Fact Sheet Half Day Tour (5Hours) Damnoen Saduak
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FACT SHEET HALF DAY (5 HOURS) AROUND KOH SAMUI TOUR Samui, Thailand What to expect Koh Samui is home to many great sights, including the island’s Big Buddha statue; sitting 15 metres tall, it is a monumental landmark on the island. Here you can also check out the natural rock formations known as Grandma and Grandpa and visit the spectacular NuMuang Waterfall. VIsit Koh Samui’s Guan Yu shrines, representing loy- alty, righteousness, bravery and honesty among the Chinese people. What you will do The first stop is Big Buddha temple; a large statue of Lord Buddha image dominating the hill top of a small island which can be reached by walking up the steps to the big gallery for the surrounding bird’s eye view. Next stop is at a marvelously strange natural forma- tion, known as Grandma and Grandpa; the rocks have been fashioned by the elements into massive sculptures, resulting in a lot of humorous interest from tourists. Next, visit Guan Yu Koh Samui shrine; the most recent addition to the island’s sightseeing destina- tions. The shrine is a celebration of Chinese heritage and is dedicated to Guan Yu, a leg- endary warrior who died almost 2,000 years ago. The Guan Yu monument is 16 metres in height, making it the biggest of its kind in Thailand. Visit Wat Kunaram to pay respect to the mummified body of Luang Por Daeng; who died more than 30 years ago in a sitting position of meditation, and has remained relatively unchanged ever since. We stop at Na Muang 1 Waterfall and admire the impressive drop of 18 metres cascading down to a natural pool below. You will have time for shopping at Nathon town, the capital of Koh Samui and a place where the pier is designed for embarkation to the mainland. A range of Samui local products can be found here. Why book this This tour is a great overiew and orientation for Samui island, taking in all the ma- jor landscapes, monuments and experiences the island has to offer. Panorama Destination www.panorama-destination.com FACT SHEET HALF DAY TOUR (4 HOURS) BANGKOK HIGHLIGHTS Bangkok, Thailand What to expect Visit several must-see places in Bankgok city, such as Grand Palace and Wat Pho; and experience ‘the King of Rivers’ through public transportation such as skytrain, Express Boat and longtailed boat. What you will do Your time in the grandeur of Bangkok has just begun. After your breakfast, start your journey in Bangkok, one of Asia’s most cosmopolitan cities, then ride on a BTS (Sky train) to the Chao Praya Central Pier. Continue to travel along the Chao Praya River to the majestic Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha temple. The splendid Grand Palace enclosure is home to many ornate temples and buildings in a variety of architectural styles. Gold leaf, reflective tilling and Buddha Images are to be seen everywhere. The magnificent Wat Phra Kaeo - a treasure trove of Thai arts and home to the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most revered Buddha image - is at the heart of the complex. Walk to one of the oldest temples in Bangkok: Wat Pho - or the temple of the Reclining Buddha. The famous reclining Buddha, constructed in 1932, is enshrined in this temple. The 46-metre long and 15-metre high gold-plated Reclining Buddha, with eyes and feet inlaid with mother-of-pearl brings to mind the Lord Buddha’s entry into Nirvana. What Pho was also the first centre of public education in the Kingdom. Nowadays, it is an important centre for the teaching and administering of traditional Thai massage. Set off along the waterway of Chao Praya River on a private long-tailed boat to discover the Thonburi canal and get an in-depth look at the way of life along the canals. Why book this Highly recommended if this is your first time to Thailand. Embark on this classic tour with our licensed guide to understand the way of lifes in Bangkok. Panorama Destination www.panorama-destination.com FACT SHEET HALF DAY TOUR (4 HOURS ) BIKING TOUR AT BANG KRAJAO Bangkok, Thailand What to expect Take an adventure into the wilderness of Bangkok on a visit to the inner city oasis of Bang Kra Jao. Best reached by boat, this island is often referred to as the “green lung” of Bangkok and incredibly, has been left untouched by city developers. What you will do Pick up from your hotel and journey back in time as you cross the river to a paradise of lush tropical vegetation and a slower, more traditional pace of life. Ride through local communities, pass villages and listen to the sounds of children playing. If it weren’t for the city skyline, you would never believe you’re still