Find out how to plan the perfect Kanchanaburi itinerary for 2 or 3 days, including how to get there, the best places to stay, and other helpful tips!
Situated about 140 km west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi offers the perfect mix of history, nature, and culture.
From learning about the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway link to walking across the River Kwai Bridge, hiking to the beautiful Erawan Falls, or exploring the many temples, there are so many things to do in Kanchanaburi.
So if you’re visiting soon, keep reading to find out how to plan the best 2 or 3-day Kanchanaburi itinerary.
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How long to spend in Kanchanaburi?
I personally think that 3 days in Kanchanaburi is the ideal amount of time to see all the main tourist attractions without any rush. Below is a suggested Kanchanaburi itinerary for 3 days:
Day 1: Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple), Meena Café, Tham Kaew Kanchanaphisek, Wat Ban Tham, Wat Tham Khao Pun, River Kwai Bridge
Day 2: Erawan Falls, Wat Thaworn Wararam, JJ Night Market
Day 3: Death Railway Museum, War Cemetery, Tham Krasae Bridge & Cave
Alternatively, if you have only 2 days in Kanchanaburi, you can combine day 2 and day 3 but note that this will only be possible if you hire a private taxi. If you’re using public transportation, it would be best to stay for 3 days.
So for day 2, spend the morning at Erawan Falls and then make sure you arrive at Tham Krasea Bridge & Cave before 1.36 p.m to see the train pass by. For the rest of the afternoon, visit the Death Railway Museum and War Cemetery, Wat Thaworn Wararam, and finally eat dinner at JJ Night Market.
Where to Stay in Kanchanaburi?
For ease of getting around, I recommend staying close to Kanchanaburi train station. You’ll find plenty of hotels and restaurants here as well as a night market.
Since I was on a budget, I stayed in a private room at Thyme Xeriscape Hostel which is located about 400 meters from both the train and bus stations. The room was very clean and they provided free drinking water, tea, and coffee. They also have dorm rooms if you’re on a much tighter budget.
Alternatively, you can stay at either Natee The Riverfront Hotel or Good Times Resort, both of which cater to mid-range and luxury travelers.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HOTELS IN KANCHANABURI
How to get to Kanchanaburi?
Train
The most popular way to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok is to take the train. 3rd class tickets cost 100 baht per person and can only be purchased on the same day.
The train departs only twice a day at 7.45 a.m and 1.55 p.m from Thon Buri station (check the updated timetable here). The total journey takes about 3 hours.
If you want to visit Kanchanaburi as a day trip from Bangkok, you can take the excursion train which is available on Saturdays and Sundays only. You can find more information about the excursion train here.
Bus/Mini-van
If the train schedule doesn’t work for you, you can instead take a bus from Mochit van terminal. Buses depart every hour and tickets cost about 140 baht per person. The total journey takes about 3 hours.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK A BUS TO KANCHANABURI
The bus will drop you off at Kanchanaburi bus terminal which is about 2 km from the city center. You can then take the Erawan bus and ask to be dropped off near the train station as this is where most hotels are (tickets should cost around 10 baht).
Getting around Kanchanaburi
Songthaew
The best way to get around during your Kanchanaburi itinerary is to use songthaews. They are usually orange in color and can get you anywhere in the city for cheap.
You’ll usually find the drivers hanging out at the train station. If you want to hire a private songthaew for the whole day, expect to pay around 800 baht.
Public Bus
Another option is to take the public bus but keep in mind that it can be quite challenging to navigate due to the language barrier.
Luckily, I did manage to take the bus from Kanchanaburi to Erawan Falls and back (I’ll explain how to catch the bus below).
Tuk Tuk
Tuk Tuks are also available but cost slightly more than songthaews and buses.
Train
The last option is to take the train. The train station is located in the city center, just a few minutes walk from the Death Railway Museum.
Tickets cost 100 baht for tourists regardless of the distance covered. The only downside is that the train runs only a few times per day, so be sure to check the updated schedule at the train station.
Kanchanaburi Itinerary Day 1
For the first day of your 3 days in Kanchanaburi, hire a private songthaew (800 baht) to visit a few temples, most of which boast breathtaking panoramic views.
I recommend asking your driver to pick you up from your hotel at around 8 a.m so you don’t have to rush through any of the attractions.
