Bangkok Grand Palace Wat Pho and Wat Arun with Longtail Boat Ride

Meeting point is at Tha Chang Pier, opposite the Grand Palace

The glittering Grand Palace in Bangkok is an architectural wonder that was once home to the kings of the Chakri Dynasty.

Wat Pho is one of the oldest temples in the Thai capital. It is also one of the largest temple complexes in Bangkok and has the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand. Wat Pho maintains the title as the country’s earliest center for public education, specializing in religion, science and literature. Most of the Buddha images on display were brought to Wat Pho, by order of King Rama I, from abandoned temples in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.
And of course you'll visit the reclining Buddha, one of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand.

A stay in the Thai capital is not complete without visiting Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, one of Bangkok's most famous landmarks.

After the fall of Ayutthaya, King Taksin established a royal palace and temple here to house the Emerald Buddha. The temple was named after the Indian god of dawn, Aruna.

It wasn't until the capital and the Emerald Buddha were moved to Wat Phra Kaew at the Bangkok side that Wat Arun received its most prominent characteristic: the 82 meters high prang (Khmer-style tower).

Wat Arun is decorated with ornate floral mosaics made from broken Chinese porcelain, a common temple ornamentation in the early Rattanakosin period, when Chinese ships calling at the port of Bangkok used tonnes of old porcelain as ballast.

Tucked away along the peaceful banks of Khlong Bang Luang (Bang Luang Canal) on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River lies one of Bangkok’s hidden gems: a charming riverside community where time seems to slow down. This historic neighborhood is made up of traditional wooden houses, small local shops, and family-run galleries connected by a wooden walkway that follows the edge of the canal. It offers a rare glimpse into what everyday life in Bangkok used to be like, long before the city’s skyline was dominated by concrete and glass.

At the heart of the community is Baan Silapin, or The Artist’s House, a beautifully restored wooden home over 200 years old. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating Thai culture, this house functions as a small art center where visitors can enjoy rotating art exhibitions and handmade crafts.

Wandering through the area, you’ll find small shops, cozy riverside cafés, and friendly locals who’ve lived here for generations.

As we cruise through the canals of Thonburi, we pass by Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, a historic temple founded during the mid-Ayutthaya period.

Located in the Phasi Charoen district, this temple has long been a center of Buddhist learning and meditation. Today, however, it is best known for its enormous seated Buddha statue, which rises dramatically above the surrounding rooftops and is visible from far across the city.

The boat will pause here briefly, allowing you to admire and photograph this awe-inspiring statue from the water. At nearly 70 meters tall, equivalent to a 20-story building, and 40 meters wide at its base, it is the tallest Buddha statue in Bangkok. Cast in shimmering gold tones, the statue sits in a calm meditative posture and makes a striking contrast against the skyline.

While we don’t disembark at the temple, viewing this colossal image from the quiet of the canal offers a truly unique and memorable perspective.