Best Day Trips from Bangkok

Among the best things to do in Bangkok are excursions from Bangkok. In the surrounding area you will find interesting provinces and cities such as Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya and Pattaya, among other fantastic parts of Thailand. These places offer breathtaking activities and tourist destinations that you will love to visit.

Each of these destinations will show you a different side of Thailand. Some will show you the beaches, others the beautiful elephants, the floating markets or some of the history. Keep in mind that you will need to spend at least a full day on these excursions to enjoy each of them, but it will be worth it!

Bangkok has beautiful and imposing temples, but they are not the only ones in Thailand. In the ancient capital of Siam, Ayutthaya, you'll also find incredible buildings worth visiting that share the mystique of the best temples. A tour from Bangkok to Ayutthaya costs an average of €70 and lasts on average nine hours.

To begin this tour, your guide will meet you at your hotel at an agreed time. You can then board the vehicle and begin a journey north. Upon arrival in Ayutthaya, you can start a walking tour to see the incredible temples, monasteries, palace ruins and even Buddhist statues that were beheaded.

Your guide will tell you all the details about this ancient city that was mostly destroyed by the Burmese. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some sites require an entrance fee to visit, but this is usually included in the tour price, so don't worry.

On this tour you can also enjoy lunch, which is included in the tour. On the way back you can take a boat back to the centre of Bangkok. This will allow you to see the city and its surroundings from a different perspective and enjoy your holiday in Thailand even more.

Interesting details

• Price: around 90 €.
• Duration: approximately 9 hours.
• Means of transport: you can travel by private vehicle and then by boat.
• Advantages of this option: it is ideal if you want to get to know a city that takes you back in time. It also includes lunch and entrance fees to the different sites.
• Disadvantages of this option: it can take a whole day.

A day tour to the floating markets from Bangkok is an experience you must put on your itinerary. I'm sure you've never seen anything like it in your life, it's breathtaking! The tour usually costs an average of €70 and lasts approximately six hours.

To begin this adventure, meet your guide at a pre-arranged point. From there you will get into a vehicle and head towards the markets. Before you get there, you can stop at the coconut candy workshops, learn a little about the process and try some of this handmade candy!

After this short stop, you can continue on to the floating markets of Damnoen Saduak, where it's time to hop on a boat! You can then make your way to the market and explore all the shops and stalls. Buy some souvenirs to take home and watch the locals go about their daily routine.

If you like, you can take an additional walk here or simply return to the starting point. Note that you can find delicious food for lunch at the market, but this is at your own expense. To make the most of the opportunity, you can take a food tour to round off your day in Thailand.

Interesting details

• Price: around 70 €.
• Duration: approximately 6 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle and boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit a floating market, taste a traditional sweet and travel by boat.
• Disadvantages of this option: lunch is not included in the tour price.

If you want to enjoy the sea, I recommend a tour from Bangkok to Pattaya, a city with the best beaches in Thailand. An excursion to Pattaya costs an average of €70 and lasts approximately 13 hours. In addition, a visit to Coral Island is usually included.

To start this tour, meet your guide and your group at a point agreed by your guide in Bangkok. From there, you will board a comfortable private vehicle to Pattaya. Once a fishing village, Pattaya is now one of the busiest tourist destinations in the country. You can visit the Wat Phra Yai temple, one of Thailand's many wonders, and hang out on one of its beaches.

After a while you can hop on a boat to Coral Island. There you can enjoy a variety of activities such as diving, snorkelling and swimming. It will be an incredible experience where you will be able to observe the whole panorama and take beautiful pictures of this natural paradise.

At the end of the time, your guide will take you back to the starting point. However, another option you have is to enjoy the night in this city. You can even visit a cabaret and have a different experience in Thailand and get to know other facets of its lush beauty.

Interesting details

• Price: around 70 €.
• Duration: approximately 13 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle and boat.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit a nearby town and cool off on a beach.
• Disadvantages of this option: this type of experience takes a full day so it is not ideal if you are only going to be in Bangkok for a short time.

