Weekend Itinerary

Race to the Jungle is a two-day paddle event deep in the jungles of Thailand, it’s also a shared experience. Whether you’re paddling competitively, paddling for adventure, or supporting your partner or friend at the event, the weekend blends racing, adventure, exploration, and connection, with the Royal River Kwai Hotel as the hub for the entire weekend.

Flying into Thailand, the closest airport is Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) with a transfer taking approx 1.5/2hr to Kanchanaburi by train/bus/taxis.

Friday 11th December

Arrival & Welcome in Kanchanaburi .

Paddlers

• Arrive in Thailand and travel to Kanchanaburi

• Check in at the Royal River Kwai Hotel (or nearby accommodation)

• Event registration & check-in

• Time to unwind after travel, swim, stretch, relax by the river

• Welcome Dinner at the Royal River Kwai Hotel

Guests

• Arrive in Kanchanaburi

• Check in at the Royal River Kwai Hotel or nearby accommodation

• Time to unwind after travel, swim, stretch, relax by the river

• Join the Welcome Dinner at the Royal River Kwai Hotel

Saturday 12th December

12km Technical Race at Lake View

The weekend racing begins at Lake View, Kanchanaburi, a vast dammed lake surrounded by jungle and mountains. This 12km paddle unfolds across calm, expansive water, with forested slopes rising straight from the shoreline and the sounds of birds echoing around the lake. For paddlers, it’s a test of rhythm, focus, and connection with the environment. For guests, it’s a front-row seat to one of the most striking landscapes of the weekend. After the finish, lunch is included at Lake View, allowing paddlers and their guests to relax together, refuel, and take in the scale of the setting before returning to the hotel.

Paddlers

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Relaxed morning and final preparations

• Transport to Lake View: Paddlers staying at the Royal River Kwai Hotel will be collected from the hotel car park Paddlers staying nearby should make their way to the Royal River Kwai Hotel for transport

• Coach transfer to Lake View Kanchanaburi

• 12km flatwater paddle surrounded by jungle and mountains

• Finish at Lake View Lunch included at Lake View

• Coach transfer back to the Royal River Kwai Hotel

Guests

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Enjoy a relaxed morning at the hotel

• Transport to Lake View: Guests staying at the Royal River Kwai Hotel will be collected from the hotel car park Guests staying nearby can make their way to the Royal River Kwai Hotel for transport

• Coach transfer to Lake View, Kanchanaburi

• Watch paddlers complete the 12km lake paddle Soak up the atmosphere and jungle views

• Lunch included at Lake View

• Coach transfer back to the Royal River Kwai Hotel

Saturday Evening (Paddlers & Guests)

• Dinner at the Royal River Kwai Hotel for those staying there

• Guests staying elsewhere are welcome to join, just let us know in advance and we can book you in

Sunday 13th December

38km River Kwai Downriver

Race Day two is all about flow and momentum. The 38km downriver paddle follows the River Kwai through sweeping bends, jungle-lined banks, and long, flowing sections. It offers constantly changing scene, jungle, mountains, and big views, creating a true sense of adventure at every turn. The course passes through Elephant Corner, where the river sweeps around a broad jungle bend. It’s a place that feels unmistakably wild, quiet, watchful, and full of possibility. The race finishes in unforgettable style, paddling beneath the iconic Bridge over the River Kwai, marking the end of an exhilarating passage through one of Thailand’s most historic rivers.

Paddlers

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Coach transfer from the Royal River Kwai Hotel to the river start

• 38km downriver paddle through sweeping jungle bends

• Pass through Elephant Corner

• Finish beneath the iconic Bridge over the River Kwai

• Photo op at the finish line

• Coach transfer back to the Royal River Kwai Hotel

• Recovery time, swim, relax, or book a massage

Guests

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Coach transfer to start to cheer off your paddlers and then down to the finishline

• Experience the river adventure from the banks

• Welcome paddlers home beneath the Bridge over the River Kwai

• Photo op at the finish line

• Coach transfer back to the Royal River Kwai Hotel

• Relax by the pool or book a massage

Sunday Evening (Paddlers & Guests)

• Join the legendary after-party, awards and evening celebrations

Monday 14th December

Departure Paddlers & Guests

• Breakfast

• Check out

• Continue your Thailand adventure or travel home

The Royal River Kwai Hotel

Our event hub & the heart of the weekend

It’s where paddlers recover, guests relax, and everyone comes together after the events. You can relax, swim, get a massage, and get ready for the evening meal and after-party, creating a shared celebration for paddlers, friends, partners, and supporters alike. We have blocked booked the hotel for the event, so you an join us and stay. If the hotel fills up we have a partner hotel nearby.