Rural Tourism

Sangkhlaburi at Kanchanaburi, Thailand.

Sangkhlaburi is a sleepy town of 15,000 people from many ethnic backgrounds. There are the Karen, the Mon, Thais, Chinese, Lao and even Arakanese and Bangladeshis. This ethnic diversity makes Sangkhlaburi district unique in Thailand. You will love to wander through the local markets, take a ride to Three Pagodas Pass or make a trek to remote villages outside the district town.

Saphan Mon - The 400m wooden bridge itself is well worth a visit and is the longest handmade wooden bridge in Thailand. There is a small cafe on one end which is a great spot for a drink and a view. Be careful when crossing the bridge though, it is made and repaired in a chaotic manner and you need to be careful of your footing. There are donation boxes at either end which pay for the bridges constant upkeep. So consider donating, as you will receive an amazing photo in return! Local children like to jump off bridge into lake.  

This bridge was constructed in 1993 and has even attracted Thai and foreign movie teams!  Despite its hundreds of years old history, today's Sangkhlaburi is a new town. When The hydroelectric Vajiralongkorn Dam neared its completion in 1984, old Sangkhlaburi had been demolished and the new town was created on higher grounds. All that remains of the past are the half-submerged structures of the old Mon-Temple and the basements of several buildings. And, the eroded remains of a 400 year old pagoda close to the impressive new Mon temple Wat Wang Wiwekaram which was fouded by the late Abbot Luang Pho Utama.