3. Bangkok: Chinatown and Wat Traimit Self-Guided Walking Tour
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map all in one.
Once downloaded, your tour will begin at Wat Traimit itself: the Temple of the Golden Buddha. In the courtyard, you’ll get a good look at the impressive structure while your audio companion explains the significance of the ancient temple.
Then you’ll proceed inside, where you’ll get an up-close look at the famous statue from which this temple gets its name. The enormous 11,000 lb Golden Buddha is hard to miss! Here, you’ll hear the dramatic history behind this Buddha, including how it was almost lost to the sands of time!
When ready, you’ll continue next to the impressive Chinatown Gate, which mimics the ancient, towering gates one might find in Chinese city centers. As you pass through it, the tour narrator will fill you in on why Bangkok’s Chinatown is so important… and so big.
Make sure you bring an appetite for the next part of the tour! You’ll be strolling down Yaowarat Road, a premier destination for authentic and delicious street food. As you walk, you’ll hear recommendations for some of the best places to stop, including the first-ever Michelin-starred street food stall!
As you continue toward Sampeng Lane, you’ll also learn why Buddhism is so important to Thailand and how it spread there in the first place.
Finally, you’ll arrive at Sampeng Lane, a shopping destination like no other. If you’re looking for a souvenir to remind you of your trip, this sprawling market is the best place to be. Your tour concludes here.