Bangkok’s Hidden Treasures Walking Tour

Begin your walking tour with your guide from the meeting point to the Elephant Head Bridge to board a boat on the Saen Saeb canal. You’ll travel to the old city area that’s known as Pom Pra Satru Pai. The canal was constructed in 1837 by the order of King Rama III for military transport during the war over Cambodia. Today it serves as a fast and inexpensive way for Bangkokians to travel through the city, avoiding the traffic jams.

Next you’ll head to the Golden Mount and Wat Saket, a pagoda situated on an artificial hill, and another creation of King Rama III. It wasn't completed until the reign of King Rama V however, due to land subsidence causing the original structure to collapse. Today the pagoda commands a panoramic view over Bangkok.

Stop is at the stunning Silver Pagoda, built during the reign of King Rama III, in 1846, for the princess granddaughter. The temple is best known for it's 37 metal spires, signifying the 37 virtues. Also known as the Silver Pagoda, the design almost appears Burmese, but in fact this is a copy of old Buddhist design found in Sri Lanka.

Continue walking to Bamrung Muang, Bangkok's first shopping street. Today it caters to temple supplies where you will find monk robes, candles, incense sticks, books, and many golden statues of the Buddha.

Down a small side street you’ll find Baan Bat, where a small group of locals have, for centuries, made their living producing hand-made alms bowls to be purchased by the faithful and donated to monks.

At the end of the road you’ll arrive at the Giant Swing, constructed in 1784. It was originally used in an ceremony where Brahmins would swing, trying to grab a bag of coins placed on one of the pillars. In 1935 the ceremony was discontinued after several fatal accidents.

Take a walk through Wat Suthat, a royal temple constructed during the reign of King Rama I, but not completed until the reign of King Rama III.

Give your feet a rest and take a tuk tuk ride through the small streets of old Bangkok to Wat Pho, home of the first school of medicine in Bangkok. The temple is the oldest and largest monastery in Bangkok, and it was the first university in Bangkok teaching students in the fields of religion, science, and literature through murals and sculptures.

After all this walking you’ll be rewarded with a 30-minute foot massage (strictly not for pregnant women) at a nearby Thai massage school. According to ancient medicine, the sensory nerves of the internal organs that spread throughout the body are mainly gathered around the soles of the feet, making massage an effective means of stimulating the functions of the organs.

Once you’re relaxed and ready to head out again, it will be time to take a river boat down the Chao Phraya River, connecting to a skytrain that will take you back to the meeting point.