'''Sangkhlaburi''' is a district at the north-west tip of Kanchanaburi province, bordering Tak Province (in Thailand) and Myanmar. The main township is '''Sangkhla'''.
Get in
Red buses pass through Nam Tok (terminating station for train from Kanchanaburi) every 30 minutes. The fare to Sangkhla is 100 baht.
To Kanchanaburi:
1st class air-con bus: 08:45, 10:45, 14:30 - 4.5hrs, 180 baht
non-aircon bus: 06:45, 08:15, 10:15, 13:15 - 5hrs, 110 baht
minibus: 06:30, 07:30, 11:30, 13:00, 15:30 - 3hrs, 146 baht
car: 3 hours, keep your tank full as gas and diesel are more expensive near the border.
Get around
Green pickups depart hourly to Three Pagodas Pass and charge 30 baht for the 30-40 minutes trip.
See
'''Wat Wiwekaram''' - Walk over the 400m wooden bridge to the Mon village, and bear left parallel to the lake. After 2km the concrete road forks. Left goes to a huge golden chedi, with a small Burmese goods market below it, and right goes to the main Wat Wiwekaram. There is a large, ornate viharn at the main wat, and in another building there are murals depicting stages of the Buddha's last, and previous, lives.
'''The Mon Bridge''' - The bridge itself is well worth a visit and is apparently the longest 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.
Do
The road to the Three Pagodas Pass (and on to Payathonzu, on the Myanmar side of the border) passes a side-road to a waterfall, and another to a cave. Across the 400m wooden bridge near the Burmese Inn is the Mon village and is also the way to the huge chedi near to Wat Wam Wiwekaram.
Buy
'''Weaving for Women''' - Textiles are sold by displaced Mon refugees at a small shop about 200 metres down the hill from the post office. These are also sold at the restaurant/internet cafe/bakery signed 'Baan Un Rak' about 150 metres past Soi 1 at the bottom of the hill on the main road.
Eat
'''Night Market''' - at the top of the hill, opposite the bus station, providing cheap food most days, but reportedly not open at weekends.
'''Apache Family Cafe''' - opposite the bus station, in front of the market. Run by John, who will also offer free information and arrange for homestays, tours or vehicle rental. Offering Western and Thai food, with speciality burgers.
'''Burmese Inn''' - About 800m down the hill on the right-hand side down Soi 1. A simple menu with reasonable prices, but a good standard of Western, Thai and Burmese food.
''''''''Birdland Books''''''' - Run by 'Big Jimmy' Opposite the temple on the Thai side of the bridge 50 meters further on than Burmese Inn. Good selection of delicious Western, Burmese & Thai food. Also sells & trades books. A great source of local information.
Drink
There are no obvious Western-style bars. Beer from the local supermarkets is 35 baht for a large Chang. A selection of wines from Kanchanaburi is available from 260 baht for a bottle with white and two varities of red available.
Sleep
There are a few guest houses around 2 km from the city centre (around 10 baht by motorbike taxi).
Be especially careful with the tap water, since it is possibly derived from a lake.
'''Burmese Inn''' - Approx 800m from the bus station, down the hill on the right hand side on Soi 1. They have rooms at 80 baht (single, fan, shared bathroom), 150 baht (single, fan, private bathroom), 200 baht (double, fan, private bathroom), then more expensive with air-con, TVs and twin double beds up to 800 baht.
'''Potanee Resort ''' - This is close to 'Forget Me Not' Resort close to the high school. The rooms are around 1,200 baht with air con, en suite bathroom and a lovely view of the reservoir. A dubious breakfast is included in the price.
''' Birdland Books''' - Just a little further up from the Burmese Inn on LHS of the road, These rooms start from 250 baht per night. Ask 'Big Jimmy' a US Expat of 30 years for the best advice of activities & sights in the area.
Get out
Kanchanaburi