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The RV River Kwai is a
newly built colonial style river cruiser based on designs used by
the original Irrawaddy Flotilla which was founded in Burma in 1865
and by 1920 was the largest privately owned fleet of ships in the
world. The RV River Kwai opens up an entirely new area for river
traveling in Kanchanaburi province, west of Bangkok. Land
excursions are offered to visit attractions along the river.
Day 1 : Monday : Bangkok-Kanchanaburi-Ban
Kao (L/D)
+ 07:00 Depart from Bangkok by coach to
Kanchanaburi via Nakorn Pathom..
+ 09:00 Short stop to visit the highest Chedi
in Thailand called “Phra Pathom Chedi” which is the largest pagoda
in Southeast Asia.
+ 10:30 Visit to Khao Noi Cave Temple (Wat Tham
Khao Noi) located on the west bank of the river. The monastery was
constructed on a hill, decorated in the form of Chinese
architecture and cultural art. From the top of the monastery
observe the beautiful scenery of Kanchanaburi and its mountainous
horizon.
+ Also visit to Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua)
nearby, built in the form of Thai cultural art. The great Buddha
image and pagoda placed in the temple are respected by all
Buddhists.
+ 11:30 Continue to Kanchanaburi and
visit to JEATH War Museum, a realistic depiction of a prisoner of
war (POW) camp with bamboo huts which give an inkling of the grim
living conditions and atrocities endured. On display are tools,
bombs, photographs, original sketches, testimonies, pictorials and
physical memorabilia dating from World War II.
+ 14:30 Visit to Wat Tham Khaopoon, a Buddhist
temple which served as a big camp of World War II. There is a
middle cave containing stalactites and stalagmites and many
remarkable Buddha images. Behind the temple enjoy a marvelous view
down the valley of the Kwai Noi River.
+ 15:00 Proceed by coach to visit Somdet Phra
Sri Nakharin Park, located in the Kanchanaburi Agriculture
College. It is known as "Stone Garden" covering 200 rai (96
acres), since most of its area is scattered with stones of
different sizes and shapes, similar to animals.
+ 16:30 Return to boat and continue cruising
upriver to Wang Pla Moo Bridge.
+ 19:30 Dinner and overnight on board, near Ban
Kao.
Day 2 : Tuesday
,Ban Kao-Sai Yok (B/L/D)
Breakfast on board
while cruising upriver on the Kwai Noi River to Muang Singh.
+ 10:00 Visit "Prasat
Muang Singh", historical park with Khmer architecture from the
late Lopburi period, some 700-800 years ago. The extensive ruins
of the temple beside the River Kwai Noi are a potent reminder of
the vast expanse of the Khmer empire. The ancient border town of
Muang Singh, "City of the Lions", was probably established as a
trading post.
+ 11:00 Continue by
coach to Tha Kilen Train Station.
+
11:47 Take a 3rd class
train to Saphan Tham Krasae passing over the long wooden viaduct.
+ 12:02 Arrive at
Saphan Tham Krasae and visit to Krasae Cave situated on the bank
of the Kwai Noi River, an excellent view point. The cavern houses
a Buddha image.
+ 12:30 Continue by
coach and short stop at Sai Yok Elephant Village located right on
the river bank, upriver from Wang Pho Bridge.
+ 14:00 Lunch on
board while cruising upriver.
Afternoon at leisure
on the boat
19:30 Dinner and
overnight on board near the Resotel.
Day 3 : Wednesday ,Sai
Yok-Sai Yok Yai-Ban Hin Dad (B/L/D)
Breakfast on board.
+ 09:00 Walk uphill to
visit Kaeng Lava Cave. From the landing a short trail leads to the
cave which boasts admirable stone draperies and concretions in
large chambers. The stalactites and stalagmites are a spectacular
creation by nature.
+ 10:30 Cruise upriver
to Ban Haad Ngiu and continue by coach to Hell Fire Pass, a part
of the Death Railway cut through the stone mountain. Trails lead
to Hin Tok Bridge and Konyu Cutting where a plaque commemorates
the ordeal of Australian and British POW's who undertook the
hazardous work in precarious conditions at the aptly named pass.
The memorial complex (Hin Lek Fai) is intended to honor the Allied
Prisoners of War and conscripted people from India, Burma,
Malaysia and other countries who died during construction of the
railway, as well as all who suffered as a consequence of the
hardships.
+ Rejoin the boat at
Kaeng Pa Lorm.
+ 13:30 Lunch on board
while cruising upriver, passing Sai Yok Yai Waterfalls.
Afternoon at leisure
on the boat.
+ 15:30 Visit a
boarding school nearby the bank of Kwai Noi River built under the
patronage of H.R.H. Crown Princess Sirindhorn for refugee
children.
+ 16:30 Back to boat
and cruising upriver.
+ 19:00 Dinner and
overnight on board at Daowadueng Bridge.
