Get off the beaten track: The best day trips to take in and out of Bangkok

From taking in the tranquil countryside to visiting ancient relics, these day trips are for the traveller who wants to experience Thailand beyond massages and shopping.

  • Cheong Kamei
  • November 2019

Brought to you by Klook

Stunning nature, historical sights and a whole lot of culture await you on these day trips. These tours don’t just make planning the excursion hassle-free (all tours here include transportation from central Bangkok), there’s even an exclusive discount for you to get more bang for your buck. Enjoy!

Explore ancient ruins at Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya has a long and fascinating history. Founded in 1350, it was at one point, the largest city in the world. The city would flourish for about 400 years, attracting merchants from all over the world, including Japan, Portugal, India, China and the Arab world.

Ayutthaya was the second capital of Siam. Photo credit: klook.com

On this private and guided tour opens in new window of Ayutthaya, you get to learn about this ancient city’s rise and fall while wearing a gorgeous traditional Thai outfit, chut thai. Marvel at the architecture of the royal temple Chai Watthanaram while getting some seriously great shots for the ’gram.

Learn about WWII history in Kanchanaburi

This town in West Thailand is most famous for River Kwai Bridge and the Death Railway. — a 414km rail route that was built by Allied POWs under the order of the Japanese Army in WWII, and resulted in tens of thousands of deaths.

Only sections of Death Railway remain but it is still possible to go on a train ride.

On this tour opens in new window, you get to customise your day trip to Kanchanaburi. To gain a deeper understanding of its bleak history, you can head to the War Cemetery, Hellfire Pass Museum and JEATH War Museum, or take a train ride on Death Railway.

Hike through 1.5km of rainforest to take in all seven tiers of the waterfall at Erawan National Park.

But Kanchanaburi is not just for history buffs — it is also one of the most beautiful provinces in Thailand, and on this tour opens in new window, you can opt to hike to the seven-tiered waterfall at Erawan National Park, or take a leisurely cruise on a bamboo raft along River Kwai.

Enjoy 11% off ALL Thailand activities on Klook!

To enjoy this discount, just use the promo code SAWADEE11 opens in new window. Valid till November 11, 2019.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok in Hua Hin

Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park sits regally atop a 92-metre hill.

This tour opens in new window is tightly curated so instead of seeing everything in a day, you have the time to experience four key attractions properly. Highlights include one of the oldest railway stations, Hua Hin Railway Station, and King Rama IV’s summer palace, Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park. Take your time to explore the whole compound — royal halls, temples and buildings reflecting a diverse range of architectural styles are well-preserved.

Experience local life in rural Bangkok by bike

See a completely different side to Bangkok on this cycling tour. Photo credit: klook.com

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a fitness buff to go on this off-the-beaten track experience opens in new window. There’s a three-hour option that includes a ferry boat river crossing but if you’re feeling adventurous, we strongly recommend you go for the full nine-hour experience. You’ll get to see a completely different side of Bangkok as you follow your experienced guide through the backstreets of Chinatown to the city’s old historic capital, Chonburi.

Enjoy a long-tail boat ride on the nine-hour tour. Photo credit: klook.com

You’ll get to see beautiful wooden houses, visit temples and pass through wide open spaces of lush green fields. And you won’t just be cycling all day — the tour opens in new window includes long-tail boat rides, a train ride and a delicious meal of local food.

Enjoy 11% off ALL Thailand activities on Klook!

To enjoy this discount, just use the promo code SAWADEE11 opens in new window. Valid till November 11, 2019.