Bangkok Walking Tour – Crossing the ChaoPhraya River

There are tour agencies offering cycling and walking tour that that cost $30 for a duration of 3 hours and more. These may not be the most popular tour package but it provides a good insight to the daily life of local Thais.  However I still believe the best way getting know a city  is plan your own walking tour  with own pace and timing. Most of the times, you will be lost and come across discoveries with pleasant surprises.

And the tourist guides are the essential planning kit and travel companion to help us navigate the city. 

I did my Bangkok walking tour planning in the past. One of my favorite travelling guide is
A Walking Tour Bangkok by Bryne Bracken.  Since Bryne Bracken was an architect  who worked in Bangkok, the book is an architectural adventure through the bustling streets and busy canals of the city. 

Because Bangkok cities is full of street and lanes that are not shown on usual tourist maps ( so as the digital Google map ), I still got lost, resulted in “excessive walking” that exhausted me.    

My recent Bangkok walking tour in Jan 2015 started from the Khlong San district : 
a) Visit to  Wat Phichaiyat ;  accidental discovery of Wat Prayurawongsawas Waraviharn,
b) Strolling along the riverside, bumped into a cycling tour group,
c) Crossing the Memorial Bridge, back to Rattanakosin City
d) Visit to Yodpiman river walk and  Bangkok flower market ( Pak Klong Talad )
e) Lost in the Samphanthawong district, ended in The Old Siam Plaza
f) Walking through  China town and headed to Hua Lamphong MRT station

 A total of 4km walking tour started at 9am ( excluding an hour taxi ride from Silom to Klong San ) ended at 3pm ( excluding the MRT ride back to hotel )

What a pleasant walk!