Bangkok & River Kwai Tour & South East Asia Highlights Cruise from Singapore, 11 January 2028 (24 nights)

From the staggering Supreme Grand Palace in the historic heart of Bangkok and the awe-inspiring ruins of Ayutthaya to the infamous Khwae Yai Bridge (of ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ fame) and Hellfire Pass, this comprehensive six-night tour of Thailand promises a truly sensational experience – balancing some of the best and worst of Thailand’s rich history with culturally immersive experiences and colourful cuisine throughout. Before all of that, though, you’ll start your tour of Thailand with a welcome dinner on the evening of your arrival, an event that proves a fantastic opportunity to familiarise yourself with the fantastic cuisine you’ll have the chance to enjoy during your time here. Then, though, the adventure really begins. On your first full day, you’ll embark on an extensive tour of Rattanakosin Island – the historic heart of Thailand’s capital city and home to the impressive Wat Pho temple, one of the world’s largest Reclining Buddha statues, and the Supreme Grand Palace. During this exploration of Rattanakosin Island, you’ll also spend some time in Pak Khlong Talat: Bangkok’s primary flower market on the banks of the Chao Phraya River – a destination that offers fantastic insight into daily life here. On your next full day in Bangkok, you’ll spend your time exploring some of the city’s sights beyond Rattanakosin Island; starting with the unique Monk’s Alms Bowl Village and the Baan Bat community, this tour will take you to Wat Saket – home to The Golden Mountain and some of the best views of Bangkok – before affording you the opportunity to spend some time in the Jim Thompson House Museum and Niphon Silk Factory (formerly the Jim Thompson Silk Factory). In the afternoon, after stopping for some rest and refreshments, your day will continue with a walking tour of the Thonburi District and a visit to Wat Arun – one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the city. You’ll see off your second day in Bangkok with a cocktail from the Sala Rattanakosin rooftop bar, which will give you another chance to soak in the spectacular cityscape surrounding you as the sun sets. Your third day in Thailand, however, will see you leave Bangkok for Kanchanaburi, where you’ll be able to visit the Khwae Yai Bridge (synonymous with the ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’) and the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, which houses a museum detailing the atrocities of building ‘Death Railway’. You’ll also stop at the Mae Khlong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market during the day, balancing these historical learnings with further insights into Thailand’s modern culture. On the following day, you’ll spend the morning in the stunning Erawan National Park before heading to Hellfire Pass and its memorial museum. A sombre experience where you’ll learn more about the Konyu Cutting and the most deadly stretch of ‘Death Railway’, walking what was once Hellfire Pass is the perfect place to reflect on what you’ve learnt about Thailand’s importance to the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War – and the lives lost during the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway Line – so far. Offering a welcome change of pace, your final full day in Thailand will see you visit Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand. Here, you’ll spend most of the day exploring the impressive Buddhist temples and ruins littering this remarkable city – Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon among them. In the evening, you’ll return to Bangkok for an indulgent Tuk Tuk Street Eat Tour. Heading into Bangkok’s impressive Chinatown, you’ll have the chance to try everything from traditional Pad Thai to seafood dumplings, all while enjoying some of the most popular local refreshments. An extensive exploration of Thailand’s ancient and modern history with immersive experiences and local cuisine throughout, this tour will leave you with lasting memories ahead of your next adventure.

Welcome to Thailand, and the start of an exciting adventure in this great nation! When you touch down, you’ll be transferred from the airport to your hotel for check-in. Then, after a little downtime to get settled in, you’ll be invited to enjoy a wonderful welcome dinner – the perfect way to kick things off and enjoy some tasty Thai food.

The historic heart of Bangkok and a destination packed with important sites, this full-day tour of Rattanakosin Island is the perfect way to learn more about the intriguing history of Thailand’s capital city, see some of this city’s most dramatic sights, and immerse yourself in the rich culture that gives Bangkok its unique identity. Throughout this sightseeing tour, you’ll have the chance to marvel at the sheer magnificence of Wat Pho – known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, being home to a 46 metre long Reclining Buddha statue – and The Supreme Grand Palace – once home to the Kings of Siam and Thailand. With both sites of great historical and cultural importance, and just two highlights of the other sights you’ll have the chance to see during the day, your time on Rattanakosin Island promises to be an insightful and informative experience.