Along the way, you’ll check out a beautiful café with picture-perfect rice field views before ending the day at the River Kwai Bridge where you can snap some photos on the train tracks and watch the local train pass through.
Wat Tham Suea (Tiger Cave Temple)
Start your Kanchanaburi itinerary at Wat Tham Suea, also known as Tiger Cave Temple. Since it’s one of the most popular temples in Kanchanaburi be sure to get there early at around 8 or 9 a.m.
Wat Tham Suea is not only famous for its huge gold Buddha but also for its magnificent views. On one side you get a view of Mae Klong River bordered by the mountains, on the other you get an uninterrupted view of the rice fields.
The temple complex is huge and consists of several buildings including a multi-tier pagoda that you can climb up for even more epic views.
From the parking lot, you’ll have to climb up 150+ stairs to get to the temple or take the funicular for a small fee.
Wat Tham Suea is open daily from 8 a.m to 5 p.m and is free to visit.
Related post: Most beautiful Kanchanaburi temples to visit
Meena Café
If you’ve built up an appetite or just want to take some photos, head over to Meena Café, located about a 6-minute drive from the Tiger Cave Temple.
This is one of the most scenic cafés as it offers a breathtaking view of the rice fields with the Tiger Cave Temple in the backdrop.
Tham Kaew Kanchanaphisek
If you’re looking for a more underrated temple to visit during your 3 day Kanchanaburi itinerary, I recommend checking out Tham Kaew Kanchanaphisek.
Sitting at the edge of a cliff overlooking Mae Klong River, the temple features a huge white Buddha and a small cave with crystal-like stalactites and stalagmites.
The highlight for me was definitely the panoramic views from the lookout point near the Buddha statue, which, to be honest, was the sole reason I decided to visit!
Tip: Be sure to check out this little coffee shop found behind the White Buddha if you want to eat lunch with a view.
Wat Ban Tham & Heavenly Dragon Cave
Hopefully, you already had a hearty lunch at either Meena Café or the small coffee shop at Tham Kaew Kanchanaphisek because you’ll be climbing A LOT of stairs to reach the top of the Heavenly Dragon Cave at Wat Ban Tham.
A long flight of stairs will lead you to the dragon mouth where you’ll find another series of steps flanked by colorful paintings on the walls. You’ll eventually reach the cave where you’ll find a huge gold Buddha.
If you have some energy left, climb up even more stairs to the gold chedi for a panoramic view of Kanchanaburi.
Tip: There’s a small shrine/viewpoint about halfway through for those who can’t bear to climb more stairs.
Wat Tham Khao Pun
The next stop on your Kanchanaburi itinerary is Wat Tham Khao Pun, a small cave temple that’s barely visited by tourists.
While the cave looked cool with colorful lights and several shrines and Buddha statues, it smelled a bit stuffy, so I ended up not spending too long inside.
Luckily, you can also head to the gold chedi for a 360-degree view of the surroundings (and some fresh air!), so it isn’t a complete letdown.
If you don’t want to climb up to the pagoda, you can check out the viewpoint area beside W Story Café, located not too far from the temple.
The entrance fee for the cave temple is 30 baht.
River Kwai Bridge
The River Kwai Bridge was built by the prisoners of war (POWs) under the command of the Japanese army during World War II as part of the railway link connecting Thailand and Burma (now Myanmar).
Part of the bridge was bombed but was later rebuilt and is now the most popular tourist attraction in Kanchanaburi.
If you followed this Kanchanaburi travel itinerary to a T, you should arrive at the River Kwai Bridge at around 2.30 p.m just in time to see the train pass through at 2.40 p.m.
The train also crosses the bridge at 6.15 a.m, 7.12 a.m, 10.44 a.m, 4.30 p.m and 5.30 p.m (be sure to double-check the schedule at the train station).
Near the bridge, you’ll find a local market selling souvenirs and food as well as a couple of restaurants overlooking the bridge. If you have more time, you can also visit Wihan Phra Phothisat Kuan Im temple located nearby.
Zab Zab Restaurant
For dinner, I highly recommend eating at Zab Zab restaurant which serves the most delicious and cheapest Thai food. Their chicken and cashew nuts dish is soooo delicious and costs only 60 baht!
