Group Overnight Charter A (2 Days / 1 Night)
Bangkok to Ayutthaya: 11:00 Day 1 – 1700 Day 2
Pak Kret – Koh Kret – Wave Side Club (Overnight) – Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Village – Bang Pa-in Summer Palace – Ayutthaya
Additional options: Elephant Kraal, Pae Tevarage Restaurant, Night Sightseeing Cruise.
Note: Visitors must wear modest attire at Bang Pa-in Summer Palace & at Wat Phananchoeng.
DAY 1
Your voyage departs from Wat Choeng Lom, Pak Kret. Located only a 6-minute drive from the Stage 2 Expressway and 15 minutes from Don Mueang Airport, the temple makes a convenient, traffic free boarding point; vehicles can park adjacent to the wharf.
The first port of call is Wat Pailom on 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; the island is also famed for its unique foods and deserts.
On weekends, the island hosts a very upmarket weekend market and is bustling with local tourists savouring the island’s delicacies; the many small restaurants and bars lining the narrow thoroughfare do a brisk trade. Items on sale include jewellery, unusual artworks, pottery and ceramics.
A short cruise brings us to the aptly named ‘Suan Thip’ riverside restaurant; which provides a serene setting in which the buildings, gardens and food can only be described as works of art in their respective fields. Almost invisible from the river the restaurant has private ‘salas’ (pavilions) set amongst luxuriant tropical foliage; water features, where the reclusive monitor lizards laze, abound; all overhung by giant trees, makes this, as its name infers, a ‘Garden of Heaven’. The very charming and artistic owner has created the perfect setting for the delicious, artistic Thai food. (Note: For the pay as you go option, the cost of lunch is not included, which allows guests to enjoy a-la-carte dining.)
A two-hour cruise up the Chao Phraya brings you to Samkhok and the exclusive Wave Side Club, a water sport club on the banks of the river. A variety of first-class accommodations are available at the club; guests disembark for the night. Jet-skis and kayaks are available for hire to those who wish to more intimately explore the river; the jet-skiing, in particular has proven to be one of the highlights of our cruises; the wide, smooth waters of the river provide an excellent location for beginners, who rapidly master these high-performance vehicles.
Dinner is served on the extensive veranda deck overlooking the river. (Note: For the pay as you go option, the cost of dinner is not included, which allows guests to enjoy a-la-carte dining from the very extensive menu.)
DAY 2
Piyawan Garden House – Bang Sai Arts & Crafts Village – Bang Pa-in Summer Palace – Ayutthaya
Complementary breakfast is provided at the club’s restaurant before re-boarding your barge to continue your journey.
Travelling further upriver brings us to 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 the pay as you go option, a 100 Baht entrance fee applies to foreigners for the Arts 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 the pay as you go option, a 100 Baht entrance fee applies to foreigners.)
We then cruise north to Ayutthaya and the revered Wat Phananchoeng for a visit to the temple. This is a convenient point for those guests returning to Bangkok by road to transfer to their vehicle. (Note: For the pay as you go option, a 20 Baht entrance fee applies to foreigners.)
The boat continues to Wat Pitchai Songkram and the Ayutthaya Railway Station pier, where guests can disembark as required.
End of Itinerary A.
Additional options: (Note, additional charges apply.)
We can include a sightseeing cruise past the principal riverside attractions of Wat Phutthaisawan, Saint Joseph’s Church, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Kassithirat and Queen Suriothai’s Chedi, before returning to Ayutthaya.
A dusk cruise to the ‘Elephant Kraal’ on the Lop Buri River to see the working elephants taking their evening bathe in the river. You can hand feed the elephants from the front deck, but be wary, these playful animals are not beyond occasionally squirting water at the unsuspecting guests
After visiting the ‘Elephant Kraal’, another option is dinner at a floating restaurant, followed by a cruise through Ayutthaya to see the illuminated riverside attractions. The ruins of the famous Khmer styled Wat Chaiwatthanaram are spectacular at night. This very geometric temple has a number of ‘prangs’ and ‘stupas’ (towers and spires) which are illuminated with soft coloured lights and brings gasps of awe from the guests. We slow to a crawl and glide past the ruins; it is an absolutely ethereal experience when the stupas line up and pass in transit.
SUMMARY
Day 1:
11:00 Embarkation at Pak Kret and depart for Koh Kret for a tour of the island.
12:00 Depart Koh Kret for Suan Thip.
12:15 Arrive at Suan Thip Restaurant, Pak Kret for a Thai lunch.
13:30 Embark at Suan Thip and depart for Samkhok.
15:30 Disembarkation at the Wave Side Club, Samkhok.
(Opportunity for water sport activities.)
19:00 Dinner at the Wave Side Club’s restaurant.
Day 2:
08:00 Breakfast.
09:00 Depart Wave Side Club for the Royal Thai Folk Arts & Crafts Centre at 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 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 Ayutthaya.
16:30 Arrive at Wat Phananchoeng for a visit to the temple. Guests returning to Bangkok by Road, disembark.
17:05 Arrive at Wat Pitchai Songkram. Guests remaining in Ayutthaya disembark.
17:15 Arrive at Ayutthaya Railway Station Pier. Guests returning to Bangkok by rail, disembark.
End of Itinerary A.
Additional sightseeing options: (Note, Additional charges apply.)
17:30 Arrive at the ‘Elephant Kraal’ on the Lop Buri River.
18:30 Arrive at Pae Tevarage Floating Restaurant for a set Thai dinner.
19:30 Depart on an evening sightseeing cruise past the illuminated riverside attractions of Ayutthaya.
21:00 Return to Ayuttaya.
Custom itineraries can be tailored to suit individual requirements; please feel free to request a personal itinerary and individual quotation.