Day 1: Bangkok – Bang Pa-In – Ban Ko Kerd (-/L/D)
Meet at Hualamphong station in Bangkok at 07.45 and take the 08.00 train to Bang Pa-In. Arrive at 09.00 and take a tuk tuk to tour the Summer Palace complex with its beautiful residential buildings, function halls and pavilions, set amidst vast landscaped gardens. Also visit Wat Nivet, located on a small island in the middle of the river; it is the only Buddhist temple in Thailand built in the style of a Christian church. Afterwards take a long-tail boat and cruise along the Chao Phraya River for half an hour to a rice farm on the bank of the river. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the river and the paddy fields.
After lunch , visit a learning centre for organic farming methods so that rural communities from around the country can come and learn how to become self-sufficient, an essential element in our late King’s philosophy of economic “sufficiency”. This programme focuses strongly on organic farming techniques in order to protect the environment and health of the farmers. Afterwards take a short drive by pickup to your homestay and meet our host family.
Day 2: Ban Ko Kerd – Ayutthaya (B/L/-)
Rise early today at 06.00, to join the local people in offering food to the monks on their morning alms round. After breakfast, set off by bike along back roads and through small villages towards Ayutthaya. Along the way you will have the opportunity to meet more of the local people and learn something of their way of life. We will make a stop for lunch at a local restaurant and get to Ayutthaya by about 16.00 where the tour will finish at our office. The cycling today will be about 25 kms.
Services included:
Services excluded:
Please be advised:
In some villages you may not be allowed take pictures of people and some places may be out of bounds to visitors. If you wish to take photographs or are unsure whether an action is appropriate, please ask your local guide for advice.
Responsible mind:
The villagers’ income from tourists is to help support the community and preserve its way of life. We have designed our tours to provide them with job opportunities and a sustainable way of maintaining their cultural heritage and to offer an alternative to illegal activities like mineral exploration, deforestation and hunting wildlife.
Back to: Central Thailand