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Monohra Song - Overnight River Cruise
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Code: |
THRV07 |
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Routes: |
Bangkok - Koh
Kret-Ayuthaya - Bang Pa In-Bang Sai |
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Duration: |
3 Days |
Itinerary in
brief
Day 1 : Bangkok - Koh Kret-Ayuthaya
Day 2 : Ayutthaya
Day 3 : Ayutthaya - Bang Pa In-Bang Sai
- Bangkok
The Manohra Song is a 22 - meter
river rice barge that has been lovingly restored and
lavishly converted into an ultradeluxe river
cruiser, designed for up to four couples to explore
Thailand's famous Menam Chao Phya in unmatched
opulence and comfort. Built on the original 40 -
year - old, solid Teak hull, the Manohra Song
features four airconditioned bedrooms (queen beds),
including bathrooms, expansive living and dining
areas with bar, an ample sun-deck, with private crew
quarters and kitchen in the aft
Detail Itinerary
DAY 1: Bangkok - Koh Kret - Ayuthaya
(L/D)
Monday/Thursday
08:30 Transfer from hotel to pier and board Manohra
Cruise.
10:00 Depart from the Manohra Cruise Pier located in
front of the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa. Once on
board you'll meet your Manohra 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.
10:45 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 symbolise Mount Meru, the earthly
representation of the thirty-three heavens. Here
you'll find pavillions 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'll stop here for a short guided tour
and depart at 11.15am.
11:30 Arrive at 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
musuem 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 metres 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.
12:30 Lunch under steam. Thai cuisine prepared by
your personal on-board chefs. As you dine, the
Manohra 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 of finger sandwiches, scones and dainties, with
a selection of teas.
18:30 Arrive at Wat Bang Na, where we moor for the
night.
19:30 Relax and freshen up in your private ensuite
cabin and then return to the deck for aperitifs and
Thai canapes.
20:00 In front of the quietly serene Wat Bang Na, 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.
Overnight: On Boardd
DAY 2: Ayutthaya (B/L/D)
Tuesday/Friday
08:00 An early start and chance to make merit with
the Monks of Wat Bang Na 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.
08:45 We will raise the anchor and get underway for
the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya
09:00 Freshly prepared continental breakfast is
served.
A morning of gentle cruising up the Chao Phraya,
through the Thai countryside. Recline on a deck
lounger and watch the river life float past.
13:00 A light Italian luncheon of pasta and salad
served under steam.
14:30 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'll spend the afternoon exploring Ayutthaya in
the company of an expert guide. There 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.
18:30 From Ayutthaya, you will be transferred by
limousine to Bang Pa In, one of the 16 districts of
Ayutthaya where you'll rejoin the Manohra Song.
19:30 Relax and freshen up in your private ensuite
cabin and then return to the deck for aperitifs and
Asian-inspired canapes
20:00 For your second night on the river, we'll
serve an Ayutthaya-inspired Thai dinnerr
Close to Bang Pa In is Wat Nivat - one of the more
intriguing Buddhist temples ' and this is where
we'll moor for the night. Wat Nivat 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 make it one
of the most distinctive Buddhist temples anywhere in
Thailand
Overnight : On Boardd
DAY 3:
Ayutthaya-Bang Pa In-Bang Sai-Bangkok (B/L)
Wednesday/Saturday
08:00 Wake up to the taste of a full
English breakfast, freshly prepared at your request
in the Manohra Song kitchen.
08:30 Guided tour of Wat Nivat
09:00 From Wat Nivat 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. (Golf
buggies will be provided to help you to explore the
palace ground though the site can be easily walked)
10:30 Cruise underway to Bang Sai Royal Folk
Arts and Crafts Centre.
12:00 A short cruise downriver from Bang Pa In
is the Bang Sai village, 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.
Great place to shop for Thai handicrafts.
After a short guided tour, we'll depart at around
1pm
13:30 Light Thai luncheon under steam
14:30 Quick stop at Wat Poh Thong Bon to feed
the fish a simple way of earning luck and helping
the Buddhist cycle of life by feeding the fish so
they in turn can beget life. Some of these carp fish
are giants!
16:00 Light afternoon tea served on board as
we head back towards the outskirts of Bangkok.
18:30 Arrive at the Manohra Cruise Pier for
disembarkation
Meal : B = Breakfast / L =
lunch / D = Dinner
Departure Date
Monday & Thursday
Price:
Valid
01/11/2004 - 31/10/2005 , Rate per person based on
Sharing Twin in US Dollar
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Joint tour |
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join-in |
Single Surcharge
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716.10
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363.70
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