Simply Thailand

Arrive in Thailand's capital, the lively metropolis of Bangkok. The bustling street life of this energetic city is set to a backdrop of colourful, ornate shrines and modern glass-fronted high-rises, which jostle for position to dominate the city's skyline. It's a place where old meets new at every corner. Sample the fresh and tasty street food, haggle in the non-stop markets and take a cruise out on Chao Phraya River to witness stunning sunsets. For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and to take us on a tour of Bangkok's street food. Embarking on the impressive metro system, we will take in the city's frenetic energy is encapsulated within this one kilometre strip of gold traders, street-side restaurants, market stalls, Chinese temples, and of course bright neon lights. We make our way through the melee of stalls where our trip Leader will explain the history of this area, providing some context for the colourful and exotic scenes in front of us. For those that are hungry, there is a huge array of tasty street food to try, and for those feeling brave, there is the delicacy of this area- deep-fried insects! If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), which is one hour from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up in the lobby at 8am on day 2. Please note that if you wish to join the Street food tour of Chinatown today, you must arrive at the hotel by 6pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least one hour to clear the airport. From the airport to the hotel is around one hours' drive, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 3pm.

Today has been left free for you to explore Bangkok. There are a number of optional excursions available, enabling you to choose how you discover this fascinating city. One stand-out highlight of Bangkok is the Grand Palace, the city's gleaming and glittering centrepiece. Constructed in 1782, it was the home of Thai royalty for over 150 years, as well as housing the Royal Court and administrative seat of government. Its intricate carved statues, art work and gold-gilded architecture is some of the best in the country, and the complex also houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, one of the most sacred temples in the country. Next door to the palace is Wat Pho, otherwise known as the 'Temple of Reclining Buddha'. The iconic temple houses a huge 46 metre long golden Buddha and is symbolic of Buddhism in Thailand. Another popular option is to explore Bangkok's 'Klongs' - a narrow network of waterways navigated by long-tail boats and water taxis, offering a different way of seeing the capital. Other options include cycling through Bangkok's 'Green Lung' in Sri Nakhon Park, a morning excursion to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, and a full day trip to visit the temples of the ancient capital of Ayutthaya.

We make an early start today, heading to Kanchanaburi located 128 kilometres west of Bangkok. We visit the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai and Allied War Cemetery and ride on the train along the infamous Death Railway, before continuing onto the Hellfire Pass. The building of the bridge and railway is one of the most infamous episodes of the Second World War. The Japanese built the railway to link Siam and Burma (Myanmar) using Prisoners of War between June 1942 and October 1943. We spend time learning about the gruesome history here before boarding a train for a ride along the so-called 'Death Railway', that offers wonderful scenery, but more importantly, context to the information we have taken in.