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Laem Chabang (for Bangkok) Cruises, Thailand

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Laem Chabang’s sat on the southern coastline, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, and is home to the country’s largest port. A gateway to the Chonburi Province, it’s got party-hard Pattaya as a neighbour, and connects to Bangkok – the capital – via an eight-lane motorway. On the horizon, you’ll be able to see the island of Ko Sichang. This tropical spot lines up the postcard-worthy, white-sand-and-blue-sea combo that Thailand’s become famous for.

  • Bangkok’s an hour and a half’s drive from Laem Chabang, and is stacked with must-sees. In between the Wat Arun temple and the Grand Palace, you’ll see a buzzing street food scene and long-tail boats lazing down the river.
  • Visit the Harbour Mall – it’s seven storeys high, and houses shops, restaurants, an ice rink, and an adventure zone under its roof. You’ll find it a 10-minute drive from the cruise terminal.
  • Make tracks to Pattaya. Laem Chabang’s lively neighbour has a reputation as something of a wild child. But look beneath the exterior, and you’ll find the city’s mix of golden-sand beaches, plus-sized shopping centres, and attractions like the Sanctuary of Truth.

Map of Laem Chabang (for Bangkok)

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Panoramic Bangkok

After this trip, you’ll know Bangkok’s standout sites like the back of your hand. Once you’ve boarded an air-conditioned bus, you’ll head into the city’s Chinatown neighbourhood for the start of your panoramic tour. You’ll clock the Wat Traimit temple first of all, and will also pass the rainbow-like bouquets of the Flower Market. The grand city hall, the crimson Giant Swing and the royal Wat Suthat temple are all worth keeping an eye out for, and you’ll make your first photo stop at the ‘iron castle’ – Loha Prasat. This towering monastery was built for a princess in the 1800s, and its exterior is peppered with spiky black spires. Democracy Monument and the colourful Grand Palace are the next sights you’ll see, and you’ll also pass the Wat Pho temple, which is home to a huge reclining Buddha statue. Hop off for a photo at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall to round things off, then board the bus for the return journey.

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Temples and Thai Cuisine

Temples are the order of the day on this trip, and we’ve got some of Bangkok’s best lined up for you. Things get started with a stop at one of the most eye-catching of the lot, Wat Benchamabophit – also known as the Marble Temple. Next, you’ll get to cast an eye over a huge reclining statue of Buddha at the Wat Pho temple, before stopping at a hotel for a spot of lunch. Stack your plate high from the buffet table, which will be filled with tasty Thai cuisine. Once everyone’s hunger pangs are taken care of, you’ll head to the Wat Traimit temple. This place is home to a solid gold Buddha which weighs more than five tonnes, and spent years undiscovered under a coating of unspectacular plaster. After you’ve grabbed a few pictures, you’ll head back to the bus for the trip back to the ship.

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Ancient Ayutthaya

After you’ve left the port, you’ll travel beyond Bangkok on this culture-stuffed daytrip. It’ll take a couple of hours to reach this crop of temples, but they’re among the most historic in the region. You’ll see the Summer Palace first – a former waterside residence of Thai kings. Lunch is on the cards at the Krungsri River Hotel, where you’ll be able to tuck into traditional Thai cuisine. Next, visit the Wat Phra Sri Sanphet – a centuries-old monastery on the site of the country’s ancient capital, Ayutthaya. You can see a huge Buddha statue at Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit. The final stop of the day is the ruined temple of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, where rows of long-standing Buddha statues are draped in sunflower-yellow robes.

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