Day 1 Departs: 07:0007:00 Pick up from strategic hotels in BangkokWe pick up from three areas in the city and ask folks to meet at these designated hotels. Details will be provided when you book More...09:00 Don Rak Cemetery KanchanaburiFirst stop will be at the Don Rak War Cemetery. You'll have time to wander around the cemetery.
The local guide will join us here. More...11:30 Train Ride along the 'Death Railway'We'll board the train and ride over the precarious Wang Pho Viaduct which was constructed by POWs along the cliff face and high above the River Kwai. More...12:00 Lunch in a Thai RestaurantWe'll stop for lunch in a local restaurant on our way up to Hellfire Pass. Don't worry if you don't like spicy food or if you have kids with you. There's plenty of variety in Thai food and you'll find something you like, no problems.14:00 Hellfire Pass Museum & Konyu CuttingThe benefit of the two-day tour is that you get to visit Hellfire Pass in the daytime. Take your time here. You can begin in the museum itself and then walk down into Konyu Cutting.
You'll need decent walking shoes as the descent takes about 25 minutes. More...18:00 Check-in to ResortTime to check-in to your resort.19:00 Dinner at Thai RestaurantA set-menu dinner will be served at 7:00 pm sharp and the first round of drinks over dinner will be on us so please don't be late! Day 2 Departs: 03:1503:15 Depart for Dawn Parade Hellfire PassEarly start this morning. We'll leave promptly at 3:15 am and will not wait for stragglers or late risers. If you are late we will be gone! More...04:15 Walk down into Konyu CuttingHellfire Pass is located on an Army Base and the army take care of the parking arrangements. We have to park a long way from the Museum and take a 'songtaew' passenger truck and then walk about 25 minutes down into Konyu Cutting.05:30 Dawn Parade Hellfire PassDawn Parade commences at 5:30 am and lasts about 30 minutes. Cold water is available at various points in the cutting and it's a good idea to drink a lot.06:30 Gunfire BreakfastA traditional ANZAC Gunfire Breakfast of tea or coffee with a nip of Bundy Rum and an ANZAC biscuit will be served in the car park in front of the Hellfire Pass Museum.07:30 Breakfast at ResortWe'll return to the resort around 7:30 am for a hearty breakfast and you'll have time to relax before leaving for the cemetery.09:00 Depart for Don Rak War CemeteryWe'll leave the resort at 09:00 so that you have time to find a seat in one of the tents before the wreath-laying ceremony starts.10:00 Wreath-Laying CeremonyThere will be a number of tents erected around the cenotaph so you will be able to sit in the shade. Every tent has an unending supply of cold water delivered free to your seat by local students. Please drink a lot because it will be hot. More...11:00 Hospitality offered by the Australian EmbassyEvery year the Australian and NZ Embassies alternate the hosting of hospitality and in 2016 it's the Aussies turn. Expect copious amounts of good Aussie beer served behind the VIP tent.12:30 Lunch at Floating RestaurantSet-menu lunch will be served in a local Thai restaurant.14:00 Check-in to ResortYour free to relax and catch up on some sleep during the latter part of the afternoon.19:00 Dinner at Local RestaurantWe'll have dinner in one of the local restaurants and after you have a choice between shopping at the local night market, enjoying a few beers in one of the local bars or catching up on some sleep with an early night.
Day 3 Departs: 09:3009:30 Pick up from the hotelWe'll leave the resort at 9:30 so please be ready.09:45 Chungkai War CemeteryChung Kai War Cemetery is war graves of Allied POW during the construction of Thai-Burma railway, and was the site one of the biggest camps during WWII and prisoners built their own hospital and church close to here. More...11:00 Long Tail Boat to The Bridge over the River KwaiTake an exhilarating long tailed boat ride along the River Kwai to the Bridge over the River Kwai More...11:15 JEATH War MuseumThe JEATH War Museum is a war museum in Kanchanaburi, Thailand about the Death Railway built from 1942 to 1943 by Allied POWs under the direction of the Japanese, a part of the Thai-Burma railways. More...12:30 Lunch at Thai RestaurantLunch will be served in a local Thai restaurant.13:45 Depart for BangkokAll good things must come to an end, so it's time to head back to the city.17:00 Arrive Back at HotelYou can expect to be back at your hotel in Bangkok around 4:00 pm depending on the traffic. Important InformationHellfire Pass is an hour's drive out of Kanchanaburi so an early start is in order. No stragglers or you'll be left behind.
Wear sensible shoes as the access is through the old railway bed and the rocks are sharp.
A tot of Bundy Rum will be served after the Dawn Parade.
Following the Wreath Laying Ceremony the embassies of Australia and New Zealand alternate the provision of a hospitality tent. In 2016 the hosts are Australia.