The restaurant is located just a few minutes walk from where I was staying so I ended up eating there three times.
Kanchanaburi Itinerary Day 2
For day 2 of your Kanchanaburi itinerary, go on a hike at the beautiful Erawan Falls and then spend the rest of the afternoon taking a stroll around Wat Thaworn Wararam before ending at JJ Night Market for dinner.
Erawan Falls
Erawan Falls are located about 70 km outside of Kanchanaburi and feature seven stunning waterfalls with crystal-clear turquoise pools that you can swim in.
Most of the waterfalls are easy to get to except for those after level 4 which require a moderate level of fitness due to the steep and uneven terrain.
I recommend spending at least 3 or 4 hours here to fully explore each level. The waterfalls are open from 8 a.m to 4.30 p.m and cost 300 baht to enter.
Inside the national park is a small café selling only drinks and snacks. If you get hungry, you can get lunch from one of the many restaurants near the parking lot.
The cheapest way to get from Kanchanaburi to Erawan Falls is to take the bus. Tickets cost 60 baht per person and the journey should take about 1.5 hours one-way.
I waited for the bus near the war cemetery but you can also wait anywhere along Sangchuto Road. You can’t miss the bus as you’ll see Erawan written in front. Just make sure to wave it down or it might not stop.
The bus from Kanchanaburi to Erawan departs every hour or so, starting from 8 a.m while the bus from Erawan to Kanchanaburi departs at 8.30 a.m, 10.30 a.m, 12 p.m, 2 p.m, 3 p.m, and 4.30 p.m.
You can also hire a private songthaew to take you to the waterfalls but note that it will be way more expensive.
Related post: How to get from Kanchanaburi to Erawan Waterfalls?
Wat Thaworn Wararam
Spend the rest of the afternoon by taking a stroll around Wat Thaworn Wararam. The temple sits at the edge of Khawae Yai River and is the perfect place to relax and soak in the peaceful atmosphere.
JJ Night Market
Finally, end the day at JJ Night Market just in time for dinner. The night market is located near the train station and sells everything from clothes to souvenirs and so much food.
JJ Night Market is open every day from 5 p.m to 10 p.m.
Kanchanaburi Itinerary Day 3
Death Railway Museum & War Cemetery
If you want to learn more about the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway, commonly referred to as the Death Railway, I highly recommend visiting the Death Railway Museum.
The museum will tell you all about how the Japanese army was able to capture thousands of POWs who were forced to build the railway link in extreme conditions.
The museum also contains several exhibits including parts of the original train tracks and tools used by the POWs as well as old photographs. It’s quite heart-wrenching but I think it’s important to learn about this part of history when visiting Kanchanaburi.
There’s a lot of information to take in, so plan to spend at least one or two hours there.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m to 4 p.m and the entrance fee is 160 baht for adults and 80 baht for children. The fee also includes a free coffee, tea, or bottle of water.
Once you’re done at the museum, walk across the road to the war cemetery to pay your respects to the POWs who lost their lives during the construction of the railway link.
Note: There’s also another museum near the River Kwai Bridge but since the reviews weren’t that good, I decided to visit the Death Railway Museum instead.
Tham Krasae Bridge & Cave
Finally, end your Kanchanaburi itinerary by taking a train ride along the Death Railway to Tham Krasae Bridge & Cave.
Make sure you take the 10.30 a.m train so you can get back to Kanchanaburi with the 1.36 p.m train from Tham Krasae.
I highly recommend this train ride if you want to cross the River Kwai Bridge by train and at the same time enjoy a panoramic view of the rice fields and mountains.
The train will also travel across Tham Krasae Bridge which is sandwiched between a steep cliff and Khwae Noi River. Be sure to sit on the left for the best view!
Get off the train immediately after the bridge and take a walk along the train tracks to admire the view and take photos. You can also visit the nearby cave temple for free.
There are a few restaurants at Tham Krasae station but unfortunately, the food options were quite limited, so it’s best to bring your own food. You’ll also find several souvenir shops here as well.
Once you’re done, take the train back to Kanchanaburi (you should arrive by 3 p.m) before moving on to your next adventure in Thailand!
I hope you found this Kanchanaburi itinerary helpful. If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below.
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