This morning, we start our journey with a visit to Wat Ratchabophit. Built in 1896, this is the first temple with a mixture of fine local and western styles: colorful tiled rooftops, golden spires, and vaulting structures reminiscent.

From here, we venture to one of the oldest fresh markets in old Bangkok and watch the locals doing their morning shopping while sampling local snacks as we walk from stall to stall.

Then, we continue to visit Wat Suthat, one of the oldest and most impressive temples in Bangkok. It has an elegant prayer hall with sweeping roofs, magnificent murals, and exquisite hand-carved teakwood door panels. Wat Suthat is also widely known for the towering red Giant Swing standing strikingly at its entrance.

Afterwards, we walk along the Buddha street while making our way to the ‘Golden Mountain’. Wat Sakret is one of the city’s oldest temples and an iconic landmark, once being the highest point in Bangkok. The steep hill is topped with a golden stupa, containing relics of the Buddha that were brought over from India.

There are plenty of places to have a break and after climbing around 300 steps to the top, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of Rattanakosin Island. It’s a unique experience seeing the quieter side of Bangkok and the best place to learn about the different rituals while watching the locals paying respect to Lord Buddha.

After delving into the different aspects of Thai culture and history, it is time to move to maybe the most important aspect of Thai life…..food! We hop on a local Tuk-Tuk to Nang Loeng market where you can find the capital’s very best street food scene. While exploring the neighborhood community, we will sample local delicacies for lunch and learn how to make traditional Thai coconut dessert with one of the famed local stands. Then we continue our day in the life with some typical local transportation as we head to the closest pier of Khlong Saen Saep express boat, with the ride being an experience in itself.

From boat to boat - We board a colorful long-tailed boat that will take us along the banks of the Chao Phraya River. After passing the skyline, say goodbye to the noisy city with its traffic jams and skyscrapers before entering a network of narrow canals.

Thonburi is considered one of the oldest neighborhoods and stands in great contrast to modern Bangkok with its traditional Teak houses on stilts built all along the canals. These waterways have played an important role in the development of Bangkok and due to lack of roads, many residents still depend on boats as main form of transport. Sit back and witness the charming tranquil scenes and while watching the locals going about their everyday lives, whether that be taking a nap on the veranda or fishing in the waters, you can feel that these local communities are holding on to the past and people still living a slow-paced lifestyle.

We will have a break at Baan Silapin, known as ‘The Artist House’, a well-preserved family house that has dedicated its work to teaching about the community. On the return journey we will make a short stop at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) whose magnificent multicolored porcelain-studded towers has become the visual identity of Bangkok, always pictured with the Chao Praya River in the foreground.

Finally, your day wouldn’t be complete without watching the last light touching the horizon over Wat Arun. For dinner, we visit one of the riverside restaurants, relaxing after this eventful day with a stunning evening view over the temple with a well-deserved drink in our hands.

Afterwards, we return to the hotel or if you are still up for exploring Bangkok by night, we can end the tour at one of the hip bars or bustling night markets.

PROGRAM CONCLUDES