Bangkok & Chanthaburi

Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport, you will be met and transferred by shared minivan to our accommodation for check-in (from 2 PM). At 6 PM, meet your guide and fellow travellers on the rooftop of the accommodation, where we can enjoy a welcome drink and briefing while taking in the cityscape.

Tour Style: On this tour you will enjoy sightseeing at all included sights with expert local guides, and all of your travel arrangements are included. You will travel without a tour guide between destinations.

In the morning, we’ll visit some of Bangkok’s most iconic sights for an authentic local experience. Our guide will meet us at the hotel before we depart for our first stop, Pak Klong Talad, the city’s largest flower market, where the vibrant colours and bustling atmosphere reflect the country’s diverse flower-growing regions.

We’ll then hop into a traditional Tuk Tuk for a ride to Wat Pho, home to more Buddha images than any other temple in Bangkok, including one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand. Next, we’ll take a public ferry across the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun, renowned for its stunning ceramic, stucco, and glass mosaic design.

After admiring the beauty of Wat Arun, we’ll take the ferry back across the river and return to our hotel. The afternoon is free for you to relax and explore at your leisure.

Bangkok - Rayong. This morning, we head southeast towards Rayong. Along the way, we will visit a fascinating community workshop supported by Queen Sirikit, where exquisite bamboo weaving is crafted using traditional methods. Thailand is renowned for its unique bamboo creations, which are found in boutiques around the world.

Afterward, we will continue our journey towards Rayong, with a stop at a local restaurant where we will learn to prepare the iconic Pad Thai and Som Tam. A local chef will guide us through selecting the right ingredients and the preparation of these beloved dishes. And yes, we'll be feasting on our creations!

Later, we will visit the "Thai Everglades", a vibrant wetland teeming with over 400 species of wildlife, all set against the warm glow of the afternoon sun. From the comfort of our traditional sampan boat, we’ll glide through the water, taking in the beauty of lotus ponds adorned with white, blue, and pink blooms during our 45-minute ride. We then continue to Rayong, where we are spending the night.
Approx. driving distance: 210km.

Rayong - Chanthaburi. Today, we will make our way from Rayong to Chanthaburi. Once we arrive, we will visit the newly renovated Residence of Queen Rambhai Barni, the widow of King Rama VII. Here, we will explore her residence and private rooms, offering us a fascinating insight into the life of the "Queen of Hearts," who ran an experimental farm and shared her farming knowledge with the locals.

We will then learn about Chanthaburi’s deep connection to King Taksin. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, he regrouped here to restore Siam’s independence. We will visit the City Pillar Shrine, his former military camp, and the historical sites tied to the king's efforts, including the French soldier headquarters, the resistance jail, and Taksin’s shipyard.

Next, we will visit a local village where we can witness the weaving of sedge, a material used by the locals for centuries. We will stroll along the charm-filled riverside street, lined with heritage wooden shops and cafés. Finally, we will cross the short bridge to see the Gothic-style Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, known for its stained-glass windows and a Virgin Mary statue adorned with 20,000 carats of local rubies and sapphires.
Approx. driving distance: 77km.

We begin our day with a visit to Wat Thong Thua, renowned for its Khmer stonework and carvings, followed by a visit to a nearby laterite pond from the oldest Khmer site in Thailand. We then explore Noen Wong Fortress, built by King Rama III, who used the walls to defend from invasion. The site is now home to the Maritime Museum, showcasing Chinese trading junk boats, Thai boats, and local history.

We'll enjoy lunch on a local pepper farm, and can stroll through an orchard of mangosteen, papaya, passion fruit, and mango trees to enjoy the fresh fruits. Chanthaburi Province, once famed for its “black gold,” is known for its mineral-rich soil ideal for producing pepper with a floral, slightly sweet flavour.

Next, we’ll visit a gem mine and the Chanthaburi Gem Centre to see how cutting boosts gem value, and we can learn about sustainability in the gem industry. Your second night in Chanthaburi is at leisure.

Chanthaburi - Bangkok. After breakfast, we’ll leave Chanthaburi for the drive back to Bangkok, a journey of 3-3.5 hours. You can be dropped at the airport or your independently dropped hotel in the city. Safe travels!