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Cultural tours in Thailand
Few countries reward the culturally curious traveller like Thailand. Our Buddhist Kingdoms of Thailand & Laos tour moves from the Dvaravati sanctuaries of Nakhon Pathom and Si Thep to Sukhothai, where sculptors broke centuries of static convention with the walking Buddha.
We follow the Buddhist kingdoms north through Ayutthaya's royal temples and Chiang Mai's Lanna heritage, and on to Luang Prabang, seat of Lan Chang and now a Laotian UNESCO town of gilded monasteries. We study the Khmer temples of Phimai and Phnom Rung, once looted and now recovering their repatriated heritage, before closing in Bangkok among the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun, where every earlier style reappears, absorbed and remade.
Browse Thailand tours
Spotlight on Thailand
Si Thep, Phetchabun
Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site only in 2023, this Dvaravati city lay forgotten among rice fields and forest for centuries, its sculpture bridging Indian Gupta tradition and the emerging art of the Thai mainland.
Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai
Founded in the 13th century as the first true Thai kingdom, Sukhothai broke from centuries of static, frontal convention: its sculptors set the Buddha in motion, striding forward in the walking pose that would define Thai art for generations.
Phnom Rung, Buriram
Crowning an extinct volcano above the northeastern plains, this Khmer sanctuary fell victim to antiquities smuggling during the conflicts of the 1960s; repatriation is now returning looted sculpture to the temple for which it was carved.
Why travel with us?
Reviews
Great content, care and value
Always quality accommodation, care and content. The speakers are great and the staff attentive and competent. The most recent trip, "Art and History on the Danube", was an excellent example. Not cheap but great value for money.
A first class experience!
I have been on 3 MRT tours in the last year (Venice, Florence and French gothic cathedrals). Each was meticulously planned: perfect locations, great h...
Very high quality itinerary, leadership and planning
The tour (Medieval Anjou and Poitou) was meticulously planned and well paced. The lecturer was entirely on top of his subject and his knowledge and en...
Wonderful art tours
I have been on six Martin Randall tours that focused on art. Every one of them met my very high expectations. Thoughtful itineraries, comfortable hote...
Wonderful
A wonderful trip with a fabulous lecturer, John Burt, and a kind, attentive tour manager, Marion. The music was divine, and the other guests made for truly delightful company.
Tuscany and Umbria
The week long walking tour to Tuscany and Umbria was excellent with the perfect balance between up to five mile walks, Italian scenery, culture, food and wine.
I have enjoyed 7 tours with MRT
I have enjoyed seven tours with Martin Randall Travel. They have all been excellent, meticulously planned and organised to the last detail, and enable...
The gold standard for cultural tours
MRT is the gold standard for cultural tours. The inclusion of an expert lecturer automatically filters a group of like-minded albeit eclectic folk; it...
The expert lecturer adds huge value
This was my fifth Martin Randall Travel trip. They have all been good. The key difference with these tours is the fact that there is an expert lecture...
You really get looked after
You really get looked after on a MRT tour. Everything is arranged to make the holiday so enjoyable: transport, entry to museums all sorted without fus...
One of the very best for cultural and history tours
One of the very best for cultural and history tours. I have traveled multiple times with Martin Randall and am consistently extremely impressed by the...
Egypt for those wanting to know more
I recently was one of 22 people joining Martin Randall for its inaugural trip to Egypt. The lecturer, a UK-based educator and specialist in Near Easte...
Uniformly excellent tours and adventures
Martin Randall is a top level, and top quality operator. They do what they promise, and usually much more. I travel alone, and I note how open, well b...
Holidays - always with that special something
Martin Randall Travel (MRT) are the best because they provide their customers with carefully designed and tested itineraries. These often feature spec...
A cruise down the Rhine with classical music concerts every night
Martin Randall leaves nothing to chance - everything is planned and of the highest quality, but there is always room for a little individuality as well.
Everything we expected and more
The annual calendar of tours offers a huge range. In any year it is difficult to decide where - there is so much on offer. We wish we had more ti me t...
Entertaining and Educational
All the staff from Martin Randall are knowledgeable, friendly and efficient. There are few problems but, should they occur, they handle them well. I feel they offer good value for money.
An Italian art lover's dream
Martin Randall Travel is a thoroughly professional cultural tour operator: all arrangements are impeccably organised, tours are well researched, lectu...
Cotswold Choral Festival
As always, Martin Randall had created a perfectly designed itinerary and executed it in an extremely well organised manner, despite it being a very complex event.
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