IAC Journeys Returns for Summer 2026!

Families should plan on arriving in Bangkok on June 30. A welcome meet up will be scheduled in the early evening in the lobby of the Shangri-La Bangkok for families who have arrived by then. While there is no set time by which families are required to arrive, we recommend landing in Bangkok by 6pm if possible, to ensure a full night’s sleep, as we’ll be getting an early start in the morning. Please note that traffic in Bangkok is unpredictable; a cab ride to or from the main international airport (Suvarnabhumi – BKK) to either the Shangri La Bangkok or the Holiday Inn Express Central Pier takes 40-90 minutes (it is heavily dependent on traffic) and should cost approximately $40-50 USD. A cab ride to or from the secondary airport (Don Mueang – DMK) to either the Shangri La Bangkok or the Holiday Inn Express Central Pier takes about 30-75 minutes (likewise, depending on traffic) and should cost approximately $30-40 USD.

Our tour to Bangkok will consist of three full days. If there are 100 people or fewer on the tour, then we will likely stay together as one group, and everyone will see the sites in the order that they are presented here (i.e. starting with the Royal Palace on the morning of July 1 as shown in the “Day A” itinerary). If our group is larger than that, we may split up so that half of the group begins on July 1 with the “Day B” itinerary as presented below, shifting then to the “Day A” itinerary on July 2. In any case, all participants will see the same sites, it is simply the order that may change due to the need to not have too many people in one spot at once. All family members (and any accompanying friends) will be in the same group. On the registration form, you can request to be placed in a group with specific students or families with whom you are friends. We will honor these requests as best as we can.
Local Thai university students who are alumni of IAC’s Asian Division will accompany us and assist with arrangements. IGC staff members will also help guide the tour, and organize the buzzer practices and competitions.

We’ll begin with the top site in the Thai capital: the Grand Palace which is the seat of the ruling Chakri Dynasty. One of the world’s largest and most impressive palaces, the Grand Palace is home to galleries, museums, tables, reception halls, residences, and much more. For example, the statue of the Emerald Buddha, known as Wat Phra Kaew, inside the palace grounds is one of the most renowned monuments in Thailand. Next to the Palace is the university and temple complex known as Wat Pho, considered the most important of all temples in Thailand. The indisputable highlight is the Statue of the Reclining Buddha which stretches for 40 meters / 50 yards – fully half a football field in length.

After a morning full of temples and palaces, we’ll head in a different direction for lunch, namely to the gargantuan Icon Siam Mall. One of the world’s largest malls, with over 7000 shops, our first stop will be the genuinely iconic food court. The food court is a perfect introduction to Thailand’s world-famous street food in a clean and delicious setting, and features a dizzying array of Thai, Asian, and world cuisines with all sorts of unique treats to try. After lunch, you can continue to shop to your heart’s content at Icon Siam, or head with us to the Pak Khlong Talat Flower Market. While the market is relatively quiet during the day (you’re welcome to come back on your own from 2am-4am when it’s most bustling), you can still see a great diversity of tropical flowers for sale. Next to the flower market, the historic Saphan Phut Bridge provides a chance to walk across the Chao Phraya River for great photos of the temples and palaces on its banks. And the nearby Rattakosin neighborhood, commonly known as Old Town, has many backstreets, food stalls, shops, and sites to explore as you wish.

Whenever you wish, you can make your way back to the hotels, both of which are within a 10 minute walk from Central Pier. Our guides will stay with you and/or point you in the right direction so you can rest as needed in the afternoon. Or try a very inexpensive foot massage or a Thai massage at one of the ubiquitous massage salons – it’s a great way to combat any lingering jet lag. In the evening, we’ll then meet up for a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River. As busy as it is during the day, Bangkok is a city that truly comes alive at night, and a cruise with dinner included in the tour fee will be a perfect way to end the day. We’ll also bring some buzzer systems to play some questions on the boat as well for anyone who’s interested in warming up in advance of IGC.

Today we’ll begin with a trip to the outskirts of Bangkok to see one of the hallmarks of the city: the Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market. Bangkok is a city built in a river delta with numerous canals, and floating markets historically played a major role in the commerce and daily life of the city. Today, they are a must-see for tourists, though as the main floating markets are outside the city center, we’ll travel there by coach bus – and play practice questions on our battery-operated buzzer systems as we go. The market offers a chance to take a canal boat ride and it will also be our stop for an early lunch.

After lunch, we’ll head back towards the Central Pier, where you can then take a water taxi along the Chao Phraya to either the Siam Museum for an overview of Thai history and culture. Or, for an only-in-Bangkok experience, head to the unique Royal Barge Museum for a window into how the royal family of Thailand used to navigate the Chao Phraya. Now run by the Royal Thai Navy, it’s home to dozens of intricately crafted boats that are still used for ceremonial purposes. In the late afternoon, Wat Arun, one of the most famous sites in Bangkok and known as the Temple of Dawn, also provides a great spot to catch the sunset at the end of another busy day. The evening is then at your leisure; we can provide restaurant recommendations for all cuisines and price ranges.

On our final full day of the Bangkok Pre-Tour, we’ll head out of the current Thai capital, to the former Thai capital of Ayutthaya. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ayutthaya lies 30 miles / 50 kilometers to the north of Bangkok. From 1350 to 1767 it was the center of the Thai monarchy until it was razed by invading Burmese armies; never to be rebuilt (and soon thereafter, Bangkok started growing and hasn’t stopped). Today, Ayutthaya and its temples (such as Wat Phra Mahathat and Wat Phra Si Sanphet), government buildings, dwellings, and other structures lie in extensive ruins that await our exploration. Ayutthaya’s history itself dates back to at least the 9th century when the Khmer Empire established a base in the area, naming the city after the holy city of Ayodhya in India. Indeed, the architecture at Ayutthaya is reminiscent of Angkor Wat, the most famous Khmer ruins (if you’re joining us for the Post-Tour you’ll be interested to compare the two). The video here gives a taste of what to expect.

After lunch, and en route back to Bangkok, we’ll visit the Summer Palace of Bang Pa-In. Developed extensively in the 19th century on top of a preexisting Ayutthaya-era complex, the palace is surrounded by a picturesque lake away from the bustle of the Grand Palace in the hear of the city. Next to Bang Pa-In, we’ll also note the unique architecture of Wat Niwet Thamprawat – a Buddhist temple resembling a European church.

Also on today’s agenda: after having had some buzzer practice over the first two days, we’ll take advantage of the approximately 2 hour trip to and from Ayutthaya to run two Bee competitions. On the way out, given our competition venue being a bus, we’ll play the Transportation Bee, with questions on the geography and history of trains, planes, and automobiles (and boats, helicopters, tuk-tuks, etc.) and the roads, airways, seaways, and railways that people have traveled on. On the way back, having started in one of Asia’s greatest cities and spending much of the day at the ruins of another, we’ll fittingly play the Asian Cities Bee. Note that these are not official IGC medal events, but we will have prizes for the top finishers among older students, younger students, and adults.