Day Tours of Bangkok
A big city with a lot of sights, Bangkok can be daunting to explore on your own. Have no fear; plenty of day tours in Bangkok are available for tourists who want to see the major sights without battling public transport or walking miles in the heat.
What kinds of day tours are available in Bangkok?
Some of the more popular Bangkok day tours include day trips out to the floating market (these start very early), and tours of major sites such as the Grand Palace and Wat Pho. Shorter tours might include simply guided walks of one neighborhood (such as Chinatown) or temple.
How you see the city is another choice you’ll have. Bicycle tours are also available, though Bangkok can be a bit intimidating to cycle. Still, many take you through quiet alleys, and you get to see a side of Bangkok unavailable by car. River cruises on the Chao Phraya are also fun and popular, and a great way to see the city from a different vantage point. Canal tours take you through back alley waterways, offering a bit of old Bangkok culture. Finally, Segway tours are a good way to pound the pavement, without actually having to pound it.
What is the best way to book a day tour in Bangkok?
First of all, do not book a tour with a tuk-tuk driver who offers you an incredibly low price. You’ll end up being shuttled around to various gem shops and whatnot. A friend of mine even had a tuk-tuk driver abandon him (“no gas”) after said friend refused to buy anything from a shop. Remember, if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. You’ll find these drivers around Khao San Road and Sukhumvit, or wherever else many backpackers congregate.
A reputable tour company is the best way to go. The easiest way to find one is to do a search online. There are plenty of tourist booking offices in any tourist neighborhood, but it can be difficult to discern the value of the trip you’re getting.
Question to ask
- How long will the tour last?
- Are any meals included?
- Does the tour include the cost of entrance fees?
- Will a guide accompany the trip, or will we simply be driven to the sights?
The answers to these questions vary, and that’s okay – you don’t necessarily need to have entrance fees covered, for example, as long as you know that ahead of time and can therefore gauge the value of the trip.
[Photo credit: Vasenka, Flickr]