Maeklong Railway Market & Amphawa
The train that runs through the middle of a market — and the floating market Thai families actually go to. Not the one in the photos.
$329per car, up to 4
See the Maeklong & Amphawa dayHome/Ayutthaya
9–10 hours · private · starts 07:30
Ayutthaya day trip from Bangkok
The old capital of Siam, an hour and a half north of the city. Four temple sites, a royal summer palace and a riverside lunch — done in the right order so you're not queuing in the worst of the heat.
What makes this one different
We go anticlockwise, and it matters.
Almost every coach starts at Wat Mahathat around 10am, which is why you see photographs of that temple full of people. We start at Bang Pa-In as it opens and reach the main temples while the coaches are still on the expressway.
Entrance fees for all five sites are already paid.
Ayutthaya charges per temple, and it adds up faster than people expect. It's in your price. You will not queue at a ticket window once.
Nobody takes you to a silk factory.
The standard Ayutthaya coach tour includes a 'handicraft centre' on the way back. That is ninety minutes. We give you the ninety minutes.
The day, hour by hour
This is what we recommend, not a schedule you're locked into. It's your car — change it on the day and your guide will make it work.
- 07:30
Meet at BTS National Stadium, Exit 1
Aleck is waiting at the exit with the car and cold water. It's about ninety minutes north — sleep if you want, your guide won't take it personally.
- 09:00
Bang Pa-In Royal Summer Palace
The royal retreat the kings of Siam actually used, a strange and lovely mix of Thai, Chinese and European buildings around a lake. Quiet at this hour.
- 10:15
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
The one on the postcards — a Khmer-style tower complex on the riverbank. Best light of the morning and, at this hour, nearly empty.
- 11:15
Wat Mahathat
The sandstone Buddha head held in the roots of a bodhi tree. Your guide will explain how it actually got there, which is not the story most people are told.
- 12:15
Lunch by the river
A local place, not a tour-group canteen. You choose and order what you want. Around 150–250 baht a head.
- 13:45
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Three restored chedis holding the ashes of Ayutthaya kings — the royal temple of the old palace, and the model for Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
- 14:45
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
A huge reclining Buddha and a chedi you can climb for a view over the whole plain. A working temple, so you'll see monks rather than only tourists.
- 16:00
Head back
Home by around 17:30, ahead of the worst of the evening traffic.
Want Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset instead?
It's spectacular in the last hour of light, and far fewer people see it that way. Tell us when you book and we'll run the day in reverse — later start, later return, same price.
What's included
In the price
- Private air-conditioned electric SUV for the day
- Licensed English-speaking guide, who also drives
- Entrance fees to all five sites, for everyone in your group
- Fuel, tolls and parking
- Bottled water throughout
- Meet and drop-off at BTS National Stadium, Exit 1
Not included
- Lunch (roughly 150–250 baht a head — you choose the place)
- Personal spending
- Tips — genuinely not expected
What to bring
- Shoulders and knees covered — this is required at the temples, and a scarf works
- Shoes you can slip off easily
- Sun hat and sunscreen; there is very little shade in the ruins
- A little cash for lunch
Questions people actually ask
How long is the drive to Ayutthaya?
About ninety minutes each way in normal traffic, sometimes a little less at the hour we leave. It's a straight run up the expressway, not a mountain road.
Is Ayutthaya suitable for children?
It works well for children who like climbing on things and less well for children who need constant shade. There's very little cover in the ruins and the middle of the day gets genuinely hot. Tell us their ages when you book and we'll cut a site and add a longer lunch — it's your car, so we can.
Can we do Ayutthaya by train instead?
You can, and it's cheap. What you don't get is a way to move between the temple sites once you're there — they're spread several kilometres apart and you'll end up negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers in the heat at every stop. If budget is the priority, the train is honestly fine. If your time matters more, take a car.
Do we need to cover up?
Yes, at the active temple sites. Shoulders and knees covered for everyone. A light scarf in your bag solves it. The ruined sites are more relaxed but we'd dress the same way anyway.
Is there a shopping stop?
No. Not on this tour and not on any of ours. If you want to buy something specific, tell your guide and they'll take you somewhere real.
The other day
Book your Ayutthaya day.
Pay online in two minutes and we'll confirm within 12 hours — or message us first and we'll tell you honestly whether this is the right day for your group.