Kanchanaburi is a large province with plenty of things to do and see. Located only around 200 km away from Bangkok, Thailand's capital city, most people often spend a few days in Kanchanaburi City and call it a day.
Within this guide, we will go much further than that as we dive deeper into the province's interior through the mountains and forests until we reach the border between Thailand and Myanmar and return in 7 days.
If you are looking for a travel guide to see Kanchanaburi beyond its surface, you are in the right place. Without further ado, here is a backpacking guide and a one-week Kanchanaburi itinerary for solo travelers. First, let's have a look at our itinerary map below:
- One Week Kanchanaburi Itinerary Map
- One Week Kanchanaburi Province Itinerary
- More Kanchanaburi Activities
- Thailand Travel Video
- When to Visit Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
- How to Get to Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
- How to Get Around Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand?
- How Much Money Do I Need For One Week in Kanchanaburi Province?
- Is it Safe in Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Thailand?
- What to Pack for Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
- Further Reading for Central Thailand
One Week Kanchanaburi Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1-3: | Kanchanaburi City |
| ☀️ Day 4-6: | Sangkhlaburi |
| ☀️ Day 7-8: | Pilok |
One Week Kanchanaburi Province Itinerary
Day 1 - 3: Kanchanaburi City (4 Nights)
One of the first things the owner of the accommodation I was staying in Kanchanaburi City told me is that Erawan Falls requires a traveler's full attention, and that is where you will be going on your first day in Kanchanaburi City.
Erawan Falls is one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Thailand. With its stunning layers of cascades, clear blue water, and over 7 levels for us to explore, it is not hard to see why people consider it as such.
Since Erawan Falls is 65 km away from Kanchanaburi City, the drive there with a scooter will take you about 1.5 hours. I recommend you start your day as early as you can. The road there is pretty straightforward, and the road is not difficult to drive on, with the majority of the way on a four-lane road.
- From Kanchanaburi: Erawan Waterfalls and Hellfire Pass (8 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- From Kanchanaburi: Erawan National Park Half Day (4 hours)
- From Kanchanaburi: Kanchanaburi City Tour Half Day (3 hours)
You can also take a bus from Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal, which leaves every hour from 8 AM to 5 PM. Once you arrive, you will be right at the first level of the waterfall, where all the cascades are.
There are 7 waterfalls and a trail for you to hike to the top. The trail takes about an hour to an hour and a half and about an hour or less to get down. The opening hours for Erawan Falls are from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, so do prepare accordingly if you plan to hike the whole stretch. The entrance fee is 300 THB (100 THB for Thais), plus 20 THB if you are there with a scooter.
If you have time left, you can take your scooter even further into the Erawan national park and visit Phra That Cave where you will find plenty of beautiful rock formations, with one looking like a Buddha image and another that looks like a coral reef.
You can continue further and end your first day at the Srinagarind Dam viewpoint where you will be able to relax at the Srinagarind Dam recreational area and enjoy the expansive view of the Srinagarind Dam from the ridge.
For your second day, we will not be driving our scooter very far because if you are like me, you are probably exhausted from the ride the day before. So, we are going to stick to the tourist attractions not too far from Kanchanaburi City, starting with Wat Baan Tham.
At Wat Baan Tham, there is a staircase that will lead you up to the top of a mountain, where you can then see the beautiful landscape of Kanchanaburi, as well as our next destination, Wat Tham Sua.
From Wat Baan Tham, it is only a few kilometers until you arrive at Wat Tham Suea, a stunning temple complex consisting of multiple architectural wonders, from several towers and pagodas of various architectural styles to the 18-meter tall giant Buddha image that dominates Kanchanaburi's landscapes.
If you are looking for the best viewpoint of Wat Tham Sua and the giant Buddha Image from above without a drone, I highly recommend you climb up to the 6th floor of the orange pagoda where you will find a few tiny windows that you can look out from. There, you can witness the true scale of Wat Tham Sua from above.
After visiting these two temples, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the tourist attractions within Kanchanaburi City, such as the famous River Kwai Bridge and Wat Thaworn Wararam, a beautiful Chinese temple located on the bank of the River Kwai.
