Bangkok, day tours.
Jul 5th, 2015, 05:22 AM
#1
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Bangkok, day tours.
I am a solo traveller. I prefer to travel independently when possible, however I feel a group tour is best for two different day tours I'd like to take from Bangkok. I'm interested in a tour to Ayutthaya combined with a river cruise on return to Bangkok (the river cruise is a must). I'd also like to see the Bridge on the River Kwai (perhaps combined with a floating market).
I'd rather have something booked in advance than organized these tours when I arrive in Bangkok. I have seen various day tours being sold on Viator, I'd prefer to book directly with a local company. That way I know exactly which tour company I'll be travelling with. Which local companies are good for day tours?
Thanks.
I'd rather have something booked in advance than organized these tours when I arrive in Bangkok. I have seen various day tours being sold on Viator, I'd prefer to book directly with a local company. That way I know exactly which tour company I'll be travelling with. Which local companies are good for day tours?
Thanks.
Jul 5th, 2015, 07:36 AM
#2
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Actually, you are better off waiting until you are in Bangkok to book these tours. Someone at your hotel can help you or refer you to an in-house agent. Booking online from home means you will overpay - by a lot!
Jul 5th, 2015, 09:46 PM
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Choose the wrong outfit once you've arrived, then you could overpay - by a lot too!
Ayutthaya, and the Kanchanaburi [Bridge over the River Kwai, Hellfire Pass] are both very easy to do without organising a guide in Bangkok. But you'll get much more out of both trips by spending at least one overnight in each, preferably two nights on the Kanchanaburi trip.
If you want to visit a floating market then do that as a separate trip.
Ayutthaya, and the Kanchanaburi [Bridge over the River Kwai, Hellfire Pass] are both very easy to do without organising a guide in Bangkok. But you'll get much more out of both trips by spending at least one overnight in each, preferably two nights on the Kanchanaburi trip.
If you want to visit a floating market then do that as a separate trip.
Jul 5th, 2015, 09:50 PM
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Also refer back to this thread that gave you a lot of useful information on basically the same subject as this thread...
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-questions.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-questions.cfm
Jul 5th, 2015, 10:35 PM
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Planning travel, have you tried contacting your Bangkok hotel, and seeing if they can arrange the day trips to Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi? Just send an email asking which company they use, the cost, and maybe request a PDF with the itinerary for the day. Typically, the hotel will get a wholesale rate, and then you get charged the same as if you booked directly. If this works out for you, be sure and send an email to the hotel a couple of days before arrival asking them to confirm your tours.
Alternatively, I would contact a trusted agency I found in one of the standard tour books, such as Rough Guide, and I would also check the website Travelfish. The main quality difference between the tours will be the number of people on the tour bus. You don't want to be driving all around Bangkok picking people up.
Alternatively, I would contact a trusted agency I found in one of the standard tour books, such as Rough Guide, and I would also check the website Travelfish. The main quality difference between the tours will be the number of people on the tour bus. You don't want to be driving all around Bangkok picking people up.
Jul 5th, 2015, 11:05 PM
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A day tour can be a long time on the road.
The road getting out of and then back into Bangkok can be v.v.busy.
The scenery for most of the journey to Kanchanaburi is flat, urban, industrial and boring.
If you start running behind schedule, as often happens, then your time at each stopping place on the trip will be cut short (that can be v.annoying).
Make sure that your trip doesn't include any shopping stops (unless you want them).
Not my idea of fun!
On the other hand, if you add an overnight stop into the trip, it will make a whole world of difference.
The road getting out of and then back into Bangkok can be v.v.busy.
The scenery for most of the journey to Kanchanaburi is flat, urban, industrial and boring.
If you start running behind schedule, as often happens, then your time at each stopping place on the trip will be cut short (that can be v.annoying).
Make sure that your trip doesn't include any shopping stops (unless you want them).
Not my idea of fun!
On the other hand, if you add an overnight stop into the trip, it will make a whole world of difference.
Jul 6th, 2015, 05:26 AM
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If you're going to Kanchanaburi for the World War II history, then these are places that MUST be included...
