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Maeklong Market: Train Through Market Adventure
4.0
31 Ratings
Khwaeng Talat Noi
Immerse yourself in Thai culture on a paddle boat journey through the Damnoen Saduak floating markets. Explore rural Thai life and sample local produce on this 6-hour tour from Bangkok.
Immerse yourself in Thai culture on a paddle boat journey through the Damnoen Saduak floating markets. Explore rural Thai life and sample local produce on this 6-hour tour from Bangkok.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Renowned for its tourist-friendly floating markets, Damnoen Saduak is prominently featured in travel guides about Thailand. Visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the vibrant scene of the river bustling with wooden boats brimming with fruits and vegetables, sold to people on the riverbanks. The…
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Renowned for its tourist-friendly floating markets, Damnoen Saduak is prominently featured in travel guides about Thailand. Visitors are encouraged to bring their cameras to capture the vibrant scene of the river bustling with wooden boats brimming with fruits and vegetables, sold to people on the riverbanks. The atmosphere is lively and colorful, embodying the essence of a Thai market. Located just 100km from Bangkok.
- Maeklong Railway Market (Talad Rom Hub) - The Maeklong Railway Market is a traditional Thai market offering fresh vegetables, food, and fruit. Its unique feature is its location on a train line. Several times a day, a train passes directly through the market. Moments before the train arrives, vendors lower their umbrellas and shift some produce away from the tracks. Remarkably, some items remain on the ground, with the train passing over them without causing any damage. Once the train has passed, vendors promptly return their goods to the tracks and resume business as usual, until the next train comes through.
What's Included
- Local guide
- Choice between shared or private tour
- Air-conditioned transport
- Round-trip transfer from hotel to River City Bangkok
- 30-min paddle boat tour at Damnoen Saduak floating market
- Local guide
- Choice between shared or private tour
- Air-conditioned transport
- Round-trip transfer from hotel to River City Bangkok
- 30-min paddle boat tour at Damnoen Saduak floating market
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
Maeklong Market is an extraordinary and essential attraction that every traveler should include in their itinerary. Known as the ‘Risky Market,’ it features a train track that runs right through its center. Vendors must quickly move their goods and themselves out of the way just seconds before the train passes. The precise timing and coordination of…
Maeklong Market is an extraordinary and essential attraction that every traveler should include in their itinerary. Known as the ‘Risky Market,’ it features a train track that runs right through its center. Vendors must quickly move their goods and themselves out of the way just seconds before the train passes. The precise timing and coordination of everyone involved are truly captivating to observe.
The second market on this itinerary is the floating market at Damnoen Saduak. While it remains authentic and is still frequented by locals, its popularity has attracted many tourists. Visitors will have ample time to stroll along the canal, enjoy a short paddle boat ride, and shop for souvenirs.
09:00 Depart from River City
10:40 Arrive at Ban Ka Long Railway Station
11:10 Reach The Maeklong Railway Station
11:30 Witness the train passing through the market
12:10 Explore the Floating Market with a 15-minute paddle boat ride
13:30 Depart for Bangkok
15:00 Drop off at MBK
- Please Note: Paddle boats do not have life-jackets small enough for very young children. Adults are responsible for their children at all times
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Please Note: Paddle boat ride around floating markets will be approximately 30 minutes
- Meeting Point is at the large, main entrance to the River City Shopping Mall (next to Royal Orchid Shopping Mall).
- Please plan to meet your tour guide at your hotel lobby at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled pick-up time .
- Travel times are approximate and depend on traffic conditions
- Optional pick up from the following areas: Sathorn, Silom, Siam, Pratunam, Khao San Road, Charoenkrung Road, or the Sukhumvit area between Soi 1-39 and 2-24. Please wait in the hotel lobby 15 minutes before the scheduled pickup time. (Hotel pick up is about 30-60minutes prior tour departure time.)
Location
River City Bangkok
Soi Charoen Krung 24
Please be at River City by 8.45am for a departure of 9am. Guide will be waiting outside the mall.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.0
(31 Ratings)
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Suetonga
Jan 5, 2024
Beautiful floating market experience - What a beautiful memorable experience. We were a group of friends and our kids the boat experience and floating through various shops along the market was absolutely enjoyable. Also loved the temple visit as well as elephant rides.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Constance_j
Nov 30, 2023
Perfect floating market experience! - Perfect floating market experience, especially since most aren’t open during the week. Also stopped at a coconut palm farm which was very interesting & well done. Great value for the $$.
