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SUGGESTED
ITINERARY
(Bangkok to Ayuthaya : Mid morning Day 1 - 1700 Day
2)
Bangkok - Koh Kret - Wat Phailom - Wat Sala Daeng Nua
(overnight) - Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Village - Bang
Pa-in Summer Palace - Ayutthaya
Duration: 2 Days
Description: Board 'Montha' mid morning in
Bangkok, at Chakrabongse House, your riverside hotel or
the River City Wharf. Boarding time is at your
convenience, however we recommend avoiding the morning
peak traffic as the Express Commuter boats make the
water somewhat rough. Cruising Northward you pass Wat
Arun (Temple of the Dawn) and the Grand Palace.
Refreshments appropriate to the time of day will be
served. After approximately one hour you will reach the
town of Nonthaburi, where there are several well known
riverside restaurants. Lunch may be enjoyed at a
restaurant, selected from their extensive Thai menus and
taken on board, or prepared on board in accordance with
your selected menu.
A further hour north brings you to the man-made island
of Kok 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.
After passing the town of Pathum Thani we come 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.
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. Classic Barges has installed shore
electrical connections at this location and it is a
preferred overnight stopping place. 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.
Traveling further upriver brings us to the Royal Thai
Folk Arts and Craft Centre at Bang Sai. 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 Ayuthaya style Thai houses
in a garden setting and is worth visiting.
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.
A little over another hour and the appearance of the
fortress 'Pom Phet' ushers our arrival at the ancient
capital of Siam, 'Ayuthaya'. As we approach the city, we
pass the site of the old Japanese settlement, then on
the western riverbank, the Portuguese settlement with
it's rather bizarre excavated cemetery. A little further
on the eastern side is the site of the Dutch East India
Company's factory and warehouse, which is currently
under excavation by the Fine Arts Department.
Tours of Ayutthaya by land and/or river, overnight hotel
accommodation and transport back to Bangkok can be
arranged to suit your requirements. Alternatively you
may like to remain on Montha and continue with another
suggested itinerary.
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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