A First-Timer's Review of a Relaxing Getaway to Kanchanaburi

This is my first attempt at writing a review, so please bear with me as I share my experience of a recent trip to Kanchanaburi.

It all started with a simple desire to explore a new corner of this beautiful province. We've been to Kanchanaburi many times before, often revisiting the same familiar spots. This time, we craved a different kind of adventure, one that would allow us to truly unwind and reconnect with nature.

Our journey began on a Saturday morning, with four of us setting off in our car, ready for a leisurely drive with spontaneous stops along the way. Our first stop was a place we had never been before: Wat Tham Suea, or Tiger Cave Temple.

The Tiger Cave Temple: A Place of Beauty and Devotion

The Tiger Cave Temple, nestled on a hillside in Muang Chum Subdistrict, Tha Muang District, stands as a testament to faith and perseverance. Originally a small hermitage within the lower Tiger Cave, the temple has grown into a magnificent and ornate structure thanks to the unwavering dedication of local communities.

This sacred site, situated before reaching the heart of Kanchanaburi, invites visitors to embark on a journey of spiritual exploration. The temple's intricate architecture and serene atmosphere offer a sanctuary for reflection and tranquility.

Visiting Information

Open Daily:

• Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Saturday - Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

**Getting from Bangkok**
1. From Bangkok, pass Ban Pong district and enter Saeng Chuto Road. You will pass the Miracle of Life intersection. Then, when you reach the Tha Muang intersection, turn left towards Tha Muang district.
2. Pass Tha Muang Hospital and the clock tower roundabout. Turn left onto the irrigation canal road.
3. At the three-way intersection, turn right and continue for 2 kilometers (there is a signpost). Follow the same direction as Wat Muang Chum. After passing Wat Muang Chum, you will see the entrance to Wat Tham Suea on your left.
**

Today is a Saturday and a Buddhist holy day, resulting in a significant increase in tourist numbers.

Upon arrival at Wat Tham Suea, visitors will encounter a parking lot and various shops selling food, souvenirs, and other items. Adjacent to the parking area is a pavilion housing the preserved remains of Luang Pu Chuen in a glass coffin. Another pavilion displays statues of the temple's abbots, Luang Pho Singh and Luang Pho Chuen. Luang Pho Singh was a wandering monk who discovered Tham Suea, while Luang Pho Chuen was responsible for renovating and restoring the temple. The cave itself is divided into four chambers: a large hall with the main Buddha statue, two chambers used by Luang Pho Chuen for meditation, and a chamber housing a statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin.

Let's find a parking spot and then continue.

The ascent to the hill where Luang Pho Chin Prasitthanporn and the pagoda are located can be done by either walking up the 157-step Naga staircase in front, which has an incline of approximately 60 degrees, or by purchasing a round-trip electric tram ticket (no walking required) for only 10 baht. Upon reaching the top of the hill near the temple, the Phra Chedi Kesa Kaew Prasat will be located on the left side next to the tram area.

Alternatively, if you wish to conserve your energy for exploring the scenic beauty of the upper section, the site offers a tram service for visitors.

Upon reaching the summit, proceed straight ahead. The first prominent landmark is the Phra Chin Pradan Prohm, a large Buddha statue situated in the open air.

The Architectural Layout and Ritual Practices at Wat Phra Kaew

The text describes the layout and ritual practices at Wat Phra Kaew, a significant Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Key Points:

• The viharn (assembly hall) is located on the left side of the main佛像 (Buddha image).
• The ubosot (ordination hall) with its eight-sided尖顶 (spire) is situated on the right side.
• Visitors typically begin their visit by paying respects to the Phra Sihing Buddha image before ascending to the Phra Chedi Kaew Prasat (glass-spired stupa) to venerate the sacred relics.

The left side of the main Buddha image houses the assembly hall, while the eight-sided ordination hall stands on the right. Tourists visiting the temple customarily pay homage to the Phra Sihing Buddha image before proceeding to the glass-spired stupa to venerate the sacred relics.

