Baan Khiao (Baan Khun Phithak Borihan)

Rating: 3.8/5 (4 votes)

Open Days: Daily (recommended to check weather and on-site conditions before traveling)

Opening Hours: Year-round (information found indicates it is open 24 hours daily) – if you wish to go inside or arrange a specific activity, it is recommended to contact the local coordinator in advance

 

Baan Khiao (Baan Khun Phithak Borihan) is one of Ayutthaya’s quieter landmarks for travelers who want to slow down with purpose. Instead of starting from temples, palaces, or the grand historical scenes of the old city island, this place begins with an old riverside wooden house that still stands amid the community’s everyday rhythm and the seasonal cadence of rice fields. When you arrive, it becomes clear that Baan Khiao is not designed for hurried check-ins. It invites you to notice details, listen to silence, watch the wind move through the trees, see sunlight tracing the grain of old wood, and gradually understand that Ayutthaya is not only about the past. It also has a living present shaped by water, agriculture, and a genuinely simple way of life. What makes a visit to Baan Khiao special is not just a beautiful photo, but the feeling that you have entered a place with respect, learned without disturbing, and returned home with a lighter yet deeper perspective on what it means to “travel”.

 

“Baan Khiao” is the name locals commonly use, and it is also mentioned alongside its official name, “Baan Khun Phithak Borihan.” The house is located in Amarit Subdistrict, Phak Hai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, in a setting defined by the water landscape because the area has long been tied to the Noi River and local water systems. The atmosphere here feels very different from walking among ancient ruins in the city center. Instead of brick walls and expansive historical park lawns, you are surrounded by open fields, a real lived-in community, and nature’s tempo as it shifts across seasons. In that sense, Baan Khiao is ideal for travelers who want to see Ayutthaya “as a whole,” including both its historic dimension and its living present.

 

In terms of history, Baan Khun Phithak Borihan is often described as an old residence from the reign of King Rama V, over 100 years old, built as a two-story raised wooden house with a hip roof. It features elements that reflect Western influence blended into a Thai house form in an intriguing way. The main structure is recorded as teak, and some parts are described as masonry based on media accounts. The overall impression is dignified, like an affluent home of its era, while still retaining the Thai sensibility suited to a hot and humid climate. What draws people to Baan Khiao is not only its age, but the sense that the house still feels “alive” in its own way. Even as time passes, it continues to stand amid the community and nature, encouraging newer generations to look back at the beauty of older craftsmanship and the lived wisdom behind traditional Thai domestic architecture.

 

When people mention the name “Baan Khiao,” many think of the house’s once-iconic color and the local stories passed down through different periods. From a traveler’s perspective, the name matters because it is a recognizable label that helps people find the place and remember it easily. Still, the best way to experience Baan Khiao is to see it as architectural heritage and a living community backdrop rather than through a single storytelling lens. Its most enduring charm lies in the beauty of an old wooden house in a riverside context, and in the calm that emerges when we slow down enough to truly notice.

 

The broader context of Phak Hai District gives Baan Khiao additional meaning. This area is strongly associated with rice fields, water management, and the seasonal rhythm of rural life. In one part of the year, the fields feel vividly alive, and the green of young rice softens the landscape. In another part, communities focus on water control and monitoring natural conditions. On a good-weather day, you can feel the spaciousness of rural Ayutthaya that is rarely seen on mainstream routes, and that openness makes it easier to breathe fully. Baan Khiao therefore suits travelers who want to step away from crowded, popular itineraries and touch a more honest, everyday way of life that continues steadily through the year.

 

The most fitting way to visit Baan Khiao is to “read the system” rather than “collect checkpoints.” Its appeal does not rest on a single oversized highlight, but on an overall atmosphere that reveals itself when you slow down and look more deeply. You might begin by observing the house through an architectural lens, following the hip roofline, noticing the rhythm of posts, ventilation openings, verandas, and details designed for tropical heat. Then, shift your attention to how the house sits with the riverside environment: the direction of the wind, tree lines, and how local paths connect the community. After spending a little time with these details, Baan Khiao becomes more than a “place” and turns into an “experience” that helps you return to daily life feeling lighter than before.

 

In practical terms, “eco-friendly” or conservation-minded travel means reducing your impact, respecting community life, and valuing learning as much as rest. Baan Khiao encourages visitors to be careful in small but meaningful ways: do not litter, avoid unnecessary noise, do not intrude into private homes or work areas, and do not touch fragile parts of the old wooden structure without a good reason. This kind of tourism remains sustainable only when the community can continue to live well, and visitors know how to behave appropriately in the same space, without letting the area’s authentic character be overwhelmed by rushed, superficial travel habits.