If you want to learn more about the gruesome history of the Death Railway and Kanchanaburi City during World War 2, you can visit the JEATH War Museum for a brief history of the influence the Japanese had in the region during WW2 or the Death Railway Museum to learn more about the Death Railway itself.
On your third day in Kanchanaburi City, we will take the scooter for another spin with a morning visit to Prasat Mueang Sing Historical Park, a historic Khmer-era temple and burial site where several well-preserved skeletons were found, dating back even before the Khmer reign of the area.
After that, we can also drop by Mallika R.E. 124 City, a newly built themed retro city, to see what life was like for the Thais during the time of King Rama the Fifth, who is known for abolishing slavery.
Within Mallika City, you will find plenty of beautiful, old-style architecture - from the Turning Wooden Bridge to the ancient market zone, where you can exchange money for old Thai Stang coins and try out all the traditional Thai food and desserts available in the market. There is plenty to eat here, so be sure you have your stomach ready 😉.
After visiting Mallika, if you want to see a train crossing the Tham Krasae wooden trestle, which is a popular section of the Death Railway, you will have to get to Tham Krasae Train Station before 1:30 PM. You should be able to reach there in 30 minutes from Mallika via a scooter, so plan your time carefully.
With this itinerary, we will travel back to Bangkok by train via this route. This way, you will be able to see the Death Railway from both the on-the-ground and on-the-train perspectives.
After visiting Thum Krasae, you can then continue on with your scooter for another hour and visit the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre to learn more about how the Japanese abused the prisoners of war to build this section of the railway, including personal stories from survivors, etc.
After visiting the Hellfire Pass Museum, it is time to end your journey in Kanchanaburi City and continue on to our next destination, Sangkhlaburi, which is another highlight of this trip.
Where to Stay in Kanchanaburi City?
Getting From Kanchanaburi City to Sangkhlaburi
To get from Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi, you will have to get to the Asia Saiyok Express Bus Company office, located right behind the Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal. From there, you can buy a ticket to Sangkhlaburi.
The Asia Saiyok Express Bus Company operates several microbuses a day, connecting Kanchanaburi City to the Three Pagoda Pass at the Thailand-Myanmar border, where they pass through Sangkhlaburi.
The microbus runs from 5 AM - 7 PM, approximately every 45 minutes or so. Once the bus arrives in Sangklaburi, they will drop you off at Sangkhlaburi Bus Stop, which is also the same place where you can catch your bus back.
The journey from Kanchanaburi City to Sangkhlaburi is around 4 hours, and it costs 175 THB per person. I'm actually surprised at how new and modern the microbus is. I was half expecting a cramped minivan experience, but the new microbus is spacious and clean, making the ride up the mountain more bearable.
Day 4 - 6: Sangkhlaburi (3 Nights)
Sangkhlaburi is a small town tucked away between the forests and mountains of the Tenasserim Hills, a mountain range that dominates much of southern and central Thailand, creating a natural border between Thailand and Myanmar.
One of the most popular activities for tourists to do in Sangkhlaburi is to participate in or observe the alms-giving ceremony, where people would line up and the monks would walk from the main temple of Sangkhlaburi to collect the alms throughout the village.
To observe the alms-giving ceremony in Sangklaburi, you will have to wake up at 6 AM and cross the Mon Bridge to the main road of the Mon Village by 6:30 AM to see monks making their way down to the bridge. The monks will not cross the bridge like they used to, as it has become way too crowded, so do not expect them to be on the Thai side of town.
After you are done with the alms-giving ceremony, you can then spend some time walking along the Mon Bridge and interacting with the locals. The Mon Bridge is often crowded in the morning, especially after the alms-giving ceremony, and you will find many Mon/Thai kids selling flowers and Burmese-style powders for a few Baht.
They are quite friendly to talk to and extremely curious, especially when I flew my drone around the bridge 🤣 so much so that they even tracked me down and asked me to take a photo with them.
Another popular activity to do in Sangklaburi is to go on a 3 sunken temples boat tour to see the 3 temples, Srisuwan Temple, Wat Wang Wiwekaram temple, and Wat Somdet temple, located at the old site of Sangkhlaburi village before they were moved uphill to avoid being flooded due to the construction of the Vajiralongkorn Dam.
