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If you love cultural overseas tours and shun away from them because you think it will be a rip in your pocket, you are disillusioned. Such tours can actually be economical if planned carefully. I will share with you my experience on a ’four-day three-night’ cultural tour I organised for just US$549.

Firstly, let me share with you my planning strategies. The first thing to do is to check out travel agencies in the country or city you will be travelling to. This can be done online or sourced from any reputable travel magazines or brochures. Circumventing your local tour agent will save you a lot of money. You will need to plan and do your leg work way in advance. Communicate with the travel agents via email and customise your own itinerary. You will need time to do your own research on the cultural performances that are available at that time so that your preferences can be communicated. Once you have gotten feedback on the price of your tours based on your itinerary, shortlist your candidates and decide on the one that offers value for money.

My four-day three-night tour to Bangkok in November 2009 provided me with an exposure to the culture of Thailand through the array of performing arts showcased. It comprised a cultural dance show at dinner, a traditional puppet show and a visual extravaganza staged Thai dance and mime performance that spanned over time and generation.

I would recommend Siam Niramit which is a famous staged cultural show held in an auditorium that has a seating capacity of 2000. I recommend getting there early, say by 4pm. Take a tour around the cultural village where homes from the central, northern, northeastern and southern regions are displayed. There are also dessert and handicraft making demonstrations by Thais dressed in traditional attire. You can also take a boat ride on the little lake around the village. In addition, there is a cultural performance at 6pm in which traditional Thai dance and music are showcased.

The next stop is a dinner buffet that can be purchased with the ticket. I would recommend having dinner at 6pm before the crowds come in. There is a wide spread of dishes to choose from. Some examples include sushi, glass noodles, aglio olio pasta, curry, chicken soup noodles, fish in pesto sauce and pumpkin in coconut milk. Simply put, the dishes are international vegetarian including Japanese, Vietnamese, Western and of course Thai cuisine. 

The highlight is the Siam Niramit show that is 80 minutes long. It comes in 3 acts- Journey back into history, Jo.urney beyond Imagination, Journey Through Joyous Festivals. Dancers get audience engaged in the auditorium where they are encouraged to participate in the Loy Krathong Festival. A procession of elepahants at the end of the show injects an element of surprise for the audience. There is indeed so much colour and vibrance in the whole show. The sound and visual effects like thunder, rain, harvest time, boats travelling on the river are spectacular. The parts when the front of the stage is transformed into a river and when dieties appear to be flying are phenomenal. I must say, the show is a must-see if you are in Bangkok.

Tickets may vary from agent to agent. Check out and compare prices before purchasing. The following are websites that can give you a head start: Hotels2thailand, Alexholiday, Siammedee. I find that buying online from the Siam Niramit website seems to be dearer. Hence, tickets can be bought separately from a different tour agent that offers free pick-up from hotel and value-for-money ticket that includes a buffet dinner.  

The next visit I would recommend is the Joe Louise Puppet Theatre. This theatre specialises and focuses on puppet performance on the Ramayana epic. The way the puppets are manipulated is really amazing. It takes so much skill to master the right way of controlling each puppet. Each move mirrors the facial expression, the feelings, action of the puppet. 

The first and third person in a row of three use facial expressions that mirorr that of the puppet.

The body of the puppeteers move to coordinate with the movement of the puppet.  

Three cultural shows thrown in including a trip down the Chao Praya River that includes a visit to to the Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace cost only US$549. The price includes airfare (flying with the national carrier, Thai Airways) lodging and three daily meals. Of course, you can save up more if you can get a better airfare deal online, especially if you have to take connecting flights. 

So you see, you don’t have to end up missing out on a themed tour like the cultural or historical tour of your choice because of the impression that it is going to blow your budget. Plan ahead and be smart with your choice and booking strategies. Once you have your contacts at hand and have made a list of the cultural shows you want to watch, it’s time to start taking quotes from the local agents. Happy trip planning!  

Tags: Bangkok Cultural Tours, how to go on cultural tours on a budget, spend economically on cultural tours, Thailand Cultural Tour