Step into Siam’s golden age in Ayutthaya and meet the monkeys of Lopburi!
We leave Bangkok in the morning for a full-day journey through Thailand’s rich past, visiting the historic cities of Ayutthaya and Lopburi.
Our first stop is Ayutthaya, the glorious kingdom that flourished from 1350 to 1767 and was once the beating heart of Siam. For over four centuries it was a thriving centre of trade, culture, and religion, attracting merchants from across the world.
Its golden era came to an end when the Burmese army invaded in 1767, setting the city ablaze and leaving it in ruins.
Today, Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and wandering among its magnificent remains feels like stepping back in time. We will visit three of its most iconic temples: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon with its towering chedi and serene Buddha statues, Wat Mahathat with the famous Buddha head entwined in tree roots, and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, the former royal temple of the Ayutthaya kings.
From Ayutthaya we continue to Lopburi, a city with a history stretching back more than 1,500 years. It first rose to prominence during the Dvaravati era, later becoming part of the Khmer Empire in the 10th century, which left behind impressive monuments still standing today.
In the 17th century, King Narai the Great made Lopburi the second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Nowadays, the city is just as famous for its mischievous residents: hundreds of playful long-tailed macaques that roam the streets and temple grounds.
Our visit to Phra Prang Sam Yot, the famous monkey temple, is a chance to watch these lively creatures in action as they leap across the ancient Khmer ruins.
This day offers a perfect blend of fascinating history, stunning architecture, and unforgettable encounters with Lopburi’s cheeky monkeys.
Although there are still monkeys around Phra Prang Sam Yot in Lopburi, there are fewer than in previous years. Many monkeys have been relocated by the authorities due to overpopulation. Please keep in mind that Lopburi is not a zoo. The monkeys are wild and roam freely throughout the town, so while you will likely see some, sightings can never be guaranteed.
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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157 Comments
5
A memorable day exploring more of Thailand!
The guide was very informative and obviously loves what he does – he created a fun and engaging itenerary for us and we had a very memorable day! He spoke a lot of the architectural and historical significance of the temples we visited and pointed out great places to take pictures. In Lopburi we had so much fun walking around and interacting with the monkeys – he knew where to feed them, where to play with them, and where to see them get into cheeky situations – it was all so cute! I would 100% recommend this for anyone looking to looking for a more intimate tour with fun passionate guides! We had a great time!
5
Would book again with them!!
The monkey temple was spectacular, all the baby monkeys made the trip worthy. My guide Meow was amazing, the tour was with small group of people (only 3) which made it better in my opinion, we received excellent explanations of the places we visited and enough time in each of them. They were so kind to drop me off at the airport as it was on the way.
5
Ayuttaya + City of Monkeys
Amazing tour! Piya was an extremely knowledgeable and friendly guide who went the extra mile to inform us about the incredible sights and give tips for dealing with the monkeys in Lopburi. The driver was also very courteous and drove with care.
We really enjoyed seeing Ayuttaya, but our favorite part of the trip was Lopburi, where we had a fantastic time feeding and playing with the monkeys!
I highly recommend this tour. If you have time during your stay in Bangkok, it’s a must see!
5
Wonderful experience
I had an amazing experience on the tour, thanks in large part to our guide, Ms. Koi. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and friendly demeanor added so much value to the journey. She effortlessly shared captivating insights, making the tour both educational and enjoyable. The tour included a whole range of different temples but Ms. Koi’s passion for the destinations truly enhanced the overall experience, leaving us with lasting memories!
4.5
Fun and Fascinating!
This was a really fun trip! The Monkey Temple was awesome. The babies were so cute and playful. Be careful, though, especially if you have a nose or lip piercing. They will try to grab at your face. I have a nose piercing and one of them got his hand in my mouth as I yelped. We had to stop for Listerine at a 7-Eleven. Ayutthaya was spectacular, but I felt like the tour guide rushed us through a lot of it. I would have liked to go a little slower and learn more about the ruins. I also felt like our guide could have gone a little more into detail about the history. I think it was a language barrier issue, which is totally understandable. However, to make up for that, I would have liked to have had enough time to read the placards, etc. The restaurant we stopped at was along a river. It was a bit pricey, but definitely one of my most memorable meals in Thailand. I got the seafood coconut curry served in a young coconut. The shrimp was so tender and the fishcakes were super fresh, you could tell they were homemade. I asked them to make it just a little spicey and it was perfect for me. All in all, this was a great day trip, I just think it could have lasted a bit longer. Oh, and it would have been nice to have hand sanitizer on deck after the Monkey Temple. I think quite a few reviews have mentioned this. Just be prepared to bring your own!