The best daily tours from Bangkok
Bangkok is plenty of exciting attractions and indeed it takes at least a day not to miss the main landmarks of this never-sleeping metropolis. Still, it’s also an excellent base to enjoy the beautiful spots of its surroundings that can be visited with a daily trip.
Many attractions can be reached by using local transports, but indeed it takes more time. The most useful way is to book a daily tour or a combo-tour with one of the reliable web platforms like Viator.com, GetYourGuide.com or Klook.com that always offer good deals and discount.
If you prefer travelling by local transport, you can use the Transport search engine below managed by 12Go.Asia.com, one of the best web platforms to move around Asia.
Our daily tours choice from Bangkok
1. Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya lies only 60 km away from Bangkok and was the old capital of Thailand from 1350 until 1767 when was mostly destroyed by Burmese. UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, it is still plenty of temples, monasteries, fortified palaces, and beheaded Buddhist statues. Among the many attractions, those that are definitely worth the visit are Wat Mahathat, well known for the Buddha’s head resting in the tree roots; Wat Phra Si Sanphet, originally used as a royal chapel; Wihan Phramongkhon Bophit, a big Buddha statue made of bronze; Wat Ratchaburana, founded in 1424 by King Borommarachathirat II; Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, a beautiful temple characterized by a stupa with a height of 60 meters, made with the typical “bell shape”.
- Click here to read more about Ayutthaya
How to move around: the archaeological site lies over a vast area, therefore, the best way to explore the ruins is to rent a bike, a motorcycle or, if you are a group, a tuk-tuk. The Summer Palace of King Rama IV with its mixture of Thai, Chinese, and Gothic architecture Buddha’s head resting in the tree roots the Buddha’s head resting in the tree roots
How to get there: you can reach Ayutthaya by train, which departs from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Train Station (it takes 2 hours and costs around 250 THB) or by bus/minivan from Mochit station. You can also book your ride through 12go.Asia.com in advance from different areas in the city clicking here.
Private/shared tours: alternatively, you can also book a private/shared tour using the web platforms Viator.com, GetyourGuide.com or klook.com that always offer good prices and discounts.
- Click here to read more and book your tour with Klook.com;
- Click here to read more and book your tour with Viator.com;
- Click here to read more and book your tour with GetYourGuide.com.
2. Floating markets and the Maeklong railway market
Danmoen Saduak: it’s one of the most attractive floating markets in Thailand. The market spreads along old human-made canals bulti more than 150 years ago by King Rama IV. Once here, you can get on a long-tail boat through the village to see their real lives and how they trade their products like fruit, vegetables, fish, handmade sweets and other fresh produce on traditional canoes. Anyway, the market is now very popular and touristic, hence you’ll also find stands and shops along the canals selling souvenir and trinkets for tourists.
How to get to Danmoen Saduak market: go to the Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) where you’ll find the bus (nr. 78) and minivans to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market from 6 am onwards. The ride takes 2 hours, and the bus will leave you about 1 km away from the market, right in front of a pier where you can rent the boat for a tour. As the price for the boat ride is high (they often ask between 2000 and 3000 baht), you can ignore it and go straight to the market on foot.
- Click here to read more information about Danmoen Saduak floating market.
Amphawa floating market: only 60 km from Bangkok, Amphawa market is smaller and less touristy than Danmoen, but indeed more fascinating and authentic. The canals are lined by teak storefronts opening onto the water where many boats sell delightful street food, fruit and vegetables. Walking along the canal, you will be captivated by the scent of delicious fresh dishes, including shrimp, squid and grilled fish. In Amphawa you’ l also find small restaurants, shops and some stores selling souvenir.n the Amphawa floating market, there are many shops such as souvenir stores, restaurants, ice-cream shops, and n the Amphawa floating market, there are many shops such as souvenir stores, restaurants, ice-cream shops, and the market can be easily visited on foot, but one of the best ways to get the most out of it, it is to have a ride aboard a traditional long-tail wooden boat. With a boat tour, you could also visit some temples in the surroundings. Amphawa is only open on Saturday and Sunday.
