Bangkok & Ayutthaya Wonders

As the capital and the largest city of Thailand, Bangkok has two airports: Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport. Upon arrival, please take a taxi to check in the recommended Ibis Bangkok Riverside, which is 4 kilometers away from the downtown area. The taxi ride costs THB 400 or so from the Suvarnabhumi Airport and THB 300 from Don Mueang Airport.

Accommodation Suggestion: Ibis Bangkok Riverside (3 stars)

Your backpacking Bangkok tour starts today. You may spend a whole day exploring the city following this route: Grand Palace - Wat Phra Kaew - Wat Pho - Wat Arun - Wat Traimit - China Town. We suggest you choose BTS, MRT or Chao Phraya Express Boat to reach each attraction for traffic congestion in Bangkok can be a little serious.

Firstly, walk eastwards along the Somdet Phrachao Taskin Bridge to Central Pier and take Chao Phraya Express Boat northwards; disembark at N9 Pier and you will arrive at the Grand Palace. It is the largest palace complex of Thai royal family and combines the essence of Thai architectural features, decorations, sculptures, and paintings. Now it is not only a place for ceremonies like coronations and court celebrations, but also a famous tourist destination in Thailand. The Wat Phra Kaew inside is the holiest temple in Thailand; important royal rituals often take place there.

Next walk southwards for 5 minutes to the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, Wat Pho. Afterwards, you may go back to the dock and take a cross-river ferry to Wat Arun, also named as Temple of Dawn or the Eiffel Tower of Thailand. Then take a boat and get off at N4 Dock to visit Wat Traimit, which is noted for housing the biggest Golden Buddha in the world.

The last spot of today's independent Bangkok tour is the China Town, one of the busiest commercial districts in the city. You can walk northwards from the Wat Traimit for 400 meters there to enjoy toothsome Chinese food as well as fresh and delicious seafood.

You are suggested to leave for Ayutthaya from Hua Lamphong Railway Station today. The ticket price for the second-class train is THB 65 and the whole journey takes 2-2.5 hours. You may take a taxi to the train station at least 1 hour in advance. You can also choose to take BTS to Victory Monument and then transfer to a mini bus; the bus ride costs THB 60 and you will arrive in Ayutthaya in around 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, remember to book ticket for the return train or bus. If you choose to take a train back to Bangkok, check the schedule at the train station as there might be a difference between the online timetable and the actual schedule.

It is suggested you rent a bicycle or motorbike to tour around Ayutthaya. Your backpacking Ayutthaya tour must include the most-visited temple sites like Wat Maha That and Wat Lokayasutha. Wat Maha That is one of the oldest Khmer-style temples in Ayuttaya and the famous spot inside is the Buddha head statue twined by tree roots. Wat Lokayasutha is also named the Temple of the Reclining Buddha because a large brick-laid Buddha statue of 42 meters long is worshipped here.

Your independent Ayutthaya tour comes to an end here. Please take your return train or bus back to Bangkok.

Tips: If you want to explore more of this Buddhist country, you may get on an overnight train to Chiang Mai and the train ride takes 11h from Ayutthaya.

Today, you are going to take a flight back to your country. Make sure to take all your belongings to check out the hotel. You can either take a taxi to the airport or use public transportation.

To Suvarnabhumi Airport: take BTS to Phaya Thai Station and then change Airport Rail Link there.
To Don Mueang Airport: take BTS to Mo Chit Station, and then transfer to Airport Bus A1 Line.