Day 1: Friday, 24th April 2026

Depart Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel (same location), Bangkok: 7:00am

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

Finish: 3:30pm approx.

Gather in the concierge area of the Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel (same location), your Bangkok pick-up point, by 6:30am. Meet the other members of the tour before boarding your minivan/bus for the trip to Kanchanaburi, about 3 hours after leaving Bangkok with a brief ‘comfort’ stop enroute.

Board the mid-morning train at Kanchanaburi Railway Station and ride on an original section of the Burma-Thailand Railway passing over the Bridge over the River Kwai, through the Chungkai Cutting (the first cutting on the southern end constructed by the POWs) and over the spectacular Wang Pho Viaduct. Leave the train at Tham Krasae for a closer look at the Wang Pho Viaduct. Here the POWs built a series of bridges with towering cliffs on one side and a steep drop to the River Kwai on the other. Visit Krasae Cave and as you walk to the bus, explore the local market.

Proceed to Wang Pho for lunch, about 5 minutes away, and afterwards travel to the Sai Yok Noi Waterfalls in Namtok. This is also the end of the current working section of the railway. Examine an original Japanese steam engine on display before taking the short walk along a section of the original track bed, to the waterfalls.

Return to Kanchanaburi and arrive at your accommodation for the next two nights, a 4 Star hotel, centrally located with views from your balcony, overlooking the River Kwai. The rest of your day is free to relax in preparation for the early start on the next day.

Meals: Lunch

Hotel: Natee, The Riverside Hotel

Day 2: Saturday, 25th April 2026

Depart hotel: 1:15am

Finish: 1:00pm approx.

An early start for what will be an emotional and memorable day. Travel to Hellfire Pass (about 1 hour 15 minutes) for the Anzac Day Dawn Service at the Hellfire Pass Memorial. Afterwards, in the light of day, examine Hellfire Pass and the take in the amazing views of the River Kwai valley below, from the old track bed. Mingle with other travellers at the Gunfire Breakfast before exploring the exhibits at the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre.

Depart Hellfire Pass about 9:00am and return to Kanchanaburi and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Join in a private Wreath Laying Ceremony at the cemetery’s Cross of Sacrifice and then take time to walk around the beautifully landscaped grounds where nearly 7,000 POWs are buried and begin to understand why the railway became known as the “Death Railway”.

Visit the JEATH Museum, a pictorial display of the construction of the Burma-Thailand Railway before boarding a long tail boat for a ride on the River Kwai gaining a unique perspective of the Bridge over the River Kwai from the river itself. On a hot day, the boat ride is not only a lot of fun but is also cooling as you speed along the river.

Enjoy a relaxing early lunch at the Floating Restaurant with views of the Bridge over the River Kwai. Then return to your hotel.

With the early start, the rest of your day is free. Perhaps relax by the hotel’s pool or try one of the many bars close-by and share stories with other Anzac Day travellers.

Tonight, enjoy Thai food at its best at the hotel’s Railway Restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Hotel: Natee, The Riverfront Hotel

Day 3: Sunday, 26th April 2026

Depart hotel: 9:00am

Arrive Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel (same location), Bangkok: 4:30pm approx.

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

Travel to the other side of the River Kwai to the Chungkai War Cemetery the smaller of the two war cemeteries in the Kanchanaburi area. This was the site of the Chungkai POW railway construction camp, a transit camp as the POWs moved up and down the railway and later, a hospital camp. As a mark of respect to those buried here take a moment of quiet reflection, then see the remnants of the death trenches that fortunately, were never used.

Return to Kanchanaburi and visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre. This world renown museum features dioramas, artefacts (retrieved from various camps and work sites along the railway) and personal stories of POW’s, all combining to give you a great appreciation of the railway story. Later, explore the Bridge over the River Kwai and make the return pilgrimage across the bridge before lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, depart for Bangkok and the Mercure Bangkok Siam Hotel / Ibis Bangkok Siam Hotel (same location), your Bangkok drop-off point.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Hotel: Own arrangement

• Accommodation (2 Nights)

• Meals: Breakfasts (2), Lunch (3), Dinner (1). Please note: Drinks not included.

• Experienced, English-speaking guide

• Comfortable, air-conditioned minivan/bus with driver

• All touring as indicated

• Long-tail boat and train ride as indicated

• Entrance fees

• Historic War Tours – Anzac Day Polo Shirt

• Airfares, passports and 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

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.

Day 1:

• Kanchanaburi Railway Station - Low

• Train ride - Low

• Wang Pho Viaduct & Krasae Cave - Moderate

• Sai Yok Noi Waterfalls - Moderate

Day 2:

• Anzac Day Dawn Service – Moderate-High

• Kanchanaburi War Cemetery – Low

• JEATH Museum – Low

• Long tail boat ride - Moderate

• Floating Restaurant - Low-Moderate

• Bridge over the River Kwai – Moderate

Day 3:

• Chungkai War Cemetery – Low

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

• Bridge over the River Kwai - Moderate

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.

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