When we were looking to explore the Kanchanaburi Province, we have planned to visit some of the area’s off-the-beaten-path location. I am always on the hunt for something different to do when travelling and I simply love the next little destination spot that I was about to share! It really offers an interesting option for travelers looking to explore and see something different. This was what makes this region so much fun.

The off-the-beaten-path location was known as Ban I-Tong. Ban I-Tong is a remote village on the Myanmar border, and is surrounded by Thong Pha Phum National Park, which takes up most of the subdistrict’s area. Sometimes, it is known as Pilok Mine (Mueang Pilok). Pilok was a tin mine site. Nowadays, it is just a village of the old mine community site. In order to get there, we had to drive up all the way with 399 curves. To be honest, the journey has many bumps, twists and turns due to the uneven mountain ground road. The ride took about three hours from Kanchanaburi town through hilly road in order to get there.

Although it was an uncomfortable and rough journey, you will not have regretted. Halfway through the journey, there was a viewpoint to see the beautiful vantage point where we can relax and regularly rolls in over the surrounding hills.

After that, we drove up a steep slope with lower gear to visit the Myanmar Border Patrol and Station. It was right at the Nern Sao Thong Viewpoint. This was a must-see place if you are in this area. We took our time and enjoy the stunning view over the mountain range in Myanmar.

Luckily, we managed to catch the sunset over at Nern Sao Thong Viewpoint. It was casting an orange hue onto the rolling hills. It was a magnificent sunset view on the peak of Thai-Myanmar border. We experienced the peaceful nature and good weather.

There are times that we can’t avoid some travel problems such as wrong hotel booking. While we were enjoying the beautiful sunset, our driver asked us for our accommodation address. As we entered our hotel name onto the Google Maps, we realized that we did not book the hotel that was supposed to be located at Pilok Village. Instantly, we starting to feel panicky. As it took us about three hours to drive up this complicated route, it was no way that we can drive down these 399 curves to reach our booked hotel. We feel that the downhill cliff route was a little dangerous to travel at night. So, we began to call up some of the hotels or hostel located at Pilok Village. We phoned up several hotels and their reply to us was the hotel was already fully booked. We felt that we are entering crisis mode. Securing somewhere to live at a small town is our biggest worry. However, we stay calm. We decided to drive down to the main village in the Pilok region is Ban-I-Tong to find a suitable place to stay over for just one night.

At the time we arrived, the sun almost set and the weather was really cooling. We did not expect to see crowd here. It was so difficult to find a parking and there were many cars here. We went door to door to ask for any last-minute accommodation available for us. The response that came back was “Sorry, we are full.” Everywhere was fully booked. Then, our driver managed to ask the parking attendance for help. The parking attendance was nice and called his friend for help.

Thankfully, we managed to get a tent accommodation at one of the homestay’s roof top. That tent accommodation costed us 1000 baht. At that moment, it was not the price that matters. It doesn’t matter what kind of place it was… at least we have a roof over our head that served as protection against the cooling weather. I am really very grateful for the roof over my head. The weather was cool till we decided not to take shower. We did some simple wiping and tuck in early that night.

This was our first chill-er camping experience abroad.

The next day, we woke up at 6 a.m. We set out early to have breakfast and explore around Pilok village.

The morning scenery around Pilok village was quite peaceful with gorgeous blue skies. Although the sun was out, it was not hot and humid at all!

Next, we set off to visit the Jog Kradin Waterfall. Although not a huge waterfall but it’s easy to access with a very short distance walk from the parking lot. It was a perfect natural spot to get away and enjoy a short hike after breakfast.

We were greeted with another beautiful vantage point located at Thong Pha Phum National Park. It was accessible by car and we just need to walk a short distance to enjoy the breathtaking view.

This was really a suitable place for tourists who love nature and want to relax. Since the village was higher than 1,000 meters above sea level, the weather is cool and pleasant all year round just like with air conditioning blasting. For us, the once-in-a-live-time tent experience was really an epic momento for this whole trip road. A worthy stop for sure.

Lesson Learned: No matter what the weather’s like, define your own condition. Smile in the rain. Cuddle as temperatures drop. Look forward to snowmen and igloos carefully created on upcoming snow days. No matter what the weather, this is our season to enjoy what is beautiful and to create warmth with those we encounter.

Home Phutoey River Kwai Resort offers panoramic views of the Kwai Noi River. Other than mineral hot spring bath, this relaxed international resort with a thatched-roof terrace offers a variety of activities, such as boat trips and a treetop adventure park, plus several WWII memorials. In fact, we really have an unforgettable and memorable two-night stay here.

After we checked out from Home Phutoey River Kwai Resort, we decided to visit the Hellfire Pass (known by the Japanese as Konyu Cutting). The name of a railway cutting on the former Burma Railway (“Death Railway”) in Thailand was built by forced labour during the Second World War. The Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and Memorial Walking Trail was built and maintained by the Australian government. This is dedicated to the Allied prisoners of war and Asian labourers who suffered and died at Hellfire Pass and elsewhere in the Asia Pacific region during World War II.

The Hellfire Pass Interpretive Center was a very somber place with interesting visual learning experience so that you can immersed in the stories from the Hellfire Pass. It was a moving place to visit and remember those who worked and gave their lives as prisoners of war building this infamous railway line during the Second World War. In the small museum, there were graphic videos revealing their moments of absolute sufferings, cruelty of war, inhumanity, and heroism experienced during the construction. There was also first-person narratives and experiences of survivors. The testimonials from these heroes were truly moving.

After watching the video, we went to the Hellfire Pass Walking Trail. The trail (with the gripping audio guide) takes the experience to another level completely. There were two walking routes. Walk 1 through Hellfire Pass is about a 1km roundtrip and not difficult. Walk 2 out to Hintok Cutting is about 5km and had some steep climbs and uneven surfaces. We took the Walk 1 route. As you walk past imposing walls of rock, you can catch sight of occasional nails protruding from the chiseled surface too.

In the interests of public safety, the Cutting was temporary closed due to Thai wet season, landslide.

Konyu Cutting was one of the most notorious stretches of the Death Railway constructed. It was why it was a well worthwhile historic place to visit if you are around Kanchanaburi.

After a tragic part of history but a must visit place, we went to Thong Pha Phum. We went to a restaurant recommended by our driver to have our lunch with a bridge view.

After lunch, the driver showed us Wat Tha Khanun, a Buddhist Temple located in Thong Pha Phum at the Khao Laem reservoir. There wasn’t much to see in Thong Pha Phum but this temple and it’s Buddha up on the hill above it. It can be reached via walking up 285 steps on the hill’s south face to a pagoda on the top of the mountain. It has a beautiful view of Thong Pha Phum Village.

However, we did not have the luxury of time to head up. So, we walked over the Wat Tha Khanun rope bridge and spotted good backdrop of the lake.

It’s incredible astounding scenic. Let’s slow down for a second here…

Stay tuned for the next posts with more pictures about my road trip journey through Thailand.

“Convince yourself every day that you are worthy of a good life. Let go of stress, breathe. Stay positive, all is well.” ― Germany Kent