Buses and minivans leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) and Mo Chit throughout the day and take two and a half to three hours to Kanchanaburi’s bus station. There is no airport.
The train is slower but part of the experience. Two ordinary third-class services a day leave from Thonburi station, on the west bank of the river in Bangkok, and take about three hours to Kanchanaburi before continuing over the bridge and the Wang Pho viaduct to Nam Tok. Windows open, fans turn and vendors walk the aisles. A weekend excursion train also runs from central Bangkok.
Routes at a glance
| From | Best route | Time | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Bus or minivan from the Southern Terminal | About 2.5–3 hours | Around 100–200 THB |
| Bangkok (Thonburi station) | Ordinary train | About 3 hours | Around 100 THB flat fare for foreigners |
| Bangkok airports | Private transfer, or taxi to the bus terminal | About 3 hours | Varies |
| Kanchanaburi → Erawan | Public bus from the bus station, or tour | About 1.5 hours | Around 50–100 THB by bus |
| Kanchanaburi → Nam Tok | Train over the Wang Pho viaduct | About 2 hours | Around 100 THB |
| Kanchanaburi → Hellfire Pass | Bus towards Sangkhlaburi, or car with driver | About 1.5 hours | Under 100 THB by bus |
Getting around Kanchanaburi & Erawan
Town is long and thin: songthaews and motorcycle taxis link the bus station, the guesthouse strip and the bridge. Bicycles are widely rented and ideal for the flat riverside lanes. The last bus back from Erawan leaves in mid-afternoon — check the time when you arrive. For Hellfire Pass and Sai Yok, a hired car with a driver for the day is the efficient option and can be combined with one leg of the train.
