Kanchanaburi Travel Forum

Hi
I'm visiting Thailand for the very first time in March/April 2006 & hope to visit Kanchanaburi. I really wanted to see the waterfalls but having read reviews in the travel guides I'm wondering if there will be any water to fall at that time of year! Anyone been then?
If it's not too dry I'd also like a rafting trip on the river & a visit to the tiger temple - will I be able to do all this in one day or should I plan an overnight stay?
Thanks

I've stayed in katchanaburi for a couple of days in July. Can't speak about the waterfalls, but it's well worth to spend at least a night there. My recommandation is Jolly Frog GH, it has a very relaxing atmosphere. I've heard that the tiger was being mistreated in the temple from a couple of ppl who've been there.

in theory you can do the tiger temple and a waterfall (e.g. Erawan) in one day from BKK, if you leave early; in fact I did them both just yesterday, but we stayed in Kanchanaburi; the tiger temple has turned to a big tourist trap in my opinion, for I do not really appreciate when the big cats are displayed filled up with drugs so that they just lie in the sand doozing all the time; even the local Thais in Kanchanaburi do not all appreciate what is going on there; btw, I have been told by an Australian and a German that both have been living in the area for several years that there have been 2 accidents at the tiger temple in the last couple of months, but the abbot managed that the papers did not publish anything;

the waterfalls might not be as spectacular as just now when you go there in March/April, due to the dry season, and some smaller ones might even run dry, but there are so many in the area, you will not have to worry ...

When we went to the tiger temple in February this year, they only let the public in to see the tigers after 2 30 pm. We watched a documentary on British tv last year about the temple and how the tigers came to be there. They had a person on the programme from Russia who studied big cats and their behavoir and they examined the tigers. This person stated that "drugs were not used and that the tigers were treated well". They are not given any meat to eat, what they are given is boiled and crushed chicken bones mixed with dog biscuits so maybe they do not realise that we taste good! We stayed at the Pung Wan noi which is a little more expensive (TB 2100) for a room with balcony overlooking Kwai Noi river in Nam Tok. Hope that you enjoy your trip. Barry

Erawan waterfall is brilliant at any time. I have been in April and July and although not at full strength they are sooooo beatiful. You will be able to get a tour fron the many agencies in town to do all you want in one day for about 800 baht it will be a full day so staying overnight is a must.Please consider staying at least a few days. Kan is very laid back with plenty of good accomodation for 80-300 baht and there a a lot of good trips.
Buses from BKK go from the southern bus station cost about 180 aircon.
2 trains go from Thonburri station 0745 and 1350 cost 25 baht. Get the early train get off at Nakhon Pathom and visit the biggest Chedi in Thailand then get on the afternoon train to Kan.