Top 10 Tours in Bangkok

Some tours are jam-packed full of facts, sights and history – so much, in fact, you barely have a moment to yourself. This day trip to Ayutthaya, Siam’s war-ravaged former capital, sails straight in at number two because it has plenty of substance but doesn’t test your staying power. A morning spent exploring temple ruins is followed by an afternoon on board a luxury cruiser – all that’s left to do is laze happily on deck, only the memories, river breezes and Bangkok’s bristling skyline for company.  Read More...

Packing all the splendour of the Land of Smiles into an 80-minute stage show is no easy task. But Siam Niramit succeeds – and spectacularly. How so? Try the world’s biggest stage, a cast of hundreds, and bags of Thai finesse. For these joy-bringing efforts, we happily award it third place. The first act describes how Siam became a crossroads where civilisations met, the second how karma binds the Thai people, the last how religious ceremony earns Thais merit in this life. Read More...

The pioneer of all floating markets, Damnoen Saduak continues to offer an authentic experience despite its increasingly touristy atmosphere. Imagine small thin canals teeming with longboats piled high with fresh produce, each one jockeying for position, and paddled by a lady ready to stop and bargain at a moment’s notice. This visual vibrancy, as well as its popularity and iconic status, helped it barge effortlessly into our number four spot. Read More...

There’s more to the River Kwai than elegiac WWII sights. And this tour around Kanchanaburi, a lush unspoilt province bordering Burma, proves it. Visits to the Death Railway, the Bridge over the River Kwai and the memorial museum, are tastefully juxtaposed with thrilling doses of back-to-nature: undulating mountains, rugged landscapes, as well as activities like elephant rides and tiger temples. Very few tours manage such a gratifying combo, both thought-provoking and adventurous - a well deserved winner of our number five spot. Read More...

Red curtains, glamorous feathers and long legs… and, since you are in Thailand, may we add ladyboys? While this is no Broadway or Can-Can show, Calypso Cabarat promises to be a feast for your eyes and ears. A fantastic evening at the Calypso involves a lot of dazzling performances by a wildly talented troupe of transvestite dancers, entertainers and lip-sync singers, not to mention bringing Marilyn Monroe and Michael Jackson back from the dead. Some say it’s touristy and strange, but we say it’s a star-studded evening with glistening stage design, extravagant costumes, thrilling soundtracks and simply superb entertainment. Read More...

Experience the Chao Phraya River by candlelight with this dinner cruise on the luxurious Grand Pearl. After being welcomed onboard with warm smiles and cocktails, you'll be awed by the architectural beauty of passing riverside sights like Wat Arun, the Grand Palace and Wat Pra Kaew.

After dining on a lavish Thai and international buffet, relax under the stars and moonlight. A live band will perfect the mood, before you reach Rama VIII Bridge and turn back for one last glimpse at Bangkok's time-honoured temples. Read More...

Bangkok’s ‘khlongs’ (canals) aren’t mere remnants of the past. Many are still functioning transport arteries that play a significant role in city life. Rather than the noise and smell of central Bangkok’s famous Khlong Saen Saeb, this morning tour focuses on the more scenic waterways of Thonburi. A long-tailed speedboat glides you past floating kitchens, mobile shops and all kinds of colourful river scenery, before stopping at the enchanting Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun). The trip ends with the Royal Barges Museum; for most, the impressions last a lot longer. Read More...

An easy day trip out of Bangkok, this tour kicks off with a visit to Bang Pa-In, the spectacular Summer Place, followed by a lazy boat trip across the Chao Phraya River, and finally to the island of Ayutthaya, the Kingdom of Siam's former capital. Visually rich and architecturally astounding, it is an excursion that inspires. It is also a veritable treasure-house for photographers. Read More...

A cycle tour is the best way to explore corners of Bangkok that most tourists never know exists, let alone discover. With little more than the clank of your bicycle gears, a cool breeze and the waves of locals for company, there’s nothing jaded or cynical about a two-wheeled adventure. Take our tenth top tour, for example. After the floating market, you peddle past fruit orchards, old temples and ancient army garrisons, heading further back in history and culture with each forward turn of the wheel. Where most tours can be somewhat limiting, this one is a true revelation. Read More...