Visiting Hellfire Pass, Kanchanaburi

In March 2026, our editor travelled by train to Kanchanaburi to revisit the region’s various wartime locations, including Hellfire Pass.

Sweat trickles down my back. My calves are burning. As I gulp water from my bottle, the walkie-talkie radio crackles into life. I confirm with the visitor centre, I’m OK and nearing the end of the walking trail. I was prepared for the heat, but the second half of the trail was tougher than I anticipated. But my minor discomfort is just that. Minor. I switch on the audio guide provided by the visitor centre and listen again to firsthand accounts from prisoners of war who worked on this section of the railway. To hear their voices as I walk through the railway cutting is incredibly moving. This is now a place of tranquillity, but unimaginable horrors took place here. This is Hellfire Pass, one of the most notorious sections of the Thailand-Burma Railway. The Death Railway.

Construction of the Thailand–Burma Railway

During World War II, the Japanese army occupied territories that ran from Singapore up to Burma. To supply their forces in Burma and prepare for an attack on the British troops in India, the Japanese army wanted to establish an overland route which would avoid the alternative sea routes where Allied ships were active.

At the time, a railway already connected Bangkok to Southern Thailand. To strengthen logistics, the Japanese initiated the construction of a new line extending westward from Bangkok before turning north toward Burma. This route would subsequently be known as the Thailand–Burma Railway and ran approximately 260 miles between Nong Pladuk in Thailand and Thanbyuzayat in Burma. Construction began simultaneously at both ends in June 1942 and was completed just 15 months later.

More than 60,000 Allied prisoners of war were forced to work on the railway alongside approximately 180,000 Asian labourers (Romusha) conscripted from across the region, including Thailand, Burma, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Conditions were brutal. The heat and humidity would have been harsh enough, but with inadequate food and severe mistreatment by Japanese guards, it was inhumane. Disease and exhaustion were widespread, with cholera, malaria, dysentery, and starvation claiming countless lives. By the time the railway was finished, at least 90,000 civilian labourers and around 16,000 prisoners of war had died. The grim statistics equate to one man dying for every sleeper laid and led to the name, ‘Death Railway’.

Hellfire Pass

Today, Hellfire Pass is a place of remembrance. A peaceful setting where visitors can look out over views of the Tenasserim Hills that form a natural barrier between Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). The natural beauty and serenity of this area add poignancy to the tragic history.

During the construction of the Thailand-Burma Railway, this section was officially known as Konyu Cutting. But it’s the name given to it by Allied prisoners of war (POWs) that endures. Hellfire Pass. Before tracks could be laid, workers had to clear the jungle and gouge a route through solid rock. There was no respite for the poorly fed workers. To ensure deadlines were met, the Japanese introduced the ‘speedo’ period, which meant prisoners working longer hours into the night. To illuminate the darkness, the cutting was lit by oil lamps and bamboo fires amid scenes that POWs described as Hell.

“At night, it looked like a scene out of Dante’s Inferno’ … If you stood on top of the cutting, you would see the burning fires at intervals of about 20 feet – you’d see the shadows of the Japanese… moving round with sticks belting men… you could distinguish the prisoners…. moving rocks around, hammering and clearing. There was shouting and bellowing. And this went on all night.”

– POW who worked on the section of track at Hellfire Pass

Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre

The Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre is an award-winning museum that commemorates those who worked on the entire Thailand-Burma Railway. The facility is managed by the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) with support from the Thai government and Royal Thai Armed Forces Development Command. Entry is free, but donations to support the work of OAWG can be made in person at the museum or directly to them (see contact details further below).

Golf buggy service
For those unable to walk unaided, a golf buggy service is available. This takes visitors through the cutting and as far as the memorial, but is not available for the second half of the trail.

Below the museum is a walking trail and memorial that honours all of the POWs and Asian labourers who endured unthinkable brutality.

Before walking the trail, you can watch a short film that provides more context for what you are about to see. Exhibitions also explore the stories of the men who were forced to work here. Men like the Australian surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel ‘Weary’ Dunlop.

