Ayutthaya Private Tour: UNESCO Temples & Sunset Boat
Highlights
- Buddha head in tree roots at Wat Mahathat
- Sunset views from the deck
- UNESCO temple ruins of Ayutthaya
- Private tour for your party only
- Thai lunch at a local restaurant
- Led by a local guide
- Free cancellation
- Instant confirmation
This is a private day trip from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, the old Ayutthaya Kingdom, covering six temple stops with admission included and finishing with a sunset boat ride. It is booked for your own party of up to 15, and the licensed guide speaks the language on your ticket: English, Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, French or German.
What the day looks like
The itinerary runs in this order:
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the largest temple ruin in Ayutthaya, with three large stupas that hold the relics of the city’s kings.
- Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, home to one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand, 12.45 metres high.
- Wat Mahathat, where a sandstone Buddha head sits in the roots of a Bodhi tree.
- Wat Phra Ngam, with an octagonal pagoda and the brick arch known as the Time Portal, wrapped by a giant Bodhi tree.
- Wat Na Phra Men, described as the only Ayutthaya temple the Burmese did not destroy, with a green stone Buddha from the Dvaravati period.
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram, built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honour his mother, with a central prang ringed by smaller ones in a style influenced by Angkor.
The itinerary allots about 20 minutes at each temple, which is brief, so tell your guide early which ones matter most to you. The day ends with a boat ride around Ayutthaya Island at sunset on the Chao Phraya riverbank, and then a return to your hotel.
Good to know
- Included: admission to all the temples listed, the private guide, one meal (lunch or dinner, not both), the sunset boat ride, a private air-conditioned vehicle and travel accident insurance.
- The guide recommends a Thai dinner after Wat Na Phra Men.
- Languages: English, Mandarin, Spanish, Italian, French and German. Say which you want when you book.
- The tour is private, for up to 15 people.
Itinerary
Historic City of Ayutthaya
Historic City of Ayutthaya houses Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the largest temple ruin in Ayutthaya which was awarded as a UNESCO Heritage site. This temple is a must-visit for all Ayutthaya travelers since this temple was the personal temple of Thai kings in the Ayutthaya period. The highlight of this temple is the three large stupas standing at the center of the temple. The stupas were built for containing relics of all Kings of Ayutthaya. The temple is highly valuable for people seeking to study Thai history. For your information, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was located inside the Grand Palace of Ayutthaya and served as the royal Chapel, as Wat Phra Kaew does in Bangkok. In Ayutthaya's heyday, this was the largest temple in the city. When King Borom Trai Lokanat commanded the construction of new living quarters, this residential palace was transformed into a temple and the establishment of Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Viharn Pra Mongkolborpit houses one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand. Many Thai Buddhists visit this temple to cherish the beauty of the huge golden Buddha image. The Buddha image is in the attitude of subduing Mara. This Buddha image has a lap measurement of 9.55 meters and a height of 12.45 meters. You will need to look up to the ceiling to admire the huge size of this Buddha image.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is a UNESCO world heritage site. This temple is well-known to worldwide travelers for the Lord Buddha's head embedded in the Bodhi tree. Historically, Wat Mahathat was a royal temple of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It is one of the oldest and most significant temples in the history of Ayutthaya as it housed the Buddha's holy relic. Attractions in Wat Mahathat include remains of old buildings such as pagodas, octagonal pagodas, a royal hall, small temples, murals under a Bodhi tree, and the famous sand-stone Ayutthaya-style head of the Buddha image in a tree's root.
Wat Phra Ngam
Wat Phra Ngam is another must-go old temple in Ayutthaya. The beauty of this holy site can be seen through the beautiful architecture of the structured octagon pagoda and the "Time Portal", the arched entrance made from bricks cuddled by the giant Bodhi Tree. The exotic appearance of this notable arch becomes the photo shooting spot for trendy foreign tourists.
Wat Na Phra Men
Wat Na Phra Meru is the only temple in Ayutthaya that hasn't been destroyed by the Burmese and shows the most complete vision of Ayutthaya architecture. You will see the original beauty of the 500- year-old Ayutthaya temple here. In addition, the temple houses the green stone Buddha image dated back to the Dvaravati period. This stone Buddha statue is in a sitting position, which is only one of the five that exist in Thailand. After visiting this temple, you will have an authentic, Thai-taste dinner recommended by the guide.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Chaiwattanaram is one of the most visited historical sites of Ayutthaya. The Temple was ordered to be built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honor his mother, featuring the architectural style influenced by the Angkor temple in Cambodia-its unique feature is a large, central prang (Khmer-style pagoda) surrounded by smaller prangs, symbolizing Mount Sumeru, the gods' mountain according to Hindu belief. The lighting at night makes the temple even more exotic and beautiful. As a bonus to the tour, the guides take you on a sunset boat ride, where you will see the sunset on the Chao Phraya river bank, before taking you back to your hotel.
Included
- Admission tickets to all temples listed in itinerary
- Private licensed guide or interpreter fluent in your ticket's language (EN, ZH, ES, IT, FR, DE)
- Lunch or Dinner (limited to one meal only)
- Romantic sunset boat ride around Ayutthaya Island.
- Private air-conditioned vehicle
- Travel Accident Insurance (Max 1,000,000 THB per person)
Meeting point & area
View larger map →Good to know
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which temples are included?
Which languages can the guide speak?
Is a meal included?
What's the sunset boat ride?
Spotted something out of date or incorrect? Let us know
Similar Tours
Private Ayutthaya UNESCO Site Tour with Boat Ride
Private Floating Market & Ayutthaya World Heritage Tour
Private Ayutthaya World Heritage Tour with River Cruise
