08:30 · Pick-up
Pick-up from the hotel in Bangkok, and departure toward Amphawa.
Two-Day Trip to Kanchanaburi and Amphawa
Two days from Bangkok: the floating market, the folding train market, Erawan Falls, an open safari, and the Kwai River bridge, with accommodation at a resort on the river.
Check availability and pricePrices
From 4,800 THB, when booked in advance.
Important information:
- The joint tour departs only if at least 4 participants have registered for that day. If they don't gather, the tour doesn't depart, and we'll let you know in advance.
- The private tour departs regardless, regardless of the number of registrants. This is also the explanation for the price difference: the joint tour depends on others, and the private tour is certain.
- suitable for all ages, but requires basic physical fitness, there's a walk up the waterfall reserve.
- The resort in Kanchanaburi is determined by the season. we'll provide you its name in the booking confirmation.
- What to bring: a small bag for two days, a change of clothes, Swimsuit and towel, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, a camera, and money for personal expenses.
Day one: from Bangkok to Amphawa and Kanchanaburi
a floating market, a sugar factory, swimming monkeys, and a market on the tracks
10:00–11:00 · The floating market
Damnoen Saduak, and a longtail boat ride among the vendor boats: included.
11:00–12:00 · The sugar factory
A traditional factory for producing sugar from real coconuts, with a tasting.
12:00–12:30 · Lunch
included in the price.
12:30–13:30 · The swimming monkeys
sailing at the river mouth among the mangroves, and the monkeys approach the boat. On the way back: the oyster farm.
13:30–14:30 · The train market
"Talat Rom Hup": the folding market, on an active track.
14:30 · Departure to Kanchanaburi
with a refreshment stop along the way.
17:00 · Check-in
at a resort in Kanchanaburi.
18:00 · Dinner
at a local restaurant in the city. Included in the price.
Day two, waterfalls, safari, and the Kwai Bridge
and from there back to Bangkok
08:30 · Breakfast
and departure to the Erawan Falls reserve.
10:30–12:30 · The seven waterfalls
A walking trail up the reserve, among waterfalls and clear water pools. you can and it's recommended to bathe in the waterfalls and natural slides.
12:30–13:00 · Raft
leaving the waterfalls on a two-story raft on the Kwai River.
13:00–14:30 · Lunch and rest
a meal included at a local restaurant.
14:30–16:00 · Open safari
an open safari bus, giraffes, and zebras. you can feed and pet the giraffes that stick their heads through the window.
16:00–18:00 · The Kwai Bridge
the historic bridge and the local market next to it.
18:00 · Return
estimated return to the hotel in Bangkok.
When is the best time to travel
the season changes the waterfalls and the comfort
November to February, dry and relatively cool, and the most comfortable season for walking in the waterfalls and spending time outdoors.
March to May: Very hot. The waterfalls still flow, but walking in the reserve is strenuous and the water level is lower.
June to October: The rainy season. The scenery is far greener, the river full And the waterfalls at their peak. Rain in the area comes in short, intense bursts and usually doesn't cancel a stop, but the paths are slippery.
the end of the rainy season, October and November, is usually the best combination, full waterfalls and already pleasant weather.
In every season, it's worth setting out early: the floating market and the market on the tracks operate in the morning, and whoever is late arrives at a market that has already emptied out.
Why two days and not one day
the distance is what's decisive
the two areas on the route are located in different directions from Bangkok: The markets are in the west, in the Samut Songkhram and Ratchaburi area, and Kanchanaburi is northwest of them. One day forces you to choose one of them.
and even within each area, time is short. The floating market operates in the early morning and fades toward noon, and Erawan Falls requires at least two hours if you want to reach the upper tiers and swim.
Over two days, each site gets its own time: the markets in the first morning, the waterfalls in the second morning, and the safari and bridge in the afternoon.
and there's another thing you can't do in one day, the accommodation in Kanchanaburi. The evening in the city is completely quiet, and the morning on the river is part of the experience, not an add-on.
Erawan Falls, what's worth knowing before climbing
seven tiers, and not all at the same level
the waterfalls are located within National park, and each of the seven tiers has a pool you can enter. The turquoise color comes from the calcium in the water and it's real.
the first three tiers are accessible to almost everyone, an organized path, a moderate climb, and wide pools. From the fourth, the path becomes steep and rocky, and the sixth and seventh require fitness and good shoes.
Most visitors reach up to the fifth and are satisfied with it, and that's a reasonable choice, the pool there is large and the waterfall is impressive.
in the pools there are garra fish that nibble lightly. This is a natural phenomenon, not a nuisance; some people enjoy it and some get out of the water.
at the entrance plastic bottles are checked, a deposit is paid for every bottle which is refunded on exit, so they don't remain in the reserve.