Lest We Forget

Dunlop was one of the many POWs transported from Singapore in 1943 to work on the Thailand-Burma railway. Through his bravery and compassion, he became a legend and an inspiration for other POWs. Working tirelessly to save wounded and malnourished men, he stood up to the brutality of his Japanese captors and risked his own life in doing so. He also secretly kept diaries, which provide valuable first-hand accounts of the conditions at the camps and on the railway. The stories of Weary Dunlop and the thousands of others like him are a reason why future generations should never forget.

A commemorative service takes place each year on ANZAC Day (April 25) at Hellfire Pass. The dawn service is open to the public, but anyone interested in attending should register first. A live stream of the service is also available online.

Before visiting Hellfire Pass, it’s recommended to visit the Don Rak War Cemetery located near Kanchanaburi train station. Adjacent to the cemetery, the excellent Death Railway Museum and Research Centre provides more background on the railway and the conditions the men endured. There is also another immaculately kept war cemetery at Chungkai just outside of town.

How to get to Hellfire Pass

Although trips to Hellfire Pass can be organised as part of a day trip from Bangkok, it’s worth spending at least a few days in Kanchanaburi. This gives you time to discover more of the wartime history. And if your itinerary allows for an extended stay, there is much to see and do in Kanchanaburi beyond the wartime sites.

If you’d like to visit independently, you can hire a taxi from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi or take the local bus. However, a more scenic option is to take the train. Starting at Bangkok Thonburi station, the train travels to Nong Pladuk, the official starting point of the Death Railway, before travelling on to Kanchanaburi. In Kanchanaburi, hotels and tour offices can make arrangements for you to visit Hellfire Pass. Specialist tours can also be organised via the Death Railway Museum and Research Centre in Kanchanaburi town.

Riding the Death Railway

In the years after the war, much of the railway on the Thai side of the border was repaired. Passenger trains still run on the line, but these days the service terminates at Nam Tok station.

Making a journey on the Death Railway helps you appreciate even more what took place at Hellfire Pass. Travelling over the tracks and crossing sections like the Bridge on the River Kwai and Wang Po Viaduct is a memorable experience. The trains listed below are all ordinary trains with third-class carriages and open windows. Tickets cannot be purchased in advance on these trains; you pay on the day of travel. The fare is 100 Baht for non-Thais. The same price applies whether you are travelling all the way from Bangkok to the end of the line at Nam Tok or getting off at Kanchanaburi.

Wang Po Viaduct
The section of track at Wang Po Viaduct is one of the most iconic on the railway. The viaduct consists of a series of wooden trestles originally built by POWs. With the river on one side and cliffs on the other side, the track gently curves around the hillside. The views are stunning, but it is poignant to look out of the train window and think of the hardship endured by the men who built this railway. It’s even more sobering when you discover that it is cited as the most deadly part of the railway. Exact casualty figures at Wang Po will never be known, but some reports suggest nearly every man who worked on this section of track died.

Outward journey to Nam Tok

Station	Train #485	Train #257	Train #259
Bangkok Thonburi	–	07:20	13:55
Kanchanaburi	06:02*	10:30	16:19
Saphan Khwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge)	06:07	10:35	16:25
Saphan Tham Krasae	07:28	11:40	17:46
Nam Tok	08:00	12:05	18:15

*Train #485 starts at Kanchanaburi

Return journey from Nam Tok

Station	Train #260	Train #258	Train #486
Nam Tok	05:20	13:00	15:30
Saphan Tham Krasae	05:49	13:28	16:00
Saphan Khwae Yai (River Kwai Bridge)	06:58	14:35	17:22
Kanchanaburi	07:03	14:43	17:28**
Bangkok Thonburi	09:35	17:40	–

**Train #486 terminates at Kanchanaburi

Whether you get on at Bangkok or Kanchanaburi, there is a flat fare of 100 baht for foreigners on this line. If you get on at River Kwai Bridge, there are no ticket facilities at that station, so the train conductor will issue the ticket on board.

A special excursion service runs from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi and the Sai Yok Waterfall at weekends and public holidays, but this does not include a visit to Hellfire Pass. These trains can be booked in advance via the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) online portal. See the Exploring Thailand by Train section near the bottom of the SRT home page for details.

