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SUGGESTED
ITINERARY
(Ayuthaya to Bangkok : 10:00 Day 1 - 17:00 Day 2)
Ayuthaya - Bang Pa-in Summer Palace - Bang Sai Arts
& Crafts Village - Wat Sala Daeng Nua (overnight) -
Wat Phailom - Koh Kret - Bangkok
Duration: 2 Days
Description: Leave the Pea Tevaraj Restaurant and
travel down the Pasak River to join the Chao Phraya
River. Shortly after departing you arrive at the
beautiful and revered temple of Wat Phananchoeng. The
temple was built in 1300 and predates the Ancient
Siamese capital. A huge gilded Buddha image is in the
main hall and is said to have been built by a Chinese
Emperor. In the grounds of the Wat, a Chinese shrine
commemorates a Chinese princess who drowned in the river
nearby. In accordance with Chinese custom, the fish in
the river were fed to protect the princess's body; this
practice is still carried out to this day. A visit to
the temple is highly recommended and feeding the fish is
a must.
After leaving Wat Phananchoeng, we turn south down the
Chao Phraya River; leaving the silent gun portals of
"Pom Phet", one of the fortresses which once
defended the ancient Siamese capital, disappearing in
our wake. On the east bank we pass Sricharoen Shipyard
where teak barges have been built and repaired for the
last 100 years; and the Old Dutch Settlement where ships
of the Dutch East Indies Company lay at anchor 400 years
ago. The site of the Portuguese Settlement with its
bizarre excavated cemetery, and the site of the Japanese
Settlement slip by as we continue down river.
A further hour's cruising sees our arrival at Bang Pa-In
Palace. Here we can stop at the unique gothic style
Buddhist temple of Wat Nivet. From there you can ride a
cable-car across the canal to the palace. The palace
grounds contain a variety of beautiful European, Chinese
and traditional Thai buildings, including some of the
best known structures in the Kingdom.
Lunch may be taken on board or you may care to tie up at
a convenient riverside restaurant and order from their
extensive Thai menu.
After approximately 1 more hour's cruising we arrive at
the Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Village. This large modern
gallery hosts a wide range of modern and traditional
Thai craftwork; many beautiful items are for sale at
reasonable prices. The adjacent Traditional Thai Village
displays a number of Ayutthaya style Thai houses in a
garden setting and is worth visiting.
The next port of call is Wat Sala Daeng Nua, a small
temple located in a village inhabited by descendants
from an ethnic group originating in an area of northern
Thailand near the Myanmar border. This pristine village
on the banks of the Chao Phraya has been earmarked for
future tourism development, but at the moment it is a
peaceful place to take a relaxing walk among the flowers
along the riverbank. As the temple is located on the
eastern bank, you can enjoy pre-dinner drinks whilst
watching the sun set over the river. Dinner is served on
board in accordance with your selected menu. After
dinner drinks are served whilst you catch up with the
latest international news, enjoy music, a movie, or
simply relax in the balmy tropical night.
Breakfast of your choice is served at your convenience,
after which we set course to Samkhok and the revered
temple of Wat Phailom, which is a winter nesting ground
for the Asian Open-billed Stork. An elevated boardwalk
has been erected through the mangroves so that you can
get an intimate view of these graceful birds which
migrate from Siberia and northern India.
A further hour's cruising southward brings you to the
man-made island of Koh Kret. Isolated from the Eastern
bank of the river by the Pak Kret Canal , the island has
no roads or cars, only a narrow encircling laneway with
paths leading to houses and the famous Mon potteries
which dot the island. On weekends the island is bustling
with tourists and the many small restaurants and bars
lining the narrow thoroughfare do a brisk trade; on
weekdays the pace is a little more relaxed. The island
is definitely worth a visit to experience its unique
culture and atmosphere.
From Koh Kret the cruise continues to Bangkok where you
may disembark at your riverside hotel or other
convenient place. We can arrange for a driver to collect
you and take you to your hotel or the Airport.
Inclusions
of the trip
-
Accommodation
(single/double/twin)
-
All
entrance and visiting fees
-
All
meals as indicated in the programme
-
Mineral
water bottles served on the van
Exclusions
of the trip
-
Daily
expenses
-
Soft
drinks on the boat
-
Kayaking
if not included
-
Tip
& gratuity to crews and drivers, guides
-
Personal
travel insurance
-
Personal
medical insurance
-
Other
things that not included in the programme
Please
note the Cruise Itinerary and Program may be subject to
change without prior notice.
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