Transport from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi | Train – Bus – Taxi

Searching for transport from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi?

You’re in the right place because in this guide you’ll find detailed information covering all the transport options to reach Kanchanaburi from Bangkok.

There are 3 options for transport from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi to choose from: by train – bus or minivan – or by taxi/private transfer.

Transport From Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

While the train is a favorite transport option to reach Kanchanaburi because of it’s journey along the infamous ‘Death Railway’ and over ‘The River Kwai’, there are only 2 trains each day doing this route.

The first train departs Bangkok at 7:50 am and the next train is at 1:55 pm, both depart from Thonburi train station.

Another train option is the weekend tourist train going from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. This train operates on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays and departs from Hua Lamphong Station. More about this further down.

Therefore, if you have a strict Bangkok itinerary and this Kanchanaburi train schedule doesn’t seem to fit in, then consider using a bus or a minivan to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi.

Don’t worry if you can’t take the train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, you can still get on the train in Kanchanaburi and ride the historic death railway tracks and over the river Kwai.

And if you’re traveling with your family or a group of friends, consider taking a taxi or a private transfer.

And an alternative is to do a tour to Kanchanaburi. There are many day tours from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi to choose from. We did this 2 day tour and got to experience the best of Kanchanaburi and even spent a night in an unbelievable floating bungalow!!

Kanchanaburi

Just 2 hours drive out of the busting streets of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi is a province nestled in jungle landscapes. It’s become famous with tourists coming here to ride the legendary Death Railway and hop on the train passing over the River Kwai.

Things to do

While the train ride over The River Kwai is without a doubt a Kanchanaburi highlight, there is much more to this place.

Erawan waterfall, Thailand’s most beautiful waterfall is in Kanchanaburi. It’s a mesmerizing waterfall with 7 cascades spilling into emerald pools hidden in the lush jungle. If you love chasing waterfalls, be sure to add Namtok Sai Yok Noi to your Kanchanaburi itinerary.

And while in Kanchanaburi, consider visiting ElephantWorld, an ethical elephant sanctuary where you’ll get to bathe, feed and play with elephants.

Besides the death railway, Kanchanaburi also a holds a lot of WWII history. So if you’re a history buff, be sure to visit the war museum, the war cemetery and make a visit to hellfire pass.

Food

Kanchanaburi’s culinary scene, from local markets to riverside eateries, showcases diverse Thai flavors against the scenic Kwai River backdrop. Here, when it comes to food, the name of the game is ‘Spicy’!

“Don’t worry, Kanchanaburi still caters to us westerners and there’s quite a few western restaurants around town”

Accommodation

With such an amazing setting, and sweeping views of limestone cliffs, rivers and jungle, it’s no surprise that a number of unique stays are increasingly popping up. From relaxation retreats, fancy hotels, and most in demand right now are unbelievable floating bungalows nestled within lush jungle along the river Kwai.

THIS FLOATING BUNGALOW HOTEL IS UNBELIEVABLE

With a laid-back vibe, breathtaking views and loads of greenery, Kanchanaburi offers a spite of relieve from the bustling streets of Bangkok city. This province promises a unique blend of historical reflection and nature’s tranquility, making it an ideal escape.

Click here to discover the best places to stay in Kanchanaburi

3 Transport Options from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Below is a detailed guide and your options to get to Knachanaburi from Bangkok. Every option includes prices, travel duration and links to the specific location you’ll need to go to, such as location of Train Station or Bus terminal.

Transport from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi by Train

The cheapest and most interesting transport from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is the train. It’s an experience that snakes you through Thailand’s lush countryside delivering scenic views.

The train ride, operating daily, takes approximately 2 hours and provides you with a unique perspective on Thailand’s history and natural beauty.

And if you’re traveling to Kanchanaburi on a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) there is also a tourist train that departs from Hua Lamphong train station.

Regular Daily Train to Kanchanaburi From Bangkok

The regular train service from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi departs from Thonburi Station. It’s a convenient and affordable option that delivers an authentic travel experience.

There’s 2 trains every day. the morning train departs at 7:50 am and the afternoon train departs at 1:55 pm. Tickets cost ฿100 ($3) and the train travel time from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is around 2 1/2 hours.

Tickets can be bought directly at the Thonburi train station. You don’t need to reserve your tickets in advance because seats never sell out. Just show up at the train station, buy tickets from the booth and enjoy the scenic ride to Kanchanaburi.

Only 3rd class seats are available, so A/C options on this train. Just a unique Thai experience and easily one of the best ways do this ride with windows wide open, hopefully with a nice breeze.

Weekend Tourist Train to Kanchanaburi From Bangkok

If your plan is to just visit Kanchanaburi for the day, consider using the weekend tourist train. Unlike the regular train which departs from Thonburi station, this weekend train departs from Hua Lamphong station which is much more accessible from popular areas where tourists stay in bangkok.

As the name implies, the weekend tourist train from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi operates on Saturdays and Sundays and on public holidays.

While not the most convenient because of its weekend schedule, this train allows you to explore the Kanchanaburi historic attractions. All in a single, and very long, day. It’s also a great budget option because a return ticket only costs ฿130 ($4).