Self-guided trip to Hellfire Pass

If you are short on time, joining a group tour or arranging a private tour is a good option. However, arranging a self-guided trip can be an adventurous option. The best way to do this is to stay in Kanchanaburi the night before. You then take the early morning train from Kanchanaburi (or River Kwai Bridge station) to the end of the line at Nam Tok. On arrival in Nam Tok, hire a songthaew to take you to the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre.

Taking the early morning train #485 that departs Kanchanaburi at 06:02 means you arrive at Nam Tok station at 08:00. Songthaews (shared taxis) wait in the car park at Nam Tok station. The set price (as of March 2026) for a round-trip journey to the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre is 800 Baht. If there are a few of you travelling, you can share the cost. But even if you are travelling solo, this is 800 baht well spent for the freedom it gives you.

The driver will take you directly to the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre and you arrange the time you want the driver to take you back. Leaving at mid-day gives ample time to get back to Nam Tok station for train #258 departing at 13:00.

Walking the long trail at Hellfire Pass
If you plan to walk the entire trail at Hellfire Pass, it takes around three hours to do the whole loop. To save time and energy doubling back, you can arrange for the driver to pick you up on Hintok Road at the end of the trail. On my recent trip, I asked the driver to meet me at the end of the trail at 11:30. This allowed enough time not to rush the walk but still get back to the visitor centre and then Nam Tok station in plenty of time. Doing it this way involves more mileage for the driver, so there is an extra 200 baht charge on top of the agreed 800 baht.

The road journey to Hellfire Pass takes around 25 minutes and means you will arrive before the visitor centre opens at 9 AM. There are cafes and stalls outside the centre shops where you can enjoy breakfast or a coffee.

When you enter the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre, you’ll be handed a leaflet with a map and asked if you want to walk the short or long trail. Both trails are accessed by walking down a series of steps to reach the site of the railway bed. The walkway then follows the old railway bed for the 20-minute walk to the memorial obelisk. Although this section is mostly flat, it is rocky and uneven in places.

The longer trail is more arduous and takes around 90 minutes to the end. Whichever option you decide on, opt for the free headset (you will be asked to leave your hotel key or passport as a deposit). The commentary on the headset provides an immersive and moving experience with first-hand accounts from POWs.

If you want to walk the whole trail and loop back to the museum, you will need to be fit and carry plenty of water. Good walking shoes/trainers, sun protection and insect repellent should also be part of your kit. Because the trail is isolated, you will be given a two-way radio for safety, and the museum will check in on you at hourly intervals. Reaching the end of the trail at Hintok Road takes around 90 minutes, so you will need to allow three hours in total to walk to the end and back to the starting point.

To save your legs, you can still walk the whole trail, but instead of hiking back on foot to the visitor centre, you can arrange for the songthaew to wait for you on Hintok Road at the end of the trail. The driver will then take you back to the visitor centre to return the radio and headset. Once that’s done, the songthaew will take you to Nam Tok station for the return journey to Kanchanaburi.

Good to know

• Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre is open daily 09:00-16:00*
• Entry is free, but donations can be made
• Allow around 45 minutes for the short trail (to the memorial and back)
• Allow 3 hours for walking the long trail (to the end and back)
• Take precautions against the heat, especially if hiking the long trail
• Wear trainers/walking shoes
• Audio guides are available (leave hotel key or passport as deposit)
• Umbrellas and lockers also available for loan
• Equipment loan service is from 09:00-15:00 and must be returned by 16:00
• Take a refillable water bottle; free drinking water is available at the centre
• Don’t touch any of the fruit you may see on the trail; some can cause irritation
• Golf buggy service is a limited service for the elderly or those with limited mobility or physically incapacitated. Available from 09:00-11:30 and 13:00-15:30.
• Toilets are available at the Interpretive Centre and at the end of the long trail at Hintok Road

*The centre and walking trail are closed annually for 3 weeks in May for maintenance and refurbishment work. Other closures may take place to allow for staff holidays (e.g. Songkran in mid-April, Christmas and New Year).

Location map

More information

Hellfire Pass Facebook page
Hellfire Pass (Thai language)
Department of Veteran Affairs (Australian Government)
Online walkway guide

Itinerary Ideas: Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Hua Hin

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