Embracing Thai Culture on The Rural Thai Experience at Baan Farang Homestay Phra Saeng.
The Rural Thai Experience has been designed for newcomers to Thailand can experience an authentic Thai village life, and include a magical temple, community run spring pools and dam, and visit a fabulous floating market.
Non of the destinations included on the The Rural Thai Experience as yet are not well known therefore still remain very local & authentic.
The Rural Thai Experience is deigned around the weekend, however if inconvenient an alternate Itinerary can be designed.
The Rural Thai Experience Package includes:
- Two nights accommodation, see options
- Thai breakfast, lunch, evening meals, water, and morning coffee.
- All sightseeing tours will be joined by Michelle or Jack the owners.
- Sightseeing transport to and from each destination.
- Long-tail boat tour around the canals(klongs) of the Tapee river and the floating market. See the images attached.
- Khao Na Nai is a stunning temple with 5 pagodas located in the hills with breathtaking views and a magical Gateway to the parkway. – See the images attached.
- Baan Sawan freshwater pools for kayaking and swimming – see the images attached.
Inclusive of entry fees, long-tail boat tour, street food lunch at the floating market, and local food at Baan Sawan.
Note: The package covers Saturdays and Sundays. If weekends are not convenient a new itinerary can be designed to suit alternate days. Please use our contact form here to get a customised itinerary.
Transfers from Krabi, Koh Samui, Phuket, Khao Sok can be arranged at an additional fee but to included a customised tour,
The prices are based on 2 persons sharing from THB 7’700.
Tour Itinerary
Friday
14.00 check-in – Relax around the grounds of Baan Farang Homestay
17.15 Leave Baan Farang and head to Bang Lai Dam for sunset photos.
18.30 Leave and return to Baan Farang for a Thai dinner – Local curry dish and vegetable dish. No set curry dish can be discussed with the customer.
Saturday
05.00 Leave Baan Farang and head to Khao Na Nai approximately 50 minute’s drive.
Coffee and snacks on route
08.00 / 09.00 Leave Khao Na Nai heading to Baan Sawan fresh water pools for swimming or kayaking.
Khanom Jeen breakfast – a traditional Thai breakfast made from white noodles and a light green curry sauce made with boiled fish in coconut milk – served with vegetables
12.00 Leave and head back to Baan Farang.
Relaxing time at Baan Farang and lunch. Lunchtime is set to suit our customers.
17.00 Thai dinner is served – Of your choosing – Curry or vegetable dishes.
18.30 Take a walk around the local food markets and the old town to experience a Thai village lifestyle
Head back to Baan Farang Homestay
Sunday
Breakfast at Baan Farang Homestay
10.30 Leave Baan Farang and head to Surat Thani – Floating Market and Canal(Klong) long-tail boat tour approx 1 hour.
Lunch at the floating market – Sampling local street food and eating lunch on the river
13.00 / 14.00 Leave and head back to Baan Farang Homestay
Check out from Baan Farang Homestay Phra Saeng
Nb. This may vary depending on your next destination, this can be discussed via email communication.
Places we visit
Bangbaimai Temple and Floating market Bangbaimai is located in Surat Thani the outskirts of Surat Thani Town Each Sunday the Temple opens its grounds, to a beautiful little floating market.
The markets offers a, range I’d local food dishes, desserts, and drinks. Handcrafts and clothing is also on sale Bangbsimai temple is situated on the klongs(canals) that meet with the Tapee river.
A longtail boat tour is available around the klongs, passing local homes, Fisherman and some small shops. The tour takes approx 45 minutes.
Along the Khlong bank is an ancient home over 200 yrs old. The ancient house belongs to Warlord Prachan Suek Prachit. Watch the birds, see fish crabs and often monkeys and fireflies (only late afternoon).
The Warlord Prachan found refuge in Bangbaimai with his soldiers after being defeated by Phraya Thaksin approx 1725 – 1780 This is when the Bangbaimai Community was formed.
