5 h

Morning

Instant confirmation

About this activity

Your guide will pick you up at your Bangkok city hotel in the early morning. Assemble with your small group on the comfortable bus in preparation for your 6am almsgiving, providing food to the Buddhist monks who reside at a local monastery. Depending on the day, your guide will determine the best location of this activity—most likely just outside the Marble Temple, considered one of Bangkok’s most beautiful temples with its gabled roof and ornate design. (Please note: An alternate location, such as the Grand Palace, may be chosen.)

Get a glimpse of the remarkable building while you observe the monks passing silently in their saffron robes. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in an authentic Thai experience as your guide demonstrates how to offer the daily donation, which sustains the Buddhist monks for their intensive studies and meditation. The observance of local Buddhists who rise early to give alms adds to the harmonious and tranquil atmosphere before the bustling city awakens.

Around 6:30am, hop back on your bus and drive to the nearby flower market, where you’ll have about one hour to explore. At Pak Khlong Talat flower market, Bangkok’s largest wholesale and retail flower market, you’ll find an abundance of brilliant displays at reasonable prices. Marvel at the kaleidoscope of fresh blooms from all over Thailand, including exquisite orchids, roses, lilies and more!

Your guide will direct your small group to an area of the market where you can purchase a snack (own expense) before continuing on to Bangkok’s Grand Palace. Admire the traditional Thai architecture mixed with European design as you embark on a 1.5-hour guided tour of the complex. Once the official home for the kings of Siam, the Grand Palace is undeniably one of Thailand's most famous attractions. Learn about the current royal family, which still uses the Grand Palace and its vast grounds for ceremonial occasions.

During your palace tour, visit the Royal Funeral Hall and the Royal Coronation Hall, as well as Wat Phra Kaew—an elaborate temple that houses the revered Emerald Buddha. Carved from just one piece of jade, the Emerald Buddha is considered the holiest religious object in Thailand. When your tour is complete, your guide will deliver you back to your hotel by 11:30am.

Don’t miss this exclusive combo tour—it’s available nowhere else!

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Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food for monks
Bottled water
Cold towels
Entry/Admission - Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew)
Entry/Admission - The Grand Palace

Not included

Food and drinks, unless specified
Extra offerings to monks

Additional

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Offering additional alms to monks is done at own expense
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Dress Code: There is a strict dress code for visiting the Grand Palace. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha is Thailand's most sacred site. Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. Men must wear long pants and shirts with sleeves - no sleeveless tops. If you're wearing sandals or flip-flops you must wear socks (in other words, no bare feet.) Women must be similarly modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, bare shoulders, etc. It is also recommended to avoid wearing bright colors
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund

Features

Tourism

100%

Cultural

70%

Reviews

3.5

9

N

Norman C

5 | 2015-11-05

Our guide was very good with his explanation of this tradition, how to approach the monks, and what kind of offerings are made. It was a very full tour done professional and with an eye on educating us about the history, religion and present day issues of Bangkok and Thailand.

w

wynndolyn T

5 | 2015-06-07

This tour was amazing!

M

MAYBELLE S

2 | 2015-05-04

Morning Buddhist Almsgiving happened at marble temple - many vendors approaching to sell fish and items. Local arrive to give the alms, happened at street level so was not a solemn experience that I expected. Flower market - guide explained one side is local and another imported flowers. Showed sample flowers used in temple offerings. Overall ok experience - no beggars approached to ask money. Place was wet so best to use rubber or covered shoes to avoid getting muddied. Grand palace tour - arrived early, hundred of Chinese tourists made the whole place and experience unpleasant. The actual structures are very interesting but I did not understand what the guide said or she could not give her orientation because the Chinese were shouting, shoving and crowding the structure or item being explained. IT WAS THE MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE I have had in a spiritual site. UPSET - our notice said pick up at 5:30am, tour guide arrive at 6am showed me her job order. We were both right and punctual but the person who gave us time references made the mistake. This is very unprofessional.

J

Jayme D

2 | 2015-05-01

The tour guide wasn't as well informed as I would have liked.

C

Christian B

5 | 2015-03-03

Really good trip with an enthusiastic guide.

B

Bernard P

4 | 2015-02-17

Very good tour. I give the tour four stars but I would only give the tour guide three stars. I thought it unprofessional that she was reading her email, taking photographs and purchasing food for diner during our tour.

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