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 SUGGESTED ITINERARY (1)
(Bangkok to Ayutthaya : 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
‡ ROUTE MAP
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 Ayutthaya 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, 'Ayutthaya'. 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.
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