Thailand forum
Suvarnabhumi Airport to River Kwai (Kanchanaburi)
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
| Possibly related discussions | Replies | Views | Latest reply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train from Kanchanaburi all the way to Suvarnabhumi Airport? ... By manna on 4 Oct 2007 | 7 | 2830 | 10 Oct 2007 |
| Mae Nam Kwai River Trip ... By kitisak on 19 Feb 2008 | 1 | 2053 | 20 Feb 2008 |
| River Kwai Jungle Rafts ... By mlr on 7 Nov 2009 | 5 | 1480 | 9 Nov 2009 |
| Bridge of River Kwai Light and sound festival ... By AbgAcid on 3 Oct 2010 | 0 | 1053 | 3 Oct 2010 |
| Self Drive Suvarnabhumi to Kanchanaburi ... By ano_1 on 8 Jan 2010 | 4 | 2402 | 9 Jan 2010 |
| Suvarnabhumi airport ... By viacc65 on 3 Jun 2007 | 2 | 2272 | 4 Jun 2007 |
| Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport ... By luisella7748 on 27 Oct 2012 | 1 | 1010 | 1 Nov 2012 |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport to bus for Kanchanburi ... By ano_1 on 2 Jan 2010 | 6 | 1829 | 3 Jan 2010 |
| Best way to get from Suvarnabhumi (new airport) to Khaosan (@1am)? ... By jenniemcmartin on 4 Jul 2008 | 4 | 3337 | 5 Jul 2008 |
| Suvarnabhumi airport, continue to LP ... By Architeuthis on 2 Nov 2009 | 4 | 1775 | 3 Nov 2009 |
GandY
Joined Travelfish
21st May, 2011
Posts 4
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Hi,
First time posting here, so please be gentle with me.
Please could someone offer any help and advice on how to travel on from Bangkok Airportto the River Kwai Bridgeat Kanchanaburi?
Myself and my partner will be arriving with one hand-baggage each and onelarger case between us. We consider ourselves more "travellers" than"tourists" (i.e. we don't mind "roughing-it" a little - notneeding 5-Star treatment, at all).
Are private cars available (I can't imagine a mini-bus service operating fromthe airport, due to too few people wishing to travel direct to Kan). If so, how muchshould we expect to pay?
What are the costs and logistics of getting a cab from the airport to Khao San Roadand picking up a minibus to Kanfrom there?
What time is the latest minibus from KS to Kan and what are the costs per passengeralong with the expected tip?
I know that there is both a bus and a train service from Bangkokto Kan -which should be financially favourite but, how do I go about transferring fromthe airport to the train and/or bus station?
Any help gratefully received.
#1 Posted: 21/5/2011 - 21:06
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Wikitravel has a list of options
http://wikitravel.org/en/Kanchanaburi
To get to Hua Lamphong from the airport by train: You can take the aiport express train. Get off at Makkasan station and than walk to the phetchaburi MRT station (MRT is a subway). That is about 300 meters. Thank take the subway to Hua Lamphong Train terminal.
Here is a transit map of the subway and light rail system
http://www.bangkokmetro.co.th/web/imgcontent/Image/Routemap-110510.jpg
I haven't traveled to the south so I am not famiiar with the southern bus terminals.
#2 Posted: 23/5/2011 - 10:39
Advertisement
GandY
Joined Travelfish
21st May, 2011
Posts 4
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Thanks goonistik,
The wiki link is appreciated, as is the MRT map.
Unfortunately, neither of them seem to provide info on how best to transfer from the airport to either the bus or train station or KSR (to pick up a minibus) the minibus prices quoted also appear to be for return day-trips which is not what I'm seeking as I just want to get to the Bridge, not take a tourist round-trip.
Thanks anyway for the information, kindly provided. I appreciate your time and care.
Regards.
GandY
#3 Posted: 23/5/2011 - 19:57
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Gandy,
My apologies. Perhaps my instructions weren't very clear so let me try again.
To go from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hua Lamphong Train station.
1. Get on the Airport Express train.
2. Get off at Makkasan station.
3. Walk to Petchaburi MRT station. The MRT is a subway.
4. Take the subway to Hua Lamphong MRT station.
5. Get off at Hua Lamphong MRT station and exit.
6. Once outside, look for the Hua Lamphong Train station. It is a short walk from the Hua Lamphong MRT subway station.
This is the MRT station
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thailanddelightscom/5347516473/
This the Train station
http://www.fotopedia.com/items/eq304r1pgkg9a-h5RCW6K_PUY
#4 Posted: 23/5/2011 - 21:41
GandY
Joined Travelfish
21st May, 2011
Posts 4
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Thanks again goonistik,
My apologies, you did indeed provide instructions but I overlooked them in favour of viewing the links you provided.
