Get picked up from your hotel and head toward the official residence of the Kings of Siam and Thailand—the Royal Grand Palace, built in 1782. Your guide shares insight into the architectural styles and Thai decorative techniques on display in the riverside compound.Cross the lawns and courtyards to reach Wat Phra Kaew. Regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand, this temple's main building houses the 26-inch-tall (66-cm) Emerald Buddha, an astonishing, centuries-old statue carved from one large piece of jade. The Buddha's gold outfits are changed by the king during a special ceremony at the start of each new season to bring good fortune to the country.Next, roam the complex of the Grand Palace with your guide, admiring the proud golden domes, inspirational spires, mosaics of glass or porcelain, and exotic, richly carved wall murals. Depending on religious ceremonies and royal visits, you might even be able to enter the Coronation Hall and Royal Funeral Hall before leaving, making a stop to shop at the Gems Gallery.