Sangkhla Buri: A Short Trip with Limited Time and Budget, but Maximum Happiness (Compact Edition)


With the arrival of the cool breeze, my wanderlust kicked in. I started browsing through old photos, contemplating where to escape for this year's winter getaway. As I scrolled through, I stumbled upon pictures from my previous trip to Sangkhla Buri, and memories of the serene atmosphere and pure joy came flooding back.


I recalled a conversation with a friend earlier that year about our end-of-year plans. They suggested,

"Let's go somewhere trendy during the cold season, but somewhere we don't need to take time off work for (because we're all out of vacation days) and ideally, somewhere that won't leave us completely broke by the end of the month."


We are Kanchanaburi people who have been working in the capital city. In the end, we decided to go to my hometown, Kanchanaburi, which is not far away and takes a short time to travel. Let's go to "Sangkhla Buri".


This is the origin of the journey, and I would like to share my impressions of the trip again. If you don't have a trip to catch the cold wind this year, I would like to recommend you to come here. Then you will know why I miss "Sangkhla Buri".

Concept Trip:

Limited time, limited budget, but lots of fun

"Limited time" We only have 2 days and 1 night, but wherever is good, we will go. Wherever is beautiful, we will not miss it.

"Limited budget" We bought all the happiness with 1,500 baht. We ate well, slept well, and had fun.

"Lots of fun" Many smiles, many friendships are infinite happiness...

Travel

Route I Bangkok - Kanchanaburi City - Sai Yok Noi District - Sai Yok Yai District - Thong Pha Phum District - Sangkhla Buri District


From Bangkok to Kanchanaburi city, there are various types of public transportation available, including buses, vans, and trains. The main boarding points are:


Southern Bus Terminal (Taling Chan): Buses, van route 81, and Happy van service are available (the route ends at the city center). The buses run along Borommaratchachonnani Road, passing Nakhon Pathom Province, Ban Pong District, and entering Kanchanaburi city via Saeng Chuto Road.


Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit): Buses and vans are available, with the final destination being Sangkhla Buri District and Three Pagodas Pass. The buses run along Bang Bua Thong Road, entering Kamphaeng Saen District, Phanom Thuan District, and stopping at the Kanchanaburi city bus terminal before continuing to Sangkhla Buri.


Namtok Railway Line: This line can be boarded at Thon Buri Station, near Siriraj Hospital. The final destination is Sai Yok Noi Waterfall.


For this trip, we planned to travel at a leisurely pace (but with a bit of a rush).

For the outward journey, we chose to use a van for convenience and speed. We boarded the van at the Southern Bus Terminal (Taling Chan) because most of our friends live in the Thon Buri area. Upon arrival in Kanchanaburi city, we transferred to a bus to Sangkhla Buri.

For the return journey, we took a van from Sangkhla Buri District to Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and then took the free public train back home.

Itinerary:

DAY 1

05.30

The group will meet at the Southern Bus Terminal (Taling Chan) and take a van from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal.

08.00

Upon arrival at Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal, we will find a bus to Sangkhla Buri. We plan to take a non-air-conditioned bus because the weather is cool. Buses to Sangkhla Buri are available as vans, air-conditioned buses, and non-air-conditioned buses. We chose to take a non-air-conditioned bus for 130 baht per person. The bus departs every hour, and we got the 9:30 am slot. In the meantime, we will have breakfast nearby.

09.30

Our bus starts its journey, and we enjoy the cool breeze as we chat, sleep, and take pictures of the beautiful scenery. The bus runs along the Sai Yok route, passing Sai Yok Noi Waterfall and Sai Yok Yai Waterfall. The road is good, with no curves, but it winds through the mountains.

11:30 AM

We stopped at Thong Pha Phum Market. The driver told us to wait for him while we grabbed some lunch. (This is definitely a VIP tour!) We wandered around the market, ate lunch, and took some photos until we heard the car horn calling us back.


2:30 PM

Upon arriving at Sangkhla Buri Bus Terminal, we stretched our legs after a long bus ride and searched for accommodation. We opted for "Highs Gu Guesthouse," located approximately 2 kilometers from the terminal. We hailed motorbike taxis, each costing 20 baht, to transport our luggage.

In front of the accommodation, there is an adorable coffee shop called Kaf Kafe. They offer delicious tea and coffee, beautiful artwork, and postcards created by young artists. It's the perfect place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

15.30

We left our accommodation and rented motorbikes at P. guesthouse, which is located opposite Highs Guesthouse. We then set off on an evening sightseeing tour. The rental price was 200 baht per motorbike, with a 100 baht deposit. We rented 3 motorbikes, and the rental period was 24 hours, starting from the time of rental. We rode our motorbikes to our first destination, the Three Pagodas Pass, which is located 19 kilometers from Sangkhla Buri district. The route offered beautiful natural scenery throughout.

16:00

Upon arrival at the Three Pagodas Pass, a border area with Myanmar, we took a stroll around the vicinity. We noticed souvenir shops selling wooden crafts and plants. We couldn't resist buying some "tua tod" (fried beans) or "baya," which were being sold by vendors nearby (at first glance, we mistook them for karaage chicken).


We then hired a car to cross the border into Burma for 60 baht per person. We completed temporary border crossing procedures and spent about an hour exploring temples, markets, and local life in the village. This is another experience I highly recommend if you have the opportunity.


