Kanchanaburi is one of my favorite places to visit in Thailand. I personally traveled from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya, so in this article I share my experience of how to travel between these cities and the best ways to get around.
Kanchanaburi is a beautiful city located just around 120 km from north west of Bangkok. It is known for the bridge over the River Kwai and other sites related to World War 2. Additionally, the city has many nice temples to explore. It is also famous for the close proximity to several impressive waterfalls such as Erawan Waterfall and Sai Yok Waterfall.
Kanchanaburi has a train station that is located only 10 minutes walk from the town center. You can easily get from other destinations in Thailand such as Bangkok by trains.
Kanchanaburi bus Terminal is located a bit further away, a 30 minute walk from the town center. You can easily use tuk tuk to travel between them. From Bus Station, you can take a local bus to Erawan Falls or Hellfire Pass.
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Bangkok to Kanchanaburi by trains
Taking the train is one of the most popular and interesting ways to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok. It usually takes 2,5 to 3 hours to travel between Bangkok and KanChanaburi by train.
There are two trains between Kanchanaburi and Thonburi/ Bangkok each day. One in the morning departing at 7.45 am and one in the afternoon at 1.55pm. I planned to leave early to catch the morning train. I took ordinary train 257, with fans only, hard seats, and open windows. It costs 100 baht.
I stayed in the Silom area of Bangkok and I used Google maps to guide me on how to get to Kanchanaburi from my hotel. According to Google, I will need to take the MRT subway to get to Bang Khun Non Station then walk to Jaran Sanitwong train station to take the train to Kanchanaburi. It is around 3,5 hours in total.
I got to Bang Khun Non station easily by MRT from Silom Station in 30 minutes (remember to switch to another train at Tha Phra Station). It took me 20 minutes to get to Tha Phra and another 10 minutes to get to Bang Khun Non.
When I got to Bang Khun Non, I tried to follow Google Maps to find Jaran Sanitwong but I was lost. I tried asking a few locals, but they either didn’t know about it or didn’t understand English very well.
I was in a rush because the train will depart in 30 minutes and I didn’t buy the ticket. I know that Thonburi Station is very close to my current location, so I decided to book a Grab to Thonburi.
Grab took ages to come as it was a busy hour in the morning, but I made it to Thonbury on time; bought a ticket at the counter and got on the first train to Kanchanaburi.
The train passes Jaran Sanitwong Train Station and stops to pick up more people. It turned out that when you go down from Bang Khun Non Station, you’ll see a rail track, walk toward it, then turn right at the rail track, you will see the sign and a simple station with the roof where you can sit and wait for the train. It is just 2-3 minutes walk away and I used this station to get to Hua Hin later.
In addition to the train, you can take a bus or minivan to get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok. You can buy bus tickets at both Mo Chit Bus Terminal or Southern Terminal in Bangkok or online. If you stay in Khao San Road, you can book a minivan from companies such as Tara Travel or Mama Travel.
I prefer taking the train rather than the bus. This is an exciting way to experience how locals travel, and enjoy beautiful views from wide open windows and doors. Maybe consider wearing the mask if you don’t mind getting dust cover on your face the entire journey.
See more:
- My 3-4 Days In Kanchanaburi Itinerary
- Best areas to Stay in Kanchanaburi
- 21 Things to Do & See in Kanchanaburi
Ayutthaya to Kanchanaburi by van
Both Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya have their own train stations but there are no direct trains between them. The best way to travel between Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya is by minivan. It is around a 2.5 hour drive from Ayutthaya to Kanchanaburi.
You can easily ask your accommodation to book the ticket for you as many hotels work with transport companies. You can also book it online on websites such as 12go.asia. Book online in advance will secure your seats but it can be cheaper to book in person with your hotel and tour agencies in Ayutthaya.
I personally traveled from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya. It was a 2.5 hour ride with a 10 minute stop for the toilet and some snacks. The driver picked me up at my hotel in Kanchanaburi and dropped me off at my hotel in Ayutthaya Old town.
Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi by train/ bus
There are train stations in both Kanchanaburi and Chiang Mai, but there is no direct train between them. If you prefer to travel by trains, you need to probably get to Bangkok first then take another train to Kanchanaburi. I don’t think this is the best way to get to Kanchanaburi from Chiang Mai.
I recommend taking the bus from Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi. It is around 11.5 bus ride departing from Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 and terminating at Kanchanaburi Bus Station. You can buy a ticket online or at the Bus Station.
You’ll need additional transport to get to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3 from your hotel and from Kanchanaburi Bus Station to your hotel in the downtown area.
Best ways to get around Kanchanaburi
I had a very fun time exploring Kanchanaburi by walking, taking local buses and trains, and hiring private drivers. The town center is small and you can easily explore on foot. For further explorations, it is best to rent a motorbike, take a guided tour, or hire a private tuk tuk.
