DAY 1: SATURDAY, 24th APRIL 2027

Depart Mercure/Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel, Bangkok: 8:00am
Finish: 2:00pm approx.

(Please note: The Mercure/Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel is the only pick-up point in Bangkok)

Gather in the concierge area of the Mercure/Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel, your Bangkok pick-up point, by 7:45am. Meet the other members of the tour before boarding your minivan/bus for the trip to Kanchanaburi, about 2.5 hours after leaving Bangkok.

Visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, a world renown museum featuring dioramas, artefacts (retrieved from various camps and work sites along the railway) and personal stories of the POWs, all combining to give you a great appreciation of the railway story.

Travel approximately 10 minutes, to the iconic Bridge over the River Kwai, one of the most significant landmarks of the historic Burma-Thailand Railway. Take time to explore this remarkable structure and enjoy a return walk across the bridge, offering excellent views of the surrounding scenery and river.

Head to the Goodway Floating Restaurant, located beside the bridge. Enjoy a delicious Thai lunch while taking in the spectacular riverside setting and views of the bridge.

After lunch, proceed to your overnight stay arriving about 2:00pm. Your accommodation is uniquely situated on floating rafts out over the River Kwai. This 3 Star Resort provides good quality en-suited and airconditioned rooms that are a tranquil oasis while you watch the river flow by. Join in some of the resort’s water activities such as river rafting* or swimming in the resort’s pool or just relaxing in preparation for the early start the next day.

OR

For those keen to know a little more on the history of the railway, join a two-hour excursion that will leave the resort about 3:00pm. You will travel a short distance to an area known as Hintok Road, located on the northern end of the Hellfire Pass section of the railway and rarely visited. You will walk (about 250 metres) along the old railway bed, past bomb craters made by allied aircraft, to explore Hintok Cutting (the second largest after Hellfire Pass), the site of the Three Tier Bridge and the Seven Metre Embankment. Be amazed at these engineering feats which almost rival Hellfire Pass itself. Return to the resort to rejoin the other members of the group. The price for this excursion is $35 per person. Bookings are essential and can be made at check-out. Numbers are limited.

Take in the last light of the day as you mingle with other tour members before enjoying a BBQ buffet dinner at the resort’s restaurant.

* charges apply, contact us for bookings before the tour's departure.

Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Hotel included: Boutique Raft Resort, Sai Yok - River Kwai Suite

DAY 2: SUNDAY, 25th APRIL 2027

Depart hotel: 2:15am
Arrive Mercure/Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel, Bangkok about lunchtime

(Please note: The Mercure/Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel is the only drop-off point in Bangkok)

An early start for what will be an emotional and memorable day. Travel to Hellfire Pass (about 15 minutes) for the Anzac Day Dawn Service.

The gates will open about 3:00am and from there, you will be taken to the Hellfire Pass Interpretative Centre. Walk (about 20 minutes) down the stairway to the old railway bed and then onto Hellfire Pass and the Hellfire Pass Memorial where you will join others for the Anzac Day Dawn Service starting at 5:30am. (Note: "Golf" type buggies will be available to get to the Memorial site and back to the Interpretive Centre afterwards, for anyone with mobility issues. Just let your guide know.)

After the Dawn Service, in the light of day, take the opportunity to examine Hellfire Pass and the amazing view of the River Kwai valley. Return to the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre area either by walking up the stairway or using one of the available 'golf' type buggies (you may have to queue for an available seat). Join other travellers at the Gunfire Breakfast.

Visit the museum at the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre before departing about 8:00am for Kanchanaburi and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. This is the largest cemetery on the Burma-Thailand Railway and where nearly 7,000 POWs rest. Gather for a group photo before walking around these beautifully landscaped grounds and begin to understand why the railway became known as the “Death Railway”.

Return to Bangkok arriving at the Mercure/Ibis Bangkok Hotel, your Bangkok drop-off point, around lunchtime.

Meals included: Gunfire Breakfast

There will be only one pick-up/drop-off point in Bangkok – the Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel (located at 927 Rama I Rd, Wangmai, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand)

Situated in central Bangkok, the Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel is two hotels at the same location and together, offer a good variety of accommodation levels at reasonable prices. The hotels are within easy walking distance to the BTS and the shopping centres of MBK and Siam Centre. The off-street driveway provides a convenient pick-up/drop-off for taxis or Grab (Thailand’s equivalent of Uber) should you wish to travel to other areas of Bangkok.

For those wishing to stay somewhere else, please plan to arrive at the Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel (same location) by 6:30am on the 24th April.

• Accommodation (1 Night)

• Meals as indicated. Note: Drinks not included.

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Comfortable, air-conditioned minivan/bus with driver

• All touring as indicated

• Entrance fees

• Historic War Tours – Anzac Day Polo Shirt

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

• 10 Days or less (including 'no show') prior to tour start date - 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 track

This tour:

Day 1:

• Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (museum) - Low-Moderate

• Goodway Floating Restaurant - Moderate

• Bridge over the River Kwai - Moderate

• Boutique Raft Resort - Moderate

Day 2:

• Anzac Day Dawn Service – Moderate-High

• Gunfire Breakfast - Low

• Kanchanaburi War Cemetery – Low

There is no compulsory tipping on the tour and any tip is discretionary by you. Your guide and driver are paid a good salary for the hard work they do but if you do choose to give a tip, this supplementary amount is always appreciated. If you believe you were treated well and received excellent service during your tour by the guide and driver, then feel free to tip an amount that you are comfortable with. If you distribute a tip between the guide and driver, please present it to them separately to avoid confusion.