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17:30

As we rode our motorbikes back, we stopped at various viewpoints to admire the scenery. The air began to cool, and by the time we reached Sangkhla Buri district, it was starting to get dark. Upon arriving, we immediately sped towards the Songkalia Bridge, also known as the Concrete Bridge by locals, to enjoy a panoramic view of the Mon Bridge at dusk. The orange glow of the setting sun illuminated the Mon Bridge, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

7:00 PM

Amidst the cool evening air, we embarked on a culinary adventure through the bustling night market of Sangkhla Buri, seeking sustenance for our rumbling stomachs. The aroma of countless delicacies filled the air, tempting our taste buds with an array of culinary delights.

Among the myriad offerings, the highlight was undoubtedly the "หมูจุ่มไม้ละบาท" (skewered pork for one baht each). We settled down for a delightful hour, savoring the succulent skewers and immersing ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the market.

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21:00

Before returning to our accommodation, we bought lanterns from the walking street and floated them on the bridge walkway leading to the Mon Bridge. Afterwards, we rode our motorbikes back to our accommodation for our mini party.



DAY 2


05:30 AM

Motorcycle enthusiasts wake up (or not?) and ride their motorcycles across the concrete bridge to offer alms to the monks at the Mon village. The U-Ta-Man Bridge, also known as the Mon Bridge, takes about 10 minutes to cross. At the Mon Bridge, there are sets of alms for sale at 100 baht each, and Mon-style sarongs are available to wear for free. Wearing a sarong instantly makes you feel like royalty. The atmosphere during the alms offering is lively, and the local morning food is sure to whet your appetite.

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7:00 AM

After offering alms and exploring the surrounding area of the Mon Bridge, we rented a boat near the bridge for 300 baht per boat to cruise along the Songkalia River to the church in the middle of the water. The boat owner gave us a bunch of white marigolds to worship in front of the church. Afterwards, we returned to eat the famous Mon-style porridge.

09:30

We embarked on a motorbike journey to the Mon village, immersing ourselves in the local way of life. Along the way, we encountered a nun, Mae Chi Pama, who had walked over 20 kilometers from the border to collect alms in the village. We then proceeded to pay our respects at the Phra Chedi Phutthakaya, a significant religious site associated with Wat Wang Wiwekaram, also known as Wat Luang Pho Uthama by the locals.



11:00 AM

We rode a motorbike to the bus station to inquire about the return trip (be careful, there are not many buses, and some trips are canceled). After that, we took a van at 12:15 PM and traveled down from Sangkhla Buri. Another activity we did was taking a train back. The starting station was the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall Station because we were told that the train route was a beautiful natural route. The van fare was 175 baht per person, and no matter where you get off, the price is the same as the ticket to the city.

3:00 PM

We arrived at the front of the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, where the train station is about 2 kilometers away from the waterfall. There are shared taxis for 10 baht per person. The train is free to use, and you can get a ticket and board it directly. There are also cute restaurants and cafes at the train station.

3:30 PM

The train departed on a scenic route, battling the wind. I took photos along the way. If you have time, I highly recommend trying this route. However, make sure you arrive on time. The last train departs at 3:30 PM. The train I was on ended up stopping for almost an hour at Wang Yen Station to change locomotives. We found some snacks, sat down, and took photos of the long tracks.

19:00

Arrival in Kanchanaburi city (if the train had not broken down, we would have arrived 1 hour earlier). We then boarded a van back to Bangkok.


Precautions:

1 If you have limited time, we recommend taking a van or air-conditioned bus from Kanchanaburi Bus Terminal to Sangkhla Buri. This will save you time and allow you to visit more places. However, if you prefer a more relaxed pace, you can take a regular bus like we did, which takes about 4 hours. 555 :)

2 Returning by train will allow you to see the beautiful natural scenery from a different perspective. However, be aware of the last train schedule, which departs from Sai Yok Noi Waterfall Station at around 3:30 PM. This means you need to arrive at the station before 3:00 PM. The journey from Sangkhla Buri to Sai Yok Noi Waterfall by express van takes about 2 hours. Therefore, you need to catch the van from Sangkhla Buri before 12:00 PM.

3 When traveling during holidays, be aware of the limited availability of public transportation, such as vans from Sangkhla Buri to Kanchanaburi city. There may not be enough vans, so it is recommended to book your return trip as soon as you arrive at Sangkhla Buri Bus Terminal to avoid disappointment.

4 If you are traveling during the winter season (around November - December), the sun sets earlier. If you plan to rent a motorcycle to explore the area, which consists of forests and villages, please be careful to avoid accidents, as it starts to get dark around 5:30 PM.

Summary of expenses: (1,500 baht per person)

Round-trip van fare (Bangkok - Kanchanaburi city) 120 baht each way: 240 baht per person
Bus fare from Kanchanaburi to Sangkhla Buri (one way): 130 baht per person
Van fare (return trip from Sangkhla Buri to Waterfall): 175 baht per person
Train fare: Free for the public
Accommodation for 1 night: Haiku Guesthouse, 650 baht per night, average 325 baht per person
Motorcycle rental: average 100 baht per person
Remaining amount per person: 530 baht for miscellaneous expenses (border crossing, motorcycle fuel, food, alms offering set)


Finally, we would like to introduce our page "Baan Chan Kanchanaburi".

We created this page to showcase the beautiful places and stories of our hometown, Kanchanaburi.

You can follow us at: www.facebook.com/baanchan.kanchanaburi/

#sangkhla buri#kanchanaburi#thailand
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