River Kwai & Erawan National Park

Your trip will begin with a pick up at your hotel in Bangkok and traveling west to the Kanchanaburi area of Thailand near the Burma border. Here you can visit the Bridge over the River Kwai, the JEATH War Museum, a replica of the bamboo-atap huts used to house Allied POW’s, and the War Cemetery. Take a historic ride on Death Railway Train, passing lush forest. After lunch at a local restaurant, take a “long-tail boat” from the pier to your accommodations at the River Kwai Jungle Rafts, passing by unspoiled mountainous jungle scenery along the way. These “Raftels” float on the Kwai Noi River across from panoramic views of white cliffs and tranquil jungle. Afterwards, visit the nearby ethnic Mon Tribal Village. Dinner will be followed by a 45-minute presentation of Mon Dance. Overnight at the Jungle Rafts.

After breakfast, take an exciting boat ride upstream to visit to the Hell Fire Pass Memorial, named so by the POW’s because of the way the largest cutting at Konyu looked at night by torch light. At around noon, check in at the River Kwai Resotel, a secluded resort nestled on the bank of Kwai Noi River, and surrounded by the mountains. Enjoy lunch at the hotel’s restaurant. This afternoon you are free to relax in this nearly unspoiled nature. (Optional tours: Canoeing or Mountain Biking, etc. as additional expenses.) Dinner and overnight at the Resotel.

Early in the morning you will be picked up from the Resotel and transferred to the nearby Erawan National Park, one of the most beautiful parks in Thailand. Trek through the magnificent forest, visiting areas along the way frequented by wild elephants, wild boar, gaur, and a range of other wildlife. After a refreshing cold drink, relax under a large mosquito net to the sounds of the forest while having a traditional Thai lunch, prepared for you by your own field cook. Afterwards, continue the nature trek and learn from your naturalist guide how to identify different animal sighs, and sample some of the forest’s edible plants. Descend through the forest, keeping your eyes out for the resident great hornbills, and exit the forest. You will be picked up and transferred back to the Resotel for dinner and overnight.

In the morning walk or canoe to the nearby Lawa Cave to explore the fascinating rock formations inside. Then return to the hotel for lunch. Check-out and depart by boat to the pier in Kanchanaburi. Overnight in Kanchanaburi or transfer back to Bangkok.