Thailand · HISTORICAL TOURS

The 15 Best Historical Tours in Thailand

48 tours  ·  from $15

Two old capitals, a walled trading town and a working palace. These 15 compare Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and the Bangkok sites on travel time, guide quality and price.

From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Historical Park Guided Day Trip - The journey from Bangkok to the old capital
1-Day Tours, Ayutthaya Tours, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Ayutthaya, Tour Reviews

From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Historical Park Guided Day Trip

1.Ayutthaya Historical Park Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 3,020 reviews · 9 hours - 570 minutes · from $28Our pick

Travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya by air-conditioned van, stopping at Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, and Wat Mahathat. Guides such as Jack, Bonnie, TumTum, and Marut explain Thai history and temple customs. Choose a shared or private trip, with hotel pickup available and lunch at a local restaurant.

“I had a wonderful trip to Ayutthaya with TripGuru and TumTum and Khun Noi. TumTum was a wonderfully kind guide whose historical knowledge was very impressive. she took such good care of us and it is partly down to her that it was such a wonderful trip! I would definitely like to request her again if I do any more tours with them. Ayutthaya itself was so beautiful and it was wonderful to finally see some of the historical landmarks (on my 5th trip to Thailand). I also had a really great tour group who I got along with well which definitely helped. It was actually one of the first…”

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UNESCO's Ayutthaya Historical Park: Full-Day Tour from Bangkok - Leaving Bangkok from MBK Center
Ayutthaya Tours, Full-Day, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Ayutthaya, Tour Reviews, Tours

UNESCO’s Ayutthaya Historical Park: Full-Day Tour from Bangkok

2.Unesco’s Ayutthaya Historical Park: Full-Day Tour from Bangkok

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,559 reviews · from $28

Spend about 11.5 hours visiting Bang Pa-In Palace and Ayutthaya’s finest ruins with a group of up to nine people. Guides such as Fern, Cherry, Jack, Ratima, and Mr. Tee are praised for clear history, humor, and photo help. Choose carefully between meeting-point, hotel-transfer, private, and entrance-fee options.

“The Advertising for This excursion is irritating and fair, because first you see all entrance fees are included in the price. Finally it came out that you have to pay extra for all the entrance fees.why are you doing this? This is only to confuse the customer.”

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From Bangkok: Historical Day Tour to River Kwai - Inside the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre
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From Bangkok: Historical Day Tour to River Kwai

3.Historical Day Tour to River Kwai

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 868 reviews · 10 hours · from $51

Travel from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi in a small group with an English-speaking guide such as Luke, William, Woody, or Jokey. Visit the war cemetery, Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, River Kwai Bridge, and Krasae Cave, then ride the original Death Railway track. Lunch, entrance fees, and basic train fare are included.

“This has been my favourite tour that I've done in Thailand so far. It was absolutely humbling to see the graves and read about what happened to those poor POWs in the museum. Our tour guide and driver were fabulous, highly, highly recommend.”

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Historical City of Ayutthaya - Unesco Full Day Tour From Bangkok - Bang Pa-In Palace and the dress code
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Historical City of Ayutthaya – Unesco Full Day Tour From Bangkok

4.Historical City of Ayutthaya – Unesco Full Day Tour From Bangkok

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 847 reviews · from $41Top rated

Travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya for a full day among ruined temples, royal grounds, and one of Thailand’s largest bronze Buddhas. You’ll visit Bang Pa-In Palace and five major religious sites in a small group, with guides such as Coco, Wan, Ken, Alex, or Sunday leading the day. Expect about 9 hours, hotel pickup in selected areas, and extra entrance fees.

“Great guide, Sunday, with a lot of interesting facts about the places we visited. We left early, which helped a lot. A must-do when in Bangkok.”

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Chiang Mai: Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour - Starting at Wat Chiang Man, Chiang Mai’s oldest temple
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Chiang Mai: Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour

5.Historic Temples and City Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 650 reviews · 3 hours · from $21Best value

Walk Chiang Mai’s Old City with an English-speaking local guide such as Jen, Pun, or Danny. In three hours, you’ll visit Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chedi Luang, with a stop at the Three Kings Monument. The tour is limited to 10 people and includes water, while temple admission costs extra.

“What an interesting and inspiring tour of the temples within the old town. I learnt so much about the history and culture and would do the tour again if I had the time. Faan who was our guide was extremely knowledgeable and helpful and left a wonderful impression on the group. Definitely worth doing this tour- it will enrich your knowledge and you will fall in love with Chang Mai.”

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Private Excursion to Floating Market and Ayutthaya World Heritage - Maeklong Railway Market at 7:00 a.m.
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Private Excursion to Floating Market and Ayutthaya World Heritage

6.Private Excursion to Floating Market and Ayutthaya World Heritage

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 515 reviews · from $184

This 11 to 12-hour private Bangkok excursion links Maeklong Railway Market, Damnoensaduak Floating Market, and Ayutthaya’s temples. Your English-speaking guide, such as Army, Gwen, Time, Nok, or Pom, travels with your group in an air-conditioned vehicle, handles admissions, and adds local snacks, fruit, water, and cultural context.

