Made famous by the film of the same name, the Bridge On the River Kwai is part of the infamous Thai-Burma or ‘Death Railway’, constructed by the Japanese during WWII, at a cost of many Allied soldiers’ lives. Closer to Bangkok than you might imagine, the area around the town of Kanchanaburi, where the bridge is located, is a mixture of beautiful forested hills and lush farmland. Along with a visit to the bridge and a ride on the railway, you’ll see an ancient Khmer temple, one of the Allied Cemeteries, and the Hellfire Pass.
The route involves small back roads and many unsealed roads, necessitating the use of mountain bikes with knobbly tires. While predominantly a flat ride, there are some small, short hills, but the support vehicle is always on hand to give tired riders a break from pedaling. The accommodation is in raft houses, floating on the River Kwai, with air-conditioning and en-suite bathroom facilities.
Day 1: Transfer to Kanchanaburi, Cycle Beside the Death Railway 37km
Depart your hotel for the 2-3 hour drive out of Bangkok to the riverside town of Kanchanaburi, and the Bridge on the River Kwai. After crossing the bridge on foot it’s time to hit the bikes for a 37km ride, initially following the course of the river, then heading through fields of corn, rice, asparagus and sugar cane. During the course of the ride we’ll make a couple of stops at one of the Allied War Cemeteries and a cave in the grounds of a local temple. Towards the end of our ride we cycle alongside some of the tracks laid by the prisoners of war decades ago, before arriving at our overnight raft houses.
Meals: L, D
Day 2: Cycle to Hellfire Pass 29km & Ride the Train
Today we head into a beautiful forested landscape, on increasingly smaller roads eventually turning into dirt tracks. At the end of the ride we cross a suspension bridge, then transfer up to Hellfire Pass, where we explore the excellent museum and walk through the famous pass itself. Another short drive to Nam Tok train station brings us to the end of the modern day railway line (which used to cross the border into Myanmar), where we board the train for a ride on the so-called ‘Death Railway’, a piece of WWII history.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Cycle to Muang Sing Ruins 43km, Transfer to Bangkok
Departing our hotel we ride through villages and a rural landscape, back to the river and the final highlight of our trip: the Angkor era temple of Muang Sing, marking the furthest point west that the ancient empire of Angkor ever reached. A further 15km cycling brings us to our lunch spot and the end of our ride, from where we transfer back to Bangkok.
Meals: B, L
While Thailand is hot and humid year-round, temperatures are slightly lower over the months of November to February. The main wet season is from May to October, although as is the case in the tropics, rain showers are heavy but generally only last a couple of hours.
Best time to go
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Base price per person $700
Single supplement $100
Services
An air-conditioned support vehicle is always on hand for tired riders. Groups are accompanied by an English speaking local tour leader and a bike mechanic will also be provided for groups of 5 people or more.
What is included
High quality mountain bikes and helmets
A refillable water bottle
All transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
Backup vehicle for cycling
Snacks, water and fruit during cycling
Twin share accommodation (single room option available at a supplement)
All meals as listed (including water)
Entrance fees at sights visited as part of the itinerary
