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ITINERARY
Day 1 > BANGKOK – AYUTTHAYA (-/L/D)
Private car transfer from your hotel in Bangkok to the Manohra Cruise pier, located in front of the Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa. Once on board, you will 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. 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 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. Arrive at Wat Bang Na, 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. 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.
Day 2 > AYUTTHAYA – BANG PA IN (B/L/D)
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.
8.45am: 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 Italian luncheon of pasta and salad served under steam. 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’ll 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. From Ayutthaya, transfer by limousine to Bang Pa In, one of the 16 districts of Ayutthaya where you’ll rejoin the Manohra Song. Relax and freshen up in your private ensuite cabin and then return to the deck for aperitifs and Asian-inspired canapés.
For your second night on the river, we’ll serve an Ayutthaya-inspired Thai dinner. 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.
Day 3 > BANG PA IN – BANGKOK (B/L/-)
Wake up to the taste of a full English breakfast, freshly prepared at your request in the Manohra Song kitchen, followed by a guided tour of Wat Nivat. 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). Re-board the “Manohra Song’ and cruise 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. Great place to shop for Thai handicrafts. After a short guided tour, we’ll depart at around 1pm. Light Thai luncheon under steam. 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! Light afternoon tea served on board as we head back towards the outskirts of Bangkok. Arrive at the Manohra Cruise Pier for disembarkation around 6:30 PM and transfer to your hotel in Bangkok.
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