Historical Thailand - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Thailand, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel.

Board your long-tail boat at the bank of the Chao Phraya River for a cruise along Bangkok’s ‘River of Kings’. This is a crucial lifeline for the city, and there’s no better way to discover the true heart of Bangkok, and learn more about its local ways of life away from the busy city centre, than aboard a traditional boat. Enter the labyrinth of ‘klongs’ (small canals), where you may notice a slower pace of life as you pass by old teak houses, countless temples, vendors selling vegetables from wooden boats, and children splashing around at the canal edge. Disembark for a spell at the Royal Barge Museum, which houses some of the ornately carved royal barges used by Thailand's Kings on state occasions, and learn about the craftmanship required to build them. Your final stop will be the majestic Wat Arun, the ‘Temple of the Dawn’, which is one of Bangkok’s best-known landmarks with its a distinctive 70-metre tall central ‘prang’, encrusted with coloured glass and porcelain. Having had a good look around, return to your hotel.

Start the day by visiting Wat Pho to witness the monks' morning chanting ritual, which starts at 9am. One of the oldest temples in Bangkok, Wat Pho is renowned for its enormous 45 metre reclining Buddha, along with being home to one of the oldest traditional Thai massage schools in the country. Continue to the nearby Grand Palace, the most important royal landmark in Thailand, where you can see some of the buildings used for different occasions, including the Funeral Palace, Reception Palace, Throne Hall, Coronation Hall, Royal Guest House, and the Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. The rest of your day will be at leisure.

Rise early for the train journey north towards Sukhothai, spending a few hours relaxing and watching the countryside roll by before you disembark at Phitsanulok to meet your guide, who'll take you to see the famous golden Buddha sculpture at Wat Mahathat before driving on to Sukhothai itself. In the late afternoon, take a leisurely cycle ride through the Historical Park, pausing to explore the ancient ruins, some of which have been meticulously restored to their former glory.

Pay a visit to the Ban Na Thon Chan Community project, a small rural village which is home to descendants of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, who are preserving their culture and heritage, and inviting visitors to experience their way of life. Local resources are utilized to sustain the community and create extra income. Most villagers make a living from agriculture, the local men make furniture for export, and housewives make the village’s unique hand-woven mud-fermented fabric. With your guide to interpret, you will have the opportunity to chat with the villagers, along with enjoying a delicious lunch hosted by one of the families. In the afternoon, visit Si Satchanalai Historical Park, just north of Sukhothai on the Yom River banks. Home to the Crown Princes during the 13th and 14th centuries, Si Satchanalai - ‘City of Good People’ - is now a complex of ancient temples and crumbled palace buildings.

Depart for Ayutthaya, located at the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak Rivers, and on the main north-south railway linking Chiang Mai with Bangkok. Its old city is on an island formed by a bend of the Chao Phraya, and served as the Thai capital for 417 years. When you reach the city, hop onto a distinctive 'Kermit' tuk-tuk (you'll see why!), one of Thailand's most iconic modes of transport and a great way to tour the city and its nearby ruins. Pause in the Muslim quarter to sample a candy floss roti - one of Ayutthaya's lesser known highlights! The remainder of your day will be at leisure.

Complete your exploration of Ayutthaya in style this morning, with time at the site’s most impressive temples, before a leisurely long-tailed boat ride to the Summer Palace and majestic royal mansions at Bang Pa-In. The palace dates back to the 17th century, and although today it is rarely used by the royal family, much of the property and its delightful gardens are open to visitors. Before you finally set off for Kanchanaburi, stop off at Wat Niwet Thammaprawat to admire its remarkable Gothic-style architecture and stained glass windows. Once you reach Kanchanaburi, the rest of your day will be at leisure.

Visit the bridge over the Khwae Yai (part of the Mae Klong River), which was built by Allied POWs under Japanese direction during World War II. Pause at the POW Memorial Cemetery and spend time in the Railway Museum, before boarding a train for the short journey through Kwai Noi Gorge, with its breathtaking views of the river, and on to Nam Tok Station. This afternoon you'll visit Hellfire Pass, a railway cutting on what became infamous as ‘Death Railway’. The pass was constructed by World War II POWs from Australia, Britain, the Netherlands and other nations, along with paid Indian workers who came voluntarily. All of them worked in particularly hazardous conditions, and this section of the railway ultimately claimed a very high number of lives. Walk through a section of the pass and spend time at the particularly good onsite museum, before heading back to Kanchanaburi.

Spend a day at the Elephant World Sanctuary learning about the inspirational work that takes place here, assisting with elephant food preparation and getting up close to the resident elephants. Late afternoon drive back to Bangkok.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.