

  • The Bridge on the River Kwai (Day 1)
  • The Death Railway (Day 1)
  • Erawan National Park (Day 2)
  • Swimming in the waterfall pools (Day 2)
  • Kanchanaburi sights (Day 3)

Your route

7 stops from Bangkok to Bangkok

3-day route: Bangkok – Kanchanaburi – Erawan – Bangkok
  1. Bangkok Day 1
  2. Bang Pa-In Royal Palace Day 1
  3. Ayutthaya Day 1
  4. Kanchanaburi Days 1–2
  5. Erawan National Park Day 2
  6. Hellfire Pass Day 2
  7. Bangkok Day 3

Why choose this tour

Easy to add to any Thailand trip. Departs almost every week.

Best suited to

  • Independent travellers
  • History lovers
  • Families
  • Short-break seekers
The bridge on the River Kwai at Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Day-by-day itinerary

3 days from Bangkok, Thailand to Bangkok, Thailand

  1. Day 1 · Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, River Kwai Bridge Kanchanaburi

    To the River Kwai.

    Hotel
    River Kwai Bridge Resort
    Meals
    Lunch
  2. Day 2 · Erawan National Park Erawan

    Seven waterfalls.

    Hotel
    River Kwai Bridge Resort
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Kanchanaburi, Bangkok Bangkok

    Back to Bangkok.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A waterfall cascading through the forest at Erawan

Where you stay

  • Kanchanaburi (2 nights) River Kwai Bridge Resort

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 2 nights at a riverside resort
  • Meals 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches
  • Private minibus, songthaew and train
  • Pick-up from the joining hotel in Bangkok
  • River Kwai bridge and railway
  • Erawan National Park visit
  • Local guides for included activities

Not included

  • Flights and airport transfers
  • Meals not included 2 dinners
  • Dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
A waterfall in lush jungle

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a tour leader
  • You want dinners included
  • You want a long holiday
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–3 · Lunch: Days 1–2 · Dinner: none included
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Thailand
The tiered waterfalls of Erawan National Park, Thailand

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £508 per person, twin share, tour only. 131 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Is there a tour leader?

No, local guides lead the included activities.

Do I need a visa for Thailand?

UK citizens can currently visit Thailand visa-free for short stays, but must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card before travel.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes, for ages 5 and over.

Are airport transfers included?

No, the trip starts from a joining hotel in Bangkok.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast and lunch daily.

How often does it depart?

Regularly through the year.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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