“Guide Army & Driver Mark were incredible! Super friendly and knowledgeable. I traveled solo, so they were sure to cater the tour just to me, spending our time on things they knew I would enjoy more. I highly recommend this tour. Army is the absolute best! Thank you for such a great Thai experience :)”

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From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Heritage Tour with Sunset Boat Ride - Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon and its long rows of Buddhas
Ayutthaya Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Historical Tours, Historical Tours in Ayutthaya, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Heritage Tour with Sunset Boat Ride

7.Ayutthaya Heritage Tour with Sunset Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 490 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $32

Travel from Bangkok to Ayutthaya by air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide, visiting Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Maha That, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram. The day ends with a one-hour sunset boat ride and a snack box from a local fruit market. Guides such as Ken, Chaiwat, Nina, and Kit are praised for clear stories and friendly care.

“We had a really good time in Ayutthaya. Both guide and driver were friendly and did a great job. After a 1,5h drive you visit two temples (little info from the guide, than time to yourself), than there is the possibility to buy food from a market followed by a bost ride, where you can see the sun set. Last stop is another temple. Can totally recommend it :)”

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Private Excursion to Ayutthaya, UNESCO World Heritage site with Boat Tour - Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon and Ayutthaya’s giant chedi
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Private Excursion to Ayutthaya, UNESCO World Heritage site with Boat Tour

8.Private Excursion to Ayutthaya, UNESCO World Heritage site with Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 460 reviews · from $159

Travel from Bangkok by private air-conditioned car to Ayutthaya with an English-speaking guide. See Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit, then circle the historic island by private boat and sample local sweets. Guides may include Johnny, Kim, Nok, Peter, or Nina.

“Excellent experience in Ayutthaya. Everything well organized and Pom our tour guide is fantastic, kind and very knowledgeable. Highly recommended!”

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Krabi: Ao Nang Landmark Stadium Muay Thai - Understanding the eight-limb style
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Krabi: Ao Nang Landmark Stadium Muay Thai

9.Ao Nang Landmark Stadium Muay Thai

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 287 reviews · 1 min · from $38

Spend an evening at Ao Nang Landmark Stadium watching five Muay Thai bouts, from young fighters to seasoned adults. You’ll see the Wai Khru Ram Muay ceremony before the action, then watch boxing that uses fists, feet, elbows, and knees. The stadium sits beside Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, making dinner before or after easy.

“Brilliant! The second time we’ve been and just as amazing as the first. Definitely book and go. It’s really easy you just show them your QR code after booking and that’s it. We got seated from about 8.30pm so we got good seats. Highly recommend.”

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Sukhothai: Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour - From hotel pickup to Ban Khuai
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Sukhothai: Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour

10.Historical Park & Countryside Cycling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 276 reviews · 7 hours · from $53

Spend seven hours cycling from Ban Khuai through rice fields, canals, villages, and Sukhothai’s UNESCO-listed ruins. Guides such as Miaow, Jib, Chip, and Kip explain local life, Buddhism, architecture, and farming in clear English. Expect a relaxed pace, good bikes, frequent drinks and snacks, and lunch at a local Thai restaurant.

“I really enjoyed the day. The temples are simply beautiful, and the tour guide, besides being very kind, gave us many details about the culture, history, and how people live in the villages today. The local food was delicious, and the bike ride was also very pleasant. The rain the previous day turned the trip into an adventure in itself, which made everything even more fun. This cycling tour just made my day.”

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Chiang Mai: Historic Old City Bike Tour - Morning or Night - Tha Phae Gate and the shape of old Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai: Historic Old City Bike Tour – Morning or Night

11.Historic Old City Bike Tour – Morning or Night

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 263 reviews · 4 hours · from $39

Ride 12 to 14 km through Chiang Mai’s Old City with guides such as Kitty, Mai, T, and Farm. Visit Tha Phae Gate, Wat Chedi Luang, the Three Kings Monument, temple grounds, and a local market. Choose a cooler evening ride or a morning outing with snacks, water, and a small group.

“The tour was extraordinary! I got to learn a lot about the history of Chiang Mai.”

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River Kwai Day Tour from Bangkok – History, Scenery & Culture - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery: the most moving stop
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River Kwai Day Tour from Bangkok – History, Scenery & Culture

12.River Kwai Day Tour from Bangkok – History, Scenery & Culture

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 206 reviews · from $97

Travel from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi in a group of up to 15 for a sobering WWII tour. Visit the war cemetery, JEATH Museum, River Kwai Bridge, and the Death Railway, then ride the train beside the river and stop for Thai lunch at Wang Po. Guides such as Rach, Oom, Nina, and Jira have earned praise for clear explanations.

