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BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI TOUR

Bridge on the River Kwai tour

TOUR DURATION 07.00 – 17.00

This tour starts in the early morning since it takes approximately 2 hours to reach the province of Kanchanaburi. Our first stop will be the JEATH War Museum. The museum presents a powerful reminder of wartime. This enclave, in the riverside precincts of Wat Chaichumphon, was constructed to resemble an Allied POW camp. The name JEATH is an acronym derived from the countries inextricably associated with the years 1942 through 1945, namely Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks contains photographic, pictorial and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. POW’s who survived the ordeal have donated items from that period as a contribution to the authenticity of the museum.

The War Cemetery contains the remains of 6,982 Allied POWs who perished during the construction of the “Death Railway.”

The Bridge on the River Kwai, forever memorialized by the award-winning film, is a black iron bridge spanning the Khai Yai River. It was brought from Java by the Japanese army and reassembled, under Japanese supervision, by Allied prisoner-of-war labor. As part of the “Death Railway,” it was intended to link Thailand with Myanmar (previously known as Burma).

After completing our sightseeing within the town, we board the train running on the same track that was used during WW II. During a journey of about one and a half hours, you will enjoy both a fine lunch and a fantastic view of the scenery located right along the “Death Railway” viaduct. With powerful memories of this historical heritage, and having completed an adventurous undertaking, we depart for Bangkok.

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Description

Bridge on the River Kwai tour

08.00 Departing the hotel, we drive west from Bangkok, enjoying the beautiful scenery on both sides until our arrival at the first stop of the tour. Visit the JEATH War Museum; the name derived from the principal countries engaged in the WWII “Death Railway” construction from 1942-1945; including Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland.

The museum is a reconstruction of the POW’s thatched detention huts with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks. On the walls, photographs and illustrations of the POW’s living conditions are on display, including items donated to the museum by POW survivors.

We then proceed to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Here are buried the remains of 6,982 POW’s who died during the construction of the “Death Railway.” The cemetery has been well-maintained and is in remarkably fine condition. Next, we visit the internationally famous Bridge on the River Kwai, a part of the “Death Railway” linking Thailand and Myanmar.

During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in World War II, the Imperial Army brought the iron bridge piece-by-piece from Java. It was then reassembled by Allied Prisoners of War under Japanese supervision. The bridge was part of a strategic railway route to Myanmar; intended by the Japanese to secure supplies with which to conquer other Asian countries. The wooden bridge was constructed first, followed by the iron bridge. Both were badly damaged by Allied plane attacks between 1944 and 1945; but several arches of the iron bridge survived the attacks and the structure was repaired after the war.

10.45 Board the train from the bridge station along the very same track used during the war. The scenery you will pass during the hour and a half ride is very beautiful, consisting largely of sugarcane, tapioca and banana plantations.

Our destination features a choice restaurant located on the river bank right next to the Krasae Cave Station. This is the most beautiful part of the “Death Railway.” Enjoy a Thai buffet lunch followed by some leisure time. You may choose to take photos of the notorious “Death Railway” viaduct; where many POW’s died from the enormous hardships during its construction.

14.00 Depart from Kanchanaburi and return to Bangkok.Your day’s experience has come to an end, but unforgettable memories will remain.

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