The train is usually on platform 11 in Hua Lamphong station and departs at 6:30 am. It’s a long 13 hour day as you’ll arrive back in Hua Lamphong station at 7:30 pm.

These are the stops along the way with approximate arrival times and duration:

Arrival	Stop	Duration	What to see
7:40am	Nakon Pathom	40 mins	Chedi Temple
9:35am	Bridge over River Kwai	25 mins	Walk over bridge
10:00am	Ride train over bridge		Scenic View from train
11:30am	Nam Tok	3 hours	Nam Tok Sai Yok Noi
3:53pm	Kanchanaburi	1 hour	War cemetery
4:53pm	Back to Bangkok	2 h 30 mins	Scenic Countryside

Transport From Bangkok to Kanchanaburi by Bus & Minivan

If you’re looking for something cheap and reliable and with a more frequent schedule, then buses and mini vans are another convenient option.

Every day, buses and minivans make the journey between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi (and vice versa) on a frequent schedule.

About every hour there’s a bus or minivan departing from some bus station or tourist area in Bangkok. So there’s always some way of making this journey at any part of the day.

Prices for a bus start at around ฿160 ($5) and for minivans prices start at ฿300 ($9.50).

Bus Terminals

Buses and minivans depart from any of these terminals: ↳Mochit new van terminal and ↳Southern Terminal Bangkok and ↳Southern Terminal Kanchanaburi Express Bangkok: these last 2 terminals are located close to each other.

If you’re staying in the Banglamphu area (Khaosan Road, Rambuttri), there’s a van that leaves from in front of Khao San Mama along Khao San road. Chinatown is also close by so if you’re staying there, getting to Khao San road is much more convenient than getting to the other stations.

Travel duration for Buses and Minivans from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is approximately 3 hours.

Taxi and Private Transfer

The safest, most convenient and reliable (but not the cheapest) option is by taxi or private transfer.

Taxi from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

You can ask a taxi driver to take you to Kanchanaburi, however they’re most certainly not going to use the meter. Instead they’re going to give you a fixed price. Which they always tend to exaggerate.

That’s because using a taxi meter would mean the driver is only going to get paid for a 2 and half hour journey in one direction. So you’ll get a fixed price to compensate for the journey back from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok. And this fixed price is generally overly inflated.

Private Transfer from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

So the only sensible way to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi in the comfort of a private car, with A/C and that will pick you up at your hotel, is by private transfer.

You can book a private transfer at your hotel or at a travel agent. Make sure to confirm what the final price will. And remember, the initial price is going to be high, sometimes 2x or even 3x what you should be paying. The final price you get will depend a lot on your bargaining skills.

Another option, which eliminates all the stress of negotiating for a decent price, is to just book a transfer online. We always reserve any transfers online because we can see the price upfront. And before making a decision we can read reviews of other customers that have used that service before us.

RESERVE A PRIVATE TRANSFER

Bangkok Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk

Ok, this is slightly off topic because it has nothing to do with transport from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. However, since you’re in Bangkok, the best place to try amazing food, you should definitely consider either doing a self planned food tour, or booking one of the best rated food tours in Bangkok.

⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ DURATION: 4 Hours | ↳ BOOK NOW

Note: this tour starts at 7:00pm not midnight.

This evening tour throws you straight into Bangkok’s legendary street-food scene as you ride the colorful city’s backstreets and hidden spots. And what better way than do this on fun Tuk-Tuk.

Your Tuk-Tuk driver whizzes through the traffic and stops you at some incredible local restaurants to sample some of the best Thai cuisine. This tour is a complete package including all food and Tuk-Tuk transport. And the evening ends at a secret roof-top bar.

Note: You’ll get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hour(s) before the activity starts.

Want to Know Where to Stay in Kanchanaburi?

Spending a night or 2 in Kanchanaburi is the best way to experience all that this region has to offer. And there are some really great places to stay in Kanchanaburi which make the trip worthwhile just to spend a night in them.

Below are 3 recommendations from budget places to stay to unique stays that cost a bit more.

Budget: Home of River Kwai: It’s the best budget option with an impressive rating score.

Mid Range: Inchantreedoopool: Luxury at a great price. Complete with jungle views infinity pool.

How we efficiently plan our trips.

Planning a holiday can be overwhelming, especially for those hands-on in the process. Thankfully, technology has simplified the task, making it easier to organize trips to destinations like Thailand. Here are the resources we swear by:

BOOKING.COM: Our go-to for booking accommodation. It’s user-friendly, offers the best prices*, and boasts the largest selection of online properties.

*After trying various methods to find the best prices, including direct booking, calling accommodations, and comparing with other sites, Booking.com consistently provided the lowest prices. Guest reviews on the platform are invaluable for decision-making, especially regarding accommodation and tour bookings.

KLOOK: Our go to resource for planning activities is KLOOK. Here we find loads of interesting activities for the destinations we’re visiting. And it’s really easy. Just enter the name of the destination in the search bar and a list of activities with prices and review score comes up.

It’s almost like shopping for something Amazon and the prices are also really competitive.

GET YOUR GUIDE: Another website for tours booking in Thailand and around the world is Get Your Guide. Here you’ll find a wide range of tours at great prices and most often have free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour.