The Royal Grand Palace & Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn)
The Royal Grand Palace & Wat Arun — Half Day Tour
In one day, you can visit two former capitals of Thailand — the Thonburi Kingdom and the Rattanakosin Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of Siam, or Bangkok. Discover Bangkok's history and culture as you explore the world-famous Grand Palace complex, located in the old city on the banks of the Chao Phraya River — one of the must-see sites of Thailand, with spectacular buildings and sacred sites. Visit Wat Phra Kaew, one of the most important Buddhist temples, home to the sacred Emerald Buddha.
Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, is one of Bangkok's most iconic Buddhist temples, situated on the western bank of the Chao Phraya River — considered the most famous and most photographed temple in the city.
🚙 Private Tour — Bangkok Grand Palace & Wat Arun
- Visit the world-famous Grand Palace, official residence of Thai Kings since 1782
- See the sacred Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand's most revered temple
- Cross the Chao Phraya River by boat to visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)
- Admire the 80-metre Khmer-style prang, the tallest in Thailand, decorated with Chinese porcelain
- Explore two former capitals of Siam — Thonburi and Rattanakosin — in a single half-day tour
- Private vehicle tour with hotel pick-up and drop-off within Bangkok City
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08:00🏨 Hotel Pick-UpPick-up from your Bangkok hotel.
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08:30👑 Royal Grand Palace & Emerald BuddhaVisit the Royal Grand Palace, whose architectural plan closely follows the Royal Palace of the former capital Ayutthaya. Explore the compound's Royal Residences, Throne Hall and Royal Chapel, and see the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which enshrines the most revered Emerald Buddha Image.
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11:00⛵ Cross the River to Wat ArunCross the Chao Phraya River by boat to visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), restored during the Thonburi period as the Royal Chapel of King Taksin.
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13:00🏨 Return to HotelDrop back at your hotel.
✅ Tour Includes
- Hotel pick-up & drop-off within Bangkok City only
- Admission fee
- English-speaking guide
❌ Tour Excludes
- Gratuities / tips for guide & driver
- Activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
👗 Dress Code for Grand Palace
- Unsuitable: short trousers (long trousers must reach the ankles), miniskirts, culottes, tights and fisherman trousers
- Unsuitable: sleeveless shirts and undershirts as outer garments, rolled-up sleeves (long or short)
- Unsuitable: sleeping suits, see-through clothes, bare shoulders, sportswear
- Unsuitable: sandals, including any shoes without heel straps or closed heels
- Exceptions apply for Buddhist monks, novices and Thai people from the countryside
- Visitors dressed inappropriately can borrow free clothes and shoes at the Grand Palace's changing room, or rent them at a shop outside the palace
👶 Child Policy
- Under 2 years (0–90 cm) — Free of charge (no seat provided)
- Children taller than 100 cm are charged at the adult rate
⚠️ No-Show & Cancellation Policy
- Full refund for cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour
- No refund for cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure
- If you have last-minute changes, contact our reservation team at least 24 hours in advance
- No-show on the day — full ticket price per person will be charged
📋 Booking Requirements
- Bookings must be made at least 1 day prior to the tour date, by 8:30 PM (office hours)
- Your booking is not confirmed until you receive a confirmation email with voucher
- Only fully paid bookings will receive a confirmation voucher
🎒 What to Bring
- Camera or smartphone for photos
- Sunscreen and sunglasses
- Hat or cap for outdoor areas
- Slipper shoes (closed-heel footwear)
- Cash for personal expenses
🗺️ General Pick-Up Area (Bangkok City Only)
- Asoke, Charoen Krung Road Soi 1–50, Chidlom, Pathumwan, Phayathai, Ploenchit, Pratunam
- Petchburi Road from Soi 1 to Avani Atrium, Silom, Sathorn, Siam Square
- Sukhumvit Soi 1–33 and Soi 2–24
- Pick up at the lobby of your hotel — if your hotel is out of route, a meeting point will be suggested
- Other areas — please check with us
Royal Grand Palace
The Grand Palace is a magnificent complex surrounded by 1,900-metre-long walls, begun in 1782 when King Rama I moved the capital of Thailand from Thonburi to Rattanakosin Island on the east side of the Chao Phraya River. It served as the official residence of Thai Kings until the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) at the end of the 19th century, and today is still used for royal rituals, state banquets and official functions — though the Inner Court is not open to the public. Its oldest buildings are the Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall, built by King Rama I to host royal lying-in-state ceremonies, and the Phra Maha Monthian, alongside the western-style Borom Phiman Mansion built by King Rama V. Within the compound, Wat Phra Kaew — the "Temple of the Emerald Buddha" — is one of Thailand's most sacred places; the small jade Buddha image is believed to be more than 2,000 years old, rediscovered in Chiang Rai in 1434, with its robes changed by the King with each season. The surrounding galleries are covered with detailed murals of the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana.
Arun Temple (Temple of the Dawn)
One of Bangkok's most famous landmarks, Wat Arun is best known for its massive Khmer-style prang standing over 80 metres tall on the Chao Phraya riverbank — the tallest in Thailand. It is one of only six temples of the highest grade of first-class Royal Temples, and one of Bangkok's oldest, dating back to when King Taksin the Great established Thonburi as the new capital after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. The prang is decorated with millions of small pieces of colourful Chinese porcelain, once used as ballast on ships from China. A steep stairway leads partway up the tower to a terrace with river views, and four smaller prangs surround the main tower.
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