Step into the lost kingdom of Ayutthaya, where towering temple ruins and timeless Buddha images reveal the grandeur of ancient Siam.
Set off on a fascinating journey to Ayutthaya Historical Park and explore ancient Buddha images, towering prangs, and some of Thailand’s most iconic temple ruins. This full-day tour takes you back in time to the former capital of Siam, once celebrated for its wealth, grandeur, and international influence.
Founded in 1350, the Kingdom of Ayutthaya flourished for more than four centuries and grew into the heart of Siam (the former name of Thailand). The city welcomed merchants from across the world—Chinese, Indians, Japanese, and Persians, later followed by Portuguese, Spaniards, Dutch, British, and French—who established bustling settlements just beyond the city walls.
At its height, Ayutthaya boasted over a million inhabitants, and French envoys of King Louis XIV even compared its size and prosperity to Paris. The kingdom met a tragic end in 1767, when invading Burmese forces burned the city to the ground, forcing its people to flee.
Today, the atmospheric ruins of Ayutthaya still echo the grandeur of its golden age. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, the temples and monuments stand as a powerful reminder of a once-magnificent kingdom that shaped the history and culture of Thailand.
During this full-day excursion, you’ll visit the following highlights:
- Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
Located 20 km south of Ayutthaya, this elegant riverside retreat was used by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Its landscaped gardens and eclectic mix of European and Oriental architecture reflect the king’s fascination with Western styles.
- Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
A striking temple just outside the historical center, known for its 60-meter-high bell-shaped chedi and serene Reclining Buddha.
- Wat Mahathat
One of the most important temples of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. It's famous for the iconic Buddha head entwined in the roots of a Banyan tree; one of the most photographed sights in the city.
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet
This royal temple once formed part of the ancient Grand Palace complex and hosted some of Ayutthaya’s most important royal ceremonies.
- Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
Located next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet, this temple houses one of Thailand’s largest bronze Buddha statues, beautifully gilded and deeply revered.
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Often considered one of the most impressive temple ruins in Ayutthaya. Its design is inspired by Khmer architecture, symbolizing the structure of the universe in Hindu-Buddhist cosmology.
After a full day of exploration and cultural discovery, we make our way back to Bangkok, filled with new impressions and a deeper understanding of Thailand’s rich heritage.
Important notes:
- There is a strict dress code to enter Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. Shoulders and ankles need to be covered. No sleeveless shirts, shorts, ripped jeans, tight trousers, leggings, slippers, sandals, or revealing tops, otherwise you won't be allowed in.
- Entrance fees (THB 360 per person) are not included in the tour price and must be paid in cash on the day of the tour.
Pick up/Meeting point:
We provide hotel pick-up only from accommodations located on/near Khao San Road and on Siam Square.
If you are not an actual guest at one of the hotels in our pick-up area, the designated meeting point will be our office on Chao Khamrop Road in Chinatown. Our office in Chinatown is just a short 5-minute walk from Wat Mangkon MRT (metro) station.
For the exact location of our WanderSiam office on Google Maps, please click HERE.
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190 Comments
5
Knowledgeable, friendly, well-prepared tour guides!
Ms. Rampai was a fantastic tour guide! She was very knowledgeable and super friendly. On the car ride to Ayuthaya, she took the opportunity to explain the ancient history of the place and the kings who had ruled there. It was interesting and sad to learn that Ayuthaya was conquered by Myanmar and was completely razed in order to cripple the Siam empire and avoid a war on two fronts. She answered our many questions about the old dynasty and the history of how the current Rama dynasty was established.
She and her driver Mr. Noo were extremely thoughtful, bringing umbrellas for us to protect against both rain and sun, and also kept a case of waters and cold sanitary towels for us to use throughout the day. We also ran out of cash, and they fronted us some money for us to see the last temple!
Rampai’s recommendation for lunch was delicious, and she did a great job taking lots of pictures for the two of us. Thank you Ms. Rampai and Mr. Noo!
5
Ayutthaya and Summer Palace with Rampai
Very young company. Understood that they started after COVID Pandemic. Reason why there are also not yet much reviews online. This should not be a reason to be hesitant to go on a trip with WanderSiam.
Today we did the tour to the Royal Palace at Bang Pa-in, just north of Bangkok and definitely worth a visit. Beautifully gardens and buildings. Be aware that these buildings are not open for public, only outside looking is allowed. Clothing rules are very strict. No short pants and shoulders to be covered (scarf is not allowed).
After visiting the summer Palace, we went to the Ayutthaya Historical city. Four temples have been visited. Guide explains it very well. A lot of questions can be asked and will be answered by the guide.
Summary: Overall a relaxed visit in a familiar atmosphere (small group). Our guide Rampai did a good job, her English is perfect to understand.
NOTE: Be aware that travelling can take some time and that you will only see the highlights in the old Ayutthaya city.
5
Cool AC van with a small tour group – kind and considerate guides
Very nicely air conditioned transport with a small group. We had 5 stops which featured a short intro story by our tour guide Golf. He was great and even shared some of his personal stories! Then he gave us time to self explore and take photos. He even offered to take photos for us. We stopped at a restaurant which had really good seafood and A/C. We never had to wait in the sun Golf would time it well to call the van so it was ready as we exited.
5
Great experience
We booked for a group tour but it turned out that my friend and I were the only participants. So it was really the private tour with a clean, comfortable SUV.
The driver was good and offered chilled bottled water in the morning and afternoon; and chilled wet towel.
The guide, Ms. Coconut, was a woman with cute smile. She was very knowledgeable and an excellent photographer. The photos she took were all in professional quality. Amazing.
She arranged lunch with a quiet local restaurant, taking our orders in the car, so our food was ready once we arrived the restaurant.
It was a wonderful experience overall.
5
Great experience
Great tour, both driver and guide were very friendly and pleasant. The tour guide had a lot of knowledge about all the sites that we visited and was happy to answer any questions that we had . To top it off , the tour guide bought some local ice cream
All the tour members to try. Overall, very good experience