Hellfire Pass
A cutting on the Death Railway, hacked through rock by prisoners of war, now a memorial and museum.
Hellfire Pass is a section of the Burma Railway cut through solid rock by prisoners of war in 1943, 80km north of Kanchanaburi. The memorial and museum are free. Allow two hours, more if you walk the full 4km trail.
Open Hellfire Pass in Google Maps14.3550, 98.9500
Prices and hours are our current best information, not a published rate. Confirm on the day before you travel.
A cutting on the Death Railway, hacked through rock by prisoners of war, now a memorial and museum.
The pass was cut by hand, with picks, shovels and explosives, over 12 weeks in 1943 to keep the railway on schedule. Prisoners worked 18-hour shifts in the wet season; the site is named for the torches that lit the cutting at night, which survivors said made it look like a scene from hell. Around 700 prisoners and thousands of Asian labourers died in this section alone. The walking trail follows the original rail bed, with the sleepers removed.
It is the most affecting site on the railway — the walk down into the cutting, with the audio guide and the original tools, is genuinely moving. Quieter and more powerful than the bridge.
What you’ll actually see
- The main cutting itself, 73 metres long and 25 metres deep, cut entirely by hand
- The museum'soral histories and the drawings by survivors
- The walking trail along the original rail bed, with the embankments still visible
- The memorial at the far end, and the bamboo that has reclaimed the rest
How to visit it well
- Take the audio guide; it is the whole experience.
- The walk down is steep — allow time to come back up.
- Combine with the train ride to Nam Tok.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Doing it as a rushed stop on a day tour — you need two hours minimum
- Skipping the audio guide, which is free and includes survivor testimony
- Attempting the full trail in the rainy season without proper shoes
Is it worth it?
The most affecting site on the railway and worth the drive from Kanchanaburi. It is quiet, well maintained and free, which makes the contrast with the commercialised bridge stark. Go in the morning, take the audio guide.
Common questions
Yes. Entry, the museum and the audio guide are all free, funded by the Australian government.
About 80km north, 1 hour 15 minutes by car. It is 30km beyond Nam Tok station.
The full loop is 4km and takes about two hours. The main cutting is a 300-metre walk from the visitor centre.
Yes — the Death Railway terminates at Nam Tok, 30 minutes from Hellfire Pass by songthaew or taxi.
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Last updated: October 2026 · Prices and hours checked by Tom Whitfield