Bangkok Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Tour
Description
Visit the most famous landmark of Bangkok, the Royal Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Both are located in one magnificent compound that has been the spiritual heart of Thailand since the late eighteenth century. Wander past golden chedis, ornate halls and colourful murals that tell ancient stories from Thai mythology. Step into the former royal residence and see how each building reflects the craftsmanship and traditions of past generations. Inside Wat Phra Kaew you can admire the Emerald Buddha, the most revered statue in the country, carved from a single piece of green jade and beautifully displayed above the main altar. Your local guide will share the rich history of the palace and help you understand its importance in Thai culture. IMPORTANT: This tour is NOT an entry ticket for the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew. The entrance fee of THB 500 per person must be paid in cash at the ticket counter.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A visit to Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew is a true highlight of any trip to Bangkok. The glittering Grand Palace is an architectural masterpiece that served as the official residence of the kings of the Chakri Dynasty for more than 150 years. Built in 1782 by King Rama I, the complex features an extraordinary collection of golden spires, ornate halls and richly decorated pavilions that reflect the finest craftsmanship of Thai architecture. Within the palace grounds lies Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand’s most sacred temple, home to the revered Emerald Buddha, a small but highly venerated statue carved from a single block of jade. The temple’s walls are adorned with colourful murals depicting scenes from the Ramakien, Thailand’s national epic. Please note: The entrance fee of THB 500 per person is NOT included and must be paid cash on the day of the tour.
Wat Phra Kaew is regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand. Located within the grounds of the Grand Palace, this magnificent temple houses the highly revered Emerald Buddha, a small yet extremely important statue carved from a single block of jade. Built in 1782 by King Rama I, the temple has played a central role in Thai royal and religious ceremonies for centuries. The beautifully decorated temple buildings are adorned with glittering gold, intricate mosaics and colourful murals that depict scenes from the Ramakien, Thailand’s national epic. With its rich symbolism, exquisite craftsmanship and deep spiritual significance, Wat Phra Kaew remains one of the most impressive and culturally important landmarks in Bangkok.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Remember that temples are sacred places and you must dress appropriately. Shoulders and ankles need to be covered (for both men and women; sleeveless shirt with a scarf covering is also not allowed). No shorts, leggings, ripped jeans, slippers (flip-flops), or revealing tops, otherwise you won't be allowed in.
- Entrance fee for the Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew is NOT included and must be paid cash on the day of the tour (THB 500 per person).
- Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour start time are eligible for a full refund. For cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance or in case of no-show, no refund will be issued.
- Our tours operate rain or shine, as tropical rain showers in Thailand usually don’t last long. If it rains heavily, we try to seek shelter and will continue as soon as the weather improves. During the rainy season, it’s a good idea to bring a raincoat or poncho. Please note cancellations due to weather are not eligible for a refund.
- Bangkok’s traffic is often heavily congested, so we kindly ask all guests to arrive on time. We always recommend taking the BTS (skytrain) or MRT (metro) to a station near the meeting point. As our tours run on a group basis, we can wait a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled meeting time. After this grace period, the guide will begin the tour. If you cannot make it on time, please let us know before the tour starts. If possible, we’ll do our best to reschedule you for the next available time slot or day, though a rescheduling fee will apply. No refund will be provided in case of late arrival.
- In case of no-show or showing up too late at the meeting point, no refund will be provided.
Reviews(116)
Communication with the tour company was very efficient and they were very quick to respond to our question. Process for meeting up was very easy and streamlined. Our tour guide Wan was very knowledgeable and thorough, she made the tour very interesting. With lots of other tours around it was very noisy, perhaps you would consider giving your guides a microphone? Thank you for the experience.
Thank you for your thoughtful review. We're pleased to hear that you found the tour educational and interesting, and that our team was able to assist you promptly before the tour. It's also wonderful to know that Wan's knowledge and engaging explanations helped bring the history and significance of the Grand Palace to life. We appreciate your suggestion regarding microphones. The Grand Palace can be quite busy at times, and feedback like yours helps us identify ways to further improve the experience for our guests. Thank you for joining us, and we hope you enjoyed learning more about Thailand's rich history and culture.
