 Kanchanaburi
Transportation and transfer guide
Kanchanaburi is connected by daily road and rail services
with Bangkok and other neighbouring provinces. Air-conditioned
and non-airconditional coaches frequently leave Bangkok's
Southern Bus Terminal throughout the day for the 2 to
3-hour journey while trains leave the Bangkok Noi Railway
Station two times daily for Kanchanaburi. Call 223-7010,
223-7020 for details of train timetables.
There are no direct flights to Kanchanaburi and bar
far the best way to get there is by bus or train from
Bangkok or other areas. On the other hand some of the
journey can be made by boat travelling up the Kwai River
or you can hire a car or motorbike capable of doing
long distances, not the usual motorcycle-scooters that
most Thai's use as these, though capable of doing the
journey are not really powerful enough, unless travelling
short distances. Within Kanchanaburi itself a popular
form of transport is a bicycle as most places of interest
are within peddling distance.
to Kanchanaburi
Thailand has an excellent and reasonably priced railway
system and tickets can be bought pretty much at any
station in the country for travel along that line. You
need to book well ahead for first class travel and for
other classes during peak travel times. Most of the
time however you can simply book in person a few days
in advance. Travel agencies also sell tickets for overnight
trains.
First class seats on overnight services are difficult
to obtain unless you book well in advance. For a higher
price you enjoy air-conditioning and much more privacy.
Second class travel is recommended - you get a good
night's sleep in a fold-down bunk in a fan cooled carriage
and the ticket prices are affordable. Third class is
good for short trips only - you get a hard wooden seat
with no fan cooling. Tickets are cheap, so the carriages
can be crowded.
You can choose from express services with minimal stops
or cheaper services that stop at every town en-route.
Train travel is the safest and most affordable way of
exploring Thailand. You do need to be a little security
conscious as the occasional theft and/or drugging of
passengers occurs.
Hualamphong Railway Station located on Rama IV Rd.,
tel. 2230341, Bangkok's main station, serves most long-distance
trains. Bangkok Noi on Arun Amarin Rd., tel. 4113102,
on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River, is used
by local trains to Hua Hin and Kanchanaburi.
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