Ayutthaya Temple Tour

When I first booked this tour to Ayutthaya, I had no idea where the city actually was. All I knew was that it was a former capital outside of Bangkok with a wealth of temples. I’ve since discovered it’s a major tourist hub, though I’ll admit I didn’t even know how to pronounce its name at first. Interestingly, several women at my local pub, the Crown Hotel, are from Thailand; one of them even told me Ayutthaya was her hometown and that her family still lives here. Despite that local tip, I still didn’t quite know what to expect.

I opted for a two-day tour with an overnight stay. It kicked off with a deep dive into the history of the Kingdom, dating back several centuries. After a lovely buffet lunch on the road—one of those classic bus-stop setups where I started bonding with our small group—we arrived at the sites.

The group is a great mix: a few Americans and Canadians, two English women, a Greek woman, and myself. We visited four temples in total, but I decided to sit out and relax at two of them. Honestly, I needed to conserve my energy. One of the ongoing lessons of this trip is learning to gauge what I can reasonably achieve in a day, taking into account my general health and my amputation. Even with being selective, I still clocked about 7,000 steps today.

I chose my temples wisely. I was particularly drawn to the first site—the ruins of an ancient canal city—and I was determined to see the reclining Buddha. Our guide, Eddie, was fantastic; he was incredibly attentive to accessibility and always checked in to see if I needed a hand.

One moment really stood out at a temple featuring a Buddha head entwined in tree roots. It’s a popular spot for photos, but etiquette dictates you can’t stand taller than the Buddha. Eddie quickly realised I might struggle to get all the way down to the ground to sit, so he grabbed a chair for me. It was a small gesture that made a huge difference, allowing me to sit comfortably and respectfully for the photo

Tonight, I’m staying at the Big Country Village. The room is lovely, and the bedroom and bathroom are both huge, complete with a bath and a separate shower. The only downside was the climb; I had to navigate two flights of stairs to get to reception and another two to get to my room. It was hard work, but I managed.

While there’s a tuk-tuk headed to the night markets later, I’ve decided to call it a day. After 7,000 steps and those stairs, a quiet night in the hotel is exactly what I need to recharge.