4 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
2 hours by bus from Bangkok
When to go
Between November and April
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days
Huai Yai Thai (Thailand)
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Romain Beuvart
Practical information on Huai Yai Thai
Reviews of Huai Yai Thai
The River Kwai flows through both the province and the town of Kanchanaburi, which lies to the west of Bangkok.
My suggestion:
Take earplugs if you are going to sleep at a floating hotel: the noise of the long tail boats sweeping by constantly from early in the morning is quite loud.
My review
The excursion to the River Kwai , which can easily be combined with a visit to Kanchanaburi, was for me an opportunity to spend a peaceful weekend away from Bangkok. After a journey by pickup from Kanchanaburi bus station, I arrived at a boat, one of the famous long tail types. I recognized we'd reached the River Kwai at this point. We then set off at high speed to get to our hotel, which sat floating on bamboo.
When it comes to unusual travel experiences, this is right up there with the best! The flip side is how isolated the place is. There's nothing nearby except a tiny village containing a few wooden houses, a soccer field and elephants. In the daytime you can lounge in the hammock on the bedroom terrace, go bathing – if the river is calm – or tour the village, and you get to see a traditional dance show put on by the locals in the evening.
As for the rest, it's all quite rustic. There's no electricity, so they brought us an oil lamp each evening, and the meals were taken by candlelight. The River Kwai is an ideal place for rest and relaxation; except in the morning, when you are woken abruptly each day by the boats that parade up and down. The walls are made from bamboo, so forget about any privacy.
As well as resting and relaxing, it is also possible to go on excursions here, which meant I was able to explore the mountainous landscapes through which the River Kwai snakes its way. I explored several caves and returned from this trip satisfied with my experience.
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Romain Beuvart
130 km from Bangkok, the famous River Kwai flows peacefully under its even more famous bridge.
My suggestion:
Little guesthouses have been built on large rafts on the river. You will have a magical night cradled by the sound of the water.
My review
Like all visitors traveling in Thailand, I chose to go to Kanchanaburi in order to see the famous bridge over the river Kwai.
I found it a charming town. I advise you to be careful about choosing where you stay because Kanchanaburi is more spread out than it looks, and the kilometers of walking needed to get to the bridge seem even longer under the sweltering heat. Once you have checked-in to your guesthouse on a raft, it's time to go see the famous bridge.
Built by the Japanese in 1942 when they wanted to invade India, today you can walk over the bridge, or even have a pleasant trip across it in a train. It's a very emotional moment for history buffs. Who also go to the JEATH War Museum. In short, it's very nice to stay by the banks of the River Kwai for a few days, even if it's just to experience the magic of a night on the water.
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David Debrincat
192 travelers' photos
