This trip began at the airport, where a private van was waiting to take us to the Royal River Kwai Resort in Kanchanaburi. The town is about 110km north-west of Bangkok, close to where the Khwae Noi river joins the Mae Klong.
We settled in by the slow-moving river and spent the first evening getting used to the heat. Kanchanaburi was built in the 18th century as a walled town to guard against Burmese invasions, and it’s best known now for the Death Railway and its bridge, which we’d see the next day. The resort was a calm place to get over the long flight before the exploring started.
Good to know
- Entry for UK visitors: since 15 September 2026, British visitors can stay up to 30 days without a visa (it was 60 days before). Everyone must also fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online in the three days before arriving. GOV.UK
- Royal River Kwai Resort: still open and taking bookings. Royal River Kwai Resort
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.