There are a lot of options for luxury adventure travel around the ASEAN region. From diving with whale sharks in the Philippines to surfing Bali’s legendary waves, hiking up Indonesia’s primordial volcanos, to rafting the roaring whitewater in, well, pretty much anywhere in the region, there’s really something for everyone. The only extreme sports and adventure activities you can’t find here are winter sports like skiing, although you can snowboard down the sand dunes in Mui Ne, Vietnam, or even trek across a glacier in Papua, Indonesia.
One of our absolute favorite destinations for Southeast Asia adventure travel is Kanchanaburi province in Thailand. Being landlocked, it lacks some of the saltwater sports of other locales, but it more than makes up for this in stunning scenery, majestic caves, craggy mountain ranges, thick jungle, and a fascinating history. It’s location northwest of Bangkok along the Myanmar border is fairly remote, but it’s actually one of the most accessible of Southeast Asia’s adventure travel destinations.
Getting to Kanchanaburi
It’s quite easy to be delivered safely and comfortably to your hotel in Kanchanaburi direct from either of Bangkok’s airports within a few hours of touching down in the country. All the better hotels can easily arrange your transfers, but even if you’ve neglected this, a private car can easily be arranged at the airport for not much more than a surge-pricing Uber across Manhattan would run you. If you have the time, there are two trains per day to and from Bangkok along the same route that was part of the infamous Death Railway constructed by the Japanese in WWII. Don’t expect luxury, but you’ll get there in only slightly longer than the drive would take, and it’s a great way to see the countryside through the open train windows. The breeze generally makes the heat bearable.
Kanchanaburi’s main attraction
The big draw of the area’s tourism are the historical sights associated with the Death Railway, made famous by the novel and film Bridge on the River Kwai. The story is fictional, but based on real events. The bridge in Kanchanaburi town is original from the war and still in use. If you travel beyond the city from Bangkok you’ll cross it, but you can walk over it as well. The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre is a fantastic museum, and the Allied POW cemetery across the road is worth a visit as well. Further out of town, the Hellfire Pass and the museum that’s been built there is another powerful experience, offering a look into the grueling conditions the POWs and Asian laborers worked under as they built the railway and carved deep passes by hand out of solid rock mountains.
Where to stay in Kanchanaburi
Luxury travelers looking for something a little bit different will definitely find it in Kanchanaburi. We love traditional resorts as much as you, but when we come here we like to mix it up a little at one of these places:
Glamping at Hintok River Camp
Located at the jungle’s edge on a cliff overlooking the River Kwai Noi, Hintok offers a luxury, boutique camping experience. Be one with nature while sacrificing nothing in comfort or style. Of course, the tents are well-appointed and have air conditioning and hot water.
Floating Villas at The Float House River Kwai
There are floating accommodations all over Kanchanaburi province, from the backpacker price range all the way up to luxury villas. Everyone here does floating bungalows, Float House just pulls it off better than just about anyone else. Watching the jungle on the opposite bank reflected in the green waters just in front of your private terrace is bliss.
Kanchanaburi adventure travel activities
When you’ve had your fill of history and relaxation, head out to one of these adventures and get your adrenaline pumping.
Kanchanaburi Waterfalls
Erawan Falls are the most famous in Thailand, and for good reason: they’re stunning. They’re also pretty crowded most of the time, with tour buses showing up late morning. If you go, get there early and head right to the top to beat the crowds, but try the natural waterslide at the fifth level on the way. Kanchanaburi is a big, mountainous jungle so there are more waterfalls than you could ever hope to explore. Every national park in the province has waterfalls to see.
Trekking in Kanchanaburi
Trekking is another easy to find activity in Kanchanaburi, but the best is the narrow mountain ridge trail at Thong Pha Phum National Park. This is way up near the Myanmar border and gets just a few mainly Thai tourists, but is a perfect day trip. At the peak on clear days you can see over Myanmar all the way to the Andaman Sea.
Spelunking, climbing and cliff jumping in Kanchanaburi
There are some great caves to explore here, and the best are probably in Lam Khlong Ngu National Park. The river here flows through a limestone cave system old enough that the ceiling has caved in in many parts, so the cave is well lit and not very claustrophobic. Getting through it all requires trekking, climbing, crossing fast-flowing streams, and jumping off of waterfalls into deep pools. In other words, the perfect adventure.
The perfect mix of adventure and comfort
There is adventure to be found all over ASEAN, and luxury accommodation as well, but there are few places with so much of both and a location as convenient as Kanchanaburi has. With Bangkok as the regional hub nearby, even short weekend getaways are doable here from just about anywhere in Southeast Asia. If you’ve never been, put Kanchanaburi at the top of your list.