When exploring Rattanakosin Island, taking time to stop by the incredible Pak Khlong Talat flower market is a must. Located just beside the significant Chao Phraya River, this incredible marketplace – where an abundance of colourful flowers are available alongside fresh fruits and vegetables – is open 24 hours. Formerly a floating fish market, Pak Khlong Talat has served Bangkok and its residents as the city’s primary flower market for well over 60 years. A fantastic complement to your time on Rattanakosin Island and in Bangkok itself, this will offer you a valuable insight into the city's modern culture.

The remarkable Rattanakosin Island is packed with historic landmarks, but it’s far from the only area of Bangkok worth exploring, and this excursion is going to prove that. On this comprehensive full-day tour of Thailand’s capital city, you’ll embark on an exciting adventure to some of the most interesting landmarks and intriguing areas of Bangkok beyond Rattanakosin Island; throughout, you’ll learn more about the history of Bangkok and the communities that make up this unique metropolis. Starting with a short walk from your meeting point to Baan Bat, the Monk’s Alms Bowl Village, you’ll learn about the crafting of these important tools before continuing onto Wat Saket: The Temple of the Golden Mountain. An impressive temple complex offering stunning panoramic views of Bangkok, this visit is followed by a short boat ride – along one of Bangkok’s many canals – to the Jim Thompson House Museum. Here, you’ll learn all about how American businessman Jim Thompson helped revitalise the Thai silk industry throughout the 1950s and 60s – while admiring his impressive collection of Southeast Asian artwork – before crossing the canal to the Niphon Silk Factory, where you can still see traditional looms in action. From here, you’ll have the chance to stop for lunch at Yimsoo Cafe – the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee and a delicious bowl of boat noodles. Once you’ve had a moment to rest and have some refreshments, you’ll continue on to the Thonburi District, known for its colonial history, an area where Portuguese settlers arrived in Thailand throughout the 1500s. You’ll learn more about this unique aspect of Thai history by exploring this area of Bangkok on both foot and longtail boat. The final major landmark of this extensive tour of Bangkok is Wat Arun, an impressive Buddhist temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Once home to the King of Thailand and the enigmatic Emerald Buddha, this stunning structure is a shining example of Khmer-style architecture and has stood in some form for over 360 years. An encompassing exploration of Bangkok’s rich history and unique culture, this full-day tour offers memorable moments and immersive experiences.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed way to appreciate Bangkok's beauty, this will certainly be an experience worth looking forward to. When the sun starts to set and the evening rolls around, you’ll head up to the Sala Rattanakosin rooftop bar – a popular spot along the Chao Phraya River. Here, while you indulge in a delicious cocktail, you’ll have the chance to relish some of the best views of the city, with the impressive Wat Arun among the major landmarks visible from this particular rooftop. A wonderful way to end an exciting day in Bangkok, this calmer experience will give you the chance to recount and reflect on your time in Thailand so far.

Visiting the Maeklong Railway Market (also known as Talat Rom Hup, the “umbrella pulldown market”) is an unforgettable experience and one you’ll have the chance to enjoy during your multi-day tour of Thailand. Once you’ve had the chance to enjoy a bit of breakfast, you’ll drive south of Bangkok to the Samut Songkhram Province, which is where the marketplace sits within the Maeklong River delta. A wonderfully unique marketplace sitting along an active railway line, with stalls and awnings overhanging the railway tracks, throughout the day, the stallholders here hurriedly pack up their goods and wares when a train approaches, only to return everything to its original place moments later. It all might seem a little impractical at a glance, but this exciting display of efficiency isn’t one to be missed – and you’ll find a fantastic array of fresh fruits and vegetables, dried meats, and more available here.

Featuring prominently in 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun, a James Bond adventure starring Roger Moore and Christopher Lee, and Nicholas Cage’s 2008 Bangkok Dangerous, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is one of the most famous floating markets in the world – and for good reason. A sprawling network of stalls selling produce and souvenirs alongside freshly-cooked boat noodles and other Thai treats, you’ll embark on a short boat ride through the narrow canals of Damnoen Saduak during your visit. A fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself further in the local culture, sample some delicious food, and try your hand at bartering with local vendors, this unique experience complements the rest of your Thailand tour wonderfully.

