Hotels Ayutthaya Ayudhya Bangkok Ayutthaya tours

- Bangkok Ayutthaya is probably

the first part of the journey to this great city, one of Thailand must see destinations. Ayutthaya tours are some of the most popular Bangkok day trips. The short journey is best made by train this also open up the view into the life of Thai people when passing through Bangkok and after through the huge paddy fields. Rural and city life is very similar in Thailand. Since the train journey finally ends up somewhere in northern Thailand there are plenty of people ready to make the long trip with plenty of luggage and food means it might be difficult the find a seat when traveling in the third class. But third class travel is just the right starter to get into the mood, since it wont take more than one hour and half its no problem and as we know a place is found even in the smallest hut.

Ayutthaya is only the first part and most of the tourists get off train there for their day trip. A alternative could be a cruise up the Chao Phraya River but since there is no regular boat service. This trip can only be done by hiring a boat and the boats are actually river ships for dozens of passenger including restaurants and some even have cabins to stay on the ship for a few days.

What are the benefits for a tour to this ancient city? A incredible dive into the past of Asia with temples and monasteries plus enjoying the laid back river life of central Thailand, not much has changed except cars came instead bullock carts and modern buildings. If one prefers it more rural with actual oxcart travel, coach trips and horse power its not far away, about a daytrip to Myanmar Bagan or Burma. Historical views are overwhelming, only a very few destinations on the planet give true glimpse into the last about 800 years comfortable discovering within a daytrip.

- Today's Ayutthaya Thailand emerged sometimes around 1350 into the known history;

Ayudhya is it was also known very likely existed already for quite some time before. The strategically well placed city on an island at the confluence of two rivers received continuous goods from the north via the river. From the north most trading goods came from China and Japan, where traded in the city and shipped on to India, Persia, Arabia and Europe. From China came mainly silk, ceramics and porcelain. Over time Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Netherlands, French and Indian companies opened trading houses and did a brisk business since it was possible to access the city harbor coming from the Indian Ocean and up the river. It is very likely that the position of Ayudhya was much closer to the ocean as the about 140km of today.

Today (2011) the trading is replaced by tourists and a Bangkok Ayutthaya cruise or train ride is on the agenda for the travelers who try to get a glimpse into ancient times of Asia. Ayutthaya has a lot to offer for the culture oriented traveler, since several of the magnificent temple, monasteries, palaces and other interesting objects and subjects are still around.

Thai Ayutthaya also receives thousand of Thai people on sightseeing tours, Bangkok Ayutthaya is only about 90 minutes by train and around 2 hours by bus, car or minibus.

Over time Ayutthaya city expanded beyond the natural boundary of the island into the busy midsized town of today.  Plenty of Ayutthaya hotel and resorts are around, several built right on the banks of the rivers with floating restaurants just in front, this are ideal places to enjoy the view over the river and the busy traffic on the water.

There are huge river ships and barges gliding by, plenty of old Ayutthaya temples are positioned just beyond the banks of the river. To really enjoy this to full extend it needs a Ayutthaya cruise, usually lasting about one hour to encircle the island, this can also be integrated into a Bangkok Ayutthaya Trip.