The capital of Kanchanaburi province, Kanchanaburi town’s temperate climate, proximity to Bangkok and many natural and cultural attractions have made it a popular holiday destination. Highlights of the area include Wat Tham Phu Wa – a Buddhist temple complex that consists of a series of cave shrines – and The Bridge Over the River Kwai, which was built by forced Asian labourers and Allied POWs as part of the Thai-Burma Railway during the Japanese occupation of Kanchanaburi in WWII. Scores of men lost their lives while building it and two museums in town document this tragic event and commemorate those who died in the process. The two-hour ride along the infamous ‘Death Railway’ of which the bridge formed part takes in incredible views of sheer mountain cliffs, lush jungle and winding waterways.