Restless in Bangkok

For your first full day in Thailand, you will be touring Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks. In the morning, your guide will take you to three different temples. You will start strong with Wat Traimit, where you will find a nine-centuries old Buddha statue whose true nature resurfaced when it was brought there in 1955. This temple holds the mysterious story of how 5 ½ tones of solid gold can fall into oblivion for 200 years with the simple help of a bit of plaster and a touch of lacquer. You will then take a tour of the Khmer-style Wat Arun and learn why it is also known as the “Temple of Dawn”. Then you will visit the place where traditional Thai massage is known to be born, which also happens to be the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok: Wat Po. After a reviving lunch, you will discover some of the most important buildings in all Thailand, starting with the Royal Grand Palace. Right at the heart of Bangkok, the Palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam (and later Thailand) since 1782. The king, his court and his royal government were based on the grounds of the palace until 1925, making it a must-do visit in Thailand. Within the grounds of the Palace, you will also find the Wat Phra Kaew, which is considered the most important Buddhist temple in the country.

Venture to Ayutthaya, located about 80 km north of Bangkok. As you sit back and enjoy lunch on the boat, take a moment to go back a few centuries and imagine convoys of diplomats and traders sailing next to you. Ayutthaya was a significant center of global diplomacy and commerce before being razed by the Burmese in the 18th century. What it left of the former Siamese capital, which shows signs of a variety of foreign influences, demonstrates how ingenious and creative the Ayutthaya civilization was. You will start your visit as soon as you reach Wat Chong Lom Pier at around noon. You will start your land tour by tracing the steps of former Thai kings in the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. Located on the Chao Phraya River, it is said to be one of the most beautiful site of the kind in the country.

You will then continue with Wat Yai Chaimongkhol. This temple was built in the 1357 in the reign of King U Thong, the first ruler of Ayutthaya. An impressively large Reclining Buddha statue lies in the temple grounds, as well as a large chedi, which was built in 1592 to celebrate King Naresuan’s single-handed defeat of the then Burmese crown prince in a duel on elephants.

After this, you will head to Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, the former Royal Temple. This monastery, situated within the Royal Palace grounds, was the most important temple of Ayutthaya. Not surprisingly, it was later used as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

You will conclude your visit of the island with a totally different experience. The Wat Mongkhon Bophit temple is still active and welcomes many visitors and worshipers throughout the day. Get a true sense of the place before heading back to Bangkok. You will be picked up at around 3 or 4 pm for your transfer.

Spend a full day completely immersed in Thai colors, smells and sounds at the Amphawa Authentic Floating Markets. Your guide will pick you up at your hotel at 7 in the morning and take you around Bangkok in quest of hidden gems. You will board a long-tail boat and navigate up the Mae Klong River. You will stop at Wat Bang Kung to explore a small chapel enclosed entirely within the roots of a banyan tree. You will then visit King Rama II Memorial Park and Museum, where you will find housing art objects of the 18th century exposed in four buildings that feature classical Thai architecture. Next is the Amphawa floating market, which is frequented almost exclusively by Thais. Locals congregate to buy and sell everything from cooking pots to fresh flowers to windup toys. The area around the market features open-air restaurants and canals full of colorful boats. You should be back at your hotel by 19:00 at night.

Make the best of the time you have left in Bangkok before moving on to your next destination! Your guide will escort you to airport on time for your flight, until what you are free to roam around new corners of Bangkok or to go back to your favorite places.

Imagine yourself island hopping? How about trekking in the lush forests of Northern Thailand? Extend your stay and venture outside of the city to experience all that Thailand has to offer!

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