Cheers.
You're a hero for providing me with that, so quickly (and for giving my backside a kick when needed).
Hopefully, someone can provide similar instructions regarding transit to the bus station (which I promise to read carefully, next time).
Thanks again.
#5 Posted: 23/5/2011 - 23:29
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Gandy,
Happy to help out.
Click here and read the section "By Bus". It gives your options to get to the southern Bus Terminal
http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok
To get to Victory monument from suvarnabhumi airport, take the airport city line train (not the express). Get off at Phaya Thai station and transfer to the BTS (light rail) and take the BTS train to Victory monument. The Bangkok wikitravel says there are buses to the southern bus terminal from there.
BTW, to get to Makkasan you can also take the city line. It costs less but it has several stops along the way.
#6 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 10:42
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Gandy,
I apologize. The train station you need to go to is the Bangkok Noi Train station and not Hua Lam Phong station. That commute is a bit more complicated than Hua Lamphong.
http://www.thairailways.com/train-station.bangkok.html
http://www.thairailways.com/road-route.west.html
That is not the official site but this is:
http://www.railway.co.th/home/Default.asp?lenguage=Eng
This site has been one of the handiest references for train travel
http://www.seat61.com/Bridge-on-the-River-Kwai.htm
It looks like it would be best to take the bus to Kanchanaburi because there are more trips scheduled.
#7 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 11:23
goonistik
Joined Travelfish
7th January, 2010
Posts 471
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
There are also mini buses that go from the airport to KS road and the South bus terminal
http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/to_from_public_van_en.php
#8 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 12:15
GandY
Joined Travelfish
21st May, 2011
Posts 4
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Wow, lots of information to digest there.
I think I agree with you on taking the bus rather than the train as it could shave an hour off the journey time.
The train is a rather pleasant journey but after a 15+ hour trip from the UK, my mind will be firmly fixed on recovering with a cold beer as early as possible.
Just such a pity that municipal planners (in most/all) countries invariably build our airport, train and bus transit points in isolation rather than properly considering efficient transport integration between them, with the result that that aspect becomes an afterthought and it is often left to private enterprise for a Heath Robinson-esq bolted on service.
Thanks for being a Sherlock Holmes, on my behalf.
Will let you guys know what method I eventually decide upon.
Nice one.
#9 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 13:54
SBE
Joined Travelfish
14th April, 2008
Location Global Village
Posts 1830
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Sorry I've never done that exact route either but here are a couple more suggestions.
1. There are minibuses to Kanchanaburi from Victory Monument too. It's very easy to get to Victory monument from Phaya Thai where the airport rail link goes as it's just one stop away on the skytrain.
The problem with that plan will be finding out where the minibuses for Kanchanaburi leave from once you get to Victory Monument. It's a large roundabout with walkways and stairs and there are loads of different minibuses and buses leaving from there.
Unless someone else can give you precise directions you'll have to ask when you get off the skytrain I'm afraid!
2. The other fairly straightforward option would be to get a 556 bus from the airport to the Southern Bus Terminal (if that bus route is actually in operation?) and get a bus to Kanchanaburi from there. More info below.
http://www.bangkokairportonline.com/node/56
#10 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 14:29
Advertisement
SBE
Joined Travelfish
14th April, 2008
Location Global Village
Posts 1830
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Opps sorry Goonistik! You already suggested that....sorry, I read the train thing and it seemed horribly complicated!
#11 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 14:34
john_f
Joined Travelfish
26th March, 2010
Posts 17
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
It is more expensive, but after a long flight you might want to consider just getting a taxi from the airport to Kanchanaburi . Just go to the taxi stand and someone will take you. As a rough guide I think the fare would be in the region of 2,000 baht. Last year we took a taxi straight from the airport to Ayutthaya and it was definitely worth paying the extra. The only thing is that the taxi driver almost certainly won't know their way around Kanchanaburi when you get there, so print off a map from somewhere to take with you. You should be able to find a map on the web somewhere.
#12 Posted: 24/5/2011 - 14:42