Must-See Bangkok

Arrive at Bangkok International Airport, where we’ll meet you and arrange an unescorted transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure – at your own expense – to unwind or explore as you wish. You could opt for a traditional Thai massage, try the city’s local flavours, and round off the day with sunset views from one of the stylish rooftop bars. Overnight in Bangkok.

After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we set out to explore three of Bangkok’s most significant Buddhist temples. We begin at Wat Traimit, home to the Golden Buddha – a 3 metre statue of solid gold weighing 5.5 tonnes. We then pass through Chinatown en route to Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, where we see the Chedis of the Kings and the city’s largest Buddha image at 46 metres long and 15 metres high, depicting the Buddha’s passing into nirvana. Next, we visit the Grand Palace complex – one of the finest examples of an ancient Siamese court and the former residence of the Kings of Bangkok. Here we see the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. To round off the tour, we stop at a local lapidary factory and showroom, where you can browse locally made jewellery, handicrafts and silk at competitive prices.Overnight in Bangkok.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. We depart Bangkok for Maeklong Railway Market, also known as Talad Rom Hoop. On arrival, our guide shares the background of the market, and we position ourselves shortly before the train passes through – a brief but striking scene.We then continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market to see colourfully dressed vendors paddling sturdy canoes along lively canals, piled high with fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s an engaging window into local life, and you can browse and bargain along the banks. We return to Bangkok afterwards. Overnight in Bangkok.

Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before a 6:00–6:30 am pick up for the 128 km drive to Kanchanaburi. We visit the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre – an interactive, fully air conditioned museum with research facilities – to learn about the history of the wartime railway. We then pay our respects at the Allied War Cemetery, a memorial to around 6,000 Allied prisoners of war who died along the line and were moved here after the war. After an included lunch at a local restaurant, we board the historic Death Railway train, crossing the original wooden viaduct built by Allied prisoners of war. We then return to Bangkok and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Bangkok.

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the hotel – spend the time at leisure until we provide your unescorted transfer to Bangkok International Airport for onward travel to your chosen destination.