Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha

The Grand Palace is one of the most  beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. 

It used to be the residence of the Kings of Thailand. Here you will see the palaces each of which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall,  the Royal Guest House, and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.

This most interesting full day tour takes you to the rural floating market of Damnoen Saduak situated 110 kms west of Bangkok. The tour includes a visit to Nakorn  Pathom, site of the highest Chedi in Thailand called "Phra Pathom Chedi" which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Lunch will be served at the picturesque Rose Garden country resort.

After lunch you will attend the Thai village show, which gives you an introduction  into Thai life. You will witness ordination into monk hood, fingernail dance, Thai boxing, hill tribe dance, sword- fighting,  elephants at work and folk dancing before returning to your hotel.

 Loy Nava, the originator of Chao Phraya cruises and operator of the antique teak-wood rice barge the Tahsaneeya Nava invites you to drift along the most historic section of the Chao Phraya River and dine a fabulous Thai meal. You pass such magnificent landmarks as the Temple of Dawn, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace and the display of the royal barges. You will see some of the oldest buildings in Bangkok, including some dating to the earliest Portuguese settlements in the capital. Experience the bustle of river traffic and commerce in this vital artery that separates the old capital from the new. An evening you will never forget.

 Travel through the countryside to the north of Bangkok, heading for Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam. Once the center of the Kingdom, today only the ruins of this magnificent city remain. Visit the Summer Palace of King Rama IV with its mixture of Thai, Chinese and Gothic architecture, a well-preserved "Monument" to a former historical period. Return to Bangkok by boat and enjoy lunch on board whilst cruising down the busy Chao Phaya River, watching life on the river as it passes you by!