Riding a stretch of the Death Railway itself is the most atmospheric way to grasp its story. The surviving line runs from Kanchanaburi to the terminus at Nam Tok, and the ordinary state railway train covers it slowly and cheaply several times a day. The dramatic highlight is the Wampo, or Wang Pho, Viaduct, a curving wooden trestle that clings to the sheer cliff face directly above the River Kwai Noi, built entirely by hand by prisoners and labourers. As the carriage inches along it, the drop to the river opens up beside your window. The whole route threads through jungle, past rice fields and small memorials, and the pace leaves plenty of time to reflect on the appalling human cost of laying these rails. Sit on the river side of the carriage for the best views over the viaduct. Combine the ride with Hellfire Pass further up the line for the fuller, and more moving, picture.
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