DAY CRUISE (1)
Bang Sai to Bang Pa-in and return: 09:30 – 16:45
Piyawan Garden House – Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Village – Lunch at Ayutthaya Garden River Home – Bang Pa-in Summer Palace – Piyawan Garden House
DURATION : 7 hours 15 minutes
Note: Visitors must wear modest attire at Bang Pa-in Summer Palace.
Description :
Your cruise departs from Piyawan Garden House, a small Thai style resort located in the quiet rural village of Chiang Rak Noi, near the end of the Stage II Expressway. Travel time from Central Bangkok is approximately 30 minutes and adequate parking is available at the resort. Boarding time is 09:30.
The rice-barge will depart for the Royal Thai Folk Arts and Craft Centre at Bang Sai. This large modern gallery hosts a wide variety of modern and traditional Thai works of art. Being under Royal patronage, no commissions are paid to tour guides, making the many beautiful craft items, for sale at the lowest prices in the Kingdom. The adjacent Traditional Thai Village displays many Thai crafts, which are undertaken in houses styled from various parts of the country. The Centre also includes the largest freshwater aquarium in Thailand and a bird enclosure displaying many stunning tropical birds, particularly various coloured peacocks and hornbills. (Note: For pay as you go option, entrance fees are applied to foreigners; 100 Baht for the centre and 20 Baht for the bird enclosure.)
Note: Only the Gallery is open on Mondays
A further hour’s cruising sees our arrival at the very charming boutique resort, Ayutthaya Garden River Home where we will stop for lunch. The food is authentic, traditional Thai style and features organic herbs and vegetables grown in the resort’s garden. (Note: For the pay as you go option, the cost of lunch is not included, which allows guests to enjoy a-la-carte dining.)
After lunch, a short cruise brings us to Bang Pa-In and the unique Buddhist temple of Wat Nivet. Built by King Rama V in 1878, the temple buildings resemble a European village; the ‘Ubosot’ (Congregation Hall) resembles a gothic church, complete with spire, clock and incorporates a striking French stained-glass window depicting King Rama V.
A cable-car will carry you across the canal to the Bang Pa-in Summer Palace. The palace grounds contain a variety of beautiful buildings in European, Chinese and traditional Thai styles, including some of the best-known structures in the Kingdom. (Note: For pay as you go option, an entrance fee of 100 Baht applies to foreigners.)
The barge will then return to Piyawan Garden House for disembarkation at approximately 16:45.
SUMMARY
09:30 Arrive by road at Piyavan Garden House, board ‘Montar’ and depart for Bang Sai.
10:00 Arrive at Bang Sai, (Visit the Traditional Village and Folk Art Centre).
11:30 Depart Bang Sai for Bang Pa-in.
12:30 Arrive at Ayutthaya Garden River Home Resort & Spa for lunch.
13:30 Depart for Bang Pa-in Summer Palace.
13:45 Arrive at Wat Nivet and the Bang Pa-in Summer Palace.
15:15 Depart Bang Pa-in for Piyavan Garden House.
16:45 Arrive at Piyavan Garden House.
END