Before ascending to the Phra Chedi Kaew Prasat, there is a doorway with light shining through, which is another popular spot for tourists.

We will ascend to pay homage to the relics of the Lord Buddha at the Phra Chedi Kaew Prasat.

Ascend the spiral staircase for approximately six floors.

Along the way up to each floor, there are window niches with various Buddha statues in different postures arranged around them.

At this point, we are presented with a breathtaking view of the revered Luang Pho Chin Pradan statue, towering majestically against a backdrop of verdant rice fields. The scene is truly captivating.

While ascending the path, if one looks to the other side of Wat Tham Sua, beside the pagoda, one can see the Chinese pavilion of Wat Tham Khao Noi, which is adjacent to Wat Tham Sua. Its beauty is no less impressive.

During the rainy season, the lush green rice fields behind Wat Tham Sua create a picturesque backdrop, further enhancing the temple's charm.

Let's continue to admire the beauty of the temple.

How about some refreshing green?

"The 'Luang Pho Chin Prasit Pran' statue, standing at an impressive 9 wa and 9 inches tall with a lap width of 5 wa, 3 sok, and 9 inches, is a magnificent representation of the Buddha. Seated in a cross-legged meditation posture (samadhi) with the gesture of bestowing blessings (prasit pran), the right hand is raised to the chest level with the index finger and thumb touching, forming a circle in the center of the palm holding a flower. The left hand rests on the lap with the index finger and thumb touching, forming a circle in the center of the palm holding the Dharma wheel symbol. The statue is enclosed within a glass pavilion similar to the Phra Buddha Chinnarat, adorned with gleaming golden tiles. An outer pavilion further encloses the entire statue, making it a truly awe-inspiring sight."

We spent almost 2 hours at Wat Tham Sua. In fact, we didn't take pictures of every spot and didn't walk around the whole place. There are still caves below and the Attamukha Ubosot that we haven't visited yet. I'll leave it here for now. I'm sure I'll be back here again and will bring more pictures then.

Time is limited, but we still have many places to go. Let's move on, shall we?

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Love at first sight...place number 2

Giant Rain Tree (Crab Claw)

Over 100 years old, 10 people can hug it, average crown radius 25.87 meters, canopy diameter about 51.75 meters.
Crown height 20 meters, crown area about 1 rai 2 ngan 4 wa.

How to get there

By car.

To reach the giant rain tree, follow Route 3429 from the front of Kanchanaburi Provincial Hall. Cross the Mae Klong River Bridge and pass the Mae Klong Police Station. Turn left at the Wat Tham Khao Laem intersection and continue for approximately 5 kilometers. At the next intersection, turn left onto Route 3209. Drive until you reach the area of the Department of Military Animal Affairs. Signs will guide you to the giant rain tree along the way.

The natural surroundings of this place are equally beautiful.

Indulge in the beauty of nature, let it soothe your soul. Breathe in the fresh air, jump for joy, and continue your journey.

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After a satisfying lunch (no pictures to show, I was too hungry!),

My eyelids began to droop as my stomach was full.

Time for a coffee pick-me-up!

At the Old Market Community, Pak Phraek Road, Walking Street zone.

A pale yellow building in the Coronial style, a renovated old house over 90 years old.

Transformed into a stylish and intriguing coffee shop.

Baan Sitsang Cafe.

The young coconut cake is very delicious.

With a refreshing drink in hand, we have the energy to continue our journey.

From the city center, head towards the resort via the route to Amphoe Sai Yok.

Then turn left towards Tambon Ban Kao, following the same direction as the road to Prasat Muang Sing.

However, during our journey to the resort, the rain showed no mercy.

We have arrived at Tayan Resort & Spa (I forgot to take a picture of the resort entrance sign =..=)

This accommodation is available on both land and on a floating raft.

