PACKAGE TOUR 3 DAY/2 NIGHT (PT301)

Floating Market – Kanchanaburi – Kanchanaburi

Description

• DAY 1
• 07:00 Pickup from your hotel in Bangkok and travel to Wat Phra Pathom Chedi which is an active monastery in Nakhon Pathom located 60km from Bangkok. Wat Phra Pathom Chedi accommodates a giant stupa which is over 120m in height and is the largest Buddhist chedi in the world. Wat Phra Pathom Chedi was establihsed 1,700 years ago making it among one of the oldest temples in Thailland. In 1851 after many years of decay King Mongkut ordered restoration of the temple and chedi and ordered local inhabitants to return to the town of Nakhon Pathom. There is a courtyard that surrounds the giant stupa with four viharns each containing Buddha images in different postures. There is also a museum on site showcasing old relics and artifacts from the area and explaining about the history of this old temple.
• After Wat Phra Pathom Chedi you will travel to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is located about 100km southwest of Bangkok in the Thai province of Ratchaburi. There are several floating markets with Damnoen Saduak Floating Market being the most popular and provides visitors with a distinctive shopping and cultural experience that takes place on and around the waterways.
• You will take a ride in a paddle boat which is a great way to explore the floating market. Paddle boats are the ideal vehicle to navigate the busy waterways, allowing you to get a closer look at the colorful waterside market stalls and other passing boats and also engage with the traders. You will experience the dynamic atmosphere of the floating market with traders selling fruits, vegetables, foods, drinks, crafts and souvenirs from their boats and riverside stalls. After traveling through the floating market the paddle boat will take you to visit a coconut sugar farm where the coconut sugar is produced by collecting the sap of coconut palm trees. This is then boiled and evaporated until it forms a crystallized sugar. These farms typically offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the coconut sugar production process, witness the tapping of coconut trees and even participate in making and tasting the delicious coconut sugar.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• After lunch you will travel to the River Kwai Bridge which is a historically significant bridge located in Kanchanaburi province. It is one of the major attractions in this region and holds great historical importance due to its connection to World War II. During the Second World War the Japanese Imperial Army occupied Thailand and used forced labor including prisoners of war and Asian laborers to construct a railway line connecting Thailand to Myanmar (then Burma). The construction of the railway was a grueling and challenging task given the difficult terrain and harsh working conditions. The section of the railway that crossed the Mae Klong River (also known as the Kwai Yai River) required a bridge to span the river’s width.
  The River Kwai Bridge was built using wooden and concrete materials and was completed in 1943. The construction involved immense human suffering as thousands of laborers lost their lives due to the harsh conditions, maltreatment and disease. After the war the original wooden bridge was replaced with a stronger steel and concrete structure. Today the River Kwai Bridge stands as a symbol of the past and serves as a memorial to the thousands who lost their lives during its construction.
• From the River Kwai Bridge you will then travel a short distance to the The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre which is an interactive museum, research and information centre dedicated to presenting the story of the Thailand-Burma Railway built during the World War II. This museum showcases an exhibition about the history of the Thailand-Burma railway and the educational exhibition displays information and photographs about the planning and construction processes of the Death Railway as well as the geography and local living condition during World War II before the bombing and end of the railway.
• After the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre you will travel to the Kanchanaburi Night Market where you can browse the many different stalls offering handicrafts, souvenirs, local foods and clothing items and where you can eat dinner in a local restaurant. After dinner you will be taken to your Kanchanaburi hotel.
• Stay overnight in Kanchanaburi hotel/guesthouse.
• DAY 2
• 07:00 Breakfast at your hotel in Kanchanaburi.
• 07:30 Pickup from your hotel in Kanchanaburi and travel to the famous Erawan Waterfalls. The beautiful Erawan Waterfalls are 1500m long and consists of seven tiers, each with an individual waterfall. There are lots of great and safe swimming areas and lots of nature trails to explore. As you get closer to the summit at the highest waterfall the trail gets steeper and more rocky. You will have 3 hours to enjoy at your leisure at the Erawan Waterfalls.
• Lunch at local restaurant.
• After lunch you will travel to Phra That Cave which is located only 8km from the Erawan Waterfalls. Phra That Cave is a very big cave and is 200m wide. There is a fairly strenuous hike of 600m before you reach the narrow entrance and once you have entered Phra That Cave you will observe lots of beautiful translucent stalactites and stalagmites inside this cave.
• After Phra That Cave you will travel for 1 hour to then board a local train at Tham Kra Sae Station and take a train ride along the Death Railway which runs through beautiful local scenery and historical sites. This route takes passengers through the picturesque countryside of Kanchanaburi province. The journey provides insights into the tragic history of the Death Railway and the significant human suffering that occurred during its construction. As you ride the train you can view the beautiful landcape and remember the thousands of lives lost and the hardships endured by those who were forced to build the Death Railway. You will ride along the Death Railway for 1 hour before the train reaches River Kwai Bridge Station where you will disembark and can eat dinner in a local restaurant. After dinner you will be taken to your Kanchanaburi hotel.
• Stay overnight in Kanchanaburi hotel/guesthouse.
• DAY 3
• 07:30 Breakfast at your hotel in Kanchanaburi.
• 08:00 Pickup from your hotel in Kanchanaburi and travel to Elephant Haven (elephant sanctuary) in Kanchanaburi.
• Elephant Haven is a famous elephant sanctuary in the beautiful Sai Yok district of Kanchanaburi which has introduced their elephant freedom project. This project has brought 7 elephants to freedom and your visit will support them to provide the best possible care for the herd. Elephant Haven operates a ‘saddle off’ policy and there is no riding of elephants at this sanctuary. The elephants at Elephant Haven herd have the freedom to roam, socialise, enjoy a mud bath and cool down in the River Kwai which runs through the sanctuary. In this beautiful setting you can observe the elephants behaviour and learn more about their complex social structure. You will prepare food for the elephants and then feed the elephants. You can then walk with the elephants through the forest to the river and then back to the main project area. A wonderful elephant experience.
• Lunch at Elephant Haven (Thai vegetarian food).
• After Elephant Haven you will travel to the Muang Sing Historical Park. The history of Muang Sing Historical Park goes back to a period between 857 and 1157 when the Khmer Kingdom was flourishing. Records show that this town was abandoned until the reign of King Rama I (1782-1809) when the name Muang Sing first showed in chronicles of this time period. Muang Sing was a fortified town protecting the town of Kanchanaburi and was built in the Bayon-style therefore similarities between the Muang Sing Historical Park and the Angkor Wat are very apparent. The architecture at Muang Sing Historical Park is very old and beautiful and there are four large monuments located in the historical park surrounded by a laterite wall.
• After the Muang Sing Historical Park you will then visit the Kanchanaburi Skywalk. Kanchanaburi Skywalk is a 12m high and 150m long glass walkway that runs alongside the Kwae Yai river and is designed to give visitors a bird’s eye view of where the Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi rivers meet. From the Kanchanaburi Skywalk you will get beautiful views of the converging rivers flowing through lush green surroundings with mountains in the background.
• 18:30 Return to your hotel in Bangkok.

** Guide times are approximate depending upon local traffic and weather conditions and can also be adjusted to suit your own personal requirements **

Tour includes