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Floating Markets / Chao Phraya River & Canal Trips |
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 Floating Markets |
| 1. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market |
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This large and popular floating market is about 80 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province. Photos of this vibrant market featuring many small boats laden with colourful fruits and vegetables and paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats, are among the most often published in travel magazines and brochures of Thailand. There are bus services to Damnoen Saduak from the Southern Bus Terminal on Borommarat Chachonnani Road starting at 6 a.m. You'd better get there as early in the morning as possible to escape a crowd of visitors. Around this area, boat trip services are available for sightseeing along smaller canals branching off from Damnoen Saduak canal. |
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| 2. Taling Chan Floating Market |
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Taling Chan Floating Market possesses its endless attraction to Thais and foreigners alike. The life of the residents by the Chakphra Canal still retains the atmosphere and style of true nature reflecting the attachment to the river of the capital dwellers. This market, which operates on Saturdays and Sundays 09.00 -17.00 only, is located in front of the Taling Chan District Office in the west of Bangkok. The market is accessible by air-con bus No. 79. After visiting the market, long-tail boat trips along the canals are available.
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By taking a weekend boat tour, you can feel a shady and restful atmosphere as well as experience the natural surroundings and Thai ways of life along the canals that still remain their traditional charm. Also you can enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Preservation Orchard, an orchid garden, or a botanical garden, which includes various kinds of flowering and ornamental plants. The fares are 70 baht for an adult and 40 baht for a child. Besides, from the market, there is also a guided boat tour of Thonburi Snake Farm which operates every Sunday. The fares are 120 baht for an adult and 60 baht for a child. |
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| 3. Wat Sai Floating Market |
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It is the first museum of fibreglass human images of Thailand. The main sculptures feature famous Buddhist monks of Thailand, the kings of the Chakri dynasty, traditional Thai lifestyles and Thai children's games.
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| Chao Phraya River Express Boat Trip (Bangkok - Nonthaburi) |
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The easiest and cheapest way to observe the way of life along the Chao Phraya River is by boarding a Chao Phraya River express boat. The route starts at Wat Ratchasingkhon Pier near Krungthep Bridge and ends at the pier of Nonthaburi (a province north of Bangkok).
Major landing piers are Sathon, Si Phraya, Chang, and Wang Lang piers. While travelling along the Chao Phraya River, you will see many splendid temples and attractive buildings, for example, the Royal Thai Navy Dockyard, the Thai Maritime Navigation Company, the Old Customs House, Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Wat Rakhang.
The whole trip takes about 1.30 hours. The fares for a standard express boat trip are from 5 to 16 baht, depending on the distance. The boats leave the terminals every 15 minutes from 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. daily. Special express boats, symbolized by yellow, red and orange flags, stop at major piers only and the fares are 15 for the yellow and 10 baht for the red and orange ones.
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| Canal (Khlong) Trips |
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1. Trip along Khlong Bangkok Noi & Khlong Bang Yai |
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A boat service for this relaxing route departs from Tha Chang Pier many times daily. It takes about an hour to reach Bang Yai, a district in Nonthaburi. The following are some leading attractions along Bangkok Noi canal mostly comprise old temples. The Royal Barges Museum is a dockyard for royal barges used in ceremonial processions. Among the most magnificent are the Suphannahong and the Narayana Songsuban. Wat (temple) Suwannaram is an ancient temple erected in the Ayutthaya period. It is noted for its magnificent murals painted in the reign of King Rama III. Wat Sisudaram is a temple where Sunthon Phu, a famous Thai poet who was designated by UNESCO as a classic poet of the world, used to stay in his childhood. Besides the monument to the poet, the multipurpose hall built in the Ayutthaya period is still well-preserved. Wat Nairong boasts murals depicting episodes of the ten previous lives of the Lord Buddha on the walls of its ordination hall. Wat Phaowana Phirataram The highlight of the temple, erected in the reign of King Rama V, is its multipurpose hall built in the traditional Thai style. |
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2. Trip along Khlong Dao Khanong - Khlong Bangkok Yai - Khlong Bang Chuak Nang |
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Visitors who want to explore this route can rent a boat from Tha Chang Pier. Some attractions along this route are: Wat Sai Floating Market, Snake Farm, Wat Pak Nam, Wat Ko and Taling Chan Floating Market. There are tour programs to other small canals on Thon Buri side, but they are not regular routes and you need to hire a long-tail boat at one of the pier. The standard fare is 400 baht per hour. Prices can be negotiated (before travelling). The major piers for hired boats are Tha Chang, Tha Saphan Phut (Memorial Bridge Pier), Tha Si Phraya and River City.
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