- JEATH War Museum. Very low-tech but high on atmosphere. It's on the south side of town about 5 km from the Bridge. There's another museum of the same name close to the Bridge, but that's not the one you need to visit.
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (Don Rak). Opposite the Kanchanaburi Train Station [not the Bridge station,which is a couple of km north].
- The Thai-Burma Railway Centre. Next to Don Rak cemetery.
- The Bridge over the River Kwai.
- Chungkai Cemetery. About 5km south west of town. It's set in absolutely glorious surroundings, and little visited.
- Hellfire Pass. 75 minutes by road North West of Kanchanaburi, near the village of Nam Tok [also the train terminus]
- A trip on the Death Railway between Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok. I prefer to do the trip from Nam Tok to Kanchanaburi [1530 departure, takes 2 hours or so, as the train is more likely to be on time and it won't be full of tourists ramming camera lenses across your view]. Sit on the right-hand side for the views.
You WILL want to loiter at some, if not all, of the above. Miss any out, or be rushed around by the guide [you will be!], then it's a wasted journey imo. There's no way that all of this can be fit into one day.
- JEATH War Museum. Very low-tech but high on atmosphere. It's on the south side of town about 5 km from the Bridge. There's another museum of the same name close to the Bridge, but that's not the one you need to visit.
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (Don Rak). Opposite the Kanchanaburi Train Station [not the Bridge station,which is a couple of km north].
- The Thai-Burma Railway Centre. Next to Don Rak cemetery.
- The Bridge over the River Kwai.
- Chungkai Cemetery. About 5km south west of town. It's set in absolutely glorious surroundings, and little visited.
- Hellfire Pass. 75 minutes by road North West of Kanchanaburi, near the village of Nam Tok [also the train terminus]
- A trip on the Death Railway between Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok. I prefer to do the trip from Nam Tok to Kanchanaburi [1530 departure, takes 2 hours or so, as the train is more likely to be on time and it won't be full of tourists ramming camera lenses across your view]. Sit on the right-hand side for the views.
You WILL want to loiter at some, if not all, of the above. Miss any out, or be rushed around by the guide [you will be!], then it's a wasted journey imo. There's no way that all of this can be fit into one day.
Jul 6th, 2015, 12:02 PM
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Personally I would not stay overnight in either of these locations, unless I had unlimited travel time...
I would not rule out hiring a private tour by taxi or guide. Most taxis will have a standard tour available on a placard in the car.
I would not rule out hiring a private tour by taxi or guide. Most taxis will have a standard tour available on a placard in the car.
Jul 7th, 2015, 08:45 AM
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Taxis are pretty cheap in Bangkok. If they have a placard for a particular place, like Ayutthaya, the price listed will be a standard price all taxis charge for that trip and will, in my experience, be quite reasonable. Apparently, LL has had a different experience.
We all have different interests and travel experiences, choose your own.
We all have different interests and travel experiences, choose your own.
Jul 7th, 2015, 12:04 PM
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Kathie.
With respect, not only have I done trips to Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi [4 times], I also did plenty of homework beforehand. I know where to visit, how long you need to spend at each location, and that a rushed day tour will, at best, just be a tick-in-the-box job.
I know what I'm talking about.
What's your recent experience of those trips?
With respect, not only have I done trips to Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi [4 times], I also did plenty of homework beforehand. I know where to visit, how long you need to spend at each location, and that a rushed day tour will, at best, just be a tick-in-the-box job.
I know what I'm talking about.
What's your recent experience of those trips?
Jul 7th, 2015, 11:30 PM
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Okay.
Everything on this subject that I've posted is aimed at people who have an interest in the must-see sights in the Kanchanaburi area, and particularly to those people with an interest in what went on in in the region during World War II.
A very long and tiring day tour, which is subject to delays all along the way, will be little more than a box-ticking exercise.
Everything on this subject that I've posted is aimed at people who have an interest in the must-see sights in the Kanchanaburi area, and particularly to those people with an interest in what went on in in the region during World War II.
A very long and tiring day tour, which is subject to delays all along the way, will be little more than a box-ticking exercise.
