God’s Own Acre — From Divine Teas to a Golden Mountain

You'll walk through divine Bangkok — the acre where everything to do with temples, gods, Buddhas and monks happens. The journey starts at Bangkok's oldest, most historic tea shop, which still sells exotic teas from China and Taiwan. Their Song Zhong tea goes back to China's Song Dynasty 1000 years ago.

You'll see the magnificent 26-foot-high Buddha of Wat Suthat, Thailand's Royal Temple Grade 1, one of 10 in Bangkok that trains and supplies priests for temples throughout the land. In the same compound, you'll see a Buddha made of tin and lead from opium canisters that King Rama III seized from drug lords.

You'll explore a pencil-thin soi and meet the last members of a community that still makes the unique eight-part metal begging bowls that monks use when seeking alms.

There's more — a street lined with huge golden Buddhas and other divinities; Wat Thepthidarat, Thailand's only temple dedicated to bhikkunis or female monks.

You'll visit the compound where tens of thousands of Thais were cremated during Thailand's devastating pandemic of cholera in the 1800s. There are still tableaus of vultures surrounding the dead.

But climb 318 steps to the bell-shaped Wat at the top of the Golden Mountain, and you'll behold the most breathtaking view of the City of Angels that you'll ever see.

The walk ends with coffee in the cool of a cosy roastery right along a peaceful canal.

PLEASE NOTE: To cover the costs of researching the route and preparing the walking guide, there will be a small fee of 300 baht that can be paid directly through bank-to-bank transfer