Your trip to Bangkok, Thailand, is about to get packed with things to do, sights to see, and shows to experience. The best tours in Bangkok are all on this comprehensive list.
Exploring Bangkok is delightfully easy. There are several Bangkok guided tours that you can book to make the most out of your itinerary.
Trips from Bangkok are also made possible by tour companies offering convenient ways to get from the city to different neighboring tourist attractions.
You don’t even have to worry about what to do in Bangkok at night. The city is filled with interesting tours that are best experienced after sunset. You can read more facts about Bangkok here.
1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Train Market Tour
Your Bangkok guided tour starts downtown, where you will meet the rest of the group. You’ll then have to drive towards the Ban Na Kwang train station so you can take a local train going to Maeklong Railway Market.
This “umbrella pulldown market” or the Talat Rom Hup is one of the best places in Thailand to get fresh seafood.
It is fascinating to see the stalls situated right in the trail tracks. Once the train approaches, all vendors move to the side to make way, only coming back when the train has gone.
Next up is a trip to the widely-photographed Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Get your own snap of the vendors traveling in and out of the waterway. Don’t get too busy with photos, though, and make sure to have a taste of the famous mango with sticky rice.
Included:
- Round-trip air-conditioned transport
- Train ride from Ban Na Kwang train station to Maeklong Railway Market
- Longtail boat fee to the floating market
- English speaking guide
- Drinking water
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off from central Bangkok (if option selected)
- All taxes and fees
2. From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour by Bus & Boat
This Ayutthaya day tour is one of the worth-booking tours from Bangkok. See the Chinese and European-styled Bang Pa-In Summer Palace on your first stop. Afterward, pay a visit to the Wat Mahathat, Wat Na Phra Mane, and Wat Lokayasutharam.
Wat Mahathat may as well be the most recognizable of the three, and chances are you have already seen a photograph or two of this iconic place. A Buddha’s head appears to be covered with the tree trunk and roots, sparking curiosity in onlookers on tour.
In the afternoon, you will go on a river cruise with White Orchid at the Wat Chong Lom Pier, which will pass along the Chao Phraya riverbanks. Partake of a sumptuous lunch feast featuring Thai and European cuisine as you enjoy endless sightseeing on board.
Included:
- Transport by air-conditioned coach
- Admission fees to all attractions
- English-speaking guide
- Thai & international buffet lunch on board
- Coffee, tea and drinking water
- Return riverboat trip on the White Orchid Cruise
- Hotel pick-up and drop off from central Bangkok hotels (if option selected)
3. From Bangkok: Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary Day Trip & Transfer
Many Thailand guided tours can easily be done from Bangkok. Consider going on a Pattaya Elephant Sanctuary day trip which starts with a picturesque 2-hour drive to the sanctuary. Upon arriving, an expert guide will be with you, educating everyone about Thailand’s elephants.
The elephants in the Pattaya Sanctuary roam freely in their natural environment. You will be provided with bananas and sugar canes to feed these animals while they are in their habitats. Guest interaction with the elephants is encouraged yet bound with reservations.
One of the main highlights of this trip is that you get to enjoy a mud bath with the elephants themselves. This skin treatment is made fun of with the animals in the same environment as you, enticing you to join them on a river bath afterward. The answer is yes – you can bathe the elephants and scrub them clean!
Surely, a bond is formed as the tour ends. Snap a few photographs with your newly-groomed elephant to remind you of that fun Bangkok tour you had.
Included:
- Transport in an air-conditioned vehicle from Bangkok City
- English-speaking tour guide
- Traditional Thai lunch and fresh fruits
- Drinking water
- Food for feeding the elephants
- 1 Save the World canvas bag
- Photography Service
4. Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show Admission Ticket
A night out in Bangkok cannot get more unique than this! Attend a Bangkok Calypso Cabaret Show that features talented and beautiful transsexuals and transvestites highly regarded as some of the best artists in the city.
You have two time slots to choose from, with both performances happening at the basement of iconic Asia’s Hotel.
Some of the many performances that make up this lively show are the Wondergirls and the Ostrich Parade. Enjoy a complimentary drink that comes with your show ticket.
Authentic Thai dinner is served at the Calypso Thai Restaurant. As you enjoy the rich flavor profile of Thai cuisine, be entertained by dancers that show you the traditional and artistic way of giving homage to Thailand.
These world-class performances are said to have resulted from a kind of show business that is 30 years in creation.
Included:
- Admission ticket to the Calypso Cabaret show
- Complimentary drink
5. From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Temples & Floating Market Day Trip
Your day trip to the ancient city of Ayutthaya starts with a two-hour comfortable ride from Bangkok. You will visit the Ayutthaya National Park in the city, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991. The park contains important archaeological sites, palaces, temples, and monasteries, although some are not under UNESCO protection.
Included in your Bangkok sightseeing tour is a visit to the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace. Also regarded as the Summer Palace, this used to be the home of Thai kings. The structure is situated near the Chao Phraya River, which gives it an even more stunning landscape.
The Ayutthaya floating market should not be missed. See local vendors selling tasty food, tourism souvenirs, and other Thai items. You can also witness regular dance performances that showcase traditional Thai culture.
