Fabulous Central Thailand

DAY 01: BANGKOK – SAMUT SONGKHRAM (Mae Klong) (-/L/-)

Early morning you will be picked up from your hotel in Bangkok and depart by road to Samut Songkhram (known as Mae Klong, the same name of the river on which it is located), the smallest province in Thailand with its area of 416 square kilometers where a vast variety of vegetables, fruits and seafood items will be produced. On the way you will see the windmills made of bamboo frame and canvas vanes which Thais traditionally use to pump ocean water into the drying pans to produce salt. At Mae Klong Market, where the local trains run through eight times daily. Here you will see, as the train approaches many vendors hastily raise their awning with the poles or fold their umbrellas, pull their stalls away from the train’s path and suddenly the previously hidden tracks will appear. As the train has passed every thing will be set in their previous position again. This market is also well known as the action of vendors – Talad Romhub). We continue to visit Tha Ka Floating Market where the vendor boats from nearby area will meet on the 2nd, 7th, 12th days of both the waxing and waning moon of the lunar calendar and during weekend. Proceed to Klong Bang Noi to experience Thai way of life whilst walking around. You will see the old printing house and visit Baan Piman where traditional Thai music will be instructed to the children to preserve the cultural value of folk wisdom (Sunday only). Optional Tour: Possibility to have a trip by paddle boat along the clear still water way. Lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to visit a historic navy camp site during the reign of King Taksin the Great - Bang Kung Camp. Within the camp compound, you will see an old Ubosot (ordination hall) which was built in the Ayutthaya period and now is covered by four species of ficus plants: Pho (Bodhi), Sai, Krai, and Krang. Therefore, it is also called ‘Bot Prok Pho’ (ordination hall covered by Bodhi trees). The monument of King Taksin the Great is in the nearby area. Proceed by road to see the beautiful woodcarvings inside the ordination’s hall of Wat Bang Kae Noi that depicting the Lord Buddha’s history, birth, enlightenment, and nirvana, as well as stories of the Lord Buddha’s Ten Incarnations or Jatakas which was made by the famous craftsmen from Petchaburi province. Drive to the riverside resort for relaxing after checking in. Overnight at Ruen Mae Lampoo (Baan Rim Klong) in Samut Songkhram.

DAY 02: SAMUT SONGKHRAM – PHETCHABURI (B/L/-)

After breakfast at the resort, depart to visit the Pottery House to see the production process of beautiful Bencharong crockery that represents the exquisite craftsmanship and the beauty of Thai Art. Then proceed along the salt road to Phetchaburi province, famous for traditional Thai desserts as there are a lot sugar palm trees. The palm trees are economically useful for the locals because they can produce many items from sugar palm tree such as fresh sugar juice drinks, authentic palm sugar, young palm seeds, toddy palm cake, palm seed in syrup, palm-leave hat, palm-wood containers, etc. We will visit the 92-meter high palace hill - Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park, locally known as Khao Wang (Palace Hill) which was built under the royal command of King Rama IV and in 1860 became his summer palace. Then go on to Wat Yai Suwannaram with magnificent 300-year-old murals of mythical angels. Its highlight is fine woodwork of Sala Kanprian (multi-purpose hall) which was once located in Ayutthaya's Grand Palace and a preaching throne with magnificently elaborated Bangkok style woodcarvings and gold gilt works. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, driving along beautiful scenery of rice fields, different kinds of plants such as lime trees and sugar palm trees to the resort. A short stop will be made at Ta Yang district, to visit “Mae Boon Lon” one of the famous dessert makers. When arrival at resort, relaxing and enjoying the fresh breeze at the riverside resort. Overnight at Phetvarin Resort (Mini Thai Studio) in Petchaburi.

DAY 03: KAENG KRACHAN DAM - MARUEKHATHAIYAWAN PALACE – SAM ROI YOD (B/L/-)

After breakfast at the resort, visit Kaeng Krachan Dam and Reservoir, which was constructed to store water, to be delivered to the Phetch Dam for distribution into the irrigated area. Have a stunning scenic viewpoint of the reservoir and its islands before leaving to visit Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, the summer seaside golden teakwood palace built in 1923 under the royal command of King Rama VI. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then, travel to Sam Roi Yod district. Due to its many ridges, this coastal area is so called Khao Sam Roi Yod which mean the mountain of 300 peaks and stands not only as a prominent landmark for seamen but also provides a good and save shelter for ships during storm. Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park covers an area of 98 square kilometres with limestone mountains, mangrove swamps, and beaches. It is also home to various kinds of local and migrating birds during November to February. Overnight at Samroi Yod Holiday Resort (Leela room) or similar in Sam Roi Yod.

DAY 04: PRACHUAB KIRIKHAN – HUA HIN – BANGKOK (B/L/-)

05.30: For those who get up early and be fit, we recommend to visit viewpoint on Khao Daeng, where you can see sun rise as well as beautifully panoramic view around Khao Sam Roi Yod and Sam Phraya Beach. Then return to the resort for breakfast. 10.00: Depart to make a short trek along the trail to see the Dusky Langur then proceed to explore the stalagmite and stalactite inside Tham Sai (Sai Cave). Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit Sirinath Rajini Center for Mangrove Forest Studies Follow The Initiative And Honoring Her Majesty The Queen which was constructed in 2004, the auspicious year of Her Majesty the Queen 72nd Birthday Anniversary, to help rehabilitate mangrove ecosystem. The center is planned to be a place for learning, conserving as well as providing a nursery ground for marine aquaculture to return richness to mangrove forest and enable people to co-live with the forest. Proceed to Hua Hin, visiting Hua Hin Railway Station, referred as one of the oldest and the most beautiful train stations in Thailand with unique architecture which was elaborately built in the reign of King Rama VI. The most impressive feature is the splendid Royal Waiting Room constructed in the Thai architectural style.

Continue by road to Bangkok or drop off at your hotel in Hua Hin for your extension stay.