TRIP 1 : 20-22 JULY 2016

Raft on the River Kwai - Krasae Cave - Sangkhla Buri

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Start : Departure

Start your journey with a free train

• Get on the train at Thon Buri Station, our destination is Saphan Tham Krasae 2 Station

(The train timetable only shows Saphan Tham Kra Sae station, but it is actually divided into 2 stations.

(Which means station 1 is before the bridge and station 2 is at the end of the bridge.)

The scenery on both sides of the train ride was amazing. It felt like I was truly on vacation.

Along the way, there are food and water vendors selling their wares. The highlight is the dry noodles, which are delicious and reasonably priced.

After a long train ride, we finally arrived at the Death Railway.

I saw the road and sat there scared, but the scenery on both sides was really beautiful.

• To Saphan Tham Krasae 2 Station

Today we will be staying at Baan Rim Kwai - Pae Rim Nam.

Walk a little further from the station and you will find a way down to the pier. You can call the accommodation to pick us up by boat.

I wanted to experience the atmosphere, so I chose to stay in a floating hut by the water. The price of the floating hut here is per person.

400 baht per person, one room can accommodate 4 people. It is a fan room. The bathroom is on the shore.

(Please check the price again in the year of travel before departure, in case there are any changes)

The atmosphere in front of our accommodation raft.

The room only has one light, so it's a bit dark at night.

After we put our stuff away, we went straight to the water to jump in!

While we were playing in the water, it started to drizzle, but it couldn't stop us. We continued to play in the water.

The next morning, we checked out at around 10 am. This place also offers free breakfast, which was delicious and definitely worth it.

Then cross the river to take pictures and visit Tham Krasae Cave before the train arrives.

We walked back to Saphan Tham Krasae 1 Station to catch the train there.

• Our destination today is Nam Tok Station to take a bus to Sangkhla Buri.

The highlight of this train ride is the sugar donut. It's delicious and enjoyable, but be careful not to choke on the sweetness.

• The route to the waterfall station is considered another highlight, as the scenery on both sides of the road is stunning.

The train slowly climbed the mountain, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding nature.

• After we arrived at Namtok Station, we took a songthaew to wait for the Sangkhla Buri van.

After a while on the bus, the only passengers left were tourists who were visiting the area.

However, since the bus we took was the last round and it happened to be the first day of school,

We had to stop the car for almost an hour to wait for the students who were about to finish school.

As we waited, we and the other people who were also going to Sangkhla exchanged stories and chatted animatedly with the driver.

The friendship along the way is real. It feels warm like having more travel companions.

As the clock struck 4 pm, it was time for the car to depart. The elderly driver picked up the schoolchildren along the way.

• Sangkhla Buri

Around six o'clock, we arrived safely in Sangkhlaburi.

Stop by to take a picture with the Mon Bridge in the evening before checking in.

*It is recommended to come and watch the sunset at the Mon Bridge. The sun should set around 7 pm.*

As we went back to our accommodation first, we only saw the light coming into the accommodation.

• For tonight, we are staying at P. Guest House Country. The price is 400 baht per room, which can accommodate 2 people. It is a fan room with a shared bathroom.

The atmosphere is right by the Songkharia River, very convenient. There are motorbikes for rent.

This is a highly recommended option for those who are on a budget but still want to enjoy stunning views like this.

After settling into our accommodation, we ended our second day by renting a motorbike and having one-baht-per-skewer pork skewers before going to bed.

• Mon Bridge

On the morning of the 3rd and final day, I set my alarm for 5 am to watch the sunrise and offer alms to the monks.

However, when we arrived at the Mon Bridge, it was still very dark. And worse, there was a lot of fog.

The sun is blocked from view, and the next time you see sunlight is around 8 or 9 am.

After making merit by offering food to monks, we stopped by for breakfast. The price was reasonable and not expensive. As for the taste, it was just like any other porridge.

Next, we will continue to visit 4 temples by boat (the price depends on the agreement).

After finishing the boat trip, we planned to ride a motorbike to the other side, but everyone was very tired because they woke up early.

After checking out, we waited for the Kanchanaburi van to take us back to Bangkok.

On the way back, we were very tired because we had been sitting in the car for a long time without any breaks or sightseeing, unlike on the way there.

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The cost of this trip is 1,239 baht (excluding food).

*Accommodation costs may vary. Please call or check the website for the latest prices before you go.

Accommodation fee = 550 Baht

Cost of transportation = 490 Baht

**Day 1**

No transportation costs because I took the free train (excluding the cost of the train to the train station).

Accommodation at Baan Rim Kwae - Pae Rim Nam is 400 baht/person (fan, bathroom on the shore, free breakfast) *Recommended. Cheap, good view, delicious food, good value for money.

Day 2

Free train to Namtok

The fare for a songthaew to the front of the waterfall is 20 baht.

The entrance fee to Sam Khok is 130 baht.

Motorcycle rental fee 200 baht (divided by 4 people, 50 baht each)

P Geust house accommodation costs 300 baht/night for 2 people, which is 150 baht per person (fan, shared bathroom, by the river) *Also recommended, cheap, good view, spacious room.

Day 3

Boat trip 400 baht (4 people, 100 baht per person)

99 baht for alms-giving clothes

The fare for a van from Sangkhla to Kanchanaburi is 170 baht.

The fare for a van back to Bangkok is 120 baht.