Why book with us
Why see Khon at Sala Chalermkrung
A UNESCO-recognised classical art form
Khon is a masked dance-drama tradition rooted in the Thai royal court, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018 — a genuinely classical art form, not a resort dinner-theatre invention.
A historic venue, not a hotel ballroom
Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre opened in 1933 and is one of Bangkok's oldest cinemas/theatres, later becoming a dedicated home for classical Khon performance — the venue itself carries real history.
The Ramakien, Thailand's national epic
Khon performances typically stage scenes from the Ramakien, Thailand's own national epic adapted from the Indian Ramayana, performed with elaborate masks, costume and highly stylised movement rather than spoken dialogue.
How the evening unfolds
How the day unfolds
This is a four-hour guided tour — temples and Thai desserts first, then the Khon show.
The Masks
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Morning
Wat Pho
The tour begins at Wat Pho, home to the giant Reclining Buddha, with about an hour on foot with your guide.
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Midday
Wat Phra Kaew & The Old Siam
Next comes Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace grounds, then 30 minutes of Thai desserts and snacks at The Old Siam Plaza before the afternoon performance.
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Afternoon
The Khon performance
You take your seat at Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre for a traditional Khon masked dance-drama staging scenes from the Ramakien, at one of the day's three fixed showtimes.
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Close
End of the tour
The tour ends after the performance, with drop-off at your hotel if you selected hotel pickup.
The venue
The venue: Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre
What's actually behind the name.
A historic 1933 theatre
Sala Chalermkrung opened in 1933 as a modern cinema funded by King Prajadhipok, and was renovated in 1992 as a venue for classical Thai performing arts including Khon.
Live music and narration
Each 25-minute performance is danced to live traditional Thai music, with narrators singing at the side of the stage and English and Chinese subtitles throughout.
Fixed showtimes
Performances run Monday to Friday at set times (around 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm) rather than continuous sessions — check your ticket for your specific showtime.
Central Bangkok
The theatre sits near the Grand Palace / Old Town area, an easy add-on after a Grand Palace and Wat Pho morning visit, as this combination ticket is structured.
Khon, in pictures
Khon, in pictures
The venue and the wider tradition around it.
What's included
This half-day combo, or a Khon-only ticket
| This half-day combo (temples + Khon) | A Khon-only ticket | |
|---|---|---|
| What's included | Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, plus the Khon show | Just the Khon performance at Sala Chalermkrung |
| Length | A half-day itinerary | About 25 minutes, the show only |
| Best for | First-time visitors wanting temples and culture in one day | Visitors who've already seen the temples and want the show alone |
Ways to book Khon Show Bangkok
Find a Khon Show Bangkok date for your trip
Every option below runs through GetYourGuide's checkout — pick the combination that fits your Bangkok itinerary, then see live dates and your currency's price before confirming.
Planning your visit
Planning your visit
What to wear
Since the day includes temple visits, dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered — for the Grand Palace and Wat Pho; the theatre itself has no strict dress code beyond that.
What time to arrive
This is a structured half-day tour with a fixed itinerary — arrive at your confirmed pickup time or meeting point, and note which of the three afternoon Khon showtimes your ticket covers.
Getting to Sala Chalermkrung
The theatre is near the Old Town/Grand Palace area; the tour includes private or public transport, whichever you select, and if you visit the Grand Palace on your own, a shuttle leaves the palace's Phiman Deves Gate 30 minutes before each show.
How far ahead to book
The Khon performance runs to fixed weekday showtimes with limited seating, so booking a day or more ahead — especially in peak season — helps secure your preferred slot.
Planning your trip
Planning your trip
A Khon show vs. a Muay Thai show in Bangkok: what's actually different
Both get marketed as "Thai culture shows" to visitors — but one is classical court dance-drama, the other is combat sport with entertainment elements.
Read more → Showtimes, tickets and the shuttleSala Chalermkrung Khon show tickets
Showtimes, the Grand Palace ticket link, the shuttle and what the 25-minute Hanuman show covers, checked against the palace and theatre's own pages.
Read more → THE STORY BEHIND THE MASKSThe Ramakien: The Epic Story Behind Every Khon Show
Every Khon performance draws on the Ramakien, Thailand's national epic — here's who Phra Ram, Sita, Hanuman and the demon king Tosakan actually are.
Read more → THE CRAFT BEHIND THE CHARACTERKhon Masks and Costumes: How to Read a Character
Khon performers can't speak, so masks and costume do the storytelling — here's what the colours, closed mouths, and gilded crowns actually signal on stage.
Read more → THE SOUND OF KHONThe Piphat Orchestra and Narrators Behind Khon
Khon performers dance every scene in silence — the Ramakien's words are sung by off-stage narrators over a live piphat orchestra. Here's how that works.
Read more → A COURT TRADITION, PRESERVEDKhon's Royal History and Its 2018 UNESCO Listing
Khon began as a Thai royal court tradition centuries ago and was inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2018 — here's that history, briefly.
Read more →GEO/FAQ
Khon Masked Dance questions
What is Khon?
Khon is a classical Thai masked dance-drama rooted in the royal court tradition, recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. Performers in elaborate masks and costume act out scenes from the Ramakien, Thailand's national epic, through highly stylised movement.
Is this ticket just the show, or does it include the Grand Palace too?
This specific listing (t987337) is a four-hour guided tour with an English-speaking guide: Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew in the Grand Palace grounds, Thai desserts at The Old Siam, and the Khon performance at Sala Chalermkrung, with entry tickets included. If you only want the show, the theatre sells show-only tickets at its box office.
What story does the show tell?
Khon performances typically stage scenes from the Ramakien, Thailand's own national epic adapted from the Indian Ramayana. At Sala Chalermkrung the current programme is the Hanuman episode, staged all year, from young Hanuman's pledge to Rama to the bridge to Lanka and the start of the battle with Thotsakan.
What are the showtimes?
Sala Chalermkrung runs Khon performances Monday to Friday at set times, typically around 1pm, 2:30pm and 4pm — check your confirmed booking for your specific slot.
How long is the performance?
The Khon performance itself runs 25 minutes; this half-day tour's full itinerary, including the temples and a dessert stop, runs about four hours.
Is the price shown final?
Yes. The checkout runs through GetYourGuide, so you'll see the total converted into your own currency along with the cancellation terms before you confirm payment. We're a separate booking resource, not the theatre itself.