Ayutthaya bike tour: Ancient temples on two wheels

A 37-meter reclining Buddha sits behind the ruins of Wat Lokaya Sutha, waiting for you to ride up to it.

A half-day bicycle tour of Ayutthaya's ancient temples with an English-speaking guide, helmet and water included. You bike through the old capital's island ruins, stopping at major temple sites like Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Si Sanphet, passing through local neighborhoods and along the Chao Phraya River. A minimum of two people per booking is required. Children under 12 receive a discount.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Chao Phraya Riverpassing by
2. Ayutthaya40m

Ayutthaya City Cultural Bike Tour

• Select bicycles and adjust seats
• Start bike ride around Ayutthaya
• Pass by Chao Phraya River
• Visit Pom Phet fortress and park
• Explore Wat Lokaya Sutha temple ruins
• Tour Ayutthaya Historical Park ruins
• Visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet temple
• See Wat Mahathat and Buddha head in tree roots
• Finish bike ride at starting point

The experience

You arrive in Ayutthaya with a free afternoon and no car. The tour starts in the city center, where you select a bicycle, adjust the seat and set off with your guide. The route winds through local communities and temple grounds, covering the historical island where the ancient Ayutthaya Kingdom once stood. The pace is steady enough for all fitness levels, and the guide points out the stories behind each stop as you ride.

The temples themselves are the reason you came. Wat Mahathat holds one of the most photographed objects in Ayutthaya (a stone Buddha head entwined in tree roots), and you'll see the collapsed remains of its once-massive central prang. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the holiest temple of the old Royal Palace, shows you the grandeur that inspired Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew. Wat Lokaya Sutha is the scale stop: a 37-meter reclining Buddha lies behind the ubosot, and a 30-meter Khmer-style prang rises above the ruins. You also pass Pom Phet fortress, where the Burmese could not breach the city walls in 1767, and ride along the Chao Phraya River that once defined the capital's reach.

The tour runs three hours, which means you move between sites without long waits. You get a helmet, a snack and bottled water. The bicycle is yours for the ride. Dress respectfully for the temples (knees and shoulders covered), and bring the willingness to walk a bike through uneven ground where the old city used to be. Children are welcome, and specialized infant seats are available if you're bringing very young riders.

What’s included

• Use of bicycle and helmet.
• snack and bottled water.
• English-speaking guide for the three-hour ride through the temple ruins and local communities.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by ThailandBiking - Ayutthaya branch

Is this one for you?If you're staying in Bangkok or elsewhere without a car, this tour solves the transport problem. You start in Ayutthaya city center where public buses and trains arrive, and the guide handles the route through the ruins. Three hours means you can fit it into a free afternoon and still have time to explore the city on your own afterward.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6).

What is Wat Lokaya Sutha and why is it on this tour?

Wat Lokaya Sutha is a massive temple ruin on the historical island, famous for its 37-meter reclining Buddha image behind the ubosot and a 30-meter Khmer-style prang tower. It's a key stop because the scale of both the Buddha and the prang shows the wealth and ambition of the ancient Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Can I do this tour if I haven't ridden a bike in years?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the pace is steady through local communities and temple grounds. You'll have time to walk sections if you need to, and the guide adjusts the route to the group.

How do I get to the starting point without a car?

The tour starts in Ayutthaya city center, where public transportation options are available nearby. If you're staying in Bangkok, you can take a train or bus to Ayutthaya and meet the tour at the city center pickup point.

What makes Wat Mahathat stand out from the other temples?

Wat Mahathat was one of the most important temples in the Ayutthaya Kingdom, and it's known for the stone Buddha head entwined in tree roots: one of the most photographed objects in Ayutthaya. The collapsed central prang shows what the temple once was before the Burmese destruction in 1767.

Do I need to cover my shoulders and knees at the temples?

Yes. Since you'll be visiting active and sacred temple sites, you're expected to dress respectfully with knees covered and shoulders covered when you enter the temples. Longer shorts and a shirt with sleeves are recommended.