Floating Market in Bangkok

[nt259]

Dear Thai friend
Is there any more Floating Market in Bangkok ?
If yes, how to go ?
I'm staying at Pratunam area as a tourist

I saw a lot of info of Damnoen Saduak floating market but that is in Ratchaburi area which is far from Bangkok, correct ?

Rgds
nt259

[Sawatdee]

Yes, it is about 2 hours away by coach. If you have ever seen postcards of floating markets, the chances are that they are of Damnoen Saduak. There are others in Bangkok but they won't be as picturesque - though they will be more authentic. It is possible to join a tour to go to Damnoen Saduak which is combined with the cultural shows at the Rose Garden.

[ElySIuM]

yes its da damoen sanduak. 2hrs frm bkk. long journey but its worth. its better to go there early to avoid crowded tourist n jam in da river. v paid the boat B300 4 3pax, 5mins frm da floating market. if u take direct frm da damoen sanduak its about B200 per pax. n its a shared boat.
i hope tis info wil help u.

[kelig]

Yes, it is about 2 hours away by coach. If you have ever seen postcards of floating markets, the chances are that they are of Damnoen Saduak. There are others in Bangkok but they won't be as picturesque - though they will be more authentic. It is possible to join a tour to go to Damnoen Saduak which is combined with the cultural shows at the Rose Garden.

Hello - Can you help please?
I am travelling to BKK on 21/22 Jan and would like to know if it is possible to travel to both Ayutthaya and Damnoen Saduak Floating Markets in the same day either by organised tour or private a/c car? As I cannot see anything that combines both and we have very limited time.

[Betti]

no wonder it is not on offer. the two sites are completely the opposite direction from Bangkok, about 3-4 hours in between, plus add traffic jams in the city in the absence of proper ringroads. if you insist on doing both in one day, I'd say hire a car with or without a driver, or get an agency organise it privately for you. no idea about the prices though, never done anything like this. can't you go to Damnoen Saduak late the previous night, get a room there, and start out early in the morning the next day, finding a place to stay in Ayutthya in the end and getting back to Bangkok next morning? if you are flying out, the airport is right on the way from Ayutthya to Bangkok, it's not difficult to reach at all. Ayutthya has so much to see, and it would be a shame to spend only an hour or two, you'd regret it.
this thread is about getting to Damnoek Saduak and accommodation nearby, maybe it helps.
http://www.thailandqa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3696

[Richard Barrow]

I agree with Betti, they are oppostie directions. I am guessing it will take you 2-3 hours to travel between them because you have Bangkok in-between. You are stretching yourself too much. When I take people to Ayuttaya, it is always a full day trip.

[kelig]

I agree with Betti, they are oppostie directions. I am guessing it will take you 2-3 hours to travel between them because you have Bangkok in-between. You are stretching yourself too much. When I take people to Ayuttaya, it is always a full day trip.

Thank you - We realise they are in different directions, but weren't sure of the driving time and the traffic between the two places......if it is not possible we will have to change our plans....

So maybe someone could suggest the best away to squeeze all of these areas into our very short itinerary...we are happy to hire a private car if it will allow us more time to see these places...

Day 1 -
From 10am - Chatuchak Weekend Market (A couple of hours)
Sightseeing Around Bangkok City - ie Temples & Grand Palace etc
Floating Markets - by private car?

Day 2
Ayutthaya - you convinced us!!

I agree I think we need a full day in Ayutthaya, but also don't want to miss the Floating Markets either so trying to squeeze it in!! Does anyone think that it is possible to see the Floating markets on Day 1 with other sightseeing? If not - can anyone recommend any other Floating Markets which would be worth whileto experience and take some good photographs that might be closer to BKK?

Any further advice would be appreciated?

[Sawatdee]

The problem with the floating market part of your plan is that it has to be done early in the morning. Certainly by 10 a.m. everything is winding down. How important is it to you? You can see some vendors selling stuff on the canals in Bangkok. There just won't be so many. If you are happy with just a few, then do the following:

At 10 a.m. (if not before) go to the jetty near the Grand Palace where you can rent a long-tailed boat to explore the canals of Thonburi. They advertise a floating market here though it would be over by now. However, you will still see a few "genuine" vendors paddling up and down the canals. You can arrange for your tour to end at Wat Arun. This is called the Temple of Dawn and there are some fine views from here. Next, take a ferry boat across the river for a few baht to visit the Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. Have lunch in this area at one of the many food shops. From here take an air-conditioned taxi (the meter probably won't advanced more than the starting price of 35 baht) to the nearby Grand Palace. Don't go by tuk tuk as they will charge you a lot more and you might end up elsewhere. Spend a couple of hours in the Grand Palace. Don't forget this closes by about 3 p.m. Next take a taxi to Chatuchack Weekend market. However, if it is already coming to the end of the day then consider going to the Night Bazzar next to Lumphini Park.

If you are going to Ayutthaya for the day and have your own transport, consider stopping at Bang Sai Arts and Craft Center along the way. Some people also go to Bang Pa In but those three locations are too much for one day. Personally I would suggest Bang Pa In together with Ayutthaya.

[kelig]

I am interested in photography, so I really just want to see locals trading and selling on the boats, mostly to see the local people and the colours etc.

This photo link below is an example of what I would like to see....but not sure if there are other markets as picturesque as the Damnoen Saduak??

http://www.orientalescape.com/images...ingmarket4.jpg

If you know of anywhere else that is closer to BKK where I cold see similar images?

[Sawatdee]

If you want to get that photo you MUST take it before 9 a.m. at Damnoen Saduak. As soon as the tourist buses arrive from Bangkok half of those boats will be filled by foreigners. It is best to go the night before and sleep there so you can get on the canal by 7 a.m.