Duration: | 4 Day(s) - 3 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
Day 1: Arrive Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 2: Bangkok
Our guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Wat Po in time to experience the monks early morning chanting ritual (chanting starts at 9am). One of the oldest temples in Bangkok, Wat Po is home of the famous 45 metre reclining Buddha as well as being the original school of traditional Thai massage. Continue to The Grand Palace, the most important and impressive royal palace in Thailand. Your guide will show you the palaces used for different occasions – the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and of course the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Note: Appropriate dress is required (or can be rented on site).
Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, board a private long-tail boat taking guests onto the peaceful Klong Bang Luang. Pass by shop houses, local temples and vendors on this waterway which was once a major trading route and lined with impressive homes of aristocrats. The guide will point out local landmarks and cultural idiosyncrasies of the area. After observing this lively area, the boat stops at Baan Silapin, a 100-year old renovated house, now home to an art gallery. Here, stop for up to two hours to enjoy the gallery, take part in an art workshop or explore the local community, before experiencing a unique puppet show performed by puppeteers trained under the Joe Louis School of puppetry (no guaranteed puppet show). En route back to the city, stop to visit the Temple of Dawn – Wat Arun, arriving back early afternoon.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 3: Bangkok
Option A: Half Day Back into the Past
We first take you to China Town and stroll through many interesting shops, markets, restaurants, old Chinese herbalists and a century-old-Chinese shrine, then experience the total different world at the neighboring Little India, Pahurat – one of the most distinctively colorful quarter of Sikhs, Indian descendants and theMuslims, visit Sikh temple and follow by a brief shopping for Indian and Muslim specialties such as clothes, tattoo stickers, henna for body paint and others. End the trip at the Museum Siam, a discovery museum, awarded for preserving the original architecture of the building it resides in. With signboards displaying explanations in both Thai and English, it allows both local and foreign visitors to gain a comprehensive insight into the history of Thailand, or Siam as it was previously known as. Designed with children in mind, there are many exhibits with interactive features and video presentations to engage visitors of all ages.
Option B: Half day Bangkok Tasty Treats (Lunch and snack included)
After a light breakfast at your hotel, meet up with your guide in the morning and transfer to “Samyan Market” for a Thai fresh market experience. As you stroll through the market, meet locals on their morning shopping jaunts, learn about the ingredients used in Thai cooking and sample some tropical fruits. Continue to “Century-Year Old – Nanglerng Food Market”, it was one of the most important markets in inner Bangkok a hundred years ago when this area of the city was very flourishing. The market used to be a major trade centre for all the various communities living in the city back then. It now offers a lot of historical insights in terms of both the food and the architecture. Seeing a lot of old-style wooden shop houses in the neighborhoods and pleasing your palate with local sweet and delicacies. A short ride takes you to a small but famous local restaurant near Bangkok City Hall to enjoy an authentic Thai lunch and wrap up the meal with sarim, a popular Thai dessert made up of colorful thin vermicelli served in savory coconut milk.