The Kwai Bridge: the history behind the stop
and why it's a memorial site and not just a photo spot
the Thailand–Burma railway was built in the years 1942–1943 by Allied prisoners of war and Asian forced laborers, under Japanese occupation. The goal was a land supply line that would bypass the sea.
The railway stretched over about415 kilometres through jungle and rock passages, and was completed within about a year, a pace bought at a human cost that's hard to grasp. That is the reason for the name it acquired.
The bridge standing today was rebuilt after the war, and you can walk on it. At the military cemetery in the city, graves are maintained of Thousands of Allied soldiers who died building it.
This is a memorial site. Photography is acceptable, but the cemetery isn't an attraction, it's a place where people search for names.
the stops, and what really awaits at each one
eight stops over two days
The floating market
The vendor women paddle wooden boats loaded with fruit and cooked food, and sell directly from the water. Sailing among the floating stalls is the part people remember.
the folding train market
the stalls sit on an active track. Before the train passes, the vendors fold up canopies and pull back crates, and it passes by within centimeters. After it, everything spreads back out.
The swimming monkeys
Sailing among mangrove forests at the river mouth. The monkeys are used to boats and approach them. On the way back, you pass by the oyster and crab farm.
the coconut farm
The traditional process of producing sugar from natural coconut, with a tasting of the product.
Erawan Falls
Seven tiers, and each one has a turquoise pool you can swim in. the first three are accessible to almost everyone; the sixth and seventh require fitness and good shoes.
rafting on the raft
A two-story raft on the river. You can jump into the water, and the scenery changes along the banks.
the open safari
An open bus among giraffes, zebras, and other animals. the giraffes stick their heads through the window and you can feed them.
The River Kwai Bridge
The historic bridge of the Thailand–Burma railway, which was built by forced labor during World War II. You can walk on it, and next to it is a local market.
the two forms in which the tour departs
and the difference isn't just in price
Joint tour: join the group. Departure is subject toat least 4 participants on the same day, and if they don't gather, the tour doesn't depart and we'll let you know in advance.
Private tour, the vehicle, the driver, and your guide only. It departs regardless, regardless of the number of registrants.
This is also the explanation for the price difference: the joint tour is cheaper because it depends on others, and the private tour is more expensive because it's certain.
and in the private tour the price per person decreases as the group grows, from 6,500 for four, through 6,000 for five to six, to 5,200 for seven to nine.
What's worth knowing before setting out
fitness, accommodation, and what to bring
The tour is suitable for travelers of all ages, but requires basic physical fitness, the waterfall trail is a walk up, and the paths are rocky and wet.
the resort in Kanchanaburi is determined by the season, and its name is provided in the booking confirmation.
The big suitcase stays at the hotel in Bangkok. You take a small bag for two days with a change of clothes.
a swimsuit and towel are mandatory, there's swimming in the waterfalls and a raft on the river, and not just once.
And more: comfortable shoes with grip, a hat, sunscreen, a camera, and money for personal expenses that aren't included.
Gallery
Photo gallery
Frequently asked questions
What to know before you book
Why do you need two days?
The markets and Kanchanaburi are in different directions from Bangkok, and the floating market operates only in the morning. One day forces you to choose, and over two days each site gets its own time.
Do you have to climb all seven waterfalls?
No. The first three are accessible to almost everyone, and most visitors reach the fifth. The sixth and seventh require fitness and good shoes.
What are the fish that nibble in the pools?
Garra fish. This is a natural phenomenon, some people enjoy it and some get out of the water.
When is the best season?
November to February is dry and cool. From June to October, the waterfalls are at their peak but the paths are slippery. October–November are usually the best combination.
What is the Death Railway?
The Thailand–Burma railway, which was built in 1942–1943 by prisoners of war and forced laborers. About 415 kilometers completed within about a year, at a heavy human cost.
How much does the tour cost?
฿4,800 per person in the joint tour, for a child from age 5 and an adult. Child aged 3–4 pays ฿4,500, and up to age two free of charge. In the private tour, the price per person is ฿6,500 for four, ฿6,000 for five to six, and ฿5,200 for seven to nine.
What's the difference between the joint and private tour?
The joint tour joins a group and departs only if at least 4 participants have registered. The private tour is the vehicle and guide just for you, and it departs regardless.
What happens if 4 people don't register?
The joint tour doesn't depart, and we'll let you know in advance. The private tour isn't affected.
What does the price include?
Entry to all sites, boat rides, two lunches, breakfast and dinner, pick-up from the hotel in Bangkok and return, a van with a driver and guide, accommodation at a resort, and water throughout the tour.
Where to sleep?
at a resort in Kanchanaburi. The name of the place is determined by the season and provided in the booking confirmation.
Do you need physical fitness?
Basic fitness. The Erawan Falls trail is a walk up on rocky and wet paths, and you can stop at the lower tiers.
What must you bring?
A swimsuit and towel, there's swimming in the waterfalls and a raft on the river. And more: a change of clothes, comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and money for personal expenses.
