THAILAND – Phitsanulok – Explore Phitsanulok Under the Moonlight by Local Transport

Description

Phitsanulok was once an important outpost of the Ayutthaya Empire, today it is a provincial town that is mainly used as a stopover on the way to the north. However, for people who take the time to explore this local town, Phitsanulok has some interesting surprises to offer: lively evening markets with local delicacies, restaurants with “flying vegetables” and cozy floating riverside restaurants. All can be easily explored by a variety of local means of transportation like bicycle rickshaw,or a big local truck for larger groups.

Selling points

• A great way to explore a typical Thai town, try some exotic foods and enjoy a delicious dinner in a local restaurant.
• Use of traditional transportation: samlor (trishaw), or local truck
• Interactive experiences along the way like insect tasting and “flying vegetables”

Level Of The Excursion

The Impact Of This Excursion

Social/cultural Impact

Environment Impact

Economic Impact

Additional Information

Positive impacts

During the activity, guests use a local means of transportation to explore the town. The various stops along the way help to support individuals as well as the community as a whole

Negative impacts

For groups the means of transportation is motorized resulting in emission of Co².

Time And Transportation

Duration

3 – 4 hours

Min pax

1

Max pax

75

How to sell it

• Suitable for low/medium or high budget clients
• Young or older clients, family….
• The activity starts at the hotel where clients are staying
• Private tour

Why this activity

• Fun activity in an otherwise relatively quiet town
• Opportunity to try new things
• Budget friendly activity for the whole evening

Good to combine with

• Overnight stay in Phitsanulok

Do not combine with

• Overnight stay in another city

Market suggestion

Competitor comparison

Most DMCs offer it, though it is mainly sold as an optional tour

Pros

• Nice activity in an otherwise “boring” town.
• Opportunity to be in the local life
• Possibility to try out new things like insects and flying vegetable show

Cons

• Quite known activity, during high season clients will probably see other groups
• can be difficult to organize for bigger groups (especially samlor option)

Information

• The activity starts at the hotel where clients are staying
• 1 mode of transport should be chosen (rickshaw or local truck) depending on the needs and budget of clients
• Easia guide joins the tour FOC (except in case of using rickshaws: 1 rickshaw for the guide needs to be provided as well)
• Private tour
• There are 2 “flying vegetables” restaurants in Phitsanulok, but the one near the river is preferred.  There are many floating riverside restaurants, Phae Song Kwae is preferred (especially for larger groups).
  • At the “flying vegetable” restaurant some of the clients will have to volunteer to catch the vegetables. Sometimes they are given a funny wig/funny clothes and a little show is done by the local people. This may not be appreciated by all clients, the guide should help to manage this situation.
  • The dinner at local restaurant is a Thai menu consisting of different dishes. The minimum budget for this would be 160THB/pp, but can be higher if needed. Especially for FIT clients it is recommended to use a bit higher budget in order to be able to provide multiple dishes.

Alerts

• Rickshaw is not an option for groups of more than 10 pax because of the limited number of drivers available
• Truck should be avoided for groups less than 10 pax as the rate will be high. For this case, opt for rixkshaw
• Subject to weather conditions
• Popular activity, possible to meet other people/groups on the way
• Sometimes the activity ends quite late

Important information

• For the choice of transportation the following is recommended:
  • Samlor: for FIT and small GIT with a budget
  • Local truck: For all GIT of 15 pax and more

Price range

$$-$

Inclusion

• Transport by local transportation
• Tasting insects
• Taste flying vegetables
• Riverside dinner

Exclusion

• Local guide
• Guide
• Tips for local transport
• Drinks during dinner

Possible Extra

Drink local rice whiskey during insect tasting:

• 10THB/shot or 200THB/bottle

Important notes

• Leave from the hotel and drive towards the local market near the train station of Phitsanulok
• Try out fried insects and local rice whiskey
• Short visit of the local food market to soak up the atmosphere
• Continue to the riverside area to visit the “flying vegetables” restaurant. The local vegetable morning glory is fried in a hot wok in the open kitchen, the chef will then throw them at a volunteer about 15 meters away in order to catch them, hence the name “flying vegetables”. After catching the vegetables clients can taste the delicious vegetables
• Continue along the river towards one of the riverside floating restaurants to enjoy a delicious meal in a nice atmosphere.
• Return to the hotel
• Tour needs to be reconfirmed well in advance in order to make sure transportation and restaurant are available

