Best Day Trips from Bangkok

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

Each of these destinations will show you a different side of Thailand. In some you will get to know its beaches, in others its beautiful elephants, its floating markets or part of its history. Keep in mind that in order to enjoy each one you will have to spend at least one full day on these excursions, 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 will also find incredible buildings worth visiting that share the mystique of the best temples. A tour from Bangkok to this location has an average cost of 70 € and an average duration of nine hours.

To start this tour, your guide will pick you up at your hotel at an agreed time. You will be able to get into the vehicle and start a trip to the 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 considered a Unesco World Heritage Site. Some sites require an entrance fee to admire them, but the price of this type of tour usually includes it, so you don't have to worry.

On this tour you can also enjoy lunch which is included in the tour. On the way back you can take a boat to the center of Bangkok. This will allow you to see the city and its surroundings from another perspective and enjoy your Thailand vacation much more.

Details of interest

• Price: about 90 €.
• Duration: approximately 9 h.
• Means of transport: you can travel by private vehicle and then by boat.
• Advantages of this option: it is ideal if you want to know a city that takes you back to the past. 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 write down in your itinerary. I am sure you have never seen anything like this in your life, it is 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 drive to the markets. Before arriving, you will stop at the coconut candy workshops, learn a little about the process and try this handmade candy!

After this brief stop, you can continue until you reach the floating markets of Damnoen Saduak, where it will be time to get on a boat! Then you can make your way to the market and explore all the stores and stalls. Buy some souvenirs to take back home and observe the locals' routine.

If you like, you can take an additional tour 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 take advantage of the opportunity, you can take a gastronomic tour to round off your day in Thailand.

Details of interest

• Price: about 70 €.
• Duration: about 6 h.
• 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 this location has an average cost of 70 € and lasts approximately 13 hours. In addition, a visit to Coral Island is usually included.

To start this tour, you will meet your guide and your group at a point agreed upon by your guide in Bangkok. From there, you will board a comfortable private vehicle to Pattaya. This site was once a fishing village and 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 board a boat to Coral Island. There you can enjoy various activities such as diving, snorkeling or 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 live a different experience in Thailand, so you can get to know other facets of its lush beauty.

Details of interest

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

Traveler tip
To enjoy the beach don't forget to bring your sunscreen and swimsuits, plus a change of clothes. Keep in mind that you can pay for a variety of services that are not included in the tour, such as chairs or umbrellas. It is best if you have cash to pay more easily and quickly.

If you are interested in learning about Thailand's history and nature, I recommend a tour to Erawan National Park. It also usually 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 must meet your guide in Bangkok where you will get into a private vehicle. Then you can travel comfortably until you reach the province of Kanchanaburi. There you will start your day visiting the Erawan National Park, where you can admire the beautiful Erawan Waterfalls.

In the park you can also walk through its different trails and see its set of limestone caves. The next destination 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 World War II and how it was experienced 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 will be able to photograph. 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.

Details of interest

• Price: about 80 €.
• Duration: about 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 do not plan to stay for a long time in Bangkok, this plan may not suit you, as it takes a full day of your vacation.

Excursions to Kanchanaburi province are among the most highly recommended. This is due to its beautiful scenery and entertaining activities. Depending on these, the average cost of the tour will have an average cost 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 will be able to take a swim in the crystal clear waters. You will also have time to walk along the trails and see the different caves in the park.

The next activity will be 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 you to follow all the instructions of your guide to treat these animals as instructed.

If you are traveling with children to Bangkok, this tour will be very entertaining for them, they will be able 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 want to know details about the menu, you should contact your guide. This is important to know in advance especially if you are allergic or intolerant to any type of food.

Details of interest

• Price: about 200 €.
• Duration: approximately 12 h.
• 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 with high temperatures, so heat is common. The best time of the year to visit Bangkok would be a month without rains, as they are usually 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. Forget coats and sweaters 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 in most of these tours you 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 transportation, as it would be of great help.

Thailand is an Asian paradise that extends beyond Bangkok. Although this city is usually the most visited, when you are there you should not miss the opportunity to see its surroundings. My recommendation is to do some research on the nearby cities and look for their 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 wearing long pants to most temples.

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.