River Kwai

The River Kwai area in Kanchanaburi is where history and natural beauty converge in a way found nowhere else in Thailand. The Bridge over the River Kwai — constructed by Allied POWs and Asian labourers under Imperial Japanese command during WWII — stands at the edge of town, still in use by a train that crosses it daily. The Death Railway Museum nearby provides detailed and moving context for the wartime events. But Kanchanaburi is far more than a history site: the wide, clear Kwai Yai River is fringed with bamboo and jungle, and the distinctive floating guesthouses and raft houses moored along the banks offer a uniquely Thai overnight experience. The town's main street and the riverside strip of restaurants and guesthouses make this one of the most enjoyable small-city bases in Central Thailand.