Sai Yok National Park

The Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre commemorates the construction of the Thailand-Burma Railway, built during World War II under Japanese occupation by Allied prisoners of war and Asian forced laborers. The name refers to the Konyu Cutting: during night work, illuminated by oil lamps and bamboo fires, the scene with the emaciated prisoners looked like a depiction of hell.Opened in 1998 and operated by Australia, the museum documents working conditions, diseases, and mortality with photos, artifacts, and eyewitness accounts.From the museum, a path leads down into the cutting, where drilling marks in the rock are still visible. Visitors can follow the former railway track several kilometers further through the forest. An audio guide provides context for the stations. The memorial is located about 80 kilometers northwest of Kanchanaburi on Highway 323.

Erawan National Park is located approximately 65 to 70 kilometers northwest of Kanchanaburi. Established in 1975 as Thailand's twelfth national park, it covers around 550 square kilometers and is primarily known for the seven-tiered Erawan Waterfall with its turquoise-green pools. The name Erawan refers to the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology.A path follows the stream from tier to tier; the lower levels are easily accessible, while further up, the trail becomes steeper and rockier. Bathing is permitted in several pools, where small fish will nibble at your feet. Shoes with good grip are recommended as the edges can be slippery.Beyond the waterfall, there are forested limestone mountains and the stalactite cave Tham Phra That. Early mornings on weekdays are the quietest, while weekends and public holidays see many day-trippers.

Kanchanaburi is located at the confluence of the Khwae Yai and Khwae Noi rivers, which merge here to form the Mae Klong. The city is known for the Bridge on the River Kwai, part of the Thailand-Burma Railway, which Allied prisoners of war and Asian forced laborers were compelled to build under Japanese occupation during World War II. You can cross the bridge on foot and ride a segment of the historic railway by train. Museums and war cemeteries tell the story of the prisoners. Excursions lead to Erawan National Park and Hellfire Pass. It's most pleasant from November to February.

Western Thailand, around the province of Kanchanaburi, combines war history and nature. This is where the Thailand-Burma Railway ran, built during World War II under Japanese occupation by prisoners of war and forced labourers, and known as the Death Railway.Attractions include the Bridge on the Khwae Yai, the war cemeteries and museums in Kanchanaburi, Hellfire Pass, the tiered waterfalls in Erawan National Park, and further north, Sangkhlaburi with its long wooden bridge.

Sangkhlaburi is the northernmost district of Kanchanaburi Province, situated on the shore of the Khao Laem Reservoir near the Myanmar border. Besides Thais, Mon and Karen people live here, which is reflected in their language, cuisine, and temple architecture.Its landmark is the Mon Bridge (Uttamanusorn Bridge), Thailand's longest wooden bridge at around 445 meters. It connects the Mon village of Wang Kha with the town. Early in the morning, the monks' alms collection can be observed here. On the Mon side stands Wat Wang Wiwekaram with a gilded chedi modelled after Indian prototypes.During the dry season, usually in March and April, the walls and ordination hall of the old temple emerge from the lake, remnants of the settlement that was flooded with the construction of the Vajiralongkorn Dam in 1984. The cooler months from November to February are the most pleasant time to travel.