DAY 1: Transfer from Bangkok via Ban Pong to Kanchanaburi

Meet 9:00am at your Central Bangkok hotel and travel to Kanchanaburi (about 3 hours from Bangkok) via Ban Pong where all POWs sent to Thailand, arrived from Singapore, by train in 1942/43. Visit the Ban Pong Camp location where the POWs stayed overnight. Follow their travel route and on arrival at Kanchanaburi, visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (TBRC), a museum of world renown overlooking the war cemetery. Dioramas, artefacts (retrieved from various camps and work sites along the railway) and personal stories of the POWs, all combine to give you a better appreciation of the railway story.

Have an informed and thought-provoking discussion on the railway with the museum’s research staff.

Have lunch at the museum’s café and go through the museum and then, visit the adjacent Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.

When ready, check in at the River Kwai Bridge Resort, a well-located resort on the river, within easy walking distance to the Bridge on the River Kwai, swimming pool and English-speaking staff. It also happens to be on the site of the Tha Makham Camp.

Includes: Transfer from Bangkok in air-con vehicle with TBRC Guide, lunch & refreshments, admission to Museum/Research Centre, accommodation.

DAY 2: Local historical tour, long tail boat ride, Bridge on the River Kwai

Pick-up at 8:30am for personally guided tour around Kanchanaburi visiting several significant railway locations. This includes the F & H Force Hospital Camp, Kanchanaburi Aerodrome & Officers Camp and the Chungkai War Cemetery and site of the POW Camp. Explore the nearby work area of the men from the Chungkai Camp consisting of large embankments, bridges and cuttings.

Take a long-tail boat ride on the Kwai rivers to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai. Learn the true story of the bridge including the nearby Tha Markham Camp which supplied the labour for the bridge. Finish with a visit and walk on the bridge before returning to the River Kwai Bridge Resort for a relaxing late afternoon/evening as you wish.

Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, local historic tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, admission to Museum/Research Centre long-tail boat ride, accommodation.

DAY 3: Start of 2 Day personal historical tour with TBRC Researcher/Historian

Check out at 8:30am for your historical tour following the still-working section of the railway passing through the southern work area and camps including Wang Lan, Ban Khao, Tha Kilen, Wang Takhian and others along the route until reaching Arrow Hill and the southern end of the Wang Pho Viaduct.

Continue up country to the site of the Tha Soa Camp and explore this significant site. Continue through to Namtok beyond the current railway to locate remnants of the war-time railway visiting Kinsaiyok. Gain a good understanding of the significance and size of this camp, station and work area.

In the afternoon, for a wider appreciation of the railway, proceed further north along the railway following the F Force route through stop-over camps such as Lin Thin, Hindat, Prang Kasi, Tha Khanun, Shimo Songkurai and Kami Songkurai, the destination for F Force in May 1943.

Finish the day not far from Three Pagodas Pass and the border with Myanmar (Burma). Overnight at the Suan Magmai Resort at nearby Sangklaburi.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, all day historical tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, admission to Saiyok National Park for Kinsaiyok camp site access, accommodation.

DAY 4: Day 2 of personal historical tour with TBRC Researcher/Historian

After breakfast take in some of the interesting local cultural sights before departing for the short trip up to Three Pagodas Pass. Discover where the railway crossed from Thailand into Burma and where the seriously sick from F Force were taken to Thanbaya Hospital Camp in Burma towards the end of 1943.

Start the return trip along the railway visiting locations not covered on the previous day. This will include major sites such as Hellfire Pass (including the Australian Government operated Memorial and walking trail) and the Wang Pho Viaduct learning more on these remarkable work areas and their history. Return on the last leg of the journey by taking the train on the still-working section of railway from Tham Krasae back to Kanchanaburi. Arrive back late afternoon at the River Kwai Bridge Resort.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch, all day historical tour in air-con vehicle with TBRC Researcher/Historian and TBRC Guide, train ride and accommodation.

DAY 5: Local interest/cultural sights in the morning; Afternoon return to Bangkok

The morning can be spent on local/cultural sights and activities prior to leaving for Bangkok. These include Prasat Muang Sing (ancient Khmer ruins) and Erawan National Park and waterfalls.

Early afternoon, depart for Bangkok and on the way visit Nakhon Pathom where there was a large hospital camp set up for the chronically ill in 1944 and where the well-known Australian railway Doctor Weary Dunlop was based from mid-1944 until the end of the war. Visit the nearby Phra Pathom Chedi, the largest Buddhist Pagoda in Thailand and a substantial landmark very visible at the time to the men in the Nakhon Pathom camp. Continue to Bangkok and your hotel.

Includes: Breakfast, lunch & refreshments, TBRC Guide, morning and afternoon programs, all admission charges and air-con vehicle return to Bangkok.

• Pick-up/Drop-off at your central Bangkok hotel

• Accommodation (4 Nights)

• Meals as indicated (Note: Drinks not included)

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Railway Researcher/Historian as indicated

• Comfortable, air-conditioned car/minivan with driver

• All touring as indicated

• Long tail boat & train ride

• Entrance fees

• Travel expenses before & after the tour

• Passport & visa expenses

• Bangkok accommodation

• Meals and services not mentioned

• Comprehensive travel insurance

• Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.)

• Tips to Guide and Driver

If you find that you are unable to join a tour that has been booked, confirmed and paid in part or in full, the paid amount of that tour less any unrecoverable costs, may be converted to a voucher. The value of that voucher may be used towards the same tour with a later departure date or any other HWT tour.

If a refund is requested, the following cancellation fees may be deducted from the paid amount:

• Greater than 30 days prior to tour start date - 10% of the total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• 30 days or less (but more than 14 days) prior to your tour start date – 50% of the total tour amount + any unrecoverable costs

• 14 days or less prior to tour start date (including 'no show') - No refund

Validity: Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to leave their country. This is a common safeguard to ensure you can legally travel without issues if your passport is close to expiring.

Before traveling: It’s essential to verify the entry requirements for every country you plan to visit. This includes visas, vaccination requirements, and other entry regulations.

Use official sources: For Australians, the Smartraveller website provides up-to-date travel advice, including passport and visa requirements, safety alerts, and other critical information.

Fitness level is very subjective and can vary for everyone. As a guide:

Low: Mainly sitting, small amount of walking required

Low-Moderate: Easy walking, some steps

Moderate: Walking moderate distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steps

Moderate-High: Walking moderate-long distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steep inclines, steps

High: Walking moderate-long distances, uneven/unpaved ground, steep inclines, steps, bush tracks

This tour:

Day 1:

·      Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (museum) – Low-Moderate

·      Kanchanaburi War Cemetery – Low

Day 2:

·      Morning historical tour – Low-Moderate

·      Long tail boat ride - Moderate

·      Bridge over the River Kwai – Moderate-High

Day 3:

·      Day 1 of historical tour to Three Pagodas Pass – Low-Moderate

Day 4:

·      Day 2 of historical tour to Three Pagodas Pass – Low-Moderate

·      Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre - Low

·      Hellfire Pass – Moderate-High

·      Wang Pho Viaduct – Moderate

·      Train trip – Low

Day 5:

·      Morning local/cultural sights – Low-Moderate

·      Phra Pathom Chedi – Moderate