Thailand River Cruise - Anantara Overnight Cruise to Ayutthaya

BANGKOK – AYUTTHAYA (-/L/D)
DAY 1 MON/THU
Private car transfer from your hotel in Bangkok to the Anantara Bangkok Resort & Spa's pier. Once on board, you will meet your Anantara Song host and the team who will be looking after you on your trip. Cold, lemon-grass scented towels and a chilled cocktail will be waiting for you. Start cruising along the Chao Phraya River at 10:00 hrs. Arrive at The Temple of Dawn or Wat Arun as it is otherwise known. This is one of the best known temples in Bangkok and dates back to the ancient Ayutthaya period. The tall, elongated central Khmer-style tower is surrounded by four minor towers, which symbolize Mount Meru, the earthly representation of the thirty-three heavens. Here you will find pavilions containing statues of the Buddha at the most important stages of life. The beautiful architecture and fine craftsmanship mark Wat Arun as one of the most remarkable temples in Thailand. We will stop here for a short guided tour. Continue cruising to the Royal Barge Museum. This is one of Bangkok’s most fascinating sights and something you will not see anywhere else in the world. The museum is home to an incredible collection of gilded and ornately decorated boats with magnificently carved prows. His Majesty the King’s personal barge, Suphanahong, can be seen here. Built in 1911 to resemble a mythical swan, the boat is 46 meters long and was carved from a single tree. All the barges are completely unique and are incredible works of craftsmanship. A short guided tour will introduce you to the Royal Barge Museum’s treasures before we depart at midday. A delicious Thai lunch will be prepared by your personal on-board chefs. As you dine, the Anantara Song will pass the island of Koh Kret in Nonthaburi Province, an island which was only ‘man-made’ in the last 100 years, when a canal was built to shorten the journey around a circuitous bend in the river. The island is populated by the Mon people, one of Thailand’s many ethnic minority groups, who use the river’s fine clay to produce earthenware pots. Spend the afternoon relaxing on board, watching the vignettes of riverine life unfold as you float by. At 4pm we’ll serve a traditional English afternoon tea with a selection of cookies, pastries and teas. A quick stop at Wat Pathum Khong Ka to feed the fish – a simple way of gaining merit and good luck. This promotes the Buddhist cycle of life by feeding the fish so they in turn can produce life. Some of these carp fish are giants! Arrive at Wat Samakkeeyaram, where we moor for the night. Relax and freshen up in your private ensuite cabin and then return to the deck for aperitifs and Thai canapés. With Wat Samakkeeyaram as a framatic backdrop, a dinner of Thai traditional dishes will be served. Relax on deck with a glass of wine or digestif before retiring to your cabin for your first night on the river.

AYUTTHAYA – BANGK PA IN (B/L/D)
DAY 2 TUE/FRI
An early start and chance to make merit with the Monks of Wat Samakkeeyaram and tour the temple. Thai Buddhists believe that by making merit, they earn happiness, peace in life and the chance to progress in their next life. Making merit with the Monks is a wonderfully harmonious way to start the day. 9:00AM: We will raise the anchor and get underway for the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya, while a freshly prepared continental breakfast is served during our cruise up the Chao Phraya, through the Thai countryside. Recline on a deck lounger and watch the river life float past. A light Mediterranaean set lunch is served under steam. Around 02:00PM arrive at Wat Phanancheng where a waiting limousine will transfer you to Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ancient capital was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong and it was from here that Thai’s ruled their Kingdom for 417 years. You will spend the afternoon exploring Ayutthaya in the company of an expert guide. There will be a chance to explore some of the inner ruins from the back of an elephant. As Ayutthaya is such a large area, the limousine driver will wait for you and take you on a tour of the outer areas of the ancient city. The limousine will transfer you to Bang Pa In, one of the 16 districts of Ayutthaya where you will rejoin the Anantara Song. Along the way, you may wish to buy a bag of fish or a cage of small birds for you to release back to nature. This is a wonderful gesture and makes merit. Across from Bang Pa In is Wat Niwet Thammaprawat - one of the most intriguing Buddhist temples – and this is where we will moor for the night. Wat Niwet Thammaprawat was constructed at the command of King Rama V in 1878, in the style of an English Gothic church. The temple’s stained glass windows and unusual architecture makes it one of the most distinctive Buddhist temples anywhere in Thailand.

BANG PA IN – BANGKOK (B/L/-)
DAY 3 WED/SAT
Wake up to the taste of a full English breakfast, freshly prepared at your request in the Anantara Song kitchen, followed by a guided tour of Wat Niwet Thammaprawat. From there, it is a short walk to the Bang Pa In Summer Palace. The original Bang Pa In Palace was built by King Prasat Thong on a riverine island and was used as a country residence for the later kings of the Ayutthaya period. However, after the capital moved to Bangkok, Bang Pa In was abandoned for 80 years and revived by King Rama V. He commanded the construction of additional buildings – theatres, temples, monuments in a mixture of European, Chinese and Thai styles (electric carts will be provided to help you to explore the palace ground, though the site can be easily walked). Continue by limousine to Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre, which enjoys the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen. Here you can see a variety of Thai houses in regional styles and see how Thailand’s rural people make handicrafts such as fern basketry, silk flowers, hand-woven silk and cotton, silk dyeing, wood carving, miniature hand-modelled dolls and traditional furniture. A great place to shop for Thai handicrafts! After a short guided tour, depart at around 12:00 noon and rejoin the Anantara Song at the Bang Sai Royal Folk pier shortly afterwards. A light Thai lunch set menu is served and later on high tea on board as you head back towards the outskirts of Bangkok. Arrive at the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa Pier for disembarkation around 4:30 PM and transfer to your hotel in Bangkok.

Our package tour prices are inclusive of accommodation in shared cabins onboard the Anantara with meals as specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner), all entrance fees for guided visits, exclusive crew during the cruise and the services of a local English-speaking guide during guided visits, roundtrip transfers between Bangkok hotel and Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa's pier.

Not included are alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, personal expenses.

The above prices are in CAD and based on minimum of 2 passengers travelling.

Price is based on per person twin share from Vancouver, plus tax and fuel surcharges. Package prices exclude TAXES, are based on minimum TWO people traveling.  Prices and schedules are subject to change without prior notice.  Deviation/amendment Fee and restrictions will be applied.  Please contact Silk Holidays for details.

For responsibility, booking terms & conditions. Please ask your booking agent for a copy of “Silk Holidays – General Booking Terms & Conditions”.