SPECIAL TOUR 2
Itinerary:
Elephant Trek and Bamboo Rafting
Take a ride through the jungles of Kanchanaburi province on the back of an elephant. The picturesque elephant camp is sited on the banks of the River Kwai. Afterwards, try a trip along the river on a bamboo raft – life jackets provided, but don't worry, it's safer than it looks!
Sai Yok Noi Falls
Visit the beautiful waterfall at Sai Yok. The pretty falls are a great place to take a shower and have a water massage. Nearby are a Buddhist shrine and the last station on the infamous Death Railway.
Lunch
Hellfire Pass and Museum
A stark illustration of the terrible conditions endured by Allied prisoners of war, Hellfire Pass was dug out of rock in six terrible weeks in 1943 by Australian, British, US and Dutch POWs forced to work 18 hours a day as the Japanese attempted to complete a railway line, now known as Death Railway, from Bangkok to Rangoon during World War 2. Some 68 prisoners were beaten to death by their guards during this phase of construction. A new museum at the site offers a wealth of information.
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Hin Dat Hot Springs (+Bt100 pp)
Luxuriate in the hot springs at Hin Dat. Deep in the jungle the natural springs near the town of Tong Pha Phun are just 20km from the Burmese border.
Krasae Cave and Wang Pho Viaduct
The Thai-Burma railway line, or Death Railway, was built to support the Japanese occupation of Burma during World War 2. Living in horrific conditions, some 100,000 conscripted Asian labourers and 16,000 Allied POWs died during its construction. The Wang Po Viaduct – a wooden lattice structure that supports the railway line around a cliff wall – is a spectacular remnant of the project. Near Wang Pho station, Krasae Cave houses a fine Buddha figure and offers a spectacular view over the River Kwai.
Train to the Bridge on the River Kwai
The Bridge on the River Kwai, made famous by the 1957 David Lean movie, remains in use to this day. The target of frequent Allied bombing, the bridge was used by the Japanese for two years before it was eventually destroyed. It was rebuilt after the War, and many parts of the original bridge – the curved sections leading from either bank – can still be seen supporting the daily train to Sai Yok.
Price per person: Bt850
