Tuk tuk Thailand! Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it? But what the hell are these somewhat crazy three-wheeler vehicles that plough themselves through the crazy traffic of Bangkok and other places in Thailand?
It’s one of those experiences to have in Thailand at least once on a visit there.
I will say first of all that I have been visiting Thailand ever since 1997 and even lived there for 3 years in Chiang Mai and Lopburi. I know what I’m talking about when it comes to all things Thailand!
Tuk Tuk Thailand
The tuk tuk in Thailand is a synonymous site to see when in the country and you will see them all over the place, especially in the capital city of Bangkok.
These days they are less used by local Thai people and although they were one of the main local street transports in the past, these days in the main areas that are visited by foreigners they are mostly considered a “tourist attraction” and you will mainly see tourists going for a ride on them.
That’s mainly because of other transport options being used by Thai people, but the famous tuk tuks of Thailand has been seen as a “fun” option of getting around the streets that keeps them going for the visitors to Thailand to have fun on them.
There is nothing like spinning around the streets with the opens sides giving you the feeling of all the things around you to get a feel of the cities/towns that you go to.
Tuk Tuk in Thailand History
Let’s get a little bit of perspective on how these fun 3 wheelers came into being such a big part of Thailand.
The tuk tuk is technically known as an autorickshaw and is not just a part of Thailand but can be seen in many other countries in Asia, especially in India and Pakistan, and other parts of southeast Asia.
Originally they were hand-pulled 2-3 wheel carts for taking people around but with the advent of motor technology, they were made into what you see today, the crazy noisy tuk tuk. It feels like they literally just took a lawnmower engine and chucked it into a cart and of they went!
The actual term “tuk tuk” is claimed to have come about when the British visited Asia, particularly India, and named them after the sound the autorickshaw engine made. Sounds about right.
The Japanese, Italians, Germans, and British could lay claim to the first tuk tuks being produced but they are vastly different to the ones you see in Thailand today.
Advice For Tuk Tuks’ in Thailand (Especially Bangkok)
As you get the idea that in the main tourist areas the tuk tuks are mostly used for tourists to have a ride in, this means that the tuk tuk drivers know they are in demand as a tourist thing and likewise will raise prices for the ride than what a local will pay. Sometimes 2-3 times more than the local price.
This is especially true in Bangkok around famous tourist places like Khao San Road and the Siam Paragon Mall area, as well as most tourist sites.
So one thing you will need to do before accepting any ride with a tuk tuk is to bargain on whatever price they first give you and try and get it down to at least 1/3rd of that.
There are some tour companies that offer guided tours around Bangkok and other cities in a tuk tuk and these are set prices so don’t bother bargaining for the tours. The tours are fun and are the Thai equivalent of going to London and taking a double-decker bus around London to see the sites, only the tuk tuk Thailand is much more fun.
Taking a tuk tuk in Bangkok at night is the best option as the daytime heat (not that it gets much colder at night) can be a lot and seeing the city at night when whizzing around in a tuk tuk amongst all the lights is really a thrill.
One really fun option is the Bangkok night tuk tuk tour (you can check the tour with that link) that gets rave reviews and will take you around the main areas of the city for temples, markets, famous sites to see, and lots of food.
The Thai people still use the tuk tuk for getting around and transporting items from place to place, but as mentioned before, they are mostly for tourists in the main tourist spots now.
A lot of countries, especially in Europe, have taken the tuk tuk in to take tourists around the streets of the cities there, like in Lisbon. These are for no practical reason other than a fun way to get around.
Go and Ride a Tuk Tuk in Thailand
On any visit to Thailand, you should try riding on a tuk tuk at least once for fun.
If you have any interest in some of the Thai history then a visit to the old Thai capital of Lopburi for the historic temples is a great place to go. I lived there for 2 years for a reason! It’s also only 2 hours from Bangkok and makes a great day-trip. Read my guide to things to do in Lopburi.
For other places in Thailand take a look at my guides to Thailand.
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