Floating Market Day Trip, 8 Hours

From Bangkok: Ayutthaya & Ayothaya Floating Market Day Trip runs through Hana Go Pro. Rated 4.7 across 6,382 reviews. Runs 8 hours. From $45.

Overview

This day trip bundles the main sights most visitors want from Ayutthaya into one eight-hour run out of Bangkok: Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, the Ayothaya Floating Market, Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. A guide travels with the group the whole way, and admission to all the sites is already covered by the ticket. The drive each way takes about two hours in an air-conditioned vehicle, so expect roughly half the day on the road and half among the ruins.

The morning starts at Robinson Sukhumvit in Bangkok, and the day finishes at the Hilton Bangkok Grande Asoke, a short distance from the original meeting point. Founded around 1350, Ayutthaya served as the second capital of Siam, and the park holding its temple and palace ruins sits on the UNESCO list. At the floating market, a replica market with more than 100 stalls, you get free time and lunch at your own expense, then the group moves on to the two great temple ruins in the afternoon.

It suits travellers who want the logistics handled, a guide who can explain the history, and a fixed schedule rather than independent exploring. Reviews repeatedly praise the guides and the cool van between stops, while a few say the market itself feels touristy. If temples are the priority and the market is a bonus, the balance works.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Robinson SukhumvitMeet at Robinson Sukhumvit, 259 Sukhumvit Road. Hotel pickup is included as detailed at booking. Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure.
2. Drive to AyutthayaTravel by air-conditioned coach or van for 2 hours to the old capital.
3. Wat Yai Chai MongkhonA guided tour, photo stop and free time at the temple built by King U-Thong in 1357, lasting 1 hour.
4. Transfer to floating marketA 30-minute drive to the Ayothaya Floating Market.
5. Ayothaya Floating MarketGuided tour plus free time over 1 hour. Lunch is at your own expense.
6. Wat MahathatGuided tour and sightseeing for 45 minutes, including the Buddha head wrapped in tree roots.
7. Wat Phra Sri SanphetGuided tour for 45 minutes at the grandest temple site in the old city.
8. Return to BangkokA 2-hour drive back, finishing at the Hilton Bangkok Grande Asoke, close to the original meeting point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape how this day goes, from the dress code at the temples to how the time splits between guidance and free wandering.

• Dress code. Short skirts, sleeveless shirts, sportswear, see-through and ripped clothing are not allowed. One reviewer notes that covered shoulders and knees are needed to see everything on the tour. Pack a light scarf or long trousers even in hot weather.
• Heat and pace. One reviewer points out the heat and humidity at the sites, and several praise the air-conditioned van as relief between stops. Time at each temple is capped, with the longest stop at one hour.
• Lunch is extra. Food and drinks are not included, and personal expenses are your own. The floating market stop doubles as lunch time, so budget for a meal there.
• Group format. This is a group tour with a shared vehicle and an English- and Thai-speaking guide. Reviewers describe the organisation as smooth and the guides as knowledgeable and easy to follow. Free time at temples follows the guided explanations.
• Tickets covered. Admission to every site on the itinerary, including the floating market, is in the price. One reviewer noted that entry and the market boat trip were already paid for.
• Getting to the meeting point. The listing warns that searching for 259 Sukhumvit Road in Bolt or Grab sends you to the wrong place. Tell the driver Robinson Sukhumvit Soi 17, since there are several branches. Hotel pickup is included as detailed at booking.

Common issues. The floating market divides opinion: some travellers enjoyed it, while others found it touristy and would have preferred less time there or a different stop. The itinerary can change without notice due to local circumstances, and the day involves long drives, two hours each way. Lunch and drinks cost extra. One reviewer also mentioned the heat and humidity at the sites.

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