Getting around Kanchanaburi on foot
The town center is small and you can easily explore on foot. The main area is between the train station and the River Kwai Bridge. The distance is around 40 minutes walk along the River Kwai Road. You can find many shops, restaurants, and bars on the River Kwai street.
At night, you can walk to the night market near the train station as well as the smaller night market around the River Kwai Bridge. If you are in Kanchanaburi on Saturday, you can use Grab taxi or tuk tuk to get to the Night market on the Song Kwai Road near the SkyWalk.
From the Kanchanaburi, you can walk to the Bus Station to catch the bus to attractions such as Erawan Falls, or Hellfire Pass. If you don’t feel like walking, you can easily use Grab to get around.
Explore Kanchanaburi by private songthaew
If you don’t plan to rent a car, hiring a private driver is the best option to explore some attractions in Kanchanaburi. You can choose the list of places you want to go and bargain the price with the driver.
I used a private red truck – songthaew a couple of times in Kanchanaburi. One time, to get to Wat Tham Khao Pun. The driver dropped me here, waited for me to explore, and drove me back to my hotel. On the way, he also let me stop at ChungKai War Ceremony for a bit of exploration.
The next day, he took me to several other locations in the South of Kanchanaburi including Wat Ban Tham, Wat Tham Suea – The Tiger Cave Temple, MIna Cafe, and Giant Raintree (Monkey Pod Tree).
Explore Kanchanaburi by local trains and buses
If you want to save money and try local public transport, there are several places that you can visit with trains and local buses such as Hell Pass Fire and Erawan Falls.
Getting to Erawan Waterfalls from Kanchanaburi by bus
Kanchanaburi bus station is located 30 minutes from the town center area. You can use Grab or walk to the bus station to catch the early bus to Erawan Falls at 8am. It is recommended to visit the Falls early so you’ll have more time for exploration.
It is a 2 hour bus ride. The bus stops right inside the park and the last bus to come back to Kanchanaburi is at 4.30, the price is 60 baht/ way. You can buy a ticket just before the departure time at each bus station.
See more: My personal Guide to Erawan Falls
Getting to Hellpass Fire from Kanchanaburi by train and bus
Another nice place to explore in Kanchanaburi by local trains and buses is the Hell Pass Fire. You can use one way with the scenic train + bus and the way back using the bus.
I took an early train at 6am from Kanchanaburi Train Station to Namtok train Station. It was a scenic 2-hour train ride with lots to see on the journey especially at the Tham Krasae Bridge.
I arrived at Namtok train Station at 8am, then decided to walk to the bus stop in front of the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, about a 20 minute walk. Lot of drivers there will offer to take you there for 20 baht, but I wanted to walk.
They also have the package to take you to Hell Pass Fire, wait for you to explore, and drive you back to the train station for 600 baht. I insist on taking the local buses. The bus stop is located on the opposite side of the entrance to Sai Yok Waterfall.
Unlike buses to Erawan Falls have a clear schedule, know one knows exactly when the bus will come here, but they will pass, so you just need to patiently wait. I tried to take Grab but it was not available.
The same driver at Namtok Station came to ask if I wanted to go with him. I still insisted on waiting for the bus. He told me the bus will come another hour, and I can go have a look at Sai Yok Noi waterfall. I took a look and it was great that I did it. It was a beautiful waterfall!
I quickly came back to the bus stop and patiently waited. I had a nice time speaking to a couple of locals there while waiting for the bus using Google translate. The bus finally came at 10am and locals waved it for me.
It told the driver to drop me at the Hellfire Pass and it took 30 minutes to get there right at the entrance. The guard told me where to go and reminded me that the last bus is at 4pm, so be sure to make the way back before that.
I spend a couple of hours at the Hell Pass and back to the bus stop around 12.15pm, and wait forever for the bus to come. It does arrive and go all the way to Kanchanaburi town center. You can use the google map and ask the driver to drop you at anywhere you want along the route.
If I travel with a group, I will probably take a tuk tuk package from Namtok Station to HellPass Fire to avoid waiting time for local buses. But I actually had great extra time to explore Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and had a great time talking with locals there, so no regret.
See more detail at: How to visit Hellfire Pass from Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi on a scooter
Renting a scooter is a great way to explore Kanchanaburi. This is because it is cheaper and more comfortable than other forms of transport. Lots of attractions are scattered around and motorbikes will give you freedom for exploration.
Just be sure that you know how to drive, and have a valid licence. Also remember to do research and read the reviews of the rental shops before renting one. Never give a passport as a deposit.
I had a very good time in Kanchanaburi, exploring the city by many forms of transportations. I hope you have found some great information about how to get to Kanchanaburi and how to get around. Have a great trip in Kanchanaburi!