 

Another reason Baan Khiao deserves to be mentioned among “things to do in Ayutthaya” is that it completes the province’s picture. Many people know Ayutthaya through its ancient monuments and historical park scenes, which are powerful and invaluable. But to understand a place more deeply, you need to see both its historic dimension and its living present. Baan Khiao leads you to that present: agriculture, water systems, and community-based land management that still operate in real time, forming the foundation that supports the province’s continuity. From this angle, you begin to see that a city’s “greatness” is not only built of bricks and stone, but also of the people who sustain the land through each season.

 

For photography lovers, Baan Khiao offers a calm setting for old-house portraits and quiet rural landscapes. Morning light is soft and makes the tones of wood and greenery look gentle, while late afternoon light turns warmer and casts attractive shadows. The core of photographing here is courtesy: do not block pathways, do not disturb residents, and do not force your way into areas that might risk damaging the old house. If you plan to create serious content, film, or access specific angles, it is best to contact the local coordinator first so your visit remains friendly to the site and comfortable for everyone involved.

 

If you want a worthwhile day out, Baan Khiao fits a half-day to full-day plan. Start around Phak Hai or Bang Sai so travel time feels unhurried. This can genuinely become a restful trip if you reduce the number of check-in spots and give yourself more time to simply “be there.” Sitting briefly where the breeze is good, watching an open view, or walking slowly and politely often brings more satisfaction than rushing for quick photos and moving on. Places like this reveal their charm most fully when you give them time, and time tends to produce memories with more weight than many photos ever will.

 

Seasonality also shapes the experience because Baan Khiao looks and feels different throughout the year. When the rice fields are green, the landscape feels fresh and soothing. After harvest, the scenery becomes more open, with a clearer horizon that suits those who like wide compositions and quiet space. During the rainy season, extra caution is advisable because riverside and rural areas can face flooding, slippery ground, or reduced accessibility in certain stretches. Checking the forecast and on-site conditions before you go can make the trip both safer and more comfortable.

 

One important mindset for visiting Baan Khiao is to treat it as “a community and nature” rather than a commercial attraction. Visitor etiquette therefore matters: dress appropriately, avoid approaching private areas without necessity, keep noise low, and cooperate with any site guidelines that may apply at certain times. If you bring children or older family members, choose a time when the sun is less intense and prepare enough drinking water because outdoor, nature-adjacent visits usually require more energy than indoor attractions. Small preparations like these can make the whole trip noticeably easier.

 

Getting There to Baan Khiao (Baan Khun Phithak Borihan) can be done by searching the place name in a map app or using a Plus Code for accuracy. The Plus Code found is F9F9+6WC in Amarit Subdistrict, Phak Hai District, located on Tessaban 6 Road within a community area with several smaller lanes. Traveling by private car is the most flexible option for this zone because it makes timing simple and allows you to combine nearby stops without rushing. In the rainy season, allow extra time and check local conditions, including water situations in nearby areas, for safety.

 

Ultimately, Baan Khiao is an eco-friendly, low-impact destination for people who want to “see Ayutthaya in full.” It does not ask you to view the province only through its past, but also through the living present of a rural landscape sustained by water, rice fields, and community life. If you want a trip that is not exhausting, that rests your eyes and your mind, and that sends you home with a renewed understanding of everyday life, Baan Khiao is a marker worth saving — especially on a day when you do not want to rush and you want travel to feel like a real reset.

 

 

A: It is ideal for travelers who prefer slow-paced trips, enjoy riverside rural scenery, appreciate old wooden houses, love photography, and want a calm getaway without rushing.

 

A: It is an over-100-year-old wooden house in a riverside community area, best visited for its architecture and for experiencing the living context of “water–rice fields–everyday life” in present-day Ayutthaya, with respectful and responsible behavior on-site.

 

A: Mornings and late afternoons are usually more comfortable and offer better light, especially on clear-sky days. In the rainy season, check the forecast and on-site conditions before traveling.

 

A: A half-day is generally sufficient. If you want to walk slowly, take photos, and include nearby stops, planning a relaxed full-day trip works well.

 

A: Search “Baan Khun Phithak Borihan” in a map app or use Plus Code: F9F9+6WC (Tessaban 6 Road, Amarit, Phak Hai). A private car is the most flexible option.

 

A: Please photograph politely without disturbing the community, avoid touching fragile parts of the wooden house, and contact a local coordinator in advance if you plan serious filming or want access to specific angles.

 

A: Respect the community and nature, take your trash with you, keep noise low, avoid entering private areas, and use the space carefully to prevent damage to the old wooden structure.