5. Wang Krachae - Sing Kayak Track

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36,2 km
249 m
12o04
Hard

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Informazioni sull'itinerario

314 visite | Pubblica | FranceseOlandeseTedesco

Ultimo verificato: 16 giugno 2025

Descrizione dall'autore

This kayak track is the fifth track on the Khwae Noi River and part of the Khwae Noi River Kayak Project set up by Ayutthaya kayaking Experience [AKE] aiming to paddle the full stretch of this river from the Vajiralongkorn Dam in Thong Pha Phum district until its confluence with the Mae Klong River at Kanchanaburi (Thailand).

The Khwae Noi, translated small tributary, was initially simply the River Khwae and a tributary of the Mae Klong River, which empties into the Gulf of Siam at Samut Songkhram. When Pierre Boulle’s novel "The Bridge on the River Kwai" written in 1952, turned into a well-known motion picture in 1957, confusion reigned all over. While in the film, the famous bridge was built over the "River Kwai", in reality it was not built over the Khwae River, but over the Mae Klong River in Tha Makham. People are inventive, so the Mae Klong River was shortened and the stretch north of Kanchanaburi was renamed the Khwae Yai; the Khwae River became the Khwae Noi. As thus geographical denominations were adapted following the movie. Stan Ridgeway would sing "Things are never quite the way they seem".

The Khwae Noi rises to the east of the Salween in the north-south spine of Bilauktaung range. Three small rivers, the Huay Song Kalia, the Maenam Ran Ti and the Maenam Bi Khi join to form the Khwae Noi close to Ban Ni The south of the Three Pagoda pass in Sangkhlaburi district. From there the river flows south-east, receiving numerous small tributaries including the hot spring waters of the Huai Pilok until it joins the Khwae Yai River near Kanchanaburi to form the Mae Klong River.

The Khwae valley was a strategic route since ancient times. It was through the Three Pagoda Pass that the Burmese armies often descended to attack the Siamese city of Ayutthaya. The Khwae valley offered a more easy passage than the mountains and the river provided water to troops and combat animals.

Also the Japanese High Command in the 2nd World war was keen to open that route as their naval superiority in the Pacific had become unattainable after the Battle of Midway in June 1942. A Siam-Burma railway was seen as a vital alternative to supply the Japanese Army in Burma. The railway line, 415 kilometers long, followed the same route the British had surveyed in 1903: the line from Nong Pladuk passed through Kanchanaburi and crossed the Mae Klong river to follow the Kwae River to the Burmese border. From the Three Pagoda Pass it travelled northwest to link up with the British line to Rangoon at Thanbyuzayat on the Burmese coast. It is said that the first survey by the Japanese engineers predicted that it would take at least five years to finish this railway line, but the Japanese army forced the prisoners to complete it in only sixteen months. It was completed on 25 December 1943. Every kilometer costs the lives of 38 allied soldiers, while the total human sacrifice was calculated at one life per used wooden sleeper for the track. After the war Thailand and Burma agreed to destroy the tracks from their common borders until 100 Km into each country (in Thailand until Nam Tok station).

This track brings you from Wang Krachae to Sing. The tour will take 5-6 hours according to your level of physical fitness, the conditions of the water current, and your personal kayaking experience. Highlights are listed to give you a number of reference points on this tour itinerary. Do not initiate this tour without the necessary physical fitness and preparation.

Tips and Warnings

General - Stock up supplies of water (500 ml/hr), electrolyte beverages (3-4 bottles) and dry food (take a snack every 2 hours) as there is hardly opportunity to find a meal on this itinerary. Keep up mobile communications with somebody for emergency cases and do know where you are exactly at all times. Protect your equipment with waterproof bags and tie everything to the boat.

Water currents - The most important variable for making kayaking plans is water current. Rainy season will result in flooding and/or rapidly moving water. In this case not every kayak is suitable. For this track in the rainy season you will need a kayak suitable for wild water. This track is notorious for whirlpools during the rainy season. Use caution when the current is fast and wear a life jacket.

Clothing - Wear a good hat and loose-fitting clothing that dries quickly. Long pants and shirts with long sleeves may be useful and appropriate to protect you from the sun. The refracted sunlight from the water makes sunburn commonplace, so put on plenty of sun block on not covered parts of your body and wear sunglasses.

Who are we?

