Description
Bangkok Sacred Experience
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Meeting Point | A designated point near the flower market (given after reservation) |
| End Point | Near the Massage School at Wat Pho (reclining Buddha temple) |
| Duration | Up to 6-8 hours |
| Physical Level | Moderate - this experience involves short-distance walking around sites in the sun |
| Cultural Rating | Moderate - a good balance of cultural interactions, history and site-seeing |
| Ages | 18+ (younger must be accompanied by an adult - babies 2 years old or younger may join for free) |
| Group Size | Private - Max 6 people per booking |
Itinerary for visiting the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Bangkok flower and amulet market
After joining your guide at the designated meeting point (given to you after making your reservation, you will head off into the city's top attraction - The Grand Palace! We are arriving right as it opens, though it may still be busy - it is the best time of day to go before it gets too hot out! While most guides will just go over some of the basic site features, we will take you deeper while exploring the ancient murals and their relevance to modern Thai culture. Looking at paintings of the Ramakien (the story of Buddha on which modern Thai culture is based), as well as some hard-to-find paintings of warriors wearing protective yantra designs on their armour - the foundations for modern-day sak yant tattoos which have become popular in recent years!
After visiting the Grand Palace, we will head over to the famous flower market - a must-see destination inside of Bangkok! At the Bangkok flower market (locally known as Pak Khlong Talat) we will experience the hustle and bustle that happens here daily. Flowers are an integral part of Thai culture as they are used for almost every offering made at temples around the country. While in the market, you will get to visit one of the vendors and learn how to make the flower garlands that are given as part of the offerings and get to keep your own to be made as an offering later in the tour!
Once we're done exploring the flower market, we will take an 'explorer's break' for a delicious local lunch (we can accommodate most food requirements ie vegetarian, gluten-free, etc) to fill up and get our energy levels back up!
From here, we will wander through Bangkok's amulet market - one of the largest of its kind in Thailand. Hundreds of vendors are selling and trading sacred amulets, said to have the same types of powers that sak yant bamboo tattoos do (though less permanent, of course)!
Finally, we make our way over to Wat Pho - home of Bangkok's Reclining Buddha! Though there's a lot more to this temple than just its famous giant Buddha statue. This is also where the original teachings of Thai Massage can be found. We will take you through some of the paintings which is where the original massage masters would train to learn their practice of Thai Massage! We will end our time together at the massage school, where you can optionally choose to partake in one of the most common Thai practices - getting a great massage!
Please note: There is a Dress Code! There is a strict dress code for visiting the Grand Palace being a very 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 when you take off your sandals). Women must be similarly modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, no bare shoulders, knees covered, etc. It is also recommended to avoid wearing bright colours, though less strictly enforced.
The flower market is also pretty wet on the floor, so your sandals/shoes may get a little muddy.
What is included with the Bangkok Sacred Experience?
Your sacred experience includes:
- information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you
- a specially trained and licensed English-speaking guide who will facilitate your experience
- transportation during the tour (tuk-tuk, if needed)
- translations with your flower garland instructor (and the flower offering)
- lunch (includes a basic meal and non-alcoholic beverage)
- Entrance Fees to the Grand Palace and Wat Pho
- a special amulet from the amulet market
What is not included when on your Sacred Bangkok Experience?
- Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
- International flights or transportation to/from the itinerary's start point
– Accommodation in Bangkok (we suggest Agoda for the best hotel rates)
- Alcoholic beverages (not recommended before entering sacred places)
- Transportation (getting to and from the meeting and endpoints)
- Thai Massage at Wat Pho (optional, but not included)
- Gratuities and tips
- Spending Money if you wish to purchase additional souvenirs or items.
Supporting Local Projects with our TRiP Foundation
Every TRiP that you go on with WSE Travel, we will donate 2% (or $1/day per day, per person - whichever is greater) to an environmental or community-based project in the country you're visiting. We want to ensure that every guest we help, in turn, helps support and preserve the destination we're experiencing together as a direct result. We live by an ethos to Travel Responsibly & Impact Positively (TRiP).
For more information on the projects supported by this experience, please visit our Thailand TRIP projects.
Rochelle Ryden –
This was a once in a life time experience ! I am still in awe …. the private tour is the way to go. I feel using W S E was a much better choice than trying to go on my own. Our guide was very knowledgeable! He also helped guide us through the rituals allowing us to get the most out of the spiritual side. which is very important to me…. I want to show as much respect as possible. First we went to the amulet market…….The size of it was breathtaking…he even took the time to take me back to the beginning to find the amulet I should have gotten the first time past. the ancient 200+ year old paintings, the history they show is something I will never forget! I am still amazed at how well they they look and the time put in to them. Then we were taken to the flower market …. I do bead work and i can say , It takes a much gentler hand to build the flower offerings than what I do. I have much respect for their gentle caring touch. Being able to give an offering that was made by my own hand adds to the sacred experience, gives it more of a personal touch. I feel closer to myself and will never forget this wonderful time. thank you!
Jeffrey Yarges (verified owner) –
This is an amazing tour! I do not do touristy things as a rule, yet I wanted to see these amazing sights while in Thailand. Choosing this company to guide me through the chaos of tourism was the best choice I could have made. It’s is not a typical “tour” company or tour. Without the expertise of the guide and his extreme knowledge topped with his easy going nature my anxiety disorder would have never let me see what I saw or do what I did. I didn’t have to worry about a thing, just looking and learning. The tour concentrated on the spiritual side of these places and pushed home the importance of it to the Thai culture and their history. Not one question went unanswered, from simple to complex. I learned more on this tour about amulets, Buddhism, Wats, and the Royal family then I ever imagined I would. Making my own offering at the flower market and being lead through the prayer as I made the offering was a once in a life time opportunity that I’m so happy I took. I left the tour with a camera full of pics, a mind full of knowledge, a heart filled with love, and a really cool amulet. I can’t recommend this tour enough!