You may know of the award-winning 1957 film starring Alec Guinness and William Holden – or the French novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle – but what’s the real story behind the ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ and the construction of the ‘Death Railway’? Well, this informative half-day tour will reveal all, giving you the chance to learn more about this infamous event during the Second World War while soaking up the stunning scenery of the Khwae Yai River. Starting with a walk across the Khwae Yai River Bridge, which is now synonymous with the ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ itself, you’ll head further into Kanchanaburi to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre. A unique museum and research centre run and funded by Australian expert Rod Beattie, which also happens to be housed in a surviving headquarters of the Imperial Japanese Army, your time here will give you the chance to learn more about the construction of the Thai-Burma Railway Line and what life would have been like for those forced to build it throughout the Second World War. Following on from this, you’ll then visit the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, home to the graves of almost 7,000 Allied prisoners of war. A sombre sight, this is the perfect place to take some time to reflect on what you’ve seen before you’re transferred back to your hotel.

Erawan National Park, a stunning 212-square-mile area in the Tenasserim Hills of Kanchanaburi Province, is the perfect place to explore some of Thailand's most stunning natural sights. Here, particularly, you’ll have the chance to enjoy the picturesque Erawan Waterfalls. Beautiful seven-tiered falls cascading into emerald-green pools, this collection of waterfalls is named after Erawan, a Hindu deity, and serves as the highlight of this adventure. If you fancy a dip, you’ll also have the chance to rent a life vest and swim among the fish that call these clear waters home. A splash of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, this experience is a wonderful complement to the rest of your Thailand tour.

If you like lunch with a view, you’re in luck; while in the Erawan National Park, you’ll have the chance to relish in the remarkable beauty of the second Erawan waterfall while enjoying a picnic lunch from a local restaurant. During your time here, you’ll have the time to take a dip and swim alongside the various fish that call these clear waters home; to do so, you will need to pay a local vendor 20 Thai Baht (~ USD $0.60) to rent a mandatory life vest – a rental that lasts for two hours in total. Though this is entirely optional, you can also spend your lunchtime relaxing on the benches and rocks here.

The cutting of Hellfire Pass, a section of the Thai-Burma Railway Line that is now a memorial to those who lost their lives during its construction, was an atrocity committed by the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second World War, though it might not be an event you’re too familiar with. During this insightful half-day tour, you’ll have the chance to visit the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre – home to a memorial museum – alongside the surviving site of Hellfire Pass itself. Starting with a tour of the museum, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about the history of Hellfire Pass and what the experience was like for those who were forced to work on the ‘Death Railway’, you’ll then proceed to walk a stretch of Hellfire Pass. Though a stunning area, this route is steeped in a troubled history – and that sombre atmosphere is palpable, especially when you pass the many memorials to the men who lost their lives throughout the construction. Stretching up to Hintok – the start of the highlands, an area just beyond Hellfire Pass – you’ll return the way you came and back through the Hellfire Pass Interpretive Centre when you’ve walked the route. An equally informative and reflective experience, this unique opportunity to explore such a powerful place will be one you remember.

Ayutthaya – the ancient capital of Thailand, when the entire region of Southeast Asia was part of the Ayutthaya Kingdom – is an incredible city steeped in history and this visit to the Ayutthaya National Park will give you a chance to see the incredible surviving structures of several Buddhist temples; and, with the chance to learn more about the rich history these temple ruins symbolise and sample some delicious local cuisine, it’s an excursion worth looking forward to. During your visit, you’ll visit Wat Mahathat – a central Buddhist temple famed for its sandstone Buddha statue, whose head is poking up through overgrown tree roots. You’ll also explore what remains of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, once the holiest and most beautiful of the Buddhist temples here, and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, a 14th-century temple still in active use today. Home to other incredible sites, such as Wat Kudi Dao and Wat Ratchaburana, a tour of Ayutthaya is interesting and informative – though, if you’re not that into your history, you can still expect to enjoy some stunning sights and the chance to indulge in a tasty bowl of boat noodles.

It’s time for you to discover why Bangkok is considered one of the best food destinations in the world with this evening Tuk Tuk Street Eat Tour, an experience that will whisk you away on a culinary adventure through Bangkok’s Chinatown – also known as Yaowarat, after the road at the core of this exciting area. During your street food tour, you’ll have the chance to indulge in fresh fruits and fruit juices, sample satay pork and sumptuous seafood dumplings, and enjoy traditional Thai dishes like pad thai and pad see ew. A great gastronomic adventure full of flavourful foods, this is a fantastic way of immersing yourself even more in the local culture while enjoying the local cuisine.

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