“Picked up from local hotel in Bangkok by mini bus. Long day but worth every penny for a once in a lifetime experience. Visiting Jeath museum with re creation of POW hut/accommodation, then a visit to Commonwealth War Graves, which Read more”

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Chiang Mai: Historic Old City Bike Tour - Morning or Night - Tha Phae Gate and the shape of old Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai: Historic Old City Bike Tour – Morning or Night

13.Historic Old City Bike Tour – Morning or Night

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 202 reviews · from $39

Ride about 12 kilometers through Chiang Mai’s Old City with an English-speaking guide such as Kitty, Farm, James, or Gun. Visit Tha Phae Gate, Wat Chedi Luang, the Three Kings Monument, quiet lanes, temples, and a local market. Morning departures feature fresh produce markets, while night tours focus on street food and evening atmosphere.

“We did this on our first day in Chiang Mai, it was absolutely amazing! The tour guide we had was so much fun, taught us loads about Chiang Mai, took loads of photos and took us on a really cool route. We saw areas of Chiang Mai we wouldn’t never have seen. Back streets, where all the local food markets were (we had the best coconut we’ve had our whole trip here), he got us some fresh fruit from the market. We had a small group of just 3 of us, which was perfect it felt really personal. He took us down a really beautiful canal and did a little…”

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Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour - Starting at Pom Phet and the old city walls
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Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour

14.Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 175 reviews · 3 hours - 210 minutes · from $47

Ride a comfortable bike through Ayutthaya with guides such as Bung, Bella, Boong, and Lek. Visit Pom Phet, local neighborhoods, Somdet Phra Srinakarinda Park, Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Chao Phrom Market, and a Muslim riverside community. The pace is gentle, with water, snacks, temple fees, and the ferry crossing included.

“We had an unforgettable experience exploring Ayutthaya on a bike tour. The team was incredibly flexible, patiently waiting for us despite delays on our train from Bangkok. The guide leading the tour was fantastic—friendly, knowledgeable, and always helpful. We learned so much about Ayutthaya’s history and Thailand’s culture. She went above and beyond, even assisting us in catching our train back to Bangkok and taking beautiful photos that made our Christmas Day extra special. A special mention goes to the guide at the back of the group, who ensured our safety at all times, especially while crossing streets, and helped with any issues that came up. Thanks to the amazing…”

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Full Day Cycling tour to Sukhothai Historical Park - Riding the 24-speed mountain bike
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Full Day Cycling tour to Sukhothai Historical Park

15.Full Day Cycling tour to Sukhothai Historical Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 163 reviews · from $53

Ride about 20 miles from Ban Kluai through rice fields, villages, canals, and a teak furniture workshop before exploring Sukhothai Historical Park. Guides such as Miaow, Jib, and Meow explain local life, Buddhism, and the old kingdom. Your fee includes a 24-speed mountain bike, helmet, snacks, water, lunch, transfers, and admission.

“Amazing guide - he was so knowledgable about the sites, went above and beyond by helping me to figure out my transportation for the next day, and he gave me plenty of water and snacks because it was a really hot day! So many gorgeous sites and the biking really fun too! Even lunch was fantastic! One of the best tours I've done with Viator, highly highly recommend”

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New in Historical Tours

★ 5.0Old Town History and Culture Walking Tour at Chiang MaiFrom $1513 reviews
★ 4.5Discover Ayutthaya at Sunset: Historic Temples & River CruiseFrom $6129 reviews
★ 4.5River Kwai Day Tour from Bangkok: History, Scenic Views & CultureFrom $9736 reviews
★ 5.0Private tour to Ayutthaya and Boat Tour Heritage SiteFrom $15128 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour to Ayutthaya, World Heritage Site with Boat TourFrom $15139 reviews
★ 5.0Private Tour to Ayutthaya, World Heritage Site with Boat TourFrom $15155 reviews
★ 4.5Private Historic River Kwai Death Railway, War Cemetery and Hellfire Pass TourFrom $16212 reviews
★ 5.0Private Floating Market and Historical Ayutthaya Sightseeing TourFrom $18421 reviews
★ 5.0Private Excursion to Ayutthaya, World Heritage site and Ang-Thong DiscoveryFrom $16111 reviews
★ 4.5Historic City of Ayutthaya Full Day Private Tour from BangkokFrom $16817 reviews
★ 5.0Explore the World Heritage Of AyutthayaFrom $20636 reviews
★ 5.0Explore Ancient Ayutthaya Historical Park Day Tour in BangkokFrom $9010 reviews
★ 5.0Bangkok History Temples Markets and Food TastingFrom $5140 reviews
★ 5.0Bangkok Wat Pho and Flower Market Historical Walking TourFrom $8828 reviews
★ 5.0Afternoon Ayutthaya heritage site & River Boat Ride at SunsetFrom $5310 reviews

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