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Geography��� Climate�� People��� Religion��� Language��� Food&Fruits�� Hill tribes��� Thai Boxing |
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Bangkok & Around Andaman Sea Gulf of Thailand Northern Northeastern |
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���������� Kanchanaburi� Located on Burma's eastern border just a couple hours Northwest of the Thai capital, Kanchanaburi is Thailand's fourth largest province with an area of nearly 20,000 sq km. Probably best known for being the home of the world-famous "Bridge Over the River Kwai", Kanchanaburi is a province of rugged mountains and rivers valleys that offers ample opportunity for jungle live-aboard river rafting, trekking, kayaking and caving. Getting there: Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal on a daily basis every 20 minutes from 5 am to 7 pm for the two to three hours journey. The fare is Bt55 for regular buses, Bt68 for air-con.� For a slightly longer and more rustic trip, take the train from the Bangkok Noi Railway Station on the Thonburi bank of the Chao Phaya River--trains leave twice daily, at 7.40 am and 1.05 pm, and the fare is only Bt25. All seating is third class, with no reserved seating but the train is rarely full enough to make this a problem. The journey takes about three and a half hours� but provides an enjoyable opportunity to take a leisurely look at the rural countryside. Getting Around: Motorcycle taxis are only Bt10-Bt20 to go anywhere in the city. Samlors, essentially tuk-tuks propelled by pedal power, also can be hired. Bargain with the driver for a fare. Perhaps the best and easiest way to get around, however, is to rent a motorbike (about bt200) or Jeep(Bt600 and up). Trekking/Jungle River Rafting
One of the leading operators for this activity is the appropriately named River Kwai Jungle Rafts in Kanchanaburi's Sai Yok district. Founded in 1976, Jungle Rafts is a "resort" located on the banks of the Kwai Yai River featuring rafthouses without electricity for accommodation. The compound's 24 large bamboo rafts house 85 twin rooms equipped with Western style toilets. two restaurant rafts each seating 80 people. two lounger/bar rafts and two theatre for ethnic Mon folk performances. Jungle Rafts offers guests plenty of activities: trekking, bird and butterfly watching, elephant riding and rafting. In the near future, it plans to offers trekking, rafting and canoeing in one package and is exploring the possibility of establishing a mountain bike program. There is� no road access to Jungle Rafts. To get there, take a local bus from Sai Yok to the Pakseng boat landing (Bt30 for a regular bus, Bt70 for air-con). The boat trip along the river from Pakseng to Jungle Rafts lasts 40-45 minutes (Bt700 for charter or Bt100 per head if you join a group tour). Accommodation at Jungle Rafts is Bt850 per night per person, and includes three meals. If you come in a group of more than 15 the rate is Bt750 per person. Kayaking and Canoeing
Wild planet makes use of the Felix Report's facilities to teach kayaking and uses purpose-built venture kayaks for this tours. The kayaks are strong and stable, built from linear plastic and fitted for maximum buoyancy complete with spray decks. They are ideal for river padding and great for learning eskimo rolls. Wild planet's instructors/tour leaders are BCU- trained kayak instructors with medic first aid qualifications. All kayak adventures are supported either by a raft or a vehicle. For something similar but a little more unusual try "canoe-surfing", a new activity created by the proprietor of the C&C Guesthouse. He has taken a "surfboard" and large PVC piping for buoyancy to turn it into a "surf-canoe". A Songthaew will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at a pier upriver (the longer the journey you want to make, the further upriver it will drop you),� then you can paddle downriver observing the province's natural beauty at your leisure. The cost is Bt150 for the first hour, Bt100 for every additional hour. C&C recommends that you go with at least one other person for safety's sake. Caving In Kanchanaburi a few years ago, cavers discovered Klong Ngoo, the world's lallest cave column at 60 meters high, Located on the west side and far end of the Queen Sirikit reservoir, just above Erawan National Park, the cave, called Tham Khao Ngoo, can only be accessed between February and April at the height of dry season. The only real way to get there is by boat, which can be rented from local villagers. This exploration trip, which involves lots of swimming is only for the most hardy. Tham Lam Khao Ngoo is in an area that is soon to be designated as a new national park, sparked party by the discovery of the cave. Tham Lam Khao Ngoo is part of an extensive cave system, the other end of which can be reached by driving up past the Huay Khamin Warterfall and a few villages, then turning off on the road that leads to the new park headquarters, which are currently under construction. At this end the cave is called Swift Cave or Swallow Cave, with the entrance leading into a massive 70 meter chamber with a river running through it (which is why it is only accessible during the dry season). Although the cave is part of a� through cave system, it is almost impossible to go straight through from one end to the other, even for the most experienced cavers. Further details can be obtained from the Thai Forestry Department. Kanchanaburi is home to a host of other caves, many of which you'll never find marked on any map. If you're really interested, the best thing to do is rent a motorbike and cruise the roads in the province, watching for signs that indicate caves.� Check the section on caving in the Northern chapter for caving guidelines and precautions. USEFUL ADDRESS: Tourism Authority of Thailand� Kanchanaburi� office: Saeng Chuto Road, Tambon Ban Nua, Kanchanaburi 71000. Tel: (034) 511-200. Sangkhaburi
Getting there:� Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches leave daily on a hourly basis from an office near the Kanchanaburi bus station beginning at 7:30 am and ending at 2:30 pm. The three to five hours bus ride costs Bt70 for regular buses, Bt100 for air-conditioned van and Bt120 for air-con coach. Tourism Authority of Thailand. |
We're
not talking the rough and tumble of whitewater rafting here, but more
leisurely jaunts down the Kwai Yai River (which eventually merges with
the Kwai Noi River to from the Mea Klong).
Wild planet, based
in Bangkok, offers kayaking "training" sessions on the
relatively tame Kwai Noi River in order to prepare kayakers for more
boisterous experienced elsewhere in the country. The river winds its way
through one of Thailand's most scenic national parks, passing the Sai
Yok Yai and Sai Yok Noi waterfalls.
The
small settlement of Sangkhaburi is located about 225 km from the town of
Kanchanaburi high in the mountain on the edges of the Khao Laem Dam
about 30 km from the Burmese border. Several places here offer trekking
and camping trips into the nearby mountains as well as canoeing and long
tail boat tours of the reservoir, underneath which lies the submerged
village of the old Sankhaburi. The Bermese Inn can arrange
trekking/camping trips with rafting for Bt1,000/person/night (minimum
5pax) or one day elephant riding and bamboo rafting excursions for
Bt750. It also offers boat tours of the reservoir for Bt200 (single
person), Bt120/person (2 pax), and Bt80/person (3+pax). The P Guesthouse
offers one day of elephant riding and bamboo rafting for Bt800, which
includes one night's accommodation . Tours of the reservoir cost
Bt70/person (minimum of 7 pax), or Bt350 if you want to go on your own.
The guesthouse also has a canoe for hire for Bt150 for the first hour,
Bt50 for every additional hour.