within the Bangkok city limits! Discover tropical fruits and flowers along the way as the trail leads to an ancient temple. The peeling paint reveals underlying bricks and hint at the age of the temple, built many hundreds of years ago. The total distance of the bike ride is about 25 kilometres, starting with a short sec- tion in the city before crossing the river. From there it’s a combination of minor roads and elevated pathways, through temple gardens and tropical jungle with no hills. The elevated canal pathways may not be suitable for those afraid of heights, but we think these add to the adventure! Why book this Get away from the city and discover the green community, or the ‘lung of Bankgok’. If you know how to ride a bicycle, this tour is perfect for you to expore some less- er-known spaces of the city. Panorama Destination www.panorama-destination.com FACT SHEET HALF DAY (4 HOURS) CHIANG MAI CITY HIGHLIGHTS Chiang Mai, Thailand What to expect The city of Chiang Mai is home to a wealth of beautiful and historic Buddhist Wats (temples). On this tour we visit some of the most fascinating, whilst also enjoying some incredible views of the city itself. What you will do Today you’ll travel close to the summit of Doi Suthep, to visit the 600 year-old temple of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. After a drive up the mountain’s winding road, the final climb to the site is via an enormous mythological Nagas (Dragon-headed serpent) staircase of 306 steps (elevators are available). Inside the cloister is an intriguing copper-plated chedi topped by a five-tier gold parasol, which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. On a clear day, there are incomparable views over the city of Chiang Mai from the temple grounds. Other temples visited on this tour include Wat Suan Dok, whose large central stupa contains a Buddha relic which supposedly self-multiplied; and Wat Chedi Luang, con- sisting of an impressive chedi, originally built in 1411; it reached a height of over 85 metres before it was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. It now reaches a height of only 60 metres. The temple also contains the city pillar. Why book this The perfect introduction to Northern Thailand’s cultural and religious capital. Experience Chiang Mai’s most visually stunning Buddhist temples, including the gor- geous 600 year-old Wat Phrathat Doi Sutep atop the 5,300-foot (1,615 metres) mountain. Panorama Destination www.panorama-destination.com FACT SHEET HALF DAY (4 HOURS) CHIANG RAI CITY & TEMPLES Chiang Rai, Thailand What to expect Explore the culture and heritage of Chiang Rai. Visit the beautiful Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Doi Thong, with its Navel Pillars and Wat Rong Khun temples, monuments displaying intricate Thai architecture. What you will do Visit the main market area and Wat Phra Kaew Chiang Rai, where the famous Emerald Buddha (now in Bangkok) was found in A.D. 1434. Visit also Wat Doi Thong, with its Navel Pillars, overlooking the Mae Kok River, and King Meng Rai’s Monument with its annual festival in February. Then visit Wat Rong Khun, also called “The white temple”; inside it contains murals and paintings of the Buddha image and painted enamel ceramic floor. The outside is being created with lime sculpture Thai designs decorated with small pieces of mirror that make the building sparkle and shine under the sunlight. Why book this Enjoy the best of Chiang Rai from local market to Wat Phra Kaew and to Wat Rong Khun, the famous temple of the province Panorama Destination www.panorama-destination.com FACT SHEET HALF DAY TOUR (4 HOURS) CITY SAFARI BY TUK TUK Bangkok, Thailand What to expect Bangkok is a large and fascinating capital with a number of temples dotted around the city. Discover the historical hidden sites on Rattanakosin Island by tuk-tuk. Travel overland to visit the historical fort, the holy pillar of new city and end up with the pan- oramic views of Bangkok at the top of Golden Mt. Temple. What you will do Explore Bangkok by traditional tuk-tuk; a small, open-air, three-wheeled vehi- cle that’s great for sightseeing and also for whizzing through traffic! The first stop of the day will be at Phra Sumeru Fortress on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is the largest of two remaining fortresses built during the reign of King Rama I. Continue by tuk-tuk to City Pillar Shrine. This shrine was built by King Rama I to mark the new capital, Bangkok. It is reputed by many to have the power of grant- ing wishes. The City Pillar is made of the wood of “Javanese Cassia” more than 100 years ago and contains the city’s horoscope.