A spiritual start to the day as you join locals in offering food to Buddhist monks during their morning alms round. Drive south and break for lunch in Chai Nat. Today’s route from Sukhothai via Uthai Thani to Ayutthaya mirrors the southward expansion of Siam, following the kingdom’s historical development. On arrival to Ayutthaya, a former capital of Siam, head to Ayutthaya Historical Park to visit the temple of Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the adjacent Viharn Phra Mongkol Bophit to contemplate the golden Buddha. Continue to the eerily enchanting ruins of Wat Phra Mahathat, with its famous statue of Buddha devoured by tree roots. Such a heavenly heritage ensemble has earned this historical park the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. Overnight in Ayutthaya. Breakfast and lunch included.

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and then drive through pastoral landscapes virtually untouched by the passage of time before arriving at Kanchanaburi, a quiet town at the confluence of the rivers Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai. It is renowned for the beauty of its natural surroundings and abundant wildlife but it also holds an unwanted place in history as the location of the notorious World War II ‘Death Railway Bridge’, immortalised in the Hollywood classic, The Bridge on the River Kwai. Visit the war cemetery, the final resting place of thousands of soldiers, and the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre to learn about the appalling conditions in which Allied POWs and Thai slave labourers worked to build a military supply railway. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon of free time with a number of activity options available. Overnight in Kanchanaburi. Breakfast and lunch included.

Depart Kanchanaburi after breakfast at the hotel with a scenic drive to Nakhon Pathom to visit the temple with the magnificent 127-metre-high Phra Pathommachedi stupa, the tallest of its kind in the world. Continue to Damnoen Saduak, which is famed for its vibrant and colourful floating markets. Breathe in the fragrances of the orient as dozens of boats glide along, selling fresh fruit and vegetables as well as tasty local delicacies. The buzz of the noise and the bustle of activity are quintessential Thai experiences. Continue to Bangkok for drop-off at your hotel in the city, where the tour comes to an end (departure transfer to the airport not included). Breakfast and lunch included.