So beautiful! A little bit of a walk but our tour guide Miss Wan was extremely knowledgeable and patient. She took good time to explain the history and cultural importance behind the temples. 10/10 would recommend going and would love to have her again!
Thank you for your wonderful review. We're so pleased that you enjoyed discovering the beauty of Bangkok's temples. While there is quite a bit of walking, we're glad that Wan's knowledge, patience, and storytelling made every step worthwhile. She will be delighted to hear that her explanations helped you gain a deeper understanding of the history and cultural significance of these remarkable landmarks. Thank you for your recommendation, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Wan. We would be delighted to welcome you back on another tour in the future.
Wan is an awesome guide! Knowledgeable and friendly. Looked after us in the group well. I recommend this trip. Excellent in price and value!
Thank you for your great review. It’s wonderful to hear that Wan helped make your visit such an enjoyable experience. Her friendly nature and passion for sharing Thailand’s history are qualities that our guests often appreciate. We're especially pleased that you felt well looked after and found the tour to be excellent value for money. Your recommendation means a lot to us. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Wan, and we hope to see you again on your next visit to Bangkok.
Nicki was a wonderful guide! She was informative, bubbly, and constantly checking in to make sure we were comfortable. The weather was dreary and humid, but she made the best of it! We learned a lot about the temples and majesty of the grand palace. Anyone interested in the history of the royal family or Buddhism’s rich influence in Bangkok should take this tour. Try to get Nicki if you can - she took incredible photos of us!!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! ❤️ We are absolutely thrilled to hear that Nicki made your honeymoon tour so special and memorable, despite the dreary weather. She is indeed a gem, and we’ll be sure to pass on your lovely words and compliments about her photography skills to her! Your high recommendation means the world to our team. Wishing you both a lifetime of love, happiness, and beautiful adventures together. We hope to welcome you back to Bangkok someday! ✨🌸
Great tour of the Grand Palace and Wat With Wan. Lucky to have a private tour as the other two customers did not show up. Wan did a great job with explaining all the history and cultural heritage of each site. Would highly recommend if you want to see the Grand Palace
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled that Wan made your visit to the Grand Palace both enjoyable and informative. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we hope to welcome you back again soon.
We had an excellent guide in Nicky. She was highly knowledgeable and informative. We enjoyed her take on all the sites we saw.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated Nicky's knowledge and insights throughout the day. We'll be sure to share your lovely feedback with her. Thank you for joining us, and we hope to welcome you again soon!
Nicki was fun and knowledgeable.
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave us a review. These are the stories that keep us so motivated to continue doing what we’re doing, and we’re so happy to hear that you had a great experience!
Nicki did an amazing job explaining the history of the temples we visited, she is very friendly, funny and a great photographer 😊. We really enjoyed this tour and highly recommend Nicky for your next visit to Bangkok
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your experience. We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the tour and hope to welcome you again on a future trip in Thailand.
I was nervous to walk around some sights alone so I booked this tour, and it was the best choice! Nicky was the most kind and amazing tour guide. I was running late and she made sure to help me find the group by communicating with my taxi driver, and was cracking jokes throughout the day and taking lots of pictures. I couldn’t recommend enough!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you felt comfortable and well looked after throughout the tour. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Nicky—she'll be thrilled to know that her kindness, sense of humor, and extra effort to help you join the group made such a positive impact on your experience. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you again soon!
Although we were on the 08.30 tour it was a very hot day mid 30’s felt like 40 degrees. We only did the Palace tour of 2 hours and were very happy not to do more. The palace is extraordinary, one only touches the surface, but very happy that we did. Our guide Nikki was pleasant and informative. The textile museum was interesting and air conned.
Thank you for choosing our tour and leaving such a wonderful review. We’re glad to hear that you were satisfied and we look forward to welcoming you back!
