Anzac Day 2022 Commemorations Hellfire Pass & Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Thailand Tour Summary Travel to the River Kwai (Thailand) for the Anzac Day Duration: 3 Days, 2 Nights commemorations for what will be an emotional but uplifting From/To: Bangkok experience. Join the deeply moving Dawn Service at Hellfire Pass Departs: 24th April 2022 before attending the Wreath Laying Ceremony at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery later in the morning. Tour type: Join-in/Small group Status: Guaranteed departure Visit the Chungkai War Cemetery and iconic places such as the Bridge over the River Kwai, the spectacular Wang Pho Viaduct and Pricing Details: enjoy a trip on a long-tail boat on the Kwai Rivers and a train ride Twin share - $925 pp on a still operating section of the Burma-Thailand Railway. Single room surcharge - $185 pp All prices are quoted in AUD Prices valid to 28/02/2022 Tour Details Day 1: Saturday, 24th April 2022 Depart hotel: 7:00-7:30am (Bangkok city location) Finish: 3:30pm approx. Depart your Bangkok city hotel for the River Kwai and Kanchanaburi (about 3 hours after leaving Bangkok) and visit the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, a museum of world renown. Dioramas, artefacts (retrieved from various camps and work sites along the railway) and personal stories of POW’s, all combine to give you a better appreciation of the railway story and put perspective into the sites that you will visit during the rest of the tour. After lunch, visit the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre which depicts the construction of the railway through this mountainous Hellfire Pass Memorial section and the hardships that the POW’s had to endure. Walk Page 1 of 4 To book: Visit: www.historicwartours.com.au or Email: [email protected] or Contact: Your travel agent Anzac Day 2022 Commemorations Hellfire Pass & Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Thailand down the stairway from the Centre to the disused railway bed below and proceed to Hellfire Pass. Be amazed at how this huge railway cutting was built with little more than basic hand tools while the POW’s worked 16 to 17 hours a day. Take time for some quiet reflection on the sacrifices of the POW’s at the Weary Dunlop Memorial and the Hellfire Pass Memorial. It is only short drive to your overnight accommodation. Arrive in time to relax from the heat of the day, in the resort pool, take a refreshing drink at the resort bar or visit the Weary Dunlop Peace Park (the famed railway doctor) and the Jack Chalker Gallery (an artist of exceptional ability who worked with Weary Dunlop), Dawn Service, Hellfire Pass both located on the resort grounds. Meals: Lunch, Dinner Hotel: Home Phutoey River Kwai Resort, Sai Yok (or equivalent) Activity level: * Thailand-Burma Railway Centre (museum) – Low-Moderate * Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre – Low * Hellfire Pass – Moderate-High * Weary Dunlop Park - Moderate * Jack Chalker Gallery - Low Day 2: Sunday, 25th April 2022 Depart hotel: 2:45am Finish: 2:00pm approx. An early start for what will be an emotional and memorable day, as the tour returns to Hellfire Pass for the Anzac Day Dawn Service. Afterwards, mingle with other travellers at the “Gunfire” breakfast at the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre before returning to the resort. Wreath Laying Ceremony, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Travel to Kanchanaburi (about 1.5 hours) and the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Walk around the beautifully landscaped grounds where nearly 7,000 POW’s are buried or commemorated and begin to understand why the railway became Page 2 of 4 To book: Visit: www.historicwartours.com.au or Email: [email protected] or Contact: Your travel agent Anzac Day 2022 Commemorations Hellfire Pass & Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Thailand known as the “Death Railway”. Later in the morning, attend the Anzac Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the cemetery. Leave the Cemetery for your first sight of the Bridge over the River Kwai where you will enjoy a relaxing lunch at the Floating Restaurant. After the early start, the rest of the day is free. Perhaps relax by the hotel’s pool or try one of the many bars close-by and share stories with other Anzac Day travellers. Tonight, join your fellow tour members for the tour dinner featuring a range of Thai and European cuisine. Bridge over the River Kwai Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Hotel: Pong Phen Guesthouse, Kanchanaburi (or equivalent) Activity level: * Anzac Day Dawn Service, Hellfire Pass – Moderate-High * Anzac Day Wreath Laying Service, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery – Low Day 3: Monday, 26th April 2022 Depart hotel: 8:30am Finish: 6:00pm approx. Take the short drive to the Chungkai War Cemetery and the site of the Chungkai POW construction camp and later, a hospital camp. As a mark of respect to those buried here take a moment of quiet reflection, then see the remnants of the death trenches that fortunately, were never used. Return to the Bridge over the River Kwai by long-tail boat. You will travel down the Kwai Noi and then up the Kwai Yai and gain a unique perspective of the Bridge over the River Kwai from the river itself. On a hot day, this boat ride is not only a lot of fun but Wang Pho Viaduct, River Kwai is also cooling as you speed along the river. At the Bridge, take time to observe the war damage that can still be seen today before joining the pilgrimage of people making the return walk across the bridge. Page 3 of 4 To book: Visit: www.historicwartours.com.au or Email: [email protected] or Contact: Your travel agent Anzac Day 2022 Commemorations Hellfire Pass & Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Thailand Another short drive brings you to the Kanchanaburi Railway Station in preparation for the train trip (about 1.5 hours) on an operating section of the Burma-Thailand Railway. Leave the train at Tham Krasae, the site of the spectacular Wang Pho Viaduct. Be awestruck by the ability of the POW’s to build this series of bridges with towering cliffs on one side and a sheer drop to the River Kwai on the other. This is one area that also abounds in natural beauty, so be camera ready! After lunch, begin your journey back to Bangkok. A POW at Rest, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Own arrangement Activity level: * Chungkai War Cemetery – Low * Long-tail boat ride on the Kwai Rivers – Low-Moderate * Bridge over the River Kwai - Moderate * Train trip – Low * Wang Pho Viaduct – Moderate Inclusions: Exclusions: Pick-up/Drop-off at your Bangkok (central city) Airfares, passport and visa expenses hotel Bangkok accommodation Resort (3.5 Star) and Guesthouse (2 Star) Meals and services not mentioned accommodation Comprehensive travel insurance Meals as indicated Personal expenses (e.g. telephone, internet, Experienced, English speaking guide laundry, drinks, souvenirs etc.) Comfortable, air-conditioned minivan/bus with Tips to Guide and Driver driver All touring as indicated Please note: Long-tail boat and train ride as indicated This tour is conducted in accordance with the Entrance fees - Thailand-Burma Railway Centre Policies, Terms and Conditions of Historic War Historic War Tours – Anzac Day polo shirt Tours (www.historicwartours.com.au/policies-ts- cs). All travellers must have covid-compliant, comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of the tour. Page 4 of 4 To book: Visit: www.historicwartours.com.au or Email: [email protected] or Contact: Your travel agent .