The Best Ayutthaya Tour From My Personal Experience
If you are looking for the best Ayutthaya tour, this review is for you. I was so confused about which tour to book but LOVED what I did with Bigcountry Experience.
It is an excellent half-day trip from Bangkok that takes you through the historic capital and UNESCO site. This was the activity I was most excited about during my week in Bangkok (for work).
The biggest difference between this tour and others is that it has a very early departure time from Bangkok, which makes all the temple visits seem calm and serene. And, I really liked the selection of temples we visited.
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A Little About Ayutthaya
Founded in 1350 AD, Ayutthaya was the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce.
You will see three types of temple architecture in Ayutthaya: Thai, Cambodian, and Sri Lankan styles. From the guide, I learned that temples typically house remains of the Buddha, other sacred religious figures, or members of the royal family.
Read more here.
Starting the Best Ayutthaya Tour
Book the tour a few days (at least) in advance here. I also booked through Viator.
Hotel pickup is around 6:30 a.m. Our guide arrived in a bus, and from pickup we drove to a central meeting point. About four people were picked up on our bus.
You can also choose the meeting point option since the tour does not technically start until 7:30 a.m but we didn’t want to bother with figuring out a taxi in the early hours.
The bus dropped us at a central location where several different minibuses were departing for the same tour company. It worked out very well. We were assigned a guide and waited briefly while everything was organized.
Hi to my friend Shannon who joined me on this trip!
Tour vs the Train
It is much better to drive than take the train to Ayutthaya in the morning. One girl in our group took the train and missed the first two temples. If you are really set on the local train experience. take the train back instead. Again, the benefit of booking the best Ayutthaya tour like this one is arriving early before the crowds.
Intro from our tour guide on our way to Ayutthaya
Stops on The Best Ayutthaya Tour
At each site, we had an introduction from the guide and then time to explore independently. It was the perfect balance for photos and wandering around without feeling rushed. Our guide was funny and knowledgeable. Shannon and I often hung back to ask him questions.
The tour included all entrance fees, so we did not need to worry about carrying cash for each site, which is normally about THB 80 per temple.
I originally wanted to see all six major sites, but that is just not realistic as a day trip from Bangkok. If you want to see everything, I recommend staying overnight or going independently. That said, having an organized transportation and a knowledgeable guide made this incredibly convenient and truly made it feel like the best Ayutthaya tour for a short visit.
The order of the stops may vary depending on your tour bus.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Wat Chaiwatthanaram was our first temple, and wow, I am so glad we were early. The site is magnificent and felt like we had it almost to ourselves. It was built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram was an important royal temple where King Prasat Thong and his descendants performed religious rites, and it was also used as a cremation site for members of royalty. It was my favorite site (but maybe because it was the first…?)
Wat Mahathat
Next was Wat Mahathat, one of the oldest and most significant temples in the kingdom’s history. It once housed the Buddha’s holy relic.
This is where you can see the famous Buddha head in a tree. It is quite a sight. The rest of the Buddha’s body was destroyed during the Burmese attack, but somehow the head became intertwined within the roots of a bodhi tree.
The rest of the site is also great to walk through. Construction began in 1374 by King Borommarachathirat I and it was later expanded by King Ramesuan around 1384.
Before jumping back on the bus, grab some fresh coconut to cool down.
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet
Although this site is quite large, only a few structures have been restored to their former glory. It was established in 1448 by King Borommatrailokanat when he converted the old palace site into a sacred temple compound.
Check out the three main chedis and loop your way around the back of the complex.
There is also a more modern, actively used temple on site called Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit.
Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Lokayasutharam)
The final stop was the Reclining Buddha, which represents the Buddha’s pose just before he passed away. The statue is 42 meters long and 8 meters high.
Cloth is often donated by locals to drape over the Buddha. When we visited, there was a family making an offering with a table full of fruits and vegetables while praying.
We stayed about 15 to 20 minutes. It is mostly a photo opportunity stop, but still meaningful.
Lunch on the Best Ayutthaya Tour
The lunch was surprisingly amazing. It was a buffet-style meal at a restaurant owned by the tour company. Everything was well seasoned, and they easily accommodated vegetarian and vegan diets. Just let them know in advance. Shannon said the best tofu dish of our Bangkok trip was here!
Back to Bangkok
After the tour, you will be dropped off at MBK Center. From there, you can explore the mall, get on the train, or take a taxi somewhere else. If you are following my Exploring Bangkok guide, your next stop is drinks at Eagle’s Nest.
What to Wear
Temples have a strict dress code. Men should wear pants and shirts with sleeves. Women need to cover up out chests, arms and legs. Mostly my outfit was fine, but at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet I was asked to cover my chest. If you plan on wearing anything slightly revealing, bring a scarf as backup.
The Heat
By 12pm, it was getting really hot, so I am very glad we chose the early morning option. Make sure you bring a hat and a little fan. If you’re especially prone to the sun like me, a daily dose of electrolytes in the afternoon does the trick (I’ve bought this brand since 2014 and I haven’t fainted since, no joke). The lime flavor tastes the best, more like lemonade than any of the other flavors.
Tour Size
Our tour was supposed to be nine people, but it ended up being closer to 14 or 15 because we were also accommodating a group of Japanese tourists with their own guide on the bus. They went off on their own at each stop. It really was not a big deal, and the bus was completely fine, but the tour company apologized for this.
Overall experience
Overall, I really enjoyed this experience and would confidently call it the best Ayutthaya tour from Bangkok. I was very focused on trying to see as many temples as possible because there are so many, and this selection worked out perfectly. I booked through Viator, and it was very easy to communicate through both the platform and WhatsApp with the guides.