Taste Bangkok: An Evening Ramble Through The Thai Capital

From shopping to food and … other vices, all the best stuff in Bangkok happens in the streets. (Mostly at night). This evening tour offers the chance to experience all this with a helping hand from a clued-in local guide; armed with a route that is catered completely to your whims and fancies. This two-hour tour’s a bit of a mixed bag – and therein lies its appeal. It doesn’t cover just one facet of Bangkok nightlife, but a whole range of different things, giving travellers a real sense of the variety and (let’s be real) craziness of the city.

It’s not your stereotypical night markets tour and it’s certainly not boring. On the agenda is a beloved local temple (yes, you’ll brush shoulders with monks), Bangkok’s red light district, street food tastings, a tuk-tuk ride and drinks at a rooftop bar, so it’s a fun few hours. This tour hopes to give travellers a taste of the crazy, colourful and sometimes contradictory nature of this wonderful city. In our books, it achieves this tenfold.

About your guide

Think of With Locals’ tours as a sort of mini cultural exchange program. Each of their local guides aim to share a part of their city that they know and love with travellers and each bring their own tales to the table in the process.

Here’s the plan…

Ready for an awesome few hours? Here’s how it all goes down. You’ll meet your personal guide at the Sam Yam station. First up is a visit to a nearby temple, known to locals as the ‘coffin temple’ (we promise it’s not as scary as it sounds). This temple is mostly popular with Thai folk, rather than tourists. Many come here each day to donate a coffin to the deceased who either couldn’t afford to organise one for themselves, or didn’t have family members to provide this for them. This is a really special spot on the tour because it gives insight into a longstanding cultural tradition – one that you wouldn’t normally be privy to.

After a wander around the temple, it’s time for a change of pace. Next, you’ll explore Bangkok’s thriving red light district. Strolling down the main strip, your guide will run you through the history of the area, and explain a little bit about how it functions now. Then, it’s time to explore Bangkok’s much-loved night markets, where knock-off Gucci bags sit next to awesome jewellery shops and other unexpected paraphernalia (viagra, anyone?). This area (Silom) is also the mecca for street food, and your guide will point you towards some of the most delicious (and safe) stalls to eat from. Under their guidance, you’ll try a handful of delicious local delicacies.

After dinner, a tuk-tuk ride takes you through the busy streets of Bangkok, eventually meandering over to the final stop of the tour: a cool rooftop bar with epic views of the city below. The tour ends with a drink overlooking the skyline.