Depending on the time you visit, the water level can be low enough for you to walk to all the temples, or it can be so high that you can only see them from a boat. Nevertheless, the temples and their beautiful settings are worth seeing either way.
The tour can take around 1-2 hours to complete, but it all depends on how long you want to stay at each temple. The boat operator will wait for you nevertheless. The 3 Sunken temple tour costs 500 THB for 1-6 people, so if there is more than one person, you can easily split the price.
After the boat tour, you can then spend the rest of your day walking around the Mon village up the hill and checking out the newly rebuilt temples like Wat Wang Wiwekaram temple and Chedi Phutthakhaya which are definitely worthy of their old sunken temple names.
On your second day in Sangklaburi, go rent a scooter and start your day by visiting the historic Three Pagoda Pass that connects India to the rest of Southeast Asia.
There isn't a whole lot to see at the pass except the Three Pagoda monument, but what you might enjoy is the small market at the border, where you can score some really cheap Burmese souvenirs from there.
The Three Pagoda Pass is approximately 30km away from Sangkhlaburi, and it should take you around 20 minutes to drive there. The road is straightforward with no ups and downs, unlike the route from Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi. You will likely pass two checkpoints, so be sure to have your passport or any identification ready.
After visiting the Three Pagoda Pass, you can ride down to Sangkhlaburi and visit the Pom Pee Viewpoint in Khao Laem National Park. Pom Pee Viewpoint is a stunning camping ground and rest area where you will be able to get an unobstructed view of the Vajiralongkorn Dam. It is around 35km away from Sangkhlaburi and it should take you about 45 minutes to get there via a scooter.
Since Pom Pee Viewpoint is part of Khao Laem National Park, you will have to pay the entrance fee, which is 200 THB for foreigners and 40 THB for Thais, and an additional 20 THB for your scooter. If you want to camp here, it is only 30 THB per person, which is really cheap! Plus, you can swim in the lake!
Last but not least, you can continue further down the road and visit The Kering Kawia waterfall, a beautiful collection of small waterfalls where you can walk around or sit by a café nearby and enjoy the view before heading back to Sangkhlaburi to end your day.
Now that we have spent 2 full days exploring both the ins and outs of Sangklaburi, it's time to continue on to our last destination of the itinerary and visit Pilok.
Where to Stay in Sangkhlaburi?
Getting From Sangkhlaburi to Pilok
To get from Sangklaburi to Pilok, all you have to do is go to Sangklaburi Bus Stop and get a minibus to Thong Pha Phum.
The minibus from Sangklaburi to Thong Pha Phum runs every 30 minutes to an hour from 7 AM to 4 PM. The ticket should cost about 80 THB, and it should take you about 1 hour to get to Thong Pha Phum.
Once you arrive in Thong Pha Phum, they will drop you off at a bus stop along the road near Thong Pha Phum town. This is not the bus stop to get to Pilok. The actual bus stop to get to Pilok is located at Thong Pha Phum Food Market and you will have to get a moto-taxi to drop you off there for 20 THB.
Once you arrive at Thong Pha Phum Food Market, you will see several yellow Song-Taew parked in the parking lot at the entrance of the market. Simply go there and ask the guy which Song-Taew goes to Pilok, and they will direct you to the right one.
The official schedule for Song-Taew between Thong Pha Phum and Pilok is 10:30 AM, 11 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM, BUT don't expect them to stick to the schedule as they will leave when the Song-Taew is full. Due to COVID-19, they are doing fewer trips nowadays, so your safest bet is to be at Thong Pha Phum between 10:30 - 1 PM.
Once you get on the Song-Taew, it will take around 2 hours to reach Pilok. The road is 20% good, and the rest is horrendous, so prepare for a bumpy ride. The Song-Taew to Pilok should cost you 70 THB per person.
Day 7 - 8: Pilok (2 Nights)
Pilok (Ban I-tong) is a small, old mining village tucked away in the rolling hills and mountains of the Tenasserim Hills, which creates a natural border between Thailand and Myanmar. The reason why I added Pilok to the itinerary is to allow you to see the wilder, less tamed side of Kanchanaburi province.
