How to Plan a Memorable Tour of Bangkok

What makes travel memorable are new experiences and being open to new cultures and ways of life. Make unforgettable memories by trying something new daily. To those who take the trouble to look, Bangkok can offer a host of things to see and do that enables interaction with local people and other travelers. When travelling collect moments and memories rather than possessions. Another maxim is to live in the present and enjoy every moment of a tour that has taken time and money to plan.

Step 1: Tour Planning

Prioritize what you wish to see and do according to the budget and time available. Synthesize the information available online and use a city trip planner to create a personalized city guide and to package the tour according to what you wish to experience. Pick things to see and do according to location so that nearby attractions can be covered in one go. Make an itinerary using the app and leave it flexible to include new experiences.

Step 2: Where to Stay

Bangkok has hundreds of hotels of every star category, budget accommodation and apartments to accommodate any budget range and length of stay. Aim for accommodation close to the city's sky train, metro stations or boat piers which are the most reliable, safest and convenient ways of getting around. Unlike other city hotels, Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa offers a relaxing ambience that is a special feature of this Bangkok riverside hotel where guests can enjoy a lifestyle sheltered from the constant buzz of the city.

Step 3: City & Temple Tour

Although this is crowded most of the time, visit the oldest part of Bangkok to see excellent examples of traditional Thai architecture and temple decoration. Learn about how the city came to be and the history of some of the country's important temples. Three great temples, Wat Traimit, Wat Po and Wat Benjabophit can be covered on this tour as well as the 18th century Grand Palace. Wat Phra Kaew the home of the Emerald Buddha is in the premises of the Grand Palace. These and other attractions can be accessed by boat, a relaxing way to explore.

Step 4: Canal Tour

Take to the canals of Bangkok to understand how it was before roads came. Long tail boats are the ideal vehicles to negotiate narrow canals in Thonburi, a Bangkok neighbourhood on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, that is said to be little changed. Take a water taxi to go down or up on the 18 km Klong Saen Saeb that has landing points near popular visitor destinations.

Step 5: Bangkok Neighbourhoods

Experience some of city's oldest neighbourhoods like China Town and Bangrak. Wet markets, ancient Chinese shops houses in alleyways with Chinese medicine and gold shops are found here. Wat Mangkon Kamalawat the largest Chinese Buddhist temple in Bangkok and Pak Klong flower market the largest such market in the city are here.

Step 6: Markets

Nothing can compare to the shopping experiences provided by the city's markets. Among the most popular is Chatuchak week end market with 15,000 stalls where customers can browse through a mind boggling array of products. Plan a morning or late afternoon visit to beat the heat and allowing time to get lost among the maze of shops.

Step 7: Walking Tours

Opt for slow paced walking tours to discover the city. Walk along banks of the city's klongs, in historic neighbourhoods and in old Bangkok using a map or a city tour planning app as guides. Bangkok's oldest road Charoen Krung is a popular place for walks to see the old European enclave. Assumption Cathedral, the Portuguese Embassy Bangkok's oldest, the Oriental Hotel, historic go downs and warehouses are found here.

Step 8: Bangkok Through Food

Bangkok food tours are a memorable way to understand Thai culture. Sample a range of scrumptious treats at street food stalls in Bangrak, down Yarowat Road in Chinatown, from boats in floating markets and in Pratunam, Siam Square and Silom all the while assimilating information on Bangkok food culture.

Step 9: Traditional Sports

Muay Thai kick boxing fights at Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok are always memorable not only because of the action in the ring but because of the very special atmosphere generated here. Fights between flyweight and super welterweight boxers take place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. The stadium is one of the few places in Thailand where gambling is permitted.

Step 10: Local Festivals

Participating in a fun local festival is always a memorable experience. Songkran celebrated in April starts with religious observances and merit making activities according to Buddhist beliefs. Thereafter the merriment commences with everyone armed with buckets, garden hoses and water guns having fun drenching all and sundry.

Step 11: Art & Culture

Visit the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, the hub of the city's contemporary art scene. Plan the visit to coincide with an art market, art and photographic exhibitions, video and film shows or theater performances.

Attending a traditional Thai dance performance enacting stories from the Ramayana, the life of Buddha and folklore is very much a part of a memorable tour. Elaborate costumes, dramatic story lines, weird characters, music and song add excitement and colour to these performances. Puppet shows at the Aksra Theater where Thai folk tales are told through puppets to the accompaniment of Thai music, special effects and dance can also be part of memorable experiences. The puppeteers dressed in black are on stage manipulating puppets arrayed in gorgeous costumes amidst beautifully designed sets. The combination of puppeteers and puppets acting out a story together is a new experience to many.