Kanchanaburi is a well-known province in Thailand with a wide variety of tourist attractions, including natural, historical, and cultural sites. Its proximity to Bangkok and the abundance of natural beauty make it a popular destination for both locals and tourists. The province offers a diverse range of activities, catering to different interests and preferences. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion, Kanchanaburi has something to offer everyone.

The Allure of Kanchanaburi: A Reunion Among University Friends

Driven by the ease of travel and a multitude of factors, Kanchanaburi emerged as the ideal destination for a long-awaited reunion among university friends. Despite the passage of time and the distance that had grown between them, their shared desire for adventure and camaraderie remained strong. With a unanimous decision to embark on a whitewater rafting expedition, they eagerly anticipated the thrill and bonding experience that awaited them. The prospect of navigating the rapids together promised to rekindle old friendships and create new memories that would last a lifetime. Indeed, the joy of whitewater rafting is best experienced with a group of like-minded individuals, eager to share in the exhilaration and laughter that comes with conquering the river's challenges.

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DAY 1

**10:00 AM Departure!**

On the day of departure, the 10 members came from different places and headed to Kanchanaburi Province. Some of them left Bangkok, which is about 120 kilometers away and takes less than 2 hours by car to reach Kanchanaburi city. However, to reach their destination, the raft trip in Sai Yok, it was only halfway there. From Kanchanaburi city, they had to drive another 100 kilometers on Highway 323 to reach the "Sai Yok National Park" (Sai Yok Yai Waterfall). The total travel time was about 4 hours.

**3:00 PM. Sai Yok National Park (Sai Yok Yai Waterfall)**

Arriving at "Sai Yok National Park" in the afternoon, the weather was pleasant. Although this place is a popular tourist destination in Kanchanaburi Province, it was our first time visiting. The atmosphere inside the park felt refreshing, with plenty of trees, making it ideal for a relaxing getaway. We paid the park entrance fee (100 baht per person) and proceeded.

And prepare supplies to board the raft, which is not far from the parking lot. Since we have to sleep on the raft for one night, we must prepare both food and drinks. Some items may be available on the raft, such as drinking water, ice, etc. You can inquire beforehand. So you don't have to carry too much.

Time waits for no one, so we hurried to load our belongings onto the raft. This time, we used the services of the "Ratchawallaphob Raft," a medium-sized raft that can accommodate around 15-20 people. The raft has two bedrooms, each accommodating 2-3 people, and a bathroom at the back. It also has kitchen equipment, a stove, cups, plates, and bowls for cooking. Since we were with a large group of friends, we chose to take out mats, mattresses, and blankets and spread them out to sleep on outside. It was a great experience!

After the luggage was unloaded onto the raft, the small boat towed the raft out onto the Kwae Noi River. The atmosphere on this holiday was lively, with many people coming to relax. The raft drifted along, allowing passengers to enjoy the natural scenery on both sides of the river.

Behind the raft pulling the boxes, there is a small raft, a "pia" raft, where you can sit and play, and play in the water at the same time. For safety, you should wear a life jacket.

A small boat towed a raft along the river, passing by floating houses and resorts along the banks.

The raft was slowly dragged along, and at times, for fun, they would get into the water and hold onto the wet raft, letting it pull them along with the current.

The rafts arrived at the "waterfall" where there were a lot of people. Many rafts stopped to play in the waterfall at this point.

Sitting on a wet raft, drifting slowly along, can be quite a relaxing experience.

Feeling bored, I decided to take a dip in the water to enjoy the cool evening atmosphere.

As we ventured further out, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to grow increasingly tranquil.

Throughout the journey, passengers can enjoy the scenery on both sides, which is remarkably beautiful.

The raft was pulled to a stop at a riverbank, which seemed to be the designated spot for camping that night. The surrounding area was peaceful and serene, and the bank where the raft was docked had a sandy beach where one could stroll or soak in the water. This was the perfect time for everyone to enjoy a leisurely swim.

Rarely do we get to visit and relax amidst nature like this. **So let's take a refreshing dip in the water to our heart's content.**

The water here is shallow, allowing for comfortable wading and soaking.

Behind the pier, there is a beach-like area where you can walk around.

Not far from here, there is another waterfall, which is still popular with tourists in the late afternoon, waiting for the raft to take them in to play in the water.

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5:00 PM. Dinner time!

As we will be staying overnight here, it is essential to bring food supplies. If you don't want to go through the hassle, you can bring instant food to eat on the raft. Alternatively, you can have the raft prepare meals for you, depending on your preference. However, since we have the opportunity to relax and have fun, why not grill and cook our own food? It would be more enjoyable, and the raft has all the necessary cooking equipment. Along with a large black garbage bag for disposing of any waste generated during our stay on the raft, which we must all work together to keep clean.

The prepared ingredients will be used to cook simple dishes such as grilled pork, grilled sausage, salt-grilled fish, stir-fried basil, and tom yum soup.

**Cooking Time** It seems like we were playing in the water and cooking at the same time, taking turns coming up from the water to check on our work. The grilling that was left on the stove, *we kept flipping it over and over again*, and at some point, we might have accidentally burned some pieces. **But it was fun**. *We kept grilling, tasting, and playing in the water. We complained about the burnt pieces*, **and for the good pieces...** we cut them up, dipped them in the sauce, and popped them in our mouths. *I want to say*, **it was so delicious!**

With all the food prepared, everyone changed out of their wet clothes and gathered around the table for dinner. As darkness enveloped the surroundings, a comfortable silence settled in. Soon, conversations began to flow, creating a relaxing atmosphere. Drinks were sipped, karaoke songs were sung, and laughter filled the air. As the night wore on, members of the group gradually retired to their beds, one by one, two by two...

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DAY 2

Good morning!

The sound of passing motorboats woke us up. One of them was a **boat selling noodles**, and it wasn't just the sound that caught our attention, but also the **aromatic smell of the broth** wafting through the air. Without hesitation, we decided to indulge in a warm breakfast. **Noodle soup** became the perfect morning meal for everyone on the raft.

Bellies full, it was time to relax, sit around, and lie down as we pleased. In the early morning like this, the atmosphere was still peaceful, with not many tourist boats passing by. It was perfect for sitting around, sipping coffee, enjoying nature, and chilling out.

Feeling refreshed and awake after the initial drowsiness, it was time to continue playing in the water.

In these remaining hours, let us fully immerse ourselves in the wonders of nature!

11:00 AM. Departure!

As the small boat approached from afar, its bow pointed towards the raft, it was clear that the fun was over. The boat would tow the raft back to the shore, to the same spot where we had disembarked the previous day. The boat would follow the same route back, giving us a final opportunity to enjoy the scenery as we drifted along.

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Expense Summary

Transportation (Personal Vehicle)

Admission fee: 100 Baht per person

The cost for one night (accommodates 15-20 people) is 4500 baht.

Food and beverage expenses are approximately 500 baht per person.

Adventure Tourism | CHAILAIBACKPACKER

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