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
Great adventure !
Beautiful places! The Lopburi Monkey Temple quite an adventure! Ayatthuya is beutiful; temples are so great and magnificent !
5
Monkey Temple/Ayutthaya
Had an excellent day! I took a grab to the office in Chinatown, was easy to find. Surin was our guide, she was the best and made the experience. We traveled in a comfortable van with a/c. Mai was an excellent driver. I have done a lot of tours and often travel solo, the guide can really make or break an excursion. 10/10 trip!
5
Monkeys temple and Ayutthaya old city tour
We were with Thanya, the explanation of the locations we saw was perferct. Also Thanya told us a lot of stories about the everyday thai life, common stuffs and very interesting stories about thai culture. Very interesting tour overall!
5
The monkey temple
The temples were beautiful and the tour guide was very passionate. Seeing and taking pictures with the monkeys was amazing
5
Very good and sweaty tour
We started the tour on time. Our guide (Piya) was very knowledgeable and energetic. We saw beautiful temples and he took beautiful pictures of us.
Monkey temple didn’t meet my expectations, as they live in very poor conditions and the town itself is filthy and there is nothing else to do besides feeding the animals.