You can reach Kanchanaburi from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport through bus, minibus, train, and taxi. A public transport trip, which will include changes, will take around 4 hours. The cost of this trip will be around $3. If you take a taxi you will reach there in 2 hours 20 minutes, at $100. The distance between Kanchanaburi and Bangkok around 120 kilometers
There is a well-developed bus connection system but the last will to leave for Kanchanaburi will leave at 10 pm (22.00). Remember that the train runs twice a day and is not that comfortable. You will have to walk with your children, family and baggage to the public transport stop so if you are not alone, travel by taxi.
Kanchanaburi known as a town of one bridge is a beautiful and small resort near Bangkok. The place is near the capital so locals rush to this resort on the weekend so we suggest you visit and enjoy the fresh air on weekdays. Kwai River is the main attraction of this town. The bridge on the river was built by the captive soldiers in the Second World War and became part of the notorious Death Railway. Based on the true events, “The Bridge on the River Kwai”, Hollywood movie was filmed here, which brought fame to the town. Now the most beautiful and expensive hotels and restaurants are present at this resort.
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Bus transfer to Kanchanaburi
You can take an intercity bus that departs from Sai Tai Mai or Southern Bus Terminal and Mo Chit or Northern Bus Terminal. The traveling time is around 3 to 4 hours. The cost of the ticket depends on the service provider, departure point, and bus class. The airconditioned first-class bus will cost you around $3, while the non-airconditioned/2nd class bus will cost around $2.5.
REMEMBER, the ticket offices are based on the bus routes at Southern Bus Terminal. Three of the offices sell tickets to Kanchanaburi, so take help from the staff to avoid any hassle.
Minibus to Kanchanaburi
Minibusses also depart from Sai Tai Mai or Southern Bus Terminal and Mo Chit or Northern Bus Terminal as well as from private stops in Bangkok (from Victory Monument, and Khao San street). The trip will cost you around $5 and the time to travel is 3 hours. If you want to save time, purchase tickets in advance. The minibus has around 10 seats.
Train Transfer to Kanchanaburi
You can also take the train route to travel from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Kanchanaburi. The train ticket cost around $3 and the trip traveling time 3 hours. But the train might get late because it is not a big deal in Bangkok. Two trains leave for Kanchanaburi daily so plan ahead if you are thinking of traveling by train. You can travel on the notorious Death railway; this includes the part to Nam Tok Line (terminal station) from Kanchanaburi.
Transfer and taxi to Kanchanaburi
It is very easy to find a car for a day in Bangkok as the distance from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is 143 km. If you have no budget constraint, this is the best option for you. The price starts at $100. You can reach your destination in 2 hours and 20 minutes without any hassle or changes. The price might be high from public transport but the comfort is unmatched.
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Rent a car in Bangkok
If you don’t want to have a driver for your car from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Kanchanaburi and you can drive by yourself, you can rent a car without a driver. You need to have your International Driving License, health insurance, passport, and photocopies of your documents. Choose Internationally certified companies, as there are many fraud and scams in Thailand. The price of rental for one day is around $23. The insurance can be included in the car rental price per day when asked, so give a deposit of $28 as insurance to stay safe from carjackings. You can book the cars at Bangkok airport but we would advise you to book the car rental in advance to save time and money. Drive safely and on secondary roads to avoid accidents, because Thai police usually take the side of their fellow citizens.
Choose the transfer option as per your preference, the convenient and cheapest option is Bus. If you want to enjoy the sights and River Kwai landscapes, you can go for the option of the train. And if you are in a hurry and don’t want to waste any time, choose a taxi.