However, we stayed on the raft, like this.

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The raft will be towed by a boat about 1 km away from the resort, so we can just sit back and relax.

For those who did not board the raft, they sat and enjoyed the fresh air and scenery on the large raft.

After traveling approximately 1 kilometer, at the point where you turn around to return to your accommodation, you will be allowed to float freely in the water with your friends and drift back to your accommodation. This is because the return journey is along a path where the current flows in the opposite direction.

After returning from a raft trip with the resort, guests can order dinner at the resort at reasonable prices. Additionally, guests are allowed to bring their own food to enjoy. Some rooms even offer the option to grill seafood, with the resort providing grills for this purpose.

The service provided by the staff here is impressive, with most of the staff being very friendly.

After enjoying the evening atmosphere, it's time to go to bed.

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Breakfast is served from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

It's a buffet breakfast with brown rice porridge with minced pork and shiitake mushrooms (this menu is very delicious).

Fried rice, stir-fried soy sauce, fried eggs, ham, sausages, salad, fruits, fruit juice, toast, tea, and coffee.

Everything is included in the room rate.

Let's go eat.

After a delicious breakfast,

we took some time to capture the beautiful surroundings of our accommodation before checking out.

Enjoy the stunning photos!

In addition to the relaxing accommodations, this location also offers a variety of trees and flowers for photo opportunities.

Capture the atmosphere and enjoy the peace of mind to the fullest before we check out.

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After leaving the resort, our trip is not over yet. On the way here, we saw a sign for Muang Sing Castle, which is in the same direction as the resort, about 8 km further. Since we are already here and it is not too far away, should we stop by and take a look?

It's time to head back to Bangkok.

I'm ready, but can I have lunch first?

Let's find a restaurant quickly.

We can try a new restaurant.

"Prik King" is where we will have lunch.

Drive in the same direction as Wat Lad Ya, pass Wat Lad Ya, and then go down the bridge a little bit. The restaurant is on the right-hand side.

We almost didn't get to eat because all the tables were booked.

We didn't know that we had to book in advance, so we just walked in. But we didn't have to wait long for a table.

The restaurant looks very ordinary, but the food is anything but ordinary.

This restaurant has been endorsed by many famous food shows and chefs in Thailand.

We ordered three dishes, and they were all delicious. And the bill wasn't as expensive as we thought it would be.

Spicy stir-fried wild boar. I was so hungry that my hands were shaking, so I only managed to get this picture. 555+

Steamed egg custard (recommended menu)

It's actually minced pork and shrimp omelet, but they made it so fluffy that it looks like a steamed bun.

Deep-fried catfish tom yum - Slurp the hot, sour, spicy, and well-balanced soup.

In short, everything is delicious and the price is very friendly. Highly recommend this restaurant!

But to be on the safe side, it's a good idea to call and make a reservation with the restaurant. That way you won't have to wait long.

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Our trip has come to an end. We have explored the sights and indulged in delicious food, and now it's time to return to Bangkok with full hearts and satisfied stomachs.

Trip Summary and Expenses

This concludes the travelogue for this trip. Here is a summary of the expenses incurred throughout the trip:

• Accommodation: 2 days, 1 night, 2 rooms x 1,310 baht = 2,620 baht
• Highway tolls (one way): 115 baht
• Fuel: 1,000 baht
• Entrance fee to Prasat Muang Sing: 130 baht (25 baht per adult x 4 adults + 30 baht for car)
• Food and drinks: 2,500 baht

Total: 6,365 baht

Split among 4 people, the average cost per person is 1,591.25 baht.

Conclusion

This concludes my first-ever travel review (with a lot of photos, haha!).

The photos for this trip were taken with a NIKON1 J1 camera and a Samsung Galaxy J7 phone.

I apologize for any errors.

Thank you to everyone who read and followed along.

Feel free to share, like, and comment, but please be kind.

I promise to review future trips if there is enough interest.