Day 4 :
Thursday , Ban Hin Dad-Thong Pha Phum-Ban Hin Dad (B/L/D)
+ 07:00 Offering foods
to monks (making merit in Buddhist style) at nearby temple.
+ 08:30 Breakfast on
board.
+ 09:30 Depart by
coach to visit Vachiralongkorn Dam, an immense lake created from
the waters of three rivers harnessed by the hydroelectric dam,
which stretches to the far horizon. The thick jungle through which
the railway line cut a swathe in recent times has been tamed and
the surrounding fertile land now supports agricultural crops -
sugar cane, tapioca, tobacco, maize and cotton. The admirable
rugged scenery of the lake set against rolling hills on the
distant horizon is ample reward for the long journey.
+ Drive back to Thong
Pha Phum and visit local market.
+ 12:30 Rejoin RV
River Kwai at Daowadueng Bridge
+ 13:00 Lunch on
board.
+ 14:30 Visit
Daowadueng Cave, which contains fantastically shaped concretions.
+ 16:30 Return to the
RV River Kwai at Daowadueng Bridge and cruise downstream on Kwai
Noi River.
+ 19:30 Dinner and
overnight on board at Sai Yok Yai Waterfalls.
Day 5 :
Friday Ban Hin Dad-Sai Yok Yai-Sai Yok (B/L/D)
+ Breakfast on board
while cruising downriver.
+ 09:00 Meet coach at
Kaeng Pa Lorm and continue to visit Hin Dad Hot Spring, formerly
called Kui Mang. It was accidentally discovered by Japanese
soldiers who were supervising the construction of the Death
Railway. The natural hot spring features two large pools and
private baths. The mineral in the spring is believed to cure many
diseases, e.g. beriberi (lack of vitamin B), arthritis, etc.
+ 10:30 Visit to Pha
Tad Waterfall located in the western zone of Si Nakharin Dam
National Park. It originates from a small stream called Huai Kui
Mang. Pha Tad is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in
Kanchanaburi Province and flows into the Kwai Noi River.
+ 11:30 Return to RV
River Kwai at Kaeng Pa Lorm.
+ 13:30 Lunch on board
while cruising downriver to the Floatel Jungle Raft.
+ 15:00 River rafting
or canoeing downstream on Kwai Noi River. If time allows, visit
nearby the Mon Village.
+ 19:30 Dinner and
overnight on board near the Resotel.
Day 6 : Saturday ,
Sai Yok-Ban Kao (B/L/D)
Breakfast on board
while cruising downriver. Morning at leisure on the boat.
+ 11:45 Lunch on board
while cruising downriver to Wang Pho Bridge.
+ 14:00 Depart by
coach to visit Ban Kao National Museum, constructed beside a
Neolithic burial ground. When Dr. Van Heekeren, a Dutch
archaeologist was working as a prisoner of war on the construction
of The Death Railway during World War II, he accidentally found
numerous stone tolls in the Ban Kao area. When the war was over,
the archaeological excavations were systematically conducted at
the delta of the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai Rivers. A large number of
prehistoric skeletons, potteries, stone tools and ornaments were
uncovered and exhibited at this museum.
+ 15:15 Continue by
coach to visit the Indochinese Tiger Conservation Project at Wat
Pa Luang Ta Bua (Forest temple). This forest temple has a wide
area of 438 rai (700,800 square meters) in natural scenery lively
with so many kinds of wildlife such as peacock, deer, gibbon, wild
boar and etc, and where we can see how the tigers befriend with
the monks.
+ 18:00 Rejoin RV
River Kwai at Wat Yang Ko, and cruising downriver.
+ 19:00 Farewell
Dinner and overnight on board, near Ban Kao.
Day 7 : Sunday
Ban Kao-Kanchanaburi-Bangkok (B/L)
Breakfast on board
while cruising downstream to Wat Tham Khaopoon.
+ 09:30 Continue by
coach to Kanchanaburi to visit the world-famous bridge over the
River Kwai. The sturdy Iron Bridge spanning the River Kwai Yai,
which was a crucial part of the Death Railway, was built in some
16 months by Allied prisoners of war and Asian conscripts. The
bridge was destroyed in Allied bombing raids towards the end of
World War II and was later rebuilt by the Japanese as war
reparations. Continue to the Thailand-Burma Railway Center Museum,
an interactive museum which provides a remarkable research and
information centre dedicated to presenting the story of the
Thailand-Burma Railway.Finally, visit to the Donrak War Cemetery
which contains the remains of 6,982 Allied prisoners of war who
perished during the construction of the “Death Railway”.
+ 12:30 Rejoin RV
River Kwai at Saphan Mai and lunch on board while cruising on the
Maekhlong Dam at Tha Muang.
+ 15:00 Disembark RV
River Kwai at Mae Klong Dam and return to Bangkok by coach.
+ 18:00 Arrive Bangkok
and transfer to your hotel or to Bangkok Airport. End of services.
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