Due to how remote Pilok is and its high elevation, you will find the experience in Pilok quite different from that of the rest of Kanchanaburi. For one, the weather is much cooler in the evening, making it a great place to stroll around at night with a Mon-style lamp as the fog rolls in.
There are several things you can easily do within the Baan I'Tong village that do not require prior planning, such as taking a walk up to the top of Wat Mueang Pilok, where you will get a nice view of the landscape surrounding the village.
You can also check out the Old Pilok mine where you can still find some old pieces of machinery left lying around in the area. There's also a nice koi pond there with one of the most colorful carp fish I have ever seen.
All these activities can be done quite easily in a few hours, and all are within walking distance. However, you are only scratching the surface here. The more impressive attractions are outside of Baan I'Thong and are tucked away in the forests and mountains of Pilok.
The highlight of visiting Pilok is to see Chokkradin Waterfall, a 30m-high mighty waterfall where the water flows all year round. It is located 8km away from Baan I-Tong, where you will be staying, and it is best to visit with a trip on a Song-Taew.
To hire a Song-Taew to take you there, if you are traveling solo or in a small group, you might have to wait for the Song-Taew to be filled up before you can go, which can take some time.
I would recommend that you organize the trip with the Song-Taew driver beforehand, and when they have enough people for the trip, they can call you up and take you to the waterfall, as well as other places like the top of Noen Chang Suek hill and the Friendship Pass.
Noen Chang Suek Hill is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Pilok, where you can see both Myanmar and Thailand at the same time. In the photo above, you can see the sovereign land of Myanmar just behind this green hill.
If you do not want to wait for the Song-Taew, you can also hike up to the top of Noen Chang Suek Hill from Baan I-Tong village as well. The trail is mostly gravel and rocks and can be hiked in around 30 minutes to an hour. It is a steep hike, so prepare accordingly.
With all the highlights in Pilok completed, you can then spend the rest of the night by the pond in Pilok and enjoy a nice glass of beer in the cool weather, which is not easy to come by in Thailand.
Where to Stay in Pilok?
Getting From Pilok Back to Bangkok
To get back from Pilok to Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi, and eventually Bangkok, there will be a Song-Taew leaving Pilok from the road near Pilok Market four times per day at 6:30 AM, 7 AM, 7:30 AM, and 8 AM. Again, there might be fewer trips depending on the day, but thankfully, they all leave on time, so you should be safe if you are at the market before 8 AM.
Once you arrive at Thong Pha Phum, you can catch a local bus bound for Kanchanaburi from the entrance of Thong Pha Phum Food Market right at the corner near the 7-11 store. They come every 30 minutes and it will cost you around 60-100 THB and take 2 hours to get to Kanchanaburi.
From Kanchanaburi, you should have no trouble finding a bus going to Bangkok, although I would recommend that you take a train back instead. To take the train, you will have to tell the bus driver from Thong Pha Phum to drop you off at Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, where you can then walk to the Nam Tok Train Station to catch the 12:55 PM train back to Bangkok.
The train will travel on the Death Railway, so you will get to see some stunning scenery along the way as well. The journey will take about 5 - 6 hours, and the train will stop at Thonburi Train Station in Bangkok. The ticket should cost around 100 THB for foreigners and 39 THB for Thais.
More Kanchanaburi Activities
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
- From Kanchanaburi: Erawan Waterfalls and Hellfire Pass (8 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- From Kanchanaburi: Erawan National Park Half Day (4 hours)
- From Kanchanaburi: Kanchanaburi City Tour Half Day (3 hours)
When to Visit Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
The best time to visit Kanchanaburi is from November to January, when the weather is cooler and less humid due to Thailand's climate, making it much more enjoyable to ride a scooter or walk around.
That said, Thailand has suffered a lot from air pollution in recent years due to the burning season, and it is extremely prevalent during Thailand's winter period (December - January). So, even though the weather is cooler, your visibility might not be the best. Be sure to buy a face mask if you decide to visit Thailand during this time.
