Ratchaburi-Ban Pong-Tha Chin River-Bangkok (3N/3D)

3N/3D-ride from Ratchaburi to Bangkok

Down to Hualamphong railway station in Bangkok to catch train 167 at 18:30hrs to Ratchaburi. This Surat Thani bound train has a freight car and accepts bicycles. They trip to Ratchaburi took about 3hrs, and a short bike ride took me to the Click Resort, a drive in style resort along the Ratchaburi Southern bypass road. Rooms were brand new, well equipped and good value for money. Buono Dine&Wine a few steps down the road had a band going, a bit and a few cold beers in a pleasant outdoor area until midnight.

Ratchaburi to Ban Pong (Day 1 – 55km)

The first day took me from Ratchaburi to Ban Pong, along the Maeklhong river. First I took a look at Wat Koh Nammatha Pathawalancharam, a quiet temple on a small island on the river a bit South of the bridge in Ratchaburi. The last stop in town at Cafe’ Society, just next to the bridge, provided the morning caffeine before crossing the river. I then followed the smallest possible roads along the river, from temple to temple, until about 3km before the small town of Potharam. About 6km before the point where I crossed the river, at Wat Chet Samian, there was a small restaurant for a quick meal. Likewise, about 2km past the bridge, there were several restaurants, and I had picked Auntie Huay’s Old Style Noodle Shop as my lunch place. This local restaurant is a popular stop for people traveling along route 4038 and as I got there around lunch time I had to wait to be seated. That’s always a good sign, and yes, their noodles were excellent and the crew running the place was very friendly.I had tried a detour inland to the railway line before traversing the river and lunch, however this little expedition failed as there was a huge new factory compound – not yet on GE satellite images – barring my way and it was impossible to go around nearby as the railway line was fenced off.

After lunch I went back to the small road along the river and continued North. Wat Khanon Nang Yai was the next major stop. The shadow theater art museum is well worth to remain for a while before setting out for the last leg to Ban Pong, about 10 more kilometers away. Along this leg I passed a few resorts and restaurants, I liked Sirisup resort and Sangfar resort, directly on the river and with local restaurants and shops nearby. I continued on the East bank of the river up to the second bridge and doubled back into the town center from there, staying at Baan Khun Nine Bed&Breakfast, which turned out to be an excellent choice. Modern, clean rooms, coffee shop and a restaurant with river view terrace made for a pleasant stay, food was good and beer was cold. A perfect way to end this ride, albeit I passed several river view restaurants on the East bank of the river before crossing the bridge, so there’s no need really to stay right at the river, any hotel or guesthouse in town would do.