Wild Thailand Adventure Holidays : The Flavoours and Fragrances of Central Thailand

Itinerary

Day 1 Amphawa / Samut Songkhram

07:00 Leave Bangkok and proceed to Samut Songkram

08:40 On arrival at Samut Songkram, we will visit Mae Klong Market. Local trains run through 8 times daily. As the train approaches the station, many vendors hastily raise their awnings, fold up their umbrellas and pull their stalls away. The hidden railway tracks suddenly appear. After the train has passed, everything is set in their previous position. The name of the market “ Talad Romhup ” is derived from the vendors’ closing umbrellas

09.00 We travel on to coconut plantations at Amphawa

09.30 At the coconut plantation, we see how villagers produce traditional coconut sugar which is a main ingredient for Thai desserts and a natural condiment in authentic Thai cooking. We see the whole process of natural sugar production, from climbing up a coconut tree to retrieve its nectar, collecting sugar in bamboo containers hung overnight, stirring in a large black iron pan over a wood fire until ready. You can taste a favorite local Thai dessert made from fresh coconut milk and coconut sugar.

10:00 Next, we visit Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong, located on the bank of Mae Klong River . The remarkable attraction is the Kudee Thong (Golden Hermitage) built by the father of Khun Nak, Queen of King Rama I, the founder of present Chakri Dynasty. She was the Mother of King Rama II, a great patron to arts and culture which have become national heritage.

10:20 We hop on board a boat to see agricultural villages along the Mae Klong River, passing various kinds of tropical fruit orchards - coconut groves, pomelo and lychees, and ancient style Thai houses rarely seen nowadays in the communities of Amphawa. Many riverside communities become crowded floating markets during the weekends. Our trip ends in Amphawa where you can walk around and see traditional lifestyle.

11:00 Next, we visit Baan Khanom Thai community (literally the sweets village) where guests will see demonstration of how to make traditional Thai desserts using methods specified in the poetry composed by King Rama II (can be changed without notice)

11:45 We proceed to the Community of Bang Phlap, well- known for its’ sweet, organic pomelo orchards. This community is a popular place to learn about local wisdom of chemical free agriculture, how to transform unused parts of fruits or plants into charcoals and wood smoke vinegar, conventional ways of fruit & vegetable preservation as well as the community’s profit sharing system which raises funds for their children’s education.

12:00 A local, authentic Thai lunch will be served at the community. After lunch, we visit Pomelo orchards where guests can learn how to plant organic pomelos and produce organic fertilizer, how to burn unused fruits into charcoal and produce wood vinegar, learn how the villagers preserve their fruits and how they produce a variety of interesting products.

15:00 Proceed to Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa, a Green Leaf Hotel in Samut Songkram which is approximate 2 hours drive from Bangkok. Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa is a Thai Style House Resort in the midst of lush green orchards and coconut plantations, by the riverside of Mae Klong River .

Check in to the Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa. Relaxation at the resort.

19.00 Dinner and overnight at Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa.