Located about 1.5 hours drive from Kanchanaburi, Hellfire Pass is a famous railway cutting in the former Burma-Siam Railway. The construction was built by forced laborers during WWII and cost several lives of Allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers.
How to travel to Hellfire pass?
This article is a detailed transportation guide to get from Kanchanaburi to Hellfire, pass by bus and train, including ticket prices, schedules, and tips.
Overview
The distance between Kanchanaburi city center to Hellfire pass is about 80 km. Currently, the most common options to travel between these locations are bus and train.
The journey takes approximately 1.5 hours by bus or 2.5 hours by train.
Please note that Hellfire Pass is located inside a military center, but you can enter there. After crossing the gate, turn right and walk until you see the museum.
Kanchanaburi to Hellfire Pass train and public bus
Experiencing a historical train ride is a must-do on your trip to Kanchanaburi. However, there’s no direct train to Hellfire pass, and the furthest station you can get off is Namtok train station.
The ticket price for the Kanchanaburi-Namtok route is 100 baht. It applies to all train tickets departing from Kanchanaburi on this route, no matter the distance.
After arriving at Namtok train station, you can take a tuk-tuk, taxi, or songthaew to Hellfire pass. It costs about 300-500 baht depending on your bargain skill.
Another cheaper option is that you can walk or take a songthaew to Sai Yok Noi waterfall. The distance is about 1.5 km, 20 minutes walk, or 5 minutes by tuk-tuk (20 baht).
You can explore the area and then take a public bus to Hellfire pass. The bus stop is opposite the waterfall, next to 7-eleven and under the big tree.
It costs 20 baht to Hellfire pass.
Train time table
Daily trains depart in Kanchanaburi train station at 6:07 am, 10:30 am, and 12:30 am. The train arrives at Namtok station at 8:20 am, 12:30 am, and 2:30 am.
Buses stop in You Nok waterfall bus stop every 30 minutes to 1 hour. So if you’re in a hurry, you should take a direct tuk-tuk from the train station to the pass.
Kanchanaburi to Hellfire Pass bus
Taking a bus from Kanchanaburi to Hellfire Pass is an easier option because it drops you right in front of the gate.
You can take bus 8203 from Kanchanaburi Bus Station. The ticket price is 50 baht, and buses depart every hour.
The first bus leaves the Kanchanaburi bus station at 7:30 am, while it’s 5 pm for the last bus.
Hellfire pass to Kanchanaburi bus
Getting back to Kanchanaburi city by bus is the easiest option. The ticket price is also 50 baht, and the journey takes 1.5 hours.
The bus stop (yellow) is about 30 meters from the opposite side of the gate.
Below is the timetable for the Hellfire pass to Kanchanaburi.
| Number | Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | 6:10 am |
| 2 | 6:55 am |
| 3 | 7:40 am |
| 4 | 8:40 am |
| 5 | 9:40 am |
| 6 | 10:25 am |
| 7 | 11:10 am |
| 8 | 12:10 pm |
| 9 | 1:10 pm |
| 10 | 2:10 pm |
| 11 | 3:10 pm |
| 12 | 4:10 pm |
| 13 | 5:10 pm |