3 Days Rural Life in Rayong
3 DAYS
RURAL LIFE IN RAYONG
Engage in local life in Rayong province
and relax on blissful Koh Samet island.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, Rayong province is an idyllic destination with a 100-km-long coastline. The provincial capital of the same name is a major centre for excellent seafood and tropical fruits grown in the surrounding fertile terrain. Just a two-hour drive from Bangkok, this is a popular place to escape city life and soak in a more peaceful beach atmosphere. An inherent theme of this excursion is immersion in local communities. This is achieved through participation in various sustainable projects, such as activities that benefit local villages. This journey also includes a sojourn in blissful Koh Samet, an island situated 2.6 km off the southern coast of Rayong.
Sustainability
This Sustainable Trail maximises positive impacts on local communities and minimises negative impacts on the environment in the following ways:
Eat locally – Enjoy local dishes with authentic flavours, cooked using locally sourced ingredients;
Stay eco-friendly – Stay overnight in a traditional homestay for a truly Thai experience;
Experience meaningfully – Learn how to prepare and cook northern-style food from a local expert.
Awards
This programme received the 2023 Thailand Tourism Gold Award
in recognition of its contribution to responsible and sustainable tourism.
TRAIL ITINERARY
DAY 1
Bangkok – Rayong [L, D]
Guests are warmly welcomed upon their arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, or at a Bangkok hotel, depending on individual travel itineraries and taken on a three-hour drive to a serene beach in Rayong province. The first stop is lunch at Laem Charoen Seafood Restaurant, one of the oldest Thai restaurants on the beach near Rayong city. We then head to the selected hotel to check-in. After freshening up, it is time to meet the guide in the lobby and start our sustainable activities at Centre Pra Chedi Klangnam. We will participate in beneficial pursuits such as creating a crab condominium, a structure that helps this important species to thrive. Other possible activities are building a refuse trap in a river, or planting saplings in a mangrove forest. We then transfer back to our respective hotels for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2
Rayong – Pattaya [B, L, D]
Our excursion provides the best of both worlds – the rural splendour of Rayong province, followed by the lively resort city of Pattaya. In the morning, we drive to Ban Krasae Bon community village to absorb the local lifestyle. We will enjoy a welcome drink at Krasia Khuha Sawan Temple and take part in varied religious traditions, including a blessing administered by a monk. We then head to Somchit Orchard by a traditional three-wheel vehicle. Next, we boat down the Prasae River and try to spot the elusive Chinese Water Dragon. Lunch is prepared by the friendly villagers and served on a raft with an idyllic river view. It is then time to transfer to Pattaya. After checking in to the hotel, we visit the Sanctuary of Truth. This is the most iconic local structure in the city and created entirely from teak. The amazing 105-metre-tall replica of both a temple and a palace is unique in the world. Detailed carvings of animals, people and scenes from mythology are of exceptional fine detail. We then enjoy a seafood dinner cooked Thai-style at Glass House Silver Restaurant, followed by a transfer to the hotel.
DAY 3
Pattaya – Takien Tia Community – Bangkok [B, L]
After a delicious breakfast, we check-out from the hotel and set off on a leisurely journey. We will gain immersion into eco-tourism at Baan Takian Tia Community in Bang Lamung district in Chonburi, a 40-minute drive from Pattaya. This experience will give us the opportunity to learn about coconut cultivation and how the community has united to preserve a green sanctuary in a rapidly industrialised area. A local villager will give us an insight into efforts to maintain a small slice of the countryside in the rapidly advancing concrete jungle, as this location’s close proximity to Bangkok has made it a prime area for development. We then get hands-on during a floral embroidery bag workshop and get to keep our creation. After lunch with community members, we continue on our way to Bangkok.
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