Sangkhlaburi Travel Essentials
Ideal duration: 2 days
Best Time: November to March Read More
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"Thailand’s remote lake town with floating bridge and temples"
Sangkhlaburi Tourism
Sangkhlaburi is a high-altitude city at the end of Thailand, just 25 kilometers from the Burma border. It has the beautiful Vajiralongkorn Lake (Khao Laem), where most travelers take a boat ride, rest, and enjoy the day. Most of the city is covered by dense forests and limestone ranges. Sangkhlaburi is mostly visited by Thais for a weekend getaway but it is also a great place for tourists who want to see real Thailand.
Sunken Temple and Temple Wat Mon are the two unique and spectacular temples that should be a must-visit in Sangkhlaburi. It is a culturally diverse area with Karen, Mon, Thai, and Burmese settlers. A lot of Burmese residents face inequality issues because they are not Thai citizens, but still, everyone manages to live cooperatively. The weather is cool because of the high altitude and presence of the Vajiralongkorn Lake, which adds an increased charm to this destination. It is divided into the 'town center' and 'Mon village', both of which are connected by the second longest hand-made bridge in the world, the 'wooden bridge'. A seven hours journey from Bangkok will get you to this stunning beauty. Sangkhlaburi remains one of the favorite tourist attractions of Thailand.
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Things to do in Sangkhlaburi
1. Walk Over Mon Bridge
The wooden bridge or the Mon bridge is the world's second largest handmade wooden bridge. It connects to two parts of the city: the town centre and the Mon village. This 400m long bridge offers an inc (Read More)redible sunrise and sunset view. Vehicles are not allowed over the bridge, but people can walk.
2. Vsit Wat Wang Wiwekaram
Wat Wang Wiwekaram is a temple containing the shrine of the monk Luang Phaw Uttama who fled to Thailand from Myanmar during the Burmese war. He died in 2006, and his body lies inside this temple. Ther (Read More)e are many beautiful structures and buildings that are constructed in Thai, Burmese, and Indian styles. A stunning view of the mountains above and the lake below can be seen from the temple.
3. Boat Trip To Sunken Temple
Also known as Wat Saam Prasob, the sunken temple was built in 1950, but it sunk in 1968 when the lake's water submerged it. Later when the bridge and dam were constructed to prevent water overflow, th (Read More)e only thing left of the temple to see was the upper section of the bell tower. However, if you visit here towards the end of the dry season, you can get a chance to walk around the ruins a little.
4. See The Three Pagodas Pass
The Three Pagoda Pass forms the border between Thailand and Burma. This pass links Sangkhlaburi town in Thailand and Payathonsu town in Myanmar. It is approximately 1,000 ft high, and there are three (Read More)small stupas that were built as a symbol of peace. Tourists can obtain a one-day visa to visit Payathonsu via this pass. It's a beautiful symbol of history and a great attraction in Kanchanaburi.
5. Trip To Khao Laem National Park
Khao Laem National Park is located in the northwest Kanchanaburi province. It is a paradise for wildlife. Inside the National Park, tourists can trek through the hiking routes to explore the (Read More) forest and other attractions and enjoy walking through the natural trails. Various other activities are offered on a pay-to-enjoy basis inside Khao Laem, like, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, etc.
Must Know Before You Travel to Sangkhlaburi
- Bangkok To Sangkhlaburi: Daily buses and minibusses operate to Sangkhlaburi from Bangkok (7-8 Hours) and Kanchanaburi (5-6 Hours). These buses costs around TBH 100-200.
- Getting Around: Motorcycle taxis are the most convenient for getting around Sangkhlaburi and cost between TBH 15-60, depending on the location. Taxi stands are dotted across town.
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History of Sangkhlaburi
Around 45 years ago, the valley of Sangkhlaburi belonged to the Mon community entirely. Later in 1984, much of the village got submergedunder water and then it got divided into two parts, the town centre and Mon village, linked by the famous wooden bridge. It was founded by Luang Phor Uttama in 1949 who fled from Burma with many Mon families along with him.
