Great Asian Railway Journeys

S01E04 Ayutthaya to River Kwai

Michael Portillo continues his train adventure through Thailand, starting in Lampang, where he volunteers at an elephant hospital that treats animals injured by landmines. In Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam, he marvels at the massive ruins of temples and learns about the history of this once-great Asian city. He also visits a unique market that every train enthusiast must see. Michael wraps up this segment of his journey in Kanchanaburi, near the Myanmar border, where he rides the infamous Death Railway, a route that holds deep emotional significance for him.