Kanchanaburi is Thailand's fourth largest province. Kanchanaburi covers some 19,486 square kilometres, and borders Myanmar (Burma) to the west .

Kanchanaburi is the site of the world-famous Bridge Over The River Kwai,immortalised in books and movies, and is noted for rugged natural beauty where mountains and river valleys have inspired development of hydro-electric power and where labyrinthine dam reservoirs provide further scenic elements to the province's natural beauty.

Beyond the compact provincial capital, some 130 kilometres, and a comfortable two-hour drive, from Bangkok, where the Kwai Yai and the Kwai Noi rivers unite to form the Mae Klong River, Kanchanaburi unfolds in progressively arresting scenic beauty in a landscape characterised by several waterfalls, caves once inhabited by Neolithic man, national parks and tranquil riverine and reservoir settings.

Opportunities abound for bucolic living aboard rafts on dazzling rivers and reservoirs, and provide the focal point for memorable holidays for nature lovers who delight in natural surroundings and pleasures without sacrificing basic comforts.

Local Culture

Kanchanaburi's inhabitants are largely engaged in agriculture, and are mostly of Thai ancestry with notable Mon and Karen minorities. Rural dwellers enjoy folk music and dances dating back at least 500 years and which feature distinctive songs and long drums. Such performances are re-enacted during popular festivals each year at Amphur Phanom Tuan.

Boat & Raft Day Local long-boat teams race boats with great gusto at the waterfront area of the provincial Kwai Yai River to celebrate 'Boat & Raft Day', generally during October.

River Kwai Bridge Week Each year, late November and/or early December, the world-famous bridge becomes the focal point of celebrations. Highlights include exhibitions and historical and archeological displays; a carnival featuring sideshows, roundabouts, folk entertainment and cultural performances; rides on trains hauled by World War II vintage steam locomotives; and a nightly light & sound presentation re-enacting the bridge's Second World War history, including an Allied bombing raid.