Bangkok Floating Market Tour | Railway Market Tour | Bangkok Temple Tour
BONUS: Famed Buddha in Tree Roots | Soldier Statues | Amphawa Firefly Cruise Tour

INTRODUCTION

Bangkok, Thailand has always been a city that I always return to due to its great nightlife, food, and activities. One of the best things to do is to check out Thailand’s various floating market tours, and since the markets are further outside of the city, the best way to visit would be to book a tour.

➡️ The Tour I went on is from KKDay:

Day Tour from Bangkok: Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

➡️ Alternative Tour from Klook:

Maeklong Train Market and Amphawa Floating Night Market

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? Why Go With a Tour?

✔️ CHEAP: For ~$30 USD (999 Thai Bhat), you get the best value for your money. Transportation to the market alone already adds up.

✔️ MULTIPLE POINTS OF INTEREST:

• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Most Popular!
• Maeklong Railway Market – Famous Market with a Train that runs through it!
• Wat Bang Kung Temple – Iconic Temple Hidden in the Roots of a Banyan Tree!
• Amphawa Floating Market + Firefly Cruise (KKDay: Weekends Only) – Another Floating Market with more locals.

✔️ MULTIPLE LANGUAGES: English, Mandarin-Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Tour Guides!

Japanese and Korean travelers can enjoy an exclusive 50% off discount when booking packages with Japanese or Korean-speaking guide (KKDay Only)

? Points of Interest

➡️ Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

?? Cruise Through the Canals on a Boat

Here, you can catch a glimpse of the traditional ways of life. Although nowadays, the floating markets are more catered towards tourists, you can still see how people lived and shopped in the past.

? Shop and Eat at Various Vendors

While on the boat, boat vendors will approach you on their boats, and here you can shop for food and souvenirs (but I recommend you don’t buy anything because it’s overpriced). After the boat tour, you can still walk through the shops next to the canals for more shopping choices.

➡️ Maeklong Railway Market

?Watch a Train Go Directly Through the Market

The alleyways of the Maeklong Train Market are so narrow that the vendors have to move the umbrellas and goods in advance for the train to pass. You can stand alongside the tracks for some great photo opportunities!

➡️ Wat Bang Kung