Review provided by Viator
Choolaawong
Aug 12, 2023
The floating market half day tour was a pleasant experience. The floating market is unique. - We booked a half day tour to damnoen floating market and managed to witness the old and newly built floating market. Our guide, Pam, was awesome and helpful. She shared some story of thai culture, how the floating market came about and great information throughout the day. Not only that, she also showed us which area has the best boat noodles, mango sticky rice, coconut water, coconut pancake and more! The overall experience is great and chill. We also had the 30 minute paddle boat ride which was fun. Can’t wait to go back again!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Punnenes
May 27, 2023
Good experience - My recent visit to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market was an enjoyable experience, thanks to our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Pang. Her warm and welcoming demeanor set the tone for the day, and she made sure we felt comfortable and engaged throughout the trip.
Starting with the markets themselves, I have to admit that they felt somewhat touristy and lacking the authentic local charm that I had anticipated. While the bustling atmosphere was interesting to witness, it didn't quite provide the genuine snapshot of local life I had hoped for. However, the visit to the coconut plantation was a definite highlight. It was both educational and entertaining, giving us valuable insights into the process of coconut production and adding a touch of excitement to the day.
After the boat trip, I found myself less interested in shopping, and unfortunately, there was a bit of waiting involved before the van departed. However, the fortunate part was sharing the experience with a group of lovely people, which made the day more enjoyable. The camaraderie and positive atmosphere compensated for the downtime.
As for the pricing, I do believe that for what was offered, the experience could have been better. While the guide and the coconut plantation added value, the overall tour could have been enhanced with more immersive and authentic experiences at the floating markets.
On the other hand, another reviewer mentioned their fantastic guide, "Boeing," who truly made their trip memorable. Along with the "2nd best driver," Boeing provided exceptional service and showcased a wealth of knowledge. Their welcoming and humorous nature added a layer of enjoyment to the journey, and their expertise was evident throughout.
Similar to my experience, the visit to the family coconut plantation added an intriguing dimension to the trip. It was not only informative but also enjoyable and interactive. The floating markets, although commercialized, still held interest, especially with the historical context and insight into the local trade and commerce.
Although the journey to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market can be quite lengthy due to traffic, the excellent guidance and entertaining nature of the guide made the travel time hardly noticeable. Their efforts in spoiling the group with local delicacies and treats further demonstrated their commitment to ensuring a pleasurable experience for everyone.
In conclusion, while the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market might not fully capture the essence of authentic local life, the visit can still be an enjoyable and informative experience. The presence of a knowledgeable guide like Pang or Boeing significantly enhances the trip, making it more engaging and entertaining. With some improvements to the overall itinerary and offerings, this excursion has the potential to be an even more remarkable adventure for visitors.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F7316rvwendym
Apr 14, 2023
Amazing Tour - What a fun adventure! We enjoyed seeing a different part of Thailand and a different way of life. Our guide, Natty, was knowledgeable, flexible, personable and fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenw130
Apr 13, 2023
Wonderful - Our guide, Boeing was wonderful, knowledgeable and fun. At the local market he got us samples of everything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brendan
Apr 9, 2023
Great morning out. - Great day out. This is a must for all visitors. We took ate 8 and 11 year old. The guide Kiwi was fantastic. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Francis_61jb
Aug 28, 2023
Dont be scammed. Do not take any boat rides - which is really not necessary - Be careful with this visit. There are many scam stories of how tourists are scammed. I/We were nearly scammed ourselves.
The usual going rate to bring a group of tourist there will be 4000baht - 6000baht for a bigger group, inclusive of railway market as a day trip package. But i happened to get a taxi driver outside our hotel at a much much cheap rate the day before. I got the taxi driver's number and watsapped him the night before and agreed that we will NOT take any boat rides - that's how they will charge exorbitant rates to the tourists!!
In exchange, when the driver picked us up the following morning, we agreed to go to one of his 'sponsors' - a beehive farm which turned out to be a pleasant visit in itself and quite informative.
During the drive there, we agreed that if all goes well, we would like to help him by visiting another of his 'sponsor' on our trip back, and immediately his face lited up. ::))
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sewkitty
Aug 26, 2023
Our first time visit - Tourist trap for sure. Be sure and bargain for items. Offer a 60% discount on their asking price and many times it is accepted. These businesses expect you to bargain according to our tour guide. Food in the restaurants are pretty basic but very tasty.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dissapointed106
Apr 29, 2023
If it is your first trip to Thailand you may love it! - Our guide Pang was lovely, warm and friendly...the markets aren't anything more than a tourist trap, not a snap shot of local life at all. The coconut plantation however was so interesting and a highlight. We all weren't interested in shopping after the boat trip, so our time was spent just waiting for the van to leave. We were lucky enough to share the experience with lovely people so the day was great. For the price...it could have been better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