How to get to Amphawa market: the minivan to Amphawa market depart from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) or Mo Chit Bus terminal. The ride takes about 1.30 / 2 hours.
Maeklong train market: the Maeklong market is one of the most unusual markets in Thailand and all of Asia. The market takes places along a narrow road crossed by the railway where small shops and street vendors sell vegetables, fruit, fish, and other fresh food. At regular intervals during the day, a commuter train will cross the market and immediately the shop owners will remove the awnings by moving sideways and leaving the goods exposed along the tracks. Once the train has gone, the vendors will reposition the awnings continuing in their trades. Here, you’ll also find many places and stands where to eat, bars and cafes where you can have a coffee and regenerate after a nice walk among the stands. The train schedule is at 6.20, 8.30, 9.00, 11.10, 11.30, 14.30, 15.30 e 17.40.
How to get to Maeklong market: as it’s a train market, Maeklong can be reached indeed by train, but it takes a long time (almost 3 hours) because you must catch 2 trains. The first train departs from Bangkok – Wongwian Yai Railway Station and stops at Mana Chai. Here, you have to walk for a bit to cross the river by ferry and get to the Ban Laem Railway Station where you take the train to Mae Klong railway station (Samut Songkhram). The market is very close to Amphawa floating market (only 10 km), therefore, you can first reach Amphawa by minivan from Bangkok and then take a tuk-tuk or a motorcycle to reach Maeklong.
Tips: the three markets are not far from each other. Danmoen Saduak to Amphawa is about 30 km; Amphawa market to Mae Klong market is about 10 km. The best option is to visit 2 of them on the same day (or all of them), and the quickest way is to rent a taxi. You can ask your hotel to arrange a daily trip by taxi to visit the markets, but remember to haggle the fare with the driver (usually the price is about 2500 baht – 80 USD).
Private/shared tour: alternatively, you can also book a tour through the web platforms that always offer good deals and combo-tour to visit the markets.
- Click here to see the tours with Viator.com;
- Click here to see the tours with getYourGuide.com;
- Click here to see the tours with klook.com.
3. Kanchanaburi and Erawan National Park
Kanchanaburi is a small historic city located 130 km west of Bangkok at the confluence of 2 rivers. The area is famous for its waterfalls, caves and beautiful national parks. The city boasts historic landmarks like “the death railway”, constructed by the allied prisoners during World War II and where more than 12000 prisoners and 70000 civilians died; the War Cemetery, where are buried the war victims of Japanese imprisonment while they were building the Death Railway; The Bridge on the River Kwai, that owes its name from the famous movie and the allied prisoners built it during World War II; the World War II museum, with its collections of WWII relics and memorabilia; the Jeath War Musem, designed as a replica of a prisoner of war camp. Even though many tourists visit the city on a day trip, the activities in the Kanchanaburi area are a lot, and it’s worth to spend here a couple of days. The city can be reached by Bus (nr. 81) from Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal. You can arrange the daily tour to Kanchanaburi and Erawan NP with your hotel asking for a taxi driver (the price ranges between 3000/3500 baht).
Erawan National Park is about 65 km from Kanchanaburi town, and it’s one of the most visited National parks in Thailand. It is famous for its turquoise water that flows through a series of waterfalls and natural pools where you can bathe surrounded by a spectacular setting in the middle of the lush jungle. There are 7 waterfall levels and to get to the last one takes about 50 minutes on foot. The Entrance gate can be reached by taxi or by a regular bus service from Kanchanaburi bus station (the first ride at 8.00 am).
Tours and activities in Kanchanaburi: the web platforms Viator, GetYourGuide and Klook offer the Kanchanaburi/Erawan daily tour and wide range of other activities in the area.