Nightlife in Sangkhlaburi
Sangkhlaburi is not very popular when it comes to nightlife in comparison to other cities of Thailand. It doesn't have the fancy western style pubs and bars. Some guesthouses have pubs inside them, but they're usually low-key. The local restaurants sell cheap beer and wine, so you can pick drinks up from there and enjoy it near the lake side. Western bar is one bar that has foreigners and good alcohol.
Shopping in Sangkhlaburi
The Karen locals brought along with them the authentic Karen clothes which are woven and sewn in Sangkhlaburi now. Scarves, clothes, bags and many more things are woven by the women here. These act as beautiful souvenirs for tourists. There is a great local market between Thetsaban 2 and Thetsaban 1, many food shops and coffee shops too.
Exchanging Money in Sangkhlaburi
Sangkhlaburi has only one bank and ATM, the Siam Commercial Bank. So all the money exchanges can be done here. To be on the safer side, you should exchange currency in Bangkok before travelling here.
Daily Budget for Sangkhlaburi
A daily budget of 600-700 Baht would be enough to travel in Sangkhlaburi. This would include 200 Baht on food, 100 Baht on alcohol or coffee, 100 Baht for getting around, 100 Baht for shopping, and 100 Baht for tourist entry fees.
Best Time to Visit Sangkhlaburi
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How to Reach Sangkhlaburi
How to Reach Overview
You have to fly into Bangkok, and then take a bus to Sangkhlaburi that leave daily.
How to reach Sangkhlaburi by flight
You have to fly to the Suvarnabhumi International Airport of Bangkok from your respective country, and then take the bus to Sangkhlaburi.
How to reach Sangkhlaburi by road
Minivan services from Bangkok depart from the Morchit stand costing around 2,000 Baht. This can prove to be very expensive and uncomfortable too.
How to reach Sangkhlaburi by bus
Direct buses leave daily to and from Morchit station of Bangkok. The trip takes around 7-8 hours and costs 250 Baht. To avoid this long journey, most travellers prefer to halt at Kanchanaburi. Buses from Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi will take around 4 hours and cost around 150 Baht.
Local transport in Sangkhlaburi
The most common way to get around Sangkhlaburi is motorcycle taxi. It is available easily and costs between 20-50 Baht depending on the distance. Songthaews and buses are other cheaper options. However, walking is the most pleasant option that can give you a very notable experience. Some guesthouses have motorbike and bicycle renting services too.
Sangkhlaburi Photos
FAQs on Sangkhlaburi
What is the best time to visit Sangkhlaburi?
The best time to visit Sangkhlaburi is from November to March.
Thailand becomes very hot in the months of April to June and hence travelling during that period is not preferred. The months of July to October have rains and tourists find it very uncomfortable. Therefore, November to March are the most convenient months to travel to Sangkhlaburi in.
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Thailand becomes very hot in the months of April to June and hence travelling during that period is not preferred. The months of July to October have rains and tourists find it very uncomfortable. Therefore, November to March are the most convenient months to travel to Sangkhlaburi in.
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What is the local food in Sangkhlaburi?
Sangkhlaburi being multi cultural with Mon, Karen, Thai and Burmese population, it has a variety of authentic food options. The market sells some really famous boat noodles and pumpkin custard. English menus are rare here, however when in Sangkhlaburi, it is best advised to dig into the local Thai and Karen food, which is served best at the See Daeng restaurant.
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What is the best way to reach Sangkhlaburi?
You have to fly into Bangkok, and then take a bus to Sangkhlaburi that leave daily.
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What are the places near Sangkhlaburi?
The top places near to Sangkhlaburi are Bangkok which is 269 km from Sangkhlaburi, Pattaya which is located 360 km from Sangkhlaburi, Khao laem national park which is located 21 km from Sangkhlaburi, Hua hin which is located 330 km from Sangkhlaburi, Koh samui which is located 650 km from Sangkhlaburi