| Through Barking Dog Canal
and others southwest of Bangkok
| Days: |
5 |
| Location: |
Thailand |
| Activities: |
Storeboat, hiking, cycling, village stays. |
BRIEFLY
Many of the canals dug during the 18th century were to speed troops to
the front in the endless wars with the Burmese. Sunak Hon (Barking Dog)
was one such canal that linked Bangkok with the Mae Klong River
that runs nearly to the Three Pagodas Pass on the Burmese border.
We'll take a leisurely ride through farmlands and
salt flats aboard a comfortable converted storeboat (see photo)
which once sold food and sundries along distant canals.
On reaching Mae Khlong (Samut Songkram), we then cruise upriver to
the charming canal town of Ampawa. This journey introduces you to
Thai rural life as it is lived along the canals.
There are numerous variations that can take us up to eight days
by returning along another set of canals. Let's discuss it.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Begin in Bangkok's Chao Phya River, passing through the suburbs
on the Thonburi side of the river along the Mahachai Cholamak Canal, dug in 1705.
We'll stop at an orchid nursery, a Buddhist temple,
and spend the night in a rustic canalside house, dining on local Thai food.
Day 2
Continue down Mahachai Cholamark Canal, stopping to wander through
a typical country market. We enter the Tha Chin River and
cruise a short distance to the bustling market town of Mahachai
where we'll spend the night.
Day 3 Ride bikes
We'll visit the pier where deepsea catches are unloaded from Thailand's fishing fleet. We then continue our journey, entering Barking Dog Canal. Along the way, we'll disembark to cycle across rice fields. We'll spend the night in a village house and eat a Thai dinner.
Day 4
On today's journey we take time out to cycle to the famed flats
where sea water is dried by the sun to create table salt.
We end the canal portion in the Mae Khlong River at Samut Songkram.
We then cruise up the river to Ampawa, known for its stilt houses,
boardwalks, and sampans selling a variety of foods.
We'll spend the night here in bungalows.
Day 5
After presenting food to Buddhist monks, and shopping in a morning market,
we look at how palm trees are tapped for sugar.
After lunch, we return to Bangkok by van or, if you wish, by train.
For more information and prices, e-mail +662 653 9712 and +6681 450 5340
noting your country of departure. |
