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THE MEKONG RIVER OF FAITHS – CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
3-days/2-nights package
December 24 – 26, 2008
Bangkok – Nakhon Phanom – Sakhon Nakhon – Bangkok |
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See the Sparkling Star Procession at Tha Rae, the largest Christian community in Thailand and visit Wat Song Khon, the beautiful Roman Catholic Church in Nakhon Phanom.
ITINERARY
Wednesday
24 December |
04.45 |
Meet at Suvarnabhumi Airport and check-in at the PB Air counter |
06.00 |
Depart for Nakhon Phanom Airport |
07.15 |
Arrive at Nakhon Phanom Airport |
07.40 |
The Nakhon Phanom journey of discovery begins. |
08.00 |
Local-style breakfast |
09.00 |
Leave for Wat Song Khon or Our Lady of the Martyrs of Thailand Shrine in the district of Amphoe Wan Yai, Mukdahan province
Our Lady of Seven Martyrs Shrine, Mukdahan
The shrine was built to honour seven Catholics — The Seven Blessed Martyrs— who were killed in the holy forest as they refused to renounce their faith. The shrine is located on the banks of the Mekong River and is known for their modern "less is more" architecture. In 1996, it was presented with the "Best Architecture Award" by the Association of Siamese Architects under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King. The shrine itself is 21 metres wide and 33.6 metres tall. During its annual celebration, the shrine's welcomes some 20,000 pilgrimages from around the world.
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10.00 |
Arrive at Wat Song Khon, a Catholic church much admired for its award-winning architectural style |
11.00 |
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Leave for Phra That Phanom stupa situated in the district (Amphoe) of That Phanom
Phra That Phanom, Nakhon Phanom
Known as the most important Buddhist site in the province, this riverside pagoda, believed to have been built during the 12th - 14th Buddhist century, is 53.6 metres high and is topped with a 110-kilogramme solid gold spire. The pagoda enshrines the holy relics of the Lord Buddha is believed to have originally been of Khmer design, and later was renovated through the years to its present Laotian design. Phra That Phanom is considered to be the sacred stupa for those born on Sunday and those born in the Chinese ‘Year of the Monkey’. If those who fit this description make a pilgrimage to pay their respect at the site, the individual would be blessed with charisma and would be highly respected.
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11.30 |
Upon arrival at the Wat Phra That Phanom, pay respect at the stupa |
12.00 |
Leave for Phra That Renu in the district of Renu Nakhon |
12.30 |
Arrive at Amphoe Renu Nakhon
Enjoy lunch and the Phu Thai traditional welcoming ceremony |
14.00 |
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Pay respect to the Phra Thai Renu Nakhon stupa
Phra That Renu, Nakhon Phanom
Built in 1920, the stupa is 35 meters high and 8.37 meters wide, and is a scaled down replica of Phra That Phanom. The stupa houses Phra Ong Saen, a gold Buddha image which is highly respected by the locals, and Buddhist scriptures. It is the sacred stupa for those born on Monday. It is believed that people who pay their respects to the stupa will be blessed with beautiful skin. |
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14.30 |
Leave for the provincial city of Nakhon Phanom |
15.30 |
Enjoy a city tour to admire the architecture and local way of life in Nakhon Phanom |
16.20 |
Check-in at i-Hotel. At leisure. |
18.00 |
Dinner at View Khong Restaurant |
19.00 |
Enjoy the Christmas celebrations in Nong Saeng community, the only Christian community in Nakhon Phanom |
20.00 |
Return to i-Hotel. At leisure. |
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Thursday
25 December |
07.30 |
Breakfast at the hotel |
08.00 |
Check-out and leave for Sakhon Nakhon |
09.30 |
Arrive in Sakhon Nakhon and visit the Phra Achaan Man Phurithatto Museum and Luang Pu Lui Chanthasaro Chedi Museum at Wat Pa Sutthawat |
10.30 |
Leave for Phra Tamnak Phu Phan Ratchaniwet |
11.00 |
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Arrive at Phra Tamnak Phu Phan Ratchaniwet
Phu Phan Ratchaniwet Palace
(Phra Tamnak Phu Phan Ratchaniwet)
Phu Phan Ratchaniwet Palace, the residence of Their Majesties when they visit the Northeast, was constructed on the Phu Phan mountain range. The palace is surrounded by lush forests and gardens adorned with colourful decorative plants. Take a stroll in the beautiful gardens and admire the floral splendour. |
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11.30 |
Return to Sakhon Nakhon |
12.00 |
Lunch at Green Corner |
13.00 |
Leave for the Amphoe (district) of Na Wa in Nakhon Phanom province |
14.00 |
Arrive at Amphoe Na Wa. Pay respect to the Phra That Prasit stupa and visit the handicraft centre to shop for handicrafts.
Phra That Prasit, Nakhon Phanom
An old Chedi with no trace of the year of establishment, the stupa a was renovated in 1893. Located in Amphoe Na Wa, Nakhon Phanom, it is a replica of the famous Pha That Phanom. The stupa is highly regarded as a sacred site, especially for those born on Thursday. Those who pay their respects at the site will be granted their wish to be successful at work.