Starting with only 5 Teak Thai homes on the Khlong. There are many klongs that run off each other, very easy to be hidden among the forest The trees in the forest include Banyan tree, Kura tree, Palm tree, Water tube tree, Kae Nam tree and Nam Nong tree. Interesting info, is that if the Nypa palm grows outside a home, that home owns the tree and no one is allowed to cut it.
Ban Baimai is part of The Rural Thai Experience, but operates only on a Sunday.
Ban Lai Dam is located in a small village named Wiang Sa, Phra Saeng District. It is in-between Bang Song Town and Phra Saeng Village.
The village Wiang Sa is made of of rubber and palm oil plantations and Ban Lai Dam.
Ban Lai dam has a large lily ponds with an amazing back drop setting of hills in the distance.
Wiang Sa is a very close not community, and between them designed and built a small community area around the dam for families to enjoy.
Weekends Ban Lai Dam comes alive with food and drink stalls. Children and families come to relax whilst the children enjoy swimming in the dam.
Bridges over the lilly ponds and lake, which seating areas allows for fantastic photo opportunities, relax and simple reflect.
At sunrise the setting is spectacular, and very popular for adventure photographers to capture amazing photography.
As part of the Rural Thai Experience, Ban Lai Dam has been added into the Itinerary for our customers to embrace the Thai culture.
Bang Sawan fresh spring pools are located in Phra Saeng District, 40 minutes drive from Baan Farang Homestay Phra Saeng. There are two springs at Bang Sawan.
Ban Ang Nam Phut and Khlong Yon Nam Sai The is a large spring around the watershed peat swanp forest.
In 2007 the locals and the Royal Forestry Department invested in a project to clean up the springs for locals to enjoy, and swim. Both springs have crystal clear blue waters. Kayaks are available to explore the peat swamp forest to enjoy the nature.
A concrete walkway and a pavilion were erected for visitors to take a rest and opened the area as an official ecotourism attraction on September 26th, 2015.
The spring waters are an amazing Turquoise shade of blue. Beneath the roots can be seen, capturing spectacular photographs.
Bang Sawan Springs are part of the Rural Thai Expereince.
Khao Na Nai also known as Luang Dharma Park located in Phanom District Southern Thailand
In its era Khao Na Nai was a maritime trade and commerce helping spread Buddhism throughout Asia Set among the grounds pagodas were built to safe guard Buddhist remains and relics.
When you approaching Khao Na Nai you are met by the amazing Temple gateway and Pagoda. At sunrise the light is spectacular at the Temple gateway.
Khao Na Nai has 5 Pagodas. Pagoda 5 is situated at the top, at sunrise the view is one not to be missed.
Pagoda 4 is beautifully set out. Set among a small garden, with a large Pagoda and smaller ones. The view is also amazing.
The remain pagodas are located around the lower level and easy to access The Temple gateway is a magical experience, it offers much photography opportunities or Instragram selfies.
About 40 village people migrated from Cha-uat district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province and first settled in the area in 1975. At at time the area of Khao Na Nai was under the control of the Communist Party of Thailand.
Therefore, the villagers sent their representatives to negotiate with the party regarding living standards in the area. Later on, the villagers from other areas found out the news and decided to move into the area as well.
The Communist Party ended its engagement with the Thai government in 1982 (the Battle of Southern Fire), and the community expanded. Temples, schools, health centers, and the development of utilities were established.
The Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park refers to the monastery and its surrounding areas. Buildings and architecture were all built with the faith and donations of the villagers.
Under the leadership of the abbot (Phra Somphong Wachirapanyo), monks and villagers helped one another to clear the surroundings of the areas as an act of proving offerings to the Buddha without getting paid.
They started from building the entrance which is an old-style arch with 9 peaks or, in Thai, Phutthawadi gate. Then they built Roi Yot Phan Ong Pagoda, Phutthasilawadi Hanging Pagoda, and Phuttharachawadi Hanging Pagoda, respectively. Also, the Khao Na Nai Luang Dharma Park has the intention of completing 7 hanging (Loi Fa) pagodas which would contain the Buddha’s relics.
Khao Na Nai is part of the Rural Thai Experience.
