Mysterious temples: from the depth of caves to the top of hills

Day 1. The journey will start with one of the most favourite places of HM Rama IV – cave temple Tham Khao Luang (Wat Bun Thawi). As the legend goes, in early times there was a passage leading to a mysterious town inhabited by women only. Afterwards, you are going to Wat Khao Banda. According to another legend, 309 years ago, in the heyday of Ayutthaya, there lived a wealthy man who had two wives. Once he decided to make a large donation for the construction of a temple. The main building of the complex – ubosot – was erected to celebrate one of his wives and a slightly smaller building - viharn - was made in honor of the other. Both buildings face each other and look very much alike. A tall white chedi was built in between as the symbol of the benefactor but it has leant over time. People believe that it leans towards the building dedicated to the wife he loved more. After lunch you will visit the beautiful delicate temple Wat Mahathatu Voraviharn comprised of 5 white pagodas, walk around the glorious Wat Yai Suwanaram deeply revered by Rama V and eventually see the ancient Khmer temple Wat Kamphaeng Laeng – a fabulous example of the XI century’s architecture. In the evening you will eye-witness a fantastic phenomenon near the Khao Nang Phanthurat rock. Every day at the same time before it gets dark millions of bats fly out of a small cave near the summit of the mountain. They form a long line which will trail above your heads for about 25 minutes. Dinner.

Day 2. On this day you will visit the Wat Huay Mongkol temple complex famous for its enormous statue of one of Thailand’s most famous monks named Luang Phor Thuad. His name is steeped in history. He is said to have saved a whole village from famine and drought. When the country was suffering from the lack of water and the land received no drop of rain for months, the monk hypnotized people to make them drink sea water as if it was fresh. Then you will go the Wat Thow Takiab temple located on the top of the hill and will be rewarded with an astounding panoramic view. There is an imposing 19 meters high statue of Buddha close to the temple. Then you will set off on a safari tour featuring cobras, crocodiles and even a little though very gifted elephant and then may enjoy elephant riding. After lunch you will continue your tour over the tops of the mountains to visit Khao Sa Naam Chai temple and admire the fantastic view. At the end of the day you will visit the artificial Tham Khao Tao cave which seamlessly attached to the natural rock. The temple erected above the cave will marvel you with the gorgeous delicately painted relief Buddha images which have certain resemblance to the modern graffiti art. Dinner.

Day 3. On this day you will visit the Hua Hin railway station – one of the most beautiful and significant historical sites of the city. The station still operates and long-distance and short-distance trains regularly visit it. Here you even may have some coffee in a cozy coffee shop. Afterwards you will go to the seaside, board a long-tail boat for the journey to the magnificent beach in the national park to visit one more unique site – the Phraya Nakhon cave. In the middle of the gigantic cave there is a small elegant pavilion standing gloriously in a ray of sunlight falling from a circular hole in the cave ceiling. This pavilion was built for HM Rama V. Afterwards you will have lunch right on the seashore or simply enjoy the placidity looking at the waves lapping on the beach and relax under the roof of palm leaves. Picnic-style lunch. Transfer to Bangkok.