9-Hour Ayutthaya River Cruise Tour with Bang Pa Palace and Elephant Kraal

The journey

Trip highlights

• 01 Cruise through the Chao Phraya River, the major river in Thailand
• 02 Explore the Royal Summer Retreat Palace complex
• 03 Visit Ayutthaya's Elephant Kraal, used in the 16th century to capture wild elephants
• 04 See Wat Mahatat's sandstone Buddha image embedded in a Po Tree

Explore the extravagant Royal Summer Retreat Palace of Bang Pa, impressive temples, the picturesque Khmer-influenced Wat Chaiwattanaram, and other historic sites in Ayutthaya. Elephant lovers can also stop by the Elephant Kraal, an unusual structure once used to entrap wild elephants for the Thai army. Enjoy a cruise on the Chao Phraya River as part of this cultural journey through Thailand's former capital.

Cruise in a private boat along the scenic Chao Phraya River, which flows through Bangkok and into the Gulf of Thailand.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Bangkok, Ayutthaya

Languages English, French, German, Lao, Thai

Day by day

The itinerary

1

Day 01

Chao Phraya Cruise and Ayutthaya Heritage Tour

• Cruise in a private boat along the scenic Chao Phraya River, which flows through Bangkok and into the Gulf of Thailand.

• Visit Ayutthaya's Elephant Kraal, an unusual structure that was used during the 16th century to entrap wild elephants for the Thai army.

• Set in a highly decorated garden, the palace also includes impressive temples, one of them being Wat Mahatat, which features a sandstone Buddha image embedded in the Po Tree. The temple was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site in 1991.

The route

Where you'll travel

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

• Specialised English-speaking Ayutthaya tour guide

• Private car and driver

• Private motorized long-tail boat and elephant ride with small shows

• All entrance tickets

What's Not Included

• Cost of lunch and drinks

• Personal expenses

• Tips

Know before you go

• If travelling on a weekend (every Sat & Sun), don't miss visiting the traditional "Gong Kong Market," which is off the beaten track in Ayutthaya. Thai fresh agricultural produce, local food, and handicrafts from the village are traded in this charming market.

• This tour has an early start to see as much as possible before the day gets too hot.

• Visitors are required to dress appropriately when visiting sacred temples. Sleeveless shirts are not allowed when visiting Bang Ba-In Palace. Sandals, shorts, and skirts that cover the knee are acceptable.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point

Chao Phraya River, Thailand

Tour start

Chao Phraya River, Thailand

Tour ends at the same location as the start point.