River Kwai Route — Bangkok & Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi is one of Thailand's most historically significant destinations and one of the most rewarding day or overnight rides from Bangkok. The route follows the River Kwai through lush jungle scenery to a town that carries the weight of one of the darkest chapters of the Second World War — the construction of the Death Railway by Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers under the Japanese occupation. The riding is excellent, the history is profound, and the combination of the two makes the River Kwai Route one of the most memorable rides available to Bangkok-based riders.

Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Route 4 and then Route 323 west — approximately 130km, two to two and a half hours. The landscape becomes noticeably greener and more dramatic as you approach Kanchanaburi.

Kanchanaburi — The History

During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army constructed a 415km railway connecting Bangkok to Rangoon using the forced labour of approximately 180,000 Asian labourers and 60,000 Allied prisoners of war. An estimated 90,000 to 100,000 labourers and 12,000 Allied POWs died during construction.

• The Bridge on the River Kwai — the famous steel railway bridge — is the most visited landmark. Best visited in the early morning.
• The JEATH War Museum and the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre are both essential visits — the Railway Centre is one of the finest historical museums in Southeast Asia.
• The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery — maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission — is the resting place of nearly 7,000 Allied servicemen.

Recommended stop: Riverside guesthouses and floating bungalows along the Kwai — an overnight stay allows you to visit sites in the evening and morning.

Beyond the Town — The River Kwai Roads

Route 323 north toward Sangkhlaburi is some of the finest riding in central Thailand — jungle-lined, quiet and beautiful.

Erawan National Park — 65km north of Kanchanaburi — has a spectacular seven-tiered waterfall worth a detour.

Sangkhlaburi near the Myanmar border is a fascinating destination with a Mon refugee community, a famous wooden bridge and a deeply different atmosphere.

The Return to Bangkok

Same Route 323 and Route 4 back, or via Route 324 through Nakhon Pathom — home to the enormous Phra Pathom Chedi, Thailand's tallest Buddhist monument. Two to two and a half hours either way.

Tips for Riding the River Kwai Route

• Leave Bangkok early to beat western suburban traffic
• The Bridge on the River Kwai is best visited in the early morning
• The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre deserves at least two hours
• Fuel stations become sparse north of Kanchanaburi — fill up in town before heading north
• November and December are the best months for this route