A Brief Guide to Camping in Kanchanaburi

As it turns out there are also a fair number of campgrounds and tent sites in the area, both public and private. So if you are interested in pitching down for a few nights whilst you check out the plethora of physical, cultural, and historical pursuits on offer, you might find that camping in Kanchanaburi is a great way to explore all the vicinity has to offer. 

Do Foreigners Go Camping in Kanchanaburi?

To be fair, not that many. Camping can be a great outdoor experience for travellers who don’t mind roughing it a bit to get closer to nature and sleep under the stars. Typically there aren’t that many of them in these regions though (Thailand, that is). 

Visiting Westerners typically opt for the beach locations or the thrall of the city, often being blissfully unaware of the potential scenery, adventure, and tranquillity that awaits in this neck of the woods. And only a small percentage of Thais are prepared to forego their usual comforts like air-conditioning for a spot of adventure in the outdoors, although it has become distinctly more in trend of late. 

The plentitude of relatively inexpensive hotels and hostels is another factor for shunning the outdoors as a sleeping option, which leaves just a small cross-section of middle-bracket Thais who fancy the idea of getting away from it all in a tent. But the region has its fair share of visitors passing through who opt to camp so they are well-organised in the ways they cater to different parties.

What Should You Expect from Kanchanaburi Camping-Wise?

The main camping sites in the region tend to be focused around or near major natural attractions like:

• The River Kwai
• Erawan National Park
• Erawan Falls
• Sai Yok (on the edge of Kanchanaburi)

It is possible to find what might be considered upmarket camping arrangements in the area. Equally there are also plenty of basic, bog-standard, rent-a-small-tent-in-a-field scenarios. Unless you are hellbent on creature comforts you’ll generally be looking at around 150-300 baht per night for a tent of varying quality and size.

But whichever degree of comfort you decide to go for, it’s still worth keeping in mind that this is the jungle. Which, to varying degrees, offers challenges like humidity, mosquitos, and even rain–depending on factors like season and time.

Even if you are paying top dollar for the best accommodation you can find there are various things that you still can’t escape when it comes to nature. But for many this is about ‘roughing’ it–at least to some degree–and embracing the outdoor experience wholeheartedly.

The Top 4 Campsites in Kanchanaburi

Here’s four campground options in Kanchanaburi selected for their location, popularity, and/or facilities, as well as proximity to nearby attractions or other features.

1. Erawan National Park Campsite

Located in the Tenasserim Hills region of Kanchanaburi, Erawan National Park is home to one of the most-visited falls in the country. The park covers 130 acres or more and has as its main attraction the 7-tiered Erawan Falls, with its emerald green ponds along the trails–and visitors are allowed to swim in them. 

The camping area is right next to a natural lake featuring a pagoda and a floating pontoon. The campsite facilities are pretty basic but functional. The camping area is just a few hundred metres from the visitor centre and the main parking area. 

Tents can be rented from around 150 baht a day for a 2-person tent, and 250 baht a day for a 3-person tent. Other accessories like sleeping mats are also available, and you can actually choose your own spot for pitching your tent. 

A large proportion of those who visit the falls will most likely opt to hire a tent package. For 200 baht this includes tent, blanket, mat, and pillow. The packages are available from the accommodation office, where you’ll be given everything you need along with your ticket. You pay the balance in the morning when you return the ticket.

The views of the river and the mountains are great from this spot, and there is an onsite restaurant that serves either eat-in or take-out options. Expect neither Cordon Bleu nor wild over-pricing here, just regular local options.

Getting there: You can actually jump on a local bus from the town that will drop you at the entrance to the national park. After a short 5-minute walk you’ll be at the camping grounds where you’ll see the tents and other equipment available for rent. 

2. Hintok River Camp @ Hellfire Pass

This Kanchanaburi camping option is where you get to stay in a ‘glamping’-style tent that exceeds all limitations. Located in the region of the historic Hellfire Pass site, this is an ideal spot from which to visit many of the other local attractions.

The deluxe tent accommodation is located on a cliff overlooking the River Kwai in a well-organised camp featuring some amazing views as well as an onsite restaurant. The tents are equipped with virtually everything you need including showers, refrigerators, Wi-Fi, and even a fireplace. They take on a magical-looking hue at night.

On top of that the resort has a natural spring-water pool that provides real respite from the humidity and also looks really picturesque on an evening when lit up. Breakfast is included and guided boat tours on the River Kwai are available to places like caves, waterfalls and a nearby village of the local Mon.

As you can probably imagine this is more than likely the most expensive camping or tent arrangements you will encounter in the region, with prices typically upwards of 5,000 baht per night depending on various factors. 

You can get directions on how to find the camp HERE if you are heading in by road, and anyone taking a train from Bangkok to the Namtok Station in the Kanchanaburi region can then find transportation from the station to the camp via a local minivan.

3. Idyllic Camping Kanchanaburi (Lum Pu Kloi River Camp)

This is a campsite just over 5 miles out from the centre of Kanchanaburi town, apparently also known as Lum Pu Kloi River Camp. It’s a private campsite and most of the information about it is in Thai, but you can check out photos from the camp’s Facebook page.

Campers can pitch down for around 150 baht per night here, and electricity is available. If you didn’t bring anything with you to plug in though, there’s a lit courtyard-type area that ensures some light so you won’t be fumbling around too much in the dark.

There is an onsite restaurant here as well as a male and two female bathrooms (only fair, eh). There is also access to various pursuits like fishing and canoeing along the river at an extra charge, which makes this a great spot for families or couples.

4. Ploenkarn Camping by The River

Ploenkarn Camping is located next to the river in the middle of a green valley, and the site offers both camping and accommodation options. This is a camping ground more than 30 miles out of Kanchanaburi’s centre and closer to the vicinity of the Srinakarin Dam, north of Erawan National Park. 

Needless to say there are some amazing surrounding river and mountain views to be had here.

The site has two accommodation zones–one featuring an innovative tree house-style with a modern design, and one for tents. The tree houses will set you back somewhere in the region of 1,300-2,200 baht per night for one and two bedrooms respectively, depending on time of booking and available features.

The tents here may seem expensive in comparison to some of the other places–in fact twice the price of some at 300 baht per night–but there is one bathroom per tent and a safe box. On top of that there are bathroom facilities with hot water at the camp, and you can even bring your pets here. 

You do have to pitch your own tent though, which is normally the case.

Like most of the camping spots along the river there are a number of activities offered at an extra charge like fishing and boating. The surrounding lush greenery is fairly impressive though if you don’t fancy expending that much energy, and the cooling falls in Erawan National Park are less than 30 minutes from this spot.

As usual you’ll find an onsite restaurant and stocks of anything you may need which reduces the need for going out. The accommodation & tent grounds are on the waterfront with great views and plenty of available activity which makes this another great place for families or couples. See their Facebook page to find out more.

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, a camping expedition gives some real, authentic insights into the western jungle regions of Thailand along the River Kwai. Kanchanaburi is outstanding for certain types of tourism related to nature and outdoor pursuits. 

Many of these experiences are unlikely to be encountered in cities and beach spots, and a trip to the region of Kanchanaburi–which gets overlooked by many visitors–offers a valid and authentic Thailand experience that should be tried at least once.