Ayutthaya Kayaking Experience [AKE] is a sportive subsidiary from Ayutthaya Historical Research. AKE’s objective is to promote kayaking tourism in Ayutthaya, by basically showing kayak presence on canals and rivers. Kayaking is the perfect outdoor recreation to explore the city island contours and its surroundings. We are local expatriates who have been living in Ayutthaya for many years and would like to share our kayak knowledge with other sportsmen. More information on AKE can be found at: http://aykaex.yolasite.com/

Disclaimer

Ayutthaya Historical Research or Ayutthaya Kayaking Experience will not be held liable for any loss or damage whatsoever for any suggestions made in relation to the site’s promotion of ecotourism. It is the responsibility of the user of the site to take the necessary precautions to avoid any physical injury, traffic incident, animal attack, theft, and damage to equipment. Any reliance on the site’s information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Read our full disclaimer at website www.ayutthaya-history.com.

©2010-2018 Ayutthaya Kayaking Experience.
All rights reserved.

Pubblicità

Origine dell'itinerario

Descrizione dell'itinerario

Regione

Statistiche

Livello di difficoltà: Hard (87/100)

Lunghezza: 36,2 km

Durata: 12o04


Salita totale: 249 m

Pendenza massima: 4,1 %

Pendenza media: 0,7 %

Salita netta: -12 m

Discesa totale: 261 m

Livello di difficoltà secondo l'autore: 3/10

Strade e sottosuolo

Scenario


Caratteristiche

  1. Avventuroso
  2. Sportivo

Temi

  1. Acqua (mare, laghi, fiumi)
  2. Natura
  3. Storia

Gruppi

  1. AKE - Khwae Noi River Kayak Route

Inizio e fine dell'itinerario

Indirizzo più vicino all'inizio: ประเทศไทย
Indirizzo più vicino alla fine: กจ.3013, ประเทศไทย

Naviga al punto di partenza

Luoghi di interesse

  1. River Kwai Golf & Country Club

    0 · Shelter for the night
    River Kwai Golf & Country Club
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  2. Shallow area (pebbles)

    0 · Area
    Shallow area (pebbles) - fordable location.
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  3. Wang Yai POW Camp

    0 · POI
    Wang Yai was a work camp for prisoners of war used during the construction of the Thailand-Burma …
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  4. Ko Maha Mongkhon Railway Station

    0 · Trainstation

    Ko Maha Mongkhon Railway Station

    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  5. Bridge

    0 · Bridge
    Bridge
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  6. Wat Khae

    0 · Buddha temple
    Wat Khae
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  7. Death Railway

    0 · Railtrack
    From the river you can observe a part of the Death Railway track. I cite Hugh V. Clarke, …
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  8. Sai Yok Place Resort

    0 · Shelter for the night
    Sai Yok Place Resort
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  9. Wang Pho POW Camps

    0 · POI
    In the Wang Pho area were three working camps for prisoners of war occupied during the …
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  10. Wang Po Railway Station

    0 · Trainstation

    Wang Po railway station

    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  11. Elephant Village

    0 · Animal support
    Elephant Village
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  12. Resort

    0 · Shelter for the night
    Resort
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  13. Bridge

    0 · Bridge
    Bridge
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  14. Yoko Resort

    0 · Shelter for the night
    Yoko Resort
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  15. Huai Lum Sum Yai

    0 · Confluence
    Confluence of the Huai Lum Sum Yai with the Khwae Noi River.
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  16. Tham Krasae Railway Station

    0 · Trainstation

    Tham Krasae railway station along The Death Railway.

    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  17. Tham Krasae

    0 · POI
    The Krasae cave was situated in a bend of the Khwae Noi River at the beginning of the wooden Wampo …
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  18. Wampo viaduct

    0 · POI
    Wampo (Wang Po), Thailand. c. September 1945. The Wampo tiered viaduct built along the edge of the …
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  19. Bridge

    0 · Bridge
    Bridge
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  20. River Kwai Resort

    0 · Shelter for the night
    River Kwai Resort
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  21. Elephant Village

    0 · Animal support
    Elephant Village
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  22. Bridge

    0 · Bridge
    Bridge
    Ayutthaya Historical Research
  23. Resort

    0 · Shelter for the night
    Resort
    Ayutthaya Historical Research

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Attività

Nelle vicinanze

Itinerari nelle vicinanze

Sistemazioni nelle vicinanze

Servizi nelle vicinanze

River Kwai Golf & Country Club
Shallow area (pebbles)
Wang Yai POW Camp
Ko Maha Mongkhon Railway Station
Bridge
Wat Khae
Death Railway
Sai Yok Place Resort
Wang Pho POW Camps
Wang Po Railway Station
Elephant Village
Resort
Bridge
Yoko Resort
Huai Lum Sum Yai
Tham Krasae Railway Station
Tham Krasae
Wampo viaduct
Bridge
River Kwai Resort
Elephant Village
Bridge
Resort
0 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 km12 km14 km16 km18 km20 km22 km24 km26 km28 km30 km32 km34 km36 km36 km37 m76 m
PLUS
500 m

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