Introduction
I came to Ayutthaya with one mission in mind: to capture the breathtaking temples of the Ayutthaya Historical Park from the air. These centuries-old ruins are part of one of Thailand’s most fascinating historical sites, and if you’re interested in learning more about its incredible past, you can read about it on Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayutthaya_Historical_Park 🙂 This post is mostly about my drone adventure – because getting those aerial shots turned out to be far more complicated than I had expected.
Before we get into that, a quick travel tip: I reached Ayutthaya by train from Don Mueang Train Station in Bangkok for just 11 THB, which has to be one of the cheapest train rides I’ve ever taken. I also found a place to stay without booking in advance—but I’ll save that story for another post. 😉
About Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya served as the capital of the Kingdom of Siam for more than four centuries and was once one of the world’s largest and wealthiest cities.
Founded in 1351 by King Ramathibodi I, the city grew rapidly thanks to its strategic location on international trade routes linking China, India, and the rest of Southeast Asia.
By the 17th century, Ayutthaya was home to around one million inhabitants—roughly the combined population of London and Paris at the time. Its extensive network of canals earned it the nickname “The Venice of the East,” while merchants from across Asia and Europe came here to trade rice, spices, timber, silk, and countless other goods.
The city flourished until 1767, when it was destroyed during the Burmese invasion. Although the capital was later moved to Bangkok, the magnificent temple ruins remain as a reminder of Ayutthaya’s golden age.
Today, the Ayutthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Thailand’s most popular cultural attractions. Walking—or flying—through these ancient temples is like stepping back in time.
If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, Ayutthaya is a destination you simply shouldn’t miss.
Flying a Drone in Ayutthaya
If you want to fly a drone legally in Thailand, you’ll first need to register it and purchase drone insurance. I used the following company to handle the registration process: FEIC
I thought that would be the hardest part. It wasn’t. What I hadn’t realised was that the Ayutthaya Historical Park has its own drone restrictions. Even with a fully registered drone, flying inside the park isn’t allowed unless you obtain a separate filming permit. So I headed to the park administration office, where I was politely informed that, for the modest fee of 5,000 THB (around 560 PLN at the time), I could receive permission to film selected temples – but not all of them.
Thankfully, they approved access to two of Ayutthaya’s most iconic sites:
There was just one condition: I had to be accompanied by a park representative for the entire filming session. For the next four hours, Nyng stayed with me while I flew the drone. His job was to document the shoot, take photographs, and prepare an official report. Luckily for me, he was an incredibly friendly, professional, and easy-going guy, which made the whole experience much more enjoyable.
After all the paperwork, permits, and preparation, I finally managed to capture the footage below using my DJI Neo 2.
Gallery
Click on any image to enlarge it.
Muay Thai in Ayutthaya
Because most of my time in Ayutthaya was spent dealing with drone permits and filming, I didn’t have much opportunity to explore beyond the temples. Still, just like in Bangkok, I couldn’t resist fitting in a Muay Thai training session – this time at: I paid 400 THB for a 75-minute private session, and it was absolutely worth it. Training in an open-air gym beside the road, surrounded by Thailand’s intense heat and humidity, made for an unforgettable experience.
If you’re looking for an authentic place to train while visiting Ayutthaya, I can definitely recommend it: Muaythai Ayothaya Sor.Thepparat.
Trunks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trunksthepparat/
Gallery
Click on any image to enlarge it.
Ayutthaya Historic City Drone Video
Interactive Map of Ayutthaya
Use this map of Aytuthaya to filter through the interesting places I mentioned in the article.
Filter
Click a pin for a preview, then read the full article.
Trips
Click the button to reveal an animated trip in Ayutthaya.
The part about the drone permit was especially useful because it’s easy to assume you can justAyutthaya Drone Blog Comment show up and fly at a historic site. Knowing about the registration, filming fee, and even the inexpensive train ride from Bangkok makes this a much more practical guide for anyone planning to photograph Ayutthaya responsibly.