Traveler tip
To enjoy the beach don't forget to bring your sunscreen and swimming costumes, plus a change of clothes. Be aware that you can pay for a variety of services that are not included in the tour, such as chairs or umbrellas. It's best if you have cash for quick and easy payment.

If you are interested in the history and nature of Thailand, I recommend a tour to Erawan National Park. It usually also includes a walk on the bridge over the River Kwai. This tour has an average cost of €80 and lasts approximately 14 hours.

To start this tour you will meet your guide in Bangkok where you will board a private vehicle. This will allow you to travel in comfort until you reach Kanchanaburi province. There you will start your day by visiting the Erawan National Park, where you can admire the beautiful Erawan Waterfalls.

In the park you can also take a walk along the various trails and see its set of limestone caves. Next on the list is the JEATH War Museum, where you will learn about the Death Railway, built by prisoners of war. You will also learn about the Second World War and how it was lived in this country.

After this tour, it will be time to take a tour on the bridge over the River Kwai. From there you will be able to see beautiful scenery that you can take pictures of. Please note that entrance fees to all of the above sites are included in the tour price. At the end of the day, your guide will take you back to the starting point.

Interesting details

• Price: around 80 €.
• Duration: approximately 14 h.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: you will be able to visit a natural park, a museum and a bridge, all in the same day and not far from Bangkok.
• Disadvantages of this option: if you don't plan to be in Bangkok for a long time, this plan may not suit you, as it takes up a full day of your holiday.

Excursions to Kanchanaburi province are some of the most highly recommended. This is due to its beautiful scenery and entertaining activities. Depending on these, the average cost of the tour will cost an average of €200. Please note that the duration of these experiences is 12 hours or more.

To enjoy this experience you must meet your guide at a pre-arranged point in Bangkok. From there you will travel to Erawan National Park and its waterfalls. If you are prepared you can take a dip in the crystal clear waters. You will also have time to walk the trails and see the various caves in the park.

The next activity is a visit to the Elephant Haven Observe. There you will be able to interact with rescued elephants and learn all about them. Don't forget to take some pictures. I also recommend that you follow all the instructions of your guide to treat these animals as instructed.

If you are travelling with children to Bangkok, this tour will be very entertaining for them, as they will get to see a real elephant! Please note that all entrance fees to the above sites are included in the final price of this tour. Lunch is also included. If you would like to know details about the menu, you should contact your guide. This is important to know in advance, especially if you have food allergies or intolerances.

Details of interest

• Price: around 200 €.
• Duration: approximately 12 hours.
• Means of transport: private vehicle.
• Advantages of this option: includes lunch, plus a visit to elephants in Thailand.
• Disadvantages of this option: This tour is not recommended for people who are afraid of large animals such as elephants.

Bangkok, like the rest of Thailand, is a city of high temperatures, so heat is common. The best time of the year to visit Bangkok would be a month without rain, as this is often a problem, especially if you want to do walking tours. Those months would be from November to April.

Regardless of the month you decide to visit this city, I recommend you always wear cool and comfortable clothes. Leave your coats and jumpers at home, as you won't need them in Thailand. If you go during the rainy months, bring an umbrella and comfortable, waterproof boots.

Although most of these tours will have a professional guide, I recommend having a map handy to help you find your way around the city and its surroundings. You can use Google Maps, but make sure you have an internet connection at all times. Also, look for information on how to get around by public transport, as this will be a great help.

Thailand is an Asian paradise that extends far beyond Bangkok. Although Bangkok is usually the most visited city, when you are there you should not miss the opportunity to see the surrounding area. My recommendation is to do some research on the nearby cities and look for the most important attractions, maybe you will find something I didn't mention before!

On the other hand, I advise you to do some research on the culture, what is considered appropriate and what is not. For example, one of the fun facts about this country is that you must enter most temples wearing long trousers.

Also, many tour guides expect their clients to buy lunch, dinner or snacks during a tour. This is usually specified in the contracted services, but you can take it into account to ask, get out of doubts and comply with the protocol.