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We booked a trip to Thailand through Anex Tour, and at our hotel, the agent offered us a choice of excursions, including the Siamese Niramit show. The description from Anex was engaging, at least, they said, it's worth seeing such a show at least once in a lifetime. And I completely agree with her on that.
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COST for the excursion for two was around $140, but since I paid for it in rubles with a card transfer, it ended up being even more expensive with a commission (for converting rubles to baht, as the Anex Tour agent explained).
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TOUR LENGTH to and from our accommodation (the Karon Beach area) took around an hour in one direction (I don't remember the exact time, it's been almost a year).
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SHOW DURATION was about 1.5 hours.
The entire program took around 5.5 hours.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit show
WHAT THE PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- Dinner (served until 20:15, so you need to arrive on time, or it will be closed after that).
- A stroll through a Thai village and getting familiar with rural life.
- A small outdoor performance by actors and some animals.
- Watching the legendary 1.5-hour Siamese Niramit show inside.
- I loved taking photos with the actors before and after the show.
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Okay, let's get into the details.
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Dinner (the hall is open from 6 PM to 8:15 PM).
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I'm going to focus on dinner since we couldn't film the actual show.
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The dinner hall is beautifully decorated and it's a must-see even without the show. I mean, you could just walk around and admire everything.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showAt first glance, it looks pretty simple, but trust me, there's a lot to take in. I'd even go as far as saying it's unique and something you won't find anywhere else. The decoration is truly one-of-a-kind.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit show
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showThe food is a buffet-style meal, where you can grab whatever you want and as much as you want.
The restaurant is massive, with tons of tables.
Thailand, the Siamese Niramit show I've been to some big dinner halls in my travels, but this one in Thailand takes the cake. It's massive, with tons of different dishes on offer, all presented beautifully and with a lot of variety. The drinks were definitely unique - some might find them too bland, but I actually really enjoyed them. They're light and refreshing, with a subtle flavor that's similar to water with a hint of something.
Thailand, the Siamese Niramit show By the way, the same goes for the tea and coffee - there's not a lot of variety, and they're not particularly tasty.
Thailand, the Siamese Niramit show To be honest, the tea and coffee in Thailand are pretty bad - the only good cup of coffee I had was at the famous 7/11 store. There's a ton of hot dishes and soups on offer, all made to order by the chefs.
Of course, you can't really tell what you're getting, so we ended up trying a little bit of everything. And you know what? Everything was surprisingly delicious - I only encountered a few dishes that were too spicy, which is a big plus for me.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit Show
Thailand, Siamese Niramit Show
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowThey had a decent variety of prepared dishes, but the selection of fresh veggies and fruits was a bit limited - just like at the hotel we stayed at.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowIt was great to see a dedicated corner for veggie options, and they were pretty straightforward.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowThe fresh fruits on offer were watermelon, cantaloupe, and papaya - nothing too out of the ordinary.
What caught my attention was the mix of familiar and unusual dishes I'd never tried before.
I tried to stick to more veggies, some meat-based soups, and fish.
Out of the soups, my favorite was the tom yum-style soup that wasn't too spicy.
I also enjoyed the tender grilled fish.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowWhile there were plenty of sweet treats, I wasn't too impressed by them - the presentation was nice, though.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowThey looked appetizing, but in reality, they didn't quite live up to expectations.
Thailand, Siam Niramit Show
I was blown away by the sheer number of staff - and they all looked like they just stepped out of a fashion magazine. I'm pretty sure the waiters who served us during dinner were actually the same actors who'd be performing later on. They were whipping up some dishes, serving them, and clearing the plates.
Thailand, Siam Niramit Show
The crowd was massive, and I thought for sure we'd be fighting for a spot, but the show's cleverly designed to ensure no one's left standing around. People arrive, have a bite to eat, and then take their seats for the show. It's a great system, and it never feels like there's a shortage of space.
Thailand, Siam Niramit Show
A WALK THROUGH THAI VILLAGE.
This is a glimpse into how people used to live - and in some cases, still do today. It's all very simple, yet beautifully unique, and it's a side of Thai culture that's definitely worth experiencing.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowWhat really struck me was the attention to detail in the crafts and animal husbandry - every little hut and room was made from natural materials, and it looked pretty rustic and humble, but it was definitely worth a look. The village was built on stilts, and it was cool to see how people lived and worked during the rainy season, which can be pretty intense in Thailand.
Siamese Niramit, Thai VillageWalking around the village for 20-30 minutes was actually pretty interesting.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowEach hut was unique, and it was clear that they were designed to reflect the different occupations of the people who lived there.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowThere were also actors playing the roles of local villagers, and we took a few photos with them, but to be honest, we didn't take that many snaps.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit ShowThere's not much more to say, but it was cool to experience the atmosphere of a bygone era.xa0
Street Performance.
We made the most of the time leading up to the main show with an atmospheric and visually stunning street performance under the stars.
I was already impressed by the beauty of the costumes and actors.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showThe audience was even involved in some scenes.The whole area is uniquely decorated, offering plenty of gorgeous spots to capture photos and videos.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showThe elaborate set design transports you to a world of magic and wonder, leaving you wanting to explore every nook and cranny.
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showIt's a far cry from our own culture, with authentic Asian elements and decorations that are a real treat for the eyes!
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showThe Legendary Show.
(Recognized as the world's most spectacular show).
This part might be the smallest, but I wanted to give you an idea of what you'll see without giving away too much for those planning to visit.
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Duration: 1.5 hours.
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The venue is massive, with a huge stage and an enormous screen above it that shows additional decorations.
The seats are super comfortable – soft, wide, and plush.
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Thailand, Siamese Niramit showOnce everyone was seated, the show began on the screen, and right away, they flashed a sign saying no photography or video recording was allowed – and they're pretty strict about it.xa0
Thailand, Siamese Niramit showFirst, they showed a brief intro on the screen in three languages (Thai, English, and Russian, but with some typos) outlining the show's premise, backstory, and what to expect.From the very start, I was blown away by the sheer beauty of what was unfolding on stage.
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Thailand, the Siamese Niramit show I was blown away by the decorations, costumes, and dances – they were truly stunning, and I don't even have the words to describe them. The stage was set up to show live moments from different eras of ancient Thailand, with animals even making an appearance, and a river with boats floating on it. Of course, this was all just a memory, but it was an incredible experience.
I was able to take photos after the show, when the actors just danced on stage.
Thailand, the Siamese Niramit showThe show was bright, dynamic, and had great sound quality (I mean, the musical accompaniment). It was all so dynamic, with movement happening all around the hall, not just on stage. Things were being lowered, flying, and moving – it was a real spectacle.
Thailand, the Siamese Niramit showTHE VERDICT.I wholeheartedly agree with the opinion that the Siamese Niramit show is the most spectacular and beautiful in the world (at least, that's my opinion after seeing it). As we were told, it's definitely worth seeing at least once in a lifetime!
The emotions and impressions we had are simply indescribable, and the atmosphere has stayed with me. We were completely absorbed in the show, and the time flew by – in fact, we didn't even notice we'd been watching for over an hour and a half.
I almost wrote that this was the best tour we took on Phuket, but honestly, they were all great in their own way. But Siamese Niramit - that's a definite yes.
Other wild adventures we had on Phuket (well, more like the island itself) include:
- GROWN-UP SHOW (strictly 18+), trust me, you won't see anything like it (link to review).
- The new 'Colors of Phuket' tour, which is basically a way to sell tourists overpriced stuff (link to review).
Thanks for reading 😊. Wishing you all happy travels!