Thailand

ITINERARY

DAY 1 FRIDAY, 21 APRIL 2024 BANGKOK (D)

Welcome to our Anzac Day tour! Tonight, will have an informal meet and greet and enjoy a welcome dinner. This is an excellent opportunity to get to know our fellow passengers, your Tour Leaders and our local guides.

**Please meet in the hotel lobby for a 5:30pm transfer to the Royal Thai Navy Club for a group dinner **

OVERNIGHT: Royal Princess Larn Luang, Bangkok

DAY 2 SATURDAY, 22 APRIL 2024 BANGKOK – SANGKHLABURI (B, L, D)

After breakfast (starts at 6am) we check out of our rooms and then meet in the foyer at 845am. We will then depart for Kanchanaburi where we will first visit the Death Railway Museum and Research Centre. After the museum, we head to the river Kwai where will have lunch at the floating restaurant.

After lunch we then stand on the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’ here your historians will detail the true story of the bridge’s construction and history before having a chance to walk across the bridge. After the ‘Bridge on the River Kwai’, we make our way to Saiyok Yai train station. Here we will view sections of the original railway and the location of the Kinsaiyok POW camp above the waterfall. We will then travel north to our accommodation at nearby Sangkhla Buri.

OVERNIGHT: Phornpailin Riverside Resort, Sangkhla Buri

Address: 60 Nong Lu, Sangkhla Buri District, 71240 Phone:  +66 34 595 322

DAY 3 SUNDAY, 23 APRIL 2024 – SANGKHLABURI (B, L, D)

After breakfast we will depart for Three Pagoda Pass on the Burma-(Myanmar) Thai Border. Here we will walk around the old train station and where you can see the remnants of the original railway tracks. We will then be able to look over the border into Myanmar, see if you can spy the remains of the railway on the Burma side. We then depart for Cholera Hill, one of the most infamous places on the railway and a place that is very rarely visited by tourists.

After Cholera Hill, we make our way to a local restaurant in Sangkhla Buri. After lunch we will have a cultural experience Wat Wang Viwaykaram Temple and visit the Mon bridge (the longest wooden bridge in Thailand). If you don’t wish to walk across the bridge, the bus will take you to meet the group on the other side. We then return to the relaxing surrounds of the hotel. Before dinner, both David Cameron and David Howell will be available to go through service records for those of you wanting to gain a deeper understanding about your relative’s service.

OVERNIGHT: Pornpailin Riverside Resort, Sangkhla Buri

DAY 4 MONDAY, 24 APRIL 2024, SANGKHLABURI – KANCHANABURI           (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we will check out of our hotel and travel by coach to the Saiyok area, which will take approximately 2.5 hours. We then start the drive towards Thakanun train station and temple. Approx 1.5 hrs. We then arrive at the Namtok Train station where we will have lunch.  This train line has been in continual use since the Second World War.  We will board the train and take the journey to Tham Krasae station. The train trip will take approximately one hour. On arrival and after the train as departed, we will then walk all the tracks heading towards the Tham Krasae caves (40m walk). On the walk we will take in the breathtaking views of the river Kwain Noi river. This area was among most difficult parts of the Death Railway construction.

We will then make our way to the Hin Tok River Camp at Hellfire Pass for out night’s accommodation. The of the day is at your leisure as we will have a very early start tomorrow. In the evening we will have an Anzac Day eve BBQ dinner. The tour manager Matty McClear will detail the movements and timings for tomorrow’s big day.

OVERNIGHT: Hin Tok River Camp at Hellfire Pass

Address: 109 Moo 9 Ban Wang Khamen, Tambon Thasao, Saiyok, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand.

Phone:  +66 81 754 3898

DAY 5  TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 2023 ANZAC DAY (B, L, D)

This morning we depart our accommodation early (230am) to arrive at Hellfire Pass. We need to be in our location ready for the Dawn Service and try and avail of the limited seating arrangements; arriving in the pass at approximately 3.15am. The dawn service is at a 5.30am precisely. It will last around 30 minutes. An opportunity will be provided to lay a poppy (which we will provide).

After the service we will enjoy a gunfire breakfast and a visit to the Memorial Museum.  We will walk around Hellfire Pass to inspect the area and immediate surrounds.  David Howell will lead those who wish to undertake the 3km walk (allowing 45min to 1 hour) along the old rail bed to the Hintok Station area. The remainder of the group will follow in the buses 30 mins after the walking group leaves. We will then all regroup together at the carpark at Hintok Station.

After we have regrouped, we will then return to our accommodation to pack and check out of the hotel. We will then drive to downtown Kanchanaburi where we will have lunch and enjoy a relaxing Anzac Day. We will then make our way to the beautiful Royal River Kawai Resort. Here you will be able to relax by the poolside or sit and have a drink alongside the river Kwai.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Walking into Hellfire Pass for the Dawn Service takes approximately 20 minutes via steps and along the old railway line.  The track along the old railway line is rocky and uneven in areas and suitable footwear is highly recommended.  The area has very limited seating arrangements.

OVERNIGHT: Royal River Kwai Resort, Kanchanaburi

Address: 88 Moo 2, Kanchanaburi-Saiyok Road, Kangsean, Muang, Kanchanaburi 71000, Thailand. Phone:  +66 34 67 06 21

DAY 6 WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 2023-KANCHANABURI – BANGKOK (B, L, D)

After breakfast this morning we will visit the Commonwealth War Grave Cemeteries of Kanchanaburi and at Chungkai. At Kanchanaburi Cemetery we will visit the grave of the youngest known Australian to die on the Death Railway. We will then transfer back to our Bangkok hotel, which will take approximately 2.5hrs.  After we get settled at the hotel, we will all enjoy a farewell dinner at a nearby local restaurant.

OVERNIGHT: Royal Princess Larn Luang, Bangkok 

DAY 7 THURSDAY, 27 APRIL 2023       DEPART BANGKOK          (B)

Sadly, after breakfast today our tour comes to an end.

**Please be ready in the hotel lobby with your luggage 4 hours prior to your flight departure time as you will be collected by a local representative and transferred to the airport **

The journey may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime.
Please note: This itinerary is an indication of the sites that may be visited on the tour. The order of each day may be adjusted to allow for personal requests, local events, weather conditions, etc.

$4350.00 per person ex Bangkok all meals provided, airport transfers etc. based on Twin Share