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
Great experience!
Great experience, great local guide from SiamWander! Nice, safe drive, great place for lunch.
Eventhough it may seem long, I would recommend this trip.
5
Temple
The Guide was very knowledgeable and kind. It was an interesting experience learning about the history, culture and key moments of Thailand’s history.
5
Lovely
Lovely tour experience with knowledgeable tour guide and well organized experience to discover beautiful places
3.5
Not so great… needs improvement
We’ve taken several tours in Thailand and this one seemed like it would be very interesting and educational given the great ratings. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as we had hoped. Our tour guide provided basic information, but we were really missing greater context and stories to fully appreciate this ancient Thai kingdom. The architecture was very similar from place to place and became a bit redundant. Also, the AC in the van seemed fine in the morning, but by afternoon it barely worked at all. Be sure to take advantage of the free sun umbrellas at each site as it is very hot. We were surprised that the water provided was not cold, but rather warm from just sitting in the van (no cooler like other tour providers). With greatly improved historical context, AC and cold water, we imagine this would be a better tour. As it is, it fell flat for our family of 5 adults. Would definitely not recommend for children.
5
What a great experience!
This was such a great tour. Our guide Sunday was the absolute BEST! Not only was he very knowledgeable and informative but the best photographer. He was such a joy and one of the best tour guides I’ve had in a while. You could tell that he loves teaching about the culture. The van was very spacious and had great A/C. We had plenty of time at each temple to walk around and take picture. Only thing to be aware of is that at the first stop, wear long flowy pants and shirt that covers the chest and shoulders. Unless I missed this direction in the description, we didn’t know how strict the palace was on outfits so be prepared for it. There’s a store where you can buy appropriate attire if needed. Overall I highly recommend this tour and if you have the ability to have Sunday, you’re going to have a great day!