Destination Thailand
Bangkok Excursions
A Stroll Through China Town
Operated: Daily, 08:30–12:00 hrs. (Mornings only)
One of the best ways to experience the true flavour of a city is to walk its streets and this excursion takes in an area that is as old as Bangkok itself. A huge ceremonial Chinese gate draws visitors into a world of gold shops and purveyors of traditional Chinese health cures. The array of sights and smells takes tourists to a bygone age in which glittering temples provide a backdrop to roadside bartering. The path of the main Yaowarat Road is said to resemble a dragon’s body, making it an auspicious location for commerce. While walking along the narrow lanes, peer into the doorways of traditional Chinese pharmacies with their medicinal herbs and natural cures. Pay special attention to the ‘funeral shops’ where paper models of worldly items are sold to ensure the deceased will have the comforts of home on their journey to the afterlife. Vibrant Chinatown offers unique experiences and shopping opportunities that should not be missed.
Bangkok City and Temples
Operated: Daily, 08:00–11:00 or 13:00–16:00 hrs.
A visit to Bangkok is not complete without a tour of its temples, and this excursion takes in three of the most impressive in the city. Known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha, Wat Trimit houses a 700-year-old, three-meter tall golden statue, cast from five-and-a-half tons of solid gold. Equally spectacular is Wat Po, home to a colossal reclining Buddha and a traditional massage school. The temple garden contains a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of an original tree in India under which the Lord Buddha sat while awaiting enlightenment. Next stop is the ‘Chedi of the Kings’ Wat Benjamaborpit, noted for its elegant white marble façade.
Buddhist Alms Giving And A Visit To The Flower Market
Operated: Daily, 06:00–08:30 hrs. (Mornings only)
An early morning visit to a Buddhist temple to offer alms to the monks is one of the most unique rituals a tourist can experience in Thailand. Each morning, monks in saffron robes, carrying their alms bowls, walk silently along the virtually empty streets to receive boiled rice and condiments from local people. Guests have the opportunity to participate in this very special Thai custom by personally presenting alms at a temple and receiving the monks’ blessings in return. In complete contrast to the peace and serenity of the hallowed temple, we also visit the famous Bangkok Flower Market – a blaze of colour and powerful scents, where the early risers get the best native flora, including exotic native orchids that can be purchased for a fraction of the price back home.
Grand Palace
Operated: Daily, 08:00–11:00 or 13:00–16:00 hrs.
The Grand Palace is the ‘must see’ attraction in Bangkok. It is an architectural wonder of golden stupas, walls and pillars encrusted in shining and colourful mosaics. Previously the residence of past Kings of Thailand, you will see palaces once used for different occasions; the Reception Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Throne Hall, the Royal Guest House and Wat Phra Kaew which houses the Emerald Buddha. The architecture is predominantly Thai, though there are some European influences. The palace served as the official residence of kings of Thailand from the 18th to the mid-20th century. The most famous building within the palace grounds is Wat Phra Kaew and this is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. Construction of the temple began when King Rama I moved the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1785. The main temple building houses the Emerald Buddha. The Buddha is carved from a single piece of jade and is the most revered object in Thailand.
Bangkok Highlights
Operated: Daily, 08:00–16:30 hrs.
This full-day tour combines the highlights of Bangkok City, including a visit to three interesting temples including Wat Trimit, otherwise known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha, which houses a 700-year-old, three-meter tall golden statue, cast from five-and-a-half tons of solid gold. Equally spectacular is Wat Po, home to a colossal reclining Buddha and a traditional massage school. The temple garden contains a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of an original tree in India under which the Lord Buddha sat while awaiting enlightenment. The third temple we visit is Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) within the Grand Palace compound, which houses the most sacred Buddhist image in Thailand. After a sumptuous lunch in a local restaurant, we will board a boat for a thrilling ride through the klongs of outer Bangkok to get a closer look at the rural lifestyle. Then we board a converted Rice Barge for a cruise on the bigger canals and the Chao Phraya River. Cold drinks and tropical fruits will be served onboard the barge.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market And Rose Garden
Operated: Daily, 07:00–17:00 hrs.
This interesting full-day excursion takes us to the rural floating market of Damnoen Saduak, situated 110-kms from Bangkok. The tour includes a visit to Nakorn Pathom to view Phra Pathom Chedi, the largest pagoda in South East Asia. Lunch will be served at the picturesque Rose Garden Country Resort, where you will also watch the ‘Thai Village Show’. The 75-acre site consists of tropical flower gardens, orchards, a small lake and a traditional Thai village. The cultural village show is performed every afternoon at 3pm, with Thai folk dancing and demonstrations of handicraft skills. There are also performances of certain Thai rituals and traditional ceremonies such as ordination into the monk hood, the fingernail dance, Thai boxing, hill tribe dances, sword fighting and an elephant show.
River Kwai Tour Including Boat And Train Ride
Operated: Daily, 07:00–17:30 hrs.
This tour provides a fascinating insight into Thailand’s Second World War history. The infamous bridge and the “Death Railway” is a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW’s and forced Asian labourers who lost their lives in the Second World War during the construction of the railway. We visit an interactive museum and research centre dedicated to the history of the “Death Railway”. This fascinating attraction offers an educational insight into the history of the area. We also visit the War Cemetery which contains the graves of an estimated 9,000 Allied soldiers who lost their lives building the bridge and the notorious railway. Another highlight of this excursion is a long-tail boat trip to view the bridge up close. We continue by road to Wang Po for lunch at a local restaurant. We then board a train for a thrilling ride along the infamous railway.
Bangkok by Night
Operated: Nightly, 18:00–21:00 hrs.
Bangkok is a city that never sleeps and this tour takes us around the ‘old quarter’ to see iconic buildings that are illuminated at night and serve as a backdrop to the activities of market traders, street food hawkers and people enjoying the capital’s entertainment venues. We will take you to landmark sites including bustling Chinatown; a stop at Pak Khlong, the city’s largest flower market, where exotic native orchids are for sale; a drive alongside the gleaming Grand Palace; the City Pillar, a sanctuary for guardian spirits; the National Museum; and then onto the Phra Sumen Fort on Ratanakosin Island. The itinerary also takes in the backpacker’s mecca of Khao San Road, an area featured in countless books and the Hollywood movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio. This is a great place to eat, drink and shop
