Historical City of Ayutthaya - Unesco Full Day Tour From Bangkok
Highlights
- UNESCO temple ruins of Ayutthaya
- English-speaking licensed guide
- 9-hour tour at a steady pace
- Cultural sites and local context from a guide
Ayutthaya was founded in 1350 and sacked by the Burmese in 1767, and what’s left after four centuries of temples, palaces, and trade is one of the better UNESCO sites in Southeast Asia. Merchants from Europe, Persia, China, and Japan passed through its canals at its peak, and the city was larger than London by the 1600s. The ruins today are the brick prangs, headless Buddhas, and chedi fields spread across the Historical Park — skeletal, atmospheric, and close enough to Bangkok for a single long day.
You meet at the WanderSiam office on Chao Khamrop Road, near Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station (taxi drivers know the Tai Hong Kong Shrine next door). From there the air-conditioned van runs north to the park. The route covers the core sites a day tour can reasonably fit: Wat Mahathat for the famous Buddha head tangled in banyan roots, Wat Phra Si Sanphet with its three central chedi, Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the river bank, and Wat Yai Chai Mongkol with its rows of orange-robed Buddhas and central chedi you can climb. The English-speaking guide does the work of tying the sites together — without the context, the ruins start blurring by the third temple. Parking fees, bottled water, and the guide are included; entrance fees (around 220 THB in total) and lunch are paid separately on the day.
Nine hours door to door, easy difficulty, up to 15 people. Dress code is the same as any Thai temple: shoulders and knees covered. The park is mostly open, unshaded ground — bring a hat, sunblock, and more water than the single bottle the tour provides if you go in April or May.
Cool season (November to February) is the comfortable window. Bang Pa-In Royal Palace isn’t included on the base tour but is a useful add-on if you can stretch the day.
Itinerary
Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. A number of impressive buildings can be found in the palace complex, built in very different architectural styles, some in classical Thai, some Chinese and some European design.
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon was founded in the second half of the 14th century during the reign of King U Thong, first ruler of Ayutthaya. Highlight of the monastery is its very large imposing prang dominating the area. century. During the Burmese invasion of 1767 the temple was largely destroyed.
Wat Mahathat, also known as the Monastery of the Great Relic, is believed to have been built around the 14th century and was once residence to the Supreme Patriarch leader of the Thai Buddhist monks. The most popular tourist attraction of Wat Mahathat is a tree whose roots have grown around the head of the Buddha statue.
This famous temple is situated on the south of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Its large bronze seated Buddha image or Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand with its measures of 9.5 meters across the lap and a height of 12.5 meters. During the fall of Ayutthaya, the building and the image were badly destroyed by fire. The present Vihara and Buddha image have been reconstructed and renovated in the reign of King Rama V.
Used mainly for ceremonies that served to authenticate the king’s spiritual and moral authority, Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the official royal temple. No monks lived here and only people within the royal circle were allowed to enter. Destroying Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Royal Palace was a priority of the invading Burmese. They melted down 160 kilos of gold from the Phra Buddha Chai Sri Sanphet image and set fire to everything else. The distinctive pagodas of Wat Phra Si Sanphet are one of the most famous sights in Ayutthaya.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram was built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong during the later period of Ayutthaya. It was built to commemorate his mother's hometown and to celebrate his coronation. The main prang is surrounded by many lesser prangs and towers in eight directions. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was a royal monastery. The King and its descendants would perform religious rites here. It was also a cremation site for members of the Royal family. With its Khmer-style buildings, Wat Chaiwatthanaram is one of the most impressive ancient temples in Ayutthaya.
Included
- English speaking guide
- One bottle of drinking water per person
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Parking Fees
Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuities for driver & tour guide (optional)
- Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
- Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
- Wat Mahathat
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Meeting point & area
View larger map →Meeting point: The meeting point is at our WanderSiam office in Chao Khamrop Road. Chao Khamrop Road is close to Phlapphla Chai 2 Police Station and right next to the Tai Hong Kong Shrine. (For taxi drivers: สถานีตำรวจนครบาลพลับพลาไชย).
Good to know
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Things to Do Nearby
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