Jour 1: Kanchanaburi
BANGKOK - DAMNERN SADUAK - KANCHANABURI (Lunch, Dinner)
Morning departure to visit Damnern Saduak, the famous floating market. Along the way, we visit the fresh market in Mae Klong, known as the Railway Market, unique because of the train that passes through it at certain times of the day, forcing vendors to move their goods in a hurry but just for a few minutes. Visit to the Damnern Saduak floating market, where dozens of farmers paddle their little boats loaded with fruits, vegetables and foods to buy and sell from boat to boat, creating a floating market. Transfer to Kanchanaburi, the town of the bridge on the river Kwai, whose construction by allied prisoners during World War II was fictionalized in the movie that made it famous worldwide. Lunch in a typical restaurant. After lunch we take a train for a short but spectacular ride on the famous Death Railway, built by the POW under Japanese captivity. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Jour 2: Amphoe Sangkhla Buri
KANCHANABURI - SANGKLABURI (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Departure to visit the Hellfire Pass, an historical landmark in the construction of the "Death Railway" where thousands of POW died to build it. Transfer to Sangklaburi, a mountain town known for the Mon wooden bridge, the longest (442 meters) in the world, far more spectacular than the more famous one over the Kwai River. This bridge, almost entirely submerged during the rainy season, is the point of passage of the Mon people, who are often seen crossing the lake carrying original jars on their heads. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Boat trip on the Sangklaburi lake. In the dry season, from March to May, the water level drops and an island appears. The island has the remains of an old temple, which remains submerged for the next nine months of the year. This is the most important temple of the region, Wat Wang Wiwekaram, which was submerged along with the old town when the dam was built.
During the months when the temple is submerged it is possible to see its top emerging from the water. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Jour 3: Kanchanaburi
SANGKLABURI - KANCHANABURI (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Departure from the hotel to the Uttamanusorn bridge for the alms offering ritual. The offers to the monks can be bought near the bridge. After the offering, return to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards we depart towards the Three Pagodas Pass, an ancient route to Myanmar. In this area we stop to pay respect to a memorial to the prisoners who died building the railway. We then visit a traditional market populated by Mon and Karen villagers, a great place to buy original handicrafts made of carved wood, together with jade and textiles. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Transfer to Sai Yok National Park, a large wilderness area, rich in waterfalls and caves. Many protected species, like gibbons, elephants and tigers, inhabit the park. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
Jour 4:
KANCHANABURI - BANGKOK (Breakfast)
Departure to Prasat Mueang Sing, the ruins of a large Khmer empire outpost. Return to Bangkok and transfer to the hotel/airport.
