Kanchanaburi Transportation

To get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok is not difficult and not so far away, just about 130 kilometers from Bangkok or about 2 hours by car. There are also transport choices for backpackers such as public air-conditioned buses, mini buses, and train from Bangkok. Each choice has its own advantage. The air-conditioned bus would be more safely than mini bus, but it take a little more time to visit Kanchanaburi. For the train, visitors can look around several attractions while sitting on it. Therefore, from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, visitors can choose how to transport there depending on how comfortable for them.

In the case of public air conditioned bus from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, the most popular and recommended one is the first class one from Southern Bus Terminal. The bus here departs every 20 minutes which is more frequent than the Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2). However, the place to take the bus depends on visitors convenient also.

Note that, it is not recommended to take the second class buses because it, with just a little lower price, takes a lot more time – almost double, compared to the 1st class one. The 2nd class one usually stops over many places to take passengers on the way to Kanchanaburi.

Southern Bus Terminal
Bus depart every 20 minutes and take approximately 2 hours to Kanchanaburi. The ticket price of the first class air-conditioned bus is about 100 Baht.
For more information,
Tel: (66)0-2894-6134, (66) 0-2435-5012 (Bangkok)
Tel: (66)034-512-855 (Kanchanaburi)

Northern Bus Terminal (Mochit 2)
Bus departs every hour, and take approximately 3 hours to Kanchanaburi. The ticket price of the 1st class bus here is about 120 Baht.

Mini bus or van can be one of most convenient choice to go to Kanchanaburi. Not only is it fastest choice from Bangkok to the city of Kanchannaburi, its fare is also not too expensive (the price is just a little higher than the first class air-conditioned bus).  Currently, mini bus is also easy to be found at several places in Bangkok, so visitors can take one anywhere that they feel most convenient. 

The drawbacks of mini bus are the time of departure is uncertain, about 30 minutes – 1 hour, and it can be seen as less safely choice because of driving fast.

To travel from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi can be seen as more interesting choice than public bus. Visitors can look at the view on their journey and the train also passes through River Kwai Bridge and Death Railway Bridge, which are major attractions in Kanchanaburi. Don’t forget to take your camera in order to capture beautiful view at these spots. 

To take a train to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok, the location to get in the train is not Hua Lumphong Railway Station as many visitors thought, including Thai visitors, except on weekend. Thonburi Station actually is the place to go. This station is located at Sala Namron Market area, behind Siriratch Hospital. Theere is only third class train available.

There are two train a day depart from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, 7.45 in the morning and 13.55 in the afternoon. The morning train is more popular because it will arrive in Saiyok Noi Waterfall approximately at noon. Visitors will have more time to travel around in Kanchanaburi.

Check time table here: http://www.railway.co.th/checktime/checktime.asp?lenguage=Eng

The province of Kanachanaburi is quite large, compared to other provinces in Thailand. Some visitors, after looking around a few attractions around the city of Kanchanaburi, want to travel to interenting places in other area of this province – Thong Phaphum, Sungklaburi, Saiyok District and so on. Kanchanaburi bus terminal is the center of buses to get to different area in the province, and there are several choices to get around as well.

- Air-conditioned bus and non-air-conditioned bus

- Micro bus (30 seats), available for 3 buses per day, start from 09.00 AM.

- Mini bus (van), depart every hour, from 7.30 to 16.30

More information contact Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal, (66) 034-511-182