Lonely Planet Experiences Private Bangkok Tour: Tuk Tuk Experience
Bangkok, Thailand
From USD 53.31
Office phone number: +66 (0) 92 906 7575
Lonely Planet Experiences Private Bangkok Tour: Tuk Tuk Experience
Bangkok, Thailand
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Try to imagine Bangkok without the tuk tuks. It's just not the same, is it? Join this Bangkok tour that uses everyone's favourite compact 'car' to explore some of the old city's unique markets, magnificent temples, and hidden gems.
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of four travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for four travellers.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Navigate the old city in an iconic tuk tuk
- Marvel at the Phra Sumeru Fortress and climb to the top of the Golden Mount for a 360-degree view of the city
- Encounter Buddhist heritage at Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and learn about the origins of Thai massage
- Ward off bad luck at the Amulet Market and breathe in the scent of flowers at Pak Khlong Talat flower market
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- This tour visits a local market vendor who shows you how to fold lotus flower petals like Thai people often do when using them in worship. You’ll have a chance to try preparing the flowers for yourself and learn how local people use them at temples.
- You'll also visit the small community of Ban Baat who have been making alms bowls for monks by hand since the late 1700s. These days most monk’s bowls are factory made, but there are a handful of families preserving the traditional methods. You'll stop to meet one of these families who will give you the chance to try your hand at whichever stage of bowl-making they happen to be at during your visit.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4-5 hours
- Meeting point:
Inside Sanam Chai MRT station at the bottom of the escalators of Exit 1 (Museum Siam)
If you come by taxi please enter the MRT station in the grounds of Museum Siam and go down 2 sets of escalators.
- Starting time: 8.30 AM
- Ending point:
Wat Pho
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees as indicated, transport as indicated.
Exclusions: Drop off transfer, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for drivers or guide.
There is probably nothing quite as iconic in Asia as the beloved tuk tuk. Picture the streets of any city or town in this part of the world and they would be empty without at least a dozen of these awesome little buggies. A ride on a tuk tuk is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Bangkok, and completely necessary to make you feel like a local. Avoid the tuk tuk tour scams that permeate the city and join our authentic local experience instead. To really get to know Bangkok culture and daily life in Thailand, you need to get yourself this ultimate tuk tuk experience, the Bangkok day tour with a twist!
You’ll dig right into this Bangkok tuk tuk tour by riding one from the very start. Your local guide will ride along with you and you’ll whizz through the busy streets of Bangkok, stopping at the marvellous Phra Sumeru Fortress, where you’ll learn a bit about the history behind this area.
Next stop on the tuk tuk ride is the Amulet Market, where locals sell all kinds of traditional Thai amulets, charms, and medicines. Your local guide will explain the significance of all these mysterious items and what part they play in Thai culture. Knick-knacks and spooky bits and bobs have all kinds of different meanings in Thailand, from good luck to warding off evil. Instead of having that quizzical look on your face about what they mean, your guide will give you the local lowdown.
Time for another tuk tuk ride and this time your destination will be Wat Saket, a temple that lies at the foot of the Golden Mount. Your local guide will take you up the 318 steps (sorry, your tuk tuk can’t help you with that one!) to the 360-degree view of the surrounding old Rattanakosin Island, a view which makes the climb totally worth it.
Just around the corner is the small community of Ban Baat who have been making alms bowls for monks by hand since the late 1700s. In Thai Buddhism, monks traditionally walk through the local community at dawn to collect alms (donations of food) so an alms bowl is an essential accessory. These days most monk's bowls are factory made, but there are a handful of families here who are preserving the traditional methods that we'll discover as we walk through this hidden village. We'll stop to meet one family who will give you the chance to try your hand at whichever stage of bowl-making they happen to be at on the day, it could be hammering in the pattern or polishing the finished surface.
You’ll hop back into your tuk tuk and head to Pak Khlong Talat, or the flower market. This is the biggest flower market in Thailand and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Many different types of flowers are shipped here, and the market acts as a distribution centre, transferring flowers to other cities throughout the country. Your guide will introduce you to a local market vendor who'll show you how to fold the petals of lotus flowers just as Thai people often do when they use them in worship. You'll have a chance to try preparing the flowers for yourself and we'll take them to our next stop to learn how local people use them at the temple.
Onwards in your tuk tuk you’ll go to our final stop Wat Pho, the temple that houses the biggest and most beautiful reclining Buddha image in the city and is also the birthplace of Thai massage and medicines. This temple is one of those places that should not be missed when you travel to Bangkok!
From here you can either continue to explore some more, or your local guide will be happy to point you in the direction of your accommodation. No doubt they’ll recommend you take a tuk tuk back, just to top off this tuk tuk experience perfectly!
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, entrance fees as indicated, transport as indicated.
Exclusions: Drop off transfer, items of a personal nature, tips / gratuities for drivers or guide.
Dress standard: This tour visits religious sites. To respect this and for your own comfort, please wear clothing that covers your shoulders, waist and knees. Loose, lightweight, long clothing is both respectful and cool in the predominantly hot and humid Bangkok climate.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: Children under the age of 6 are not permitted to join this tour. For children above that age, please count them as an adult.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +66 (0) 92 906 7575
Email address: info@bangkokurbanadventures.com
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