Special Guide notes

• Easia guide joins the tour FOC (except in case of using rickshaws: 1 rickshaw for the guide needs to be provided as well)
• There are many floating riverside restaurants, Phae Song Kwae is preferred (especially for larger groups)
  • *Be prepared to explain to clients that rickshaw driving is a disappearing profession but that it is the sole source of income for some people. So even though it is hard work it is better than having no income at all.
• Keep in mind that rickshaws are the most difficult to organize since there is only a limited number available in the city. Moreover, they are bound to “clans” and some areas are off-limits to some specific clans.
• At the “flying vegetable” restaurant some of the clients will have to volunteer to catch the vegetables. Sometimes they are given a funny wig/funny clothes and a little show is done by the local people. This may not be appreciated by all clients, the guide should help to manage this situation accordingly.

Contact

• Rickshaws: K. Nava (Paloma hotel clan): 081-379-5962, 082-8800675
• Local truck: K. Tun: 081-740 9051
• Tuk-tuk: K.Mac / 081 474 1989, K. Phaphum (Fon), 086-932-1008
• Restaurant: Phae Song Khwae, 0-5524-2167,0-5525-9698, K. Add (restaurant manager), 089-438 8009

Special Information

• 1 mode of transportation should be used for the whole group (OR rickshaw OR local truck)
• Capacity of transportation:
  • 1 rickshaw for 1 pax
  • 1 truck for 10-15pax
• Recommended mode of transportation:
  • Rickshaw for FIT or smaller GIT up to 10 pax, bigger groups are difficult to manage and get sufficient rickshaws
  • Local truck for GIT on a budget

English

Explore Phitsanulok under the moonlight by local transport

In the evening you will head out in the provincial town of Phitsanulok by local transportation. Phitsanulok was once an important outpost of the Ayutthaya Empire, today it is a typical provincial township and if you take the time to explore it, Phitsanulok has some interesting surprises to offer: lively evening markets with local delicacies, restaurants with “flying vegetables” and cozy floating riverside restaurants. All can be easily explored by local transportation.

French

Exploration du Phitsanulok de nuit dans un transport local

Le soir, prenez un transport local pour vous rendre à Phitsanulok, une ville importante de l’Empire Ayutthaya. Aujourd’hui, c’est une ville typique de province qui réserve de bonnes surprises : ses marchés nocturnes animés, avec ses mets locaux, des restaurants de « légumes volants », et d’autres restaurants flottants sur la rivière. Tout est facilement accessible par les moyens de transport locaux.

Spanish

Explorar Phitsanulok bajo la luz de la luna en transporte local

Durante la noche se dirigirá a la ciudad provincial de Phitsanulok mediante transporte local. Phitsanulok fue hace tiempo un importante puesto fronterizo del imperio Ayutthaya, hoy en día es una ciudad provincial típica y, si dedica tiempo a explorarla, Phitsanulok tiene algunas sorpresas interesantes que ofrecer: mercados nocturnos llenos de vida que venden delicias locales, restaurantes con «verduras voladoras» y acogedores restaurantes flotantes en la orilla del río. Todo ello puede explorarse mediante transporte local.

Italian

Un assaggio di Phitsanulok alla luce della luna con trasporto locale

All’imbrunire, vi getterete nelle viuzze della cittadina di Phitsanulok per scoprirla come un locale.

Phitsanulok, importante avamposto del regno di Ayutthaya, è tutt’ora una placida cittadina di provincia. Se vi concedete il tempo per esplorarla, potrebbe rivelarvi alcuni dei suoi segreti: vivaci mercati serali, appetitosi piatti di insetti croccanti, “verdure volanti” ed accoglienti ristoranti galleggianti sulle rive del fiume. Il tutto esplorato con mezzi di trasporto locali.

German

Erkunden Sie Phitsanulok mit lokalen Transportmöglichkeiten im Mondlicht

Am Abend begeben Sie sich mithilfe eines lokalen Transportmittels in die Provinzstadt Phitsanulok. Phitsanulok war einst ein bedeutender Vorposten des Ayutthaya-Reiches; heute ist es eine typische Provinzstadt. Wenn Sie sich etwas Zeit nehmen, um die Stadt zu erkunden, werden Sie sehen, dass Phitsanulok einige interessante Überraschungen zu bieten hat: lebendige Nachtmärkte mit lokalen Delikatessen, Restaurants mit ‘fliegendem Gemüse’ und gemütliche schwimmende Ufer-Restaurants. Alles kann einfach mit lokalen Transportmitteln erreicht werden.

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