Bang Ban Canal Kayak Track

This 17.5 Km long kayak track brings you from Bang Ban, opposite Ban Kum to Nam Tao over the Bang Ban canal. The Bang Ban canal - named after a village on its left bank - was a former track of the Chao Phraya River. In 1813 in the reign of King Rama II (r. 1807-1824) engineers tried to straighten the Chao Phraya River to flow through Ayutthaya. The Chao Phraya flowed at that time near Wat Chula Mani in Ban Kum into the Bang Ban canal and continued south via Bang Sai to Bangkok.

The Noi River, also an old Chao Phraya River track - joined the (old) Chao Phraya near Wat Sikuk in Nam Tao sub-district.

Steve Van Beek (The Chao Phya, River in Transition - 1995) wrote that the Chao Phraya was blocked off near Ang Thong and pushed into the Bang Kaeo Canal. Near Ban Mai the waterway was deviated into the Lopburi River and resurfaced in the old Chao Phraya River near Wat Mai, 5 Km south of Wat Chula Mani, but the attempt to give the Chao Phraya a new river bed failed and the project was abandoned.

In 1857 a new attempt was undertaken but this time a channel was dug in front of Wat Chula Mani southwards to Ban Mai. The river followed now the straight course south and joined the Maha Phram canal at Wat Khanon, down to Ayutthaya.

The tour will take 3-4 hours according to your level of physical fitness, the conditions of the water current, and your personal kayaking experience. Travel time will expand if you stop to visit every highlight listed on this tour itinerary. This kayak track is off the city island of Ayutthaya and as thus requires transportation arrangements.

If you are interested in viewing photographs of the temples and other historic sites in advance or would like additional historic information about these ruins, visit the Ayutthaya Historical Research website at www.ayutthaya-history.com.

Tips and Warnings

General - Stock up supplies of water (500 ml/hr), electrolyte beverages (3-4 bottles) and dry food (take a snack every 2 hours) as there is hardly opportunity to find a meal on this itinerary. Keep up mobile communications with somebody for emergency cases and do know where you are exactly at all times. Protect your equipment with waterproof bags and tie everything to the boat. 

Water currents - The most important variable for making kayaking plans is water current. Rainy season will result in flooding and/or rapidly moving water. In this case not every kayak is suitable. Use caution when the current is fast and wear a life jacket.

Clothing - Wear a good hat and loose-fitting clothing that dries quickly. Long pants and shirts with long sleeves may be useful and appropriate to protect you from the sun. The refracted sunlight from the water makes sunburn commonplace, so put on plenty of sun block on not covered parts of your body and wear sunglasses.

Who are we?

Ayutthaya Kayaking Experience [AKE] is a sportive subsidiary from Ayutthaya Historical Research [AHR]. AKE’s objective is to promote kayaking tourism in Ayutthaya, by basically showing kayak presence on canals and rivers. Kayaking is the perfect outdoor recreation to explore the city island contours and its surroundings. We are local expatriates who have been living in Ayutthaya for many years and would like to share our kayak knowledge with other sportsmen. More information on AKE can be found at: http://www.aykaex.yolasite.com/

Disclaimer

Ayutthaya Historical Research or Ayutthaya Kayaking Experience will not be held liable for any loss or damage whatsoever for any suggestions made in relation to the site’s promotion of ecotourism. It is the responsibility of the user of the site to take the necessary precautions to avoid any physical injury, traffic incident, animal attack, theft, and damage to equipment. Any reliance on the site’s information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Read our full disclaimer at website www.ayutthaya-history.com.

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