Take an adventure up the River Kwai, retreating into the jungle as you spend the night in a beautiful, thatched-roof chalet. Learn about the horrifying history of the Thailand-Burma Railway and immerse yourself in local Mon traditions and customs.

Day 1: Leave from Bangkok and travel to the Kanchanaburi Province. Arrive at the Thailand-Burma Railway Center, an interactive museum and research center dedicated to preserving the history of the railway. During World War II, more than 60,000 Allied prisoners of war were put into forced labor and nearly 13,000 died in the construction of the railway, which became known as the “Death Railway.” Visit the Allied War Cemetery to pay your respects to the dead.

See the bridge over the River Kwai, made famous by the classic novel and award-winning film of the same name. Board a tugboat and head up the river to your hotel, an exclusive jungle retreat. Your thatch-roofed chalet is complete with comfortable bedding, air conditioning, a private bathroom, a shower with hot water, and gorgeous wooden furniture for your comfort. Eat lunch at your hotel.

Take a long-tailed boat upstream to visit a nearby Mon tribal village and temple, learning about local traditions and customs. The Mon were one of the earliest peoples to live in Southeast Asia, and have a long and grand history. Return to your hotel and eat dinner while enjoying the peaceful and rhythmic sounds of the jungle coloring your night before going to sleep full of beautiful memories.

Day 2: Eat breakfast at your hotel before heading up the road to visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial, a particularly deadly stretch along the Death Railway where many laborers died while cutting through rock under infamously harsh working conditions. Check out from your hotel and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, take a ride on a historic train on the Death Railway, passing over an original wooden viaduct constructed by Allied prisoners of war. At the end of your tour, journey back to Bangkok, where convenient hotel transportation awaits.