Bar caffe in a motorcycle. Preparing coffee and drinks. Ko Kret (also Koh Kred) is an island in the Chao Phraya River, 20 km north of Bangkok, Thailand. The island dates only to 1722, when a canal was constructed as a shortcut to bypass a bend in the Om Kret branch of the Chao Phraya river. As the canal was widened several times, the section cut off eventually became a separate island. The island continues to serve as a refuge to the Mon tribes who dominated central Thailand between the 6th and 10th centuries and have retained a distinct identity in their version of Buddhism and, particularly at Ko. One way to reach Ko Kret is to take the once-weekly Chao Phraya Express, which leaves the Central Pier (BTS Saphan Taksin) every Sunday at 09:00 and visits a number of attractions before returning at 15:30. The cost of the cruise and guided tour is 300 baht (no lunch). Many other companies also offer similar tours, often just as a stop on a longer upriver trip to Ayutthaya. Independent travel to Ko Kret can be a little more challenging. The easiest option is to take public bus 166 from Victory Monument which travels all the way to the market in Pak Kret. From there, you have to walk about 500 metres (or take a moto/samlor) towards the river to the ferry pier, which is located behind Wat Sanam Neua. If you exit the bus before the U-Turn simply continue towards the river. On the left you will see the entrance to a fairly inconspicuous market. Enter this then follow the market as long as you can (i.e. stay with the shops). Eventually you will come out near to the Wat and the route will be very obvious.