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15.30 |
Leave for Ban Tha Ruea in the district of Na Wa
In addition to observing how Northeastern musical instruments, such as Phin, Kaen and Wot, are crafted, enjoy a live demonstration by the local youth and take advantage of this opportunity to purchase some of these hand-crafted instruments as a collector’s item or souvenir.
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Ban Tha Ruea, Nakhon Phanom
Ban Tha Ruea is a village known for crafting high-quality traditional musical instruments such as the three-stringed lute, khaen (the I-San mouth organ), Pong lang (pentatonic logxylophone), Wot (circular panpipe). |
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17.00 |
Leave for Ban Tha Rae in the Sakhon Nakhon provincial centre (Amphoe Mueang Sakhon Nakhon) |
17.40 |
Arrive at Ban Tha Rae, Thailand’s largest Christian community. (Tourists of Christian faith are most welcome to attend the mass at the Saint Michael Archangel Cathedral from 19.00 – 20.00 hrs.)
Ban Tha Rae, Sakhon Nakhon
This is a Roman Catholic community that dates back for than a hundred years. The community has a unique and fascinating city plan that resembles a square chessboard as found in some Western countries. Beautiful houses built in the French architectural style are found along both sides of the main village road. |
19.40 |
Leave Sakhon Nakhon for dinner |
21.00 |
Check-in to the NH The Elegant Hotel. At leisure. |
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Friday
26 December |
07.30 |
Breakfast at the hotel |
08.00 |
Leave for Ban Kut Na Kham Arts and Crafts Centre in the district of Amphoe Charoen Sin in Sakhon Nakhon province
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09.30 |
Arrive at Ban Kut Na Kham Arts and Crafts Centre. Shop for handcrafted products.
Ban Kut Na Kham Arts and Crafts Centre, Sakon Nakhon
Her Majesty the Queen initiated the establishment of the Kut Na Kham Art and Crafts Centre in 1983 in Ban Kut Na Kham village in the sub-district of Tambon Charoen Sin in the district (Amphoe) of Charoen Sin.
The centre was established to provide formal training and enhance the inherent skills of I-san villagers who demonstrate a natural flair for handicraft. The handicrafts produced from this centre provide supplemental income to I-san farming families. This helps to alleviate rural poverty.
Noted for its high quality terra cotta products featuring unique designs, Kut Na Kham village is one of the major terra cotta producers in Northeastern Thailand.
Visitors to the Centre are treated to live demonstrations of the delicate processes of casting and painting. Enjoy shopping for finished products in the show room. In addition, its handicrafts portfolio has expanded to include wood carving, silk weaving, artificial flower producing, basketry and other crafts. |
10.30 |
Leave for Ban Phan Na in Amphoe Sawang Daen Din |
11.00 |
Leave for Ban Phan Na
Observe the fabric-colouring process using natural dyes |
11.40 |
Leave for Amphoe Phang Khon |
12.00 |
Lunch |
13.00 |
Leave for Amphoe Phanna Nikhom |
13.30 |
Arrive at Wat Pa Udom Somphon forest monastery and visit the Phra Achaan Fan Acharo Museum |
14.30 |
Return to Sakhon Nakhon |
15.20 |
Arrive in Sakhon Nakhon and continue to the Wat Phra That Choeng Chum stupa |
15.40 |
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Arrive at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum and pay respects to the stupa
Phra That Choeng Chum,
Sakon Nakhon
A historical site that has always been the key landmark of Sakon Nakhon, this plaster-covered brick and square-based pagoda is 24 metres high topped with a solid gold spire weighing 247 baht. The four main doors facing each direction were built upon replicas of the four of the Lord Buddha's footprints. In addition, the chapel houses the holy Luang Pho Ong Saen, a Buddha image highly respected by the locals.
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17.00 |
Dinner |
19.00 |
Leave for Sakhon Nakhon Airport |
19.10 |
Arrive at Sakhon Nakhon Airport. Check-in. |
20.40 |
Depart for Bangkok |
21.00 |
Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport |
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note: the above programme is subject to change
Contact information:
Fuji Tours (Thailand)
Tel: +66 (0) 2918 6067-8
Fax: +66 (0) 2918 9804, (0) 2918 5028
Jalpak Tours & Travel (Thailand)
Tel: +66 (0) 2257 4075
Fax: +66 (0) 2257 4080
World Travel Service Limited
Tel: +66 (0) 2233 5900, (0) 2233 5954
Fax: +66 (0) 2236 7169, (0) 2266 3422
Global Holiday Co., Ltd.,
Tel: +66 (0) 2393 5855
Fax: +66 (0) 2393 5866
Charisma Travel Service
Tel: +66 (0) 2681 4499
Fax: +66 (0) 2681 4480
Global Complex Co., Ltd.,
Tel: +66 (0) 2181 3027-8
Fax: +66 (0) 2181 3029
Royal Silk Holidays
Tel: +66 (0) 2641 6063-5
Fax: +66 (0) 2641 6318 |
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IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change.
Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.
Contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Email: info@tat.or.th
Website: www.tat.or.th
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines)
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines)
FOR EVENT INFORMATION,
please call 1672.
Address:
1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee
Bangkok 10400
Thailand |
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