There are still two sites included in this day trip – the Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Mahathat. In both places, you can find stories and other pieces that are important to Buddhism.
Included:
- Admission ticket to Bang Pa-In Royal Palace
- Admission ticket to Ayothaya Floating Market
- Admission ticket to Wat Phra Sri Sanphet
- Admission ticket to Wat Mahathat
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
- Multilingual English- and Thai-speaking tour guide
6. Flexi Walking Temple Tour: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun
A tour of Bangkok is best done with a local tour guide who can give you interesting information which you cannot access from mere signages or leaflets.
Good thing this Flexi Walking Tour includes an experienced one. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and light wear as you embark on a walking journey.
Your tour starts at the Emerald Buddha Temple. This is considered the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. The emerald Buddha is said to have come from India. Officially, it is called Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram.
The Grand Palace is the next stop on your walking tour. This used to be where the royal kings resided. Nowadays, it is only used for special occasions.
Grab the opportunity to buy some dried seafood in the Tha Thien Market en route to the Wat Pho or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho is where the widely-celebrated Thai massage originated.
Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn is your last stop. It is one of the highest-grade first-class Buddhist temples in Thailand. A tower built on the Chao Phra river bank is its unique highlight.
Included:
- Admission fees to the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Temple
- Admission fee to Wat Pho (if option selected)
- Admission fee to Wat Arun (if option selected)
- Professional licensed guide
- Drinking water
7. Bangkok: 2-Hour Dinner Cruise on the Chao Phraya Princess
Go on a two-hour Chao Phraya River cruise aboard the Chao Phraya Princess. This cruise takes you on a ride to Bangkok’s main waterway, which offers a unique way to see the temples and structures that make up the historic city.
This cruise is best done at night when all the lights are lit and the night sky makes the whole ambiance romantic and scenic at the same time.
A gourmet dinner buffet is set for you, complete with complimentary drinks as you enjoy sightseeing by the river. Music onboard keeps you feeling inspired and special, and a trendy bar is located onsite. This river cruise is truly one of the best tours to do in Bangkok at night.
Want to take it to a whole other level? Book the tour on New Year’s Eve and be offered the best seats in town to enjoy Chao Phraya’s fireworks.
Included:
- 2-hour cruise
- International buffet
- Welcome drink
- Live music onboard
- Hotel transfers from Sathorn, Silom, Siam, Pratunam, and Sukhumvit area from Soi 1-39 and 2-24 (if option selected)
- New Year’s Eve dinner cruise (if option selected)
8. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market 6-Hour Tour
A half-day tour of the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is enough to see why this place is a popular tourist destination. Located in the province of Ratchaburi in Central Thailand, the market features long boats with Thai vendors selling food, trinkets, and handicrafts. These boats pass by khlongs or canals.
Your Bangkok guided tour includes a visit to a traditional Thai home where you can learn more about the production of brown coconut sugar, one of the important products of the coconut plantation.
Board a longboat and pass through the canals to see the residential homes situated near the waterways. It’s the perfect time to have a glance at a local’s daily life.
Buy products from one of the floating stalls to bring back home. As you explore the canals at your pace, make sure to try the boat noodles and the coconut ice cream.
Included:
- Round-trip transport
- Longtail boat fee to the floating market
- English-speaking guide
- Hotel pick-up and drop off from central Bangkok (if option selected)
- Water
- Cold towel
- Insurance
9. 2-Hour Dinner & Shows on the White Orchid River Cruise
The Chao Phraya river is breathtaking at night. Imagine cruising underneath the well-lit skies and along bustling streets while you pass by some historic city highlights.
This two-hour White Orchid cruise is one of the ultimate ways to experience the best of Bangkok.
As you board the cruise ship, you will be given complimentary drinks to enjoy while dinner is being set. Thai dance performances will keep you entertained as the ship starts to sail.
Along the river, you will have a good view of the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and the Temple of Dawn, among many other sites.
Western and Thai cuisines make up your sumptuous dinner buffet. A cabaret show and more music performances are sure to add a dose of culture and festivity to your night.
Before you head back to the dock, relax amidst the splendor of Bangkok in a viewpoint that only the Chao Phraya River can offer.
Included:
- Thai and international buffet
- Snacks (peanuts and potato chips)
- Welcome drink
- Tea and coffee
- Live music band
- Cabaret show
- Round trip hotel transfers (if option selected)
10. Bangkok Siam Niramit Show Admission Ticket
Fancy seeing Thai artists perform together with elephants and goats? This is exactly what is going to happen at the Siam Niramit show in Bangkok. The fab-filled stage glitters with bright lights, towering props, and costume-clad performers.
For one hour and 20 minutes, immerse yourself in the rich Thai culture depicted in different art performances, including perfectly curated scenes. Buddhist and Muslim traditions are showcased through dances, music, and storytelling.
Be transported to the netherworld of Himmapan with stage effects that are definitely world-class. Choose to have a buffet dinner at the end of the show because the food is delicious.
Included:
- Admission ticket
- Buffet (only if option is selected)
- About the Author
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Franzi is a long-term travel blogger, online editor, and content creator specializing in Tourism in Bangkok and Thailand.
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