March-April are the hottest and most humid periods of the year, so if you can't handle the heat very well, avoid visiting during this time. The air quality may be a bit better during this period, though it's not guaranteed.
All the other months are considered to be the rainy season, which, even though the weather is a little more manageable than in the summer months, you will also be seeing a lot more rain. This might prevent you from enjoying the outdoors. Air quality during this time should be better due to the rain.
As you can see, the best time to visit Thailand used to be during its wintertime. BUT now that the air quality is getting worse and worse, you will have to decide which is more important to you as a traveler: good weather but bad air quality, or vice versa.
How to Get to Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
The first stop of our itinerary is Kanchanaburi City, which is around 140 km away from Bangkok, and there are several ways you can get to this historical city.
But first and foremost, you will have to get to Bangkok from where you live. Fortunately, Bangkok is a large hub in the region, so you should have no trouble finding a flight from your home country to Suvarnabhumi International Airport or Don Muang International Airport (budget airlines only), Thailand.
From the US, unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Chiang Mai or Bangkok, so you will have to rely on transit flights by Emirates, Qatar, or Turkish Airlines from the East Coast, or ANA Airlines or Korean Air from the West Coast.
From Europe, you can fly from the most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Thai Airways or local carriers like British Airways, Air France, or Lufthansa to Bangkok. You can also go with Etihad, Qatar, or Emirates if you don't mind transiting.
From within Asia, there are several low-cost airlines offering various routes from numerous hub cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta to Bangkok. AirAsia and Thai Lion Air are excellent low-cost options.
To find a cheap flight to Bangkok, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and choose the best one.
Getting from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
From Bangkok, you will then have to get to Kanchanaburi City, and then we can continue to other destinations within the province. The easiest way to get from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi without driving yourself is to take a minivan from the Mini-Bus stand across the road from the Morchit Bus Terminal.
You can reach Morchit Terminal from almost anywhere in Bangkok via either MRT station Kamphaeng Phet station or BTS Morchit station, and then from there, you can take a taxi to Morchit Bus Terminal. The taxi should cost no more than 50 THB.
Once you arrive at the Morchit bus terminal, cross the road to the mini-bus stand with the footbridge, and go to Building D to buy your ticket at either kiosk #8 or #11. Once you arrive at Building D, you can also ask around, and they will direct you to the right kiosk.
The mini-bus and vans from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi leave every hour from 5 AM to 8 PM every day. The journey will take around 3 hours, and the ticket will cost about 120 THB. When you buy your ticket, they will ask you where you want to get dropped off.
You usually do not have to reserve your ticket beforehand, but since Kanchanaburi is quite popular among locals, it might be worthwhile to book one if you decide to travel on the weekends.
Book a Minivan from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
Once we arrive in Kanchanaburi City, we can then continue to other provinces via local buses. For more details on how to go to Sangkhlaburi and Pilok, check out the Getting to Sangkhlaburi and Getting to Pilok sections below.
How to Get Around Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand?
There are several ways you can get around Kanchanaburi province to see all of these beautiful places.
By Buses/Vans: The fastest and most economical way to travel around Kanchanaburi is by public buses and vans that connect most big cities in Thailand. They are fast, they run quite often, and they are cheap, with a trip from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi costing only 120 THB.
In this guide, we will rely on buses and vans to travel from one city to another, such as Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi. For smaller towns like Pilok, we will need to travel by Song-Taew.
By Song-Taews: Song-Taew is a common mode of transportation for those who are looking to visit a smaller town like Pilok, which is located in the mountains and is not as easy to reach as other places. Song-Taews are cheaper, but they do not run as often, and the ride will mostly be bumpy. For this guide, we will only rely on Song-Taew for the journey to and from Pilok – that's it.
By a Scooter: Scooters are a great way to cover short distances that are not too far from the city itself, and they allow you great flexibility that you can't get from other modes of transportation.
You can rent a scooter in Kanchanaburi City and Sangkhlaburi for 200 THB per day. For this itinerary, we will be renting a scooter in Kanchanaburi City for 2 days and Sangkhlaburi for 1 day to visit some of the harder-to-reach tourist attractions.
By Trains: Kanchanaburi is known for its Death Railway, which goes through the River Kwai bridge and the wooden trestle of Tham Krasae. Taking the train is a great way to see those sights from a different perspective.
That said, Thai trains are notoriously slow and only reach parts of Kanchanaburi. So, if you want to take the train, I would recommend you take it back to Bangkok at the end of your trip instead of the other way around, so you can enjoy the view at your own leisure.
How Much Money Do I Need For One Week in Kanchanaburi Province?
Based on this itinerary, we can roughly calculate how much we will be spending in one week exploring Kanchanaburi province as follows:
Accommodation: For 9 nights of accommodation in Kanchanaburi, you can expect to pay around 132 USD for lodging.
Food: Food in Kanchanaburi should cost around 40 - 60 THB per meal, so you can expect to pay around 810 THB for a week in Kanchanaburi province.
Transportation: Including all the bus, Song-Taew, and train trips from and to Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Sangkhlaburi, and Pilok, plus 3 days of scooter rental and gas, you can expect to pay around 1,445 THB for transportation for this entire itinerary.
Activities: Including all the national parks, tourist attractions entrance fees, and day trips, you can expect to pay around 1,740 THB for activities for the entire itinerary.
Total Budget for one week in Kanchanaburi province: 8,128 THB (260 USD) which is around 33 USD per day.
Is it Safe in Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
Kanchanaburi province, in general, is pretty safe for tourists, with nothing to worry about except when you are riding your scooter. We are not known for being sensible drivers, but if you take it slow and wear helmets, you should be fine.
When it comes to Sangkhlaburi and Pilok, you will start to see more and more military checkpoints, which are to be expected as you are getting closer to the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
Don't be alarmed as they have not had any major incidents in many years, but it's good to keep in mind that you will be in a sensitive area. Just don't try to fly your drone around these sensitive areas, and you should be fine.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Thailand?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Kanchanaburi, Thailand without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Kanchanaburi, Thailand:
There are 3 major carriers in Thailand: AIS, DTAC, and True, all of which offer a pretty similar range of traveler's packages as well as coverage. Personally, I use AIS because I have been with them since my first phone, and they have a lot of Support Centers around Thailand. Their coverage hasn't failed me yet, so if you are looking for a reliable carrier, I can recommend AIS.
There are 3 packages for tourists: 5 GB for 5 days at 160 THB, 15 GB for 8 days at 299 THB, and 30 GB for 15 days. Depending on the length of your trip to Thailand, you can choose one of these 3 packages that best suits your itinerary.
With these three packages, you can top up more in case you need additional data or calls for your trip. More often than not, 5 GB is more than enough for me to travel around Thailand for a month.
For more information about Thailand's local SIM card: Thailand's Prepaid Data SIM Card.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Kanchanaburi, Thailand?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Kanchanaburi, Thailand:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Central Thailand
Looking for more information for your trip to Central Thailand? Here are a collection of articles about Central Thailand that you might find useful:
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3 Months Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Planning a trip to Thailand? Here are the 11 Best Places to Visit in Thailand.
- Visiting a country like Thailand, you are going to need a comprehensive packing list to ensure that you bring everything you need for your trip. Check out: What to Pack for Thailand - The Essential Packing List.
- Wondering when the best time to visit Thailand is? Here is a complete guide on picking The Best Time to Visit Thailand.
- Want to spend one month backpacking around Thailand? Check out: One Month Itinerary for Thailand.
- Have 2 weeks in Thailand? Check out this itinerary: 2 Weeks Backpacking Thailand Itinerary.
- Have only 10 days in Thailand? This itinerary might be more suitable for you: 10 Days Itinerary for Thailand.
- Thai Street Foods are among the best in the world, and to help guide you through the street food cuisine of Thailand, be sure to check out the 15 Best Street Foods in Thailand to Try.
- Learning a bit of Thai phrases will go a long way for you when you visit Thailand. Here are 15 Thai Phrases You Should Know.
- If you are traveling to Thailand, it is important for you to know what you should and shouldn't do. Here are 10 Tips for Traveling in Thailand.
- More often than not, your journey in Thailand will begin in Bangkok, and there are a ton of things you shouldn't miss in this city. Here are the 16 Best Things to Do in Bangkok.
- Want to spend a day outside Bangkok but not sure where? Here are the 9 Best Day Trips To Make From Bangkok.
- Escape the bustling city of Bangkok and cycle around Bang Krachao, the green lung of Bangkok, with this travel guide: A Complete Travel Guide to Bang Krachao.
- Don't have a lot of time in Bangkok? Check out our One Day in Bangkok Itinerary.
- Have more than one day in Bangkok? I highly recommend spending at least 3 days in Bangkok. Here is a complete 3 Days Itinerary for Bangkok.
- For the best areas and neighborhoods to stay in Bangkok, check out: 7 Best Areas to Stay in Bangkok.
- Looking to escape Bangkok for a little while? How about exploring the ancient city of Ayutthaya? Here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Ayutthaya for Backpackers.
- Looking for a unique place to visit that is not too far from Bangkok? How about Ratchaburi and its stunning mountains? Here are the 13 Best Things to Do in Ratchaburi.
- Looking for a place to visit for a short beach vacation near Bangkok? One of the best places to visit is Phetchaburi, and here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Phetchaburi.
- For the very best beaches near Bangkok, I highly recommend you visit Hua Hin, a small seaside city full of stunning mountains and secluded beaches waiting for you to explore. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Hua Hin.
- Kanchanaburi is a great place to visit for a quick trip from Bangkok. Here are 17 Best Things to Do in Kanchanaburi, Thailand.
- Here is how to visit Erawan Falls, the most beautiful waterfall in Thailand. A Complete Hiking Guide to Erawan Falls, Kanchanaburi.
- Let’s get off the beaten path and visit Sangkhlaburi, a small Mon village by the border between Thailand and Myanmar. Here are the Top 10 Things to Do in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand.
- Pilok is probably a travel destination in Thailand that you have never heard of, and here is why you should visit it. Here’s The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Pilok Village.
- Nakhon Pathom offers a great day trip for those who are looking to visit some places off the tourist beaten path in Thailand. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Nakhon Pathom.
- Due to its proximity, Samut Prakan is also a great place to visit as a day trip from Bangkok. It has quite an impressive list of things to do that will keep you occupied for a day. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Samut Prakan.
- For a quick trip from Bangkok, Lopburi is a great destination to travel to. Here are 10 Best Things to Do in Lopburi, Thailand.
- Want to escape Bangkok and be with nature for a few days? How about a 2-day trip to Saraburi? Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Saraburi, Thailand.
- Looking to do some hiking near Bangkok? Here’s a One-Day Hiking Guide to Krok E-Dok Waterfall.
- Home to one of the largest Buddha images in the country, Ang Thong is worth a visit if you are interested in seeing the best temples in Thailand. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Ang Thong, Thailand.
- What do you know about the brave warriors of Bang Rachan in Singburi? Well, find out for yourself with the ultimate travel guide and 8 Best Things to Do in Singburi, Thailand.
- Want to explore other parts of Thailand? How about exploring Northern Thailand or Southern Thailand?
- Wondering where to go after Thailand? How about you continue on to Malaysia, Myanmar, or Indonesia?
- For all articles about Thailand, visit the Thailand Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to Southeast Asia? Check out all my articles about Southeast Asia here: Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
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2 Comments
Hi Pete! I happened to have stumbled on your blog because I was searching for beautiful Gorges for a new resin piece I want to work on. Your website pictures made me more curious to look into your blogs and then saw this article about Kanchanaburi. a I was reminded so much of my solo trip there back in 2016 where I stayed for 2-3 days. Erawan National Park was stunning and I visited the Elephant Sanctuary, it was so awesome and I promised myself I'll be back there to explore the area more. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures and a guided itinerary that would be really useful for another trip! Stay awesome!
Hey Darlene,
Thank you for the comment! I hope you found the blog useful somehow :) Kanchanaburi is really something isn't it? It took me 30+ years to actually visit the province and Erawan Falls and I'm from Thailand haha! Thanks to the pandemic, I can now focusing on exploring my own country and continue to deliver this kind of content to the world. :)