Jul 8th, 2015, 08:07 AM
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"Everything on this subject that I've posted is aimed at people who have an interest in the must-see sights in the Kanchanaburi area, and particularly to those people with an interest in what went on in in the region during World War II.'
My point exactly. Not everyone is interested in that, but for people who are, your advice is spot-on.
My point exactly. Not everyone is interested in that, but for people who are, your advice is spot-on.
Jul 9th, 2015, 08:29 PM
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I'd posted a reply two days ago, not sure why it didn't go through.
First, I'd like to thank you all for the helpful advice.
I did contemplate an overnight stop in Ayutthaya before I'd started this thread but decided against it. An overnight in the Bridge on the River Kwai area is of no interest.
I am aware people do have different travel styles. I find a day tour to these locations will suit me best. I'm used to long days. So I'm up for long day tours and a handful of long sightseeing days when I'm away.
I know the quality of day tours can differ depending on the company. Which is why I'd like to book directly with the tour company as I know who I'll be travelling with and I can check reviews their tours before I book. I will definitely avoid Viator, or similar companies as I have no idea whose tour they'll book me on.
First, I'd like to thank you all for the helpful advice.
I did contemplate an overnight stop in Ayutthaya before I'd started this thread but decided against it. An overnight in the Bridge on the River Kwai area is of no interest.
I am aware people do have different travel styles. I find a day tour to these locations will suit me best. I'm used to long days. So I'm up for long day tours and a handful of long sightseeing days when I'm away.
I know the quality of day tours can differ depending on the company. Which is why I'd like to book directly with the tour company as I know who I'll be travelling with and I can check reviews their tours before I book. I will definitely avoid Viator, or similar companies as I have no idea whose tour they'll book me on.
Jul 10th, 2015, 09:04 AM
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I'm not sure who is running the boat to/from Ayutthaya (time-wise, you can only take the boat one way) these days. In the past, both the Oriental Hotel and the Shangri-La Hotel had boats that did this route and all of the travel agencies sold these tours. I don't know the current situation.
Jul 12th, 2015, 10:11 PM
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Hi,
It actually has the tour bring you from bangkok and drop you at ayutthaya after that you can take boat from there to bangkok again.
Not sure whether the agency can give you service or not but as link below can give you some idea
http://www.ayutthaya-boat.com/
http://www.taxibangkokservice.com/taxiBangkok
It actually has the tour bring you from bangkok and drop you at ayutthaya after that you can take boat from there to bangkok again.
Not sure whether the agency can give you service or not but as link below can give you some idea
http://www.ayutthaya-boat.com/
http://www.taxibangkokservice.com/taxiBangkok
Nov 11th, 2015, 11:42 PM
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Hi,
Not sure this thread is still active but I had experienced some tours in Bangkok with a local company and I have to say that it was really nice. If you are looking for something different you can try booking with them.
My family and I, in total 4 people, booked 2 days with them. In 2 days we saw many different Bangkok and not only the "touristic" Bangkok. Great experience to see some local and secret places where you can appreciate the local way of life and live Bangkok as an inhabitant.
The guy who was with us was very friendly and explained a lot of things on the Thai living style and also gave us some advices for the end of our trip in Thailand.
They are very kind and you can contact them if you need some advices. Here is their FB page if someone is interested in https://www.facebook.com/friendlylocaltrip/?fref=ts
Hope you enjoyed your trip and the coming ones.
J.Y
Not sure this thread is still active but I had experienced some tours in Bangkok with a local company and I have to say that it was really nice. If you are looking for something different you can try booking with them.
My family and I, in total 4 people, booked 2 days with them. In 2 days we saw many different Bangkok and not only the "touristic" Bangkok. Great experience to see some local and secret places where you can appreciate the local way of life and live Bangkok as an inhabitant.
The guy who was with us was very friendly and explained a lot of things on the Thai living style and also gave us some advices for the end of our trip in Thailand.
They are very kind and you can contact them if you need some advices. Here is their FB page if someone is interested in https://www.facebook.com/friendlylocaltrip/?fref=ts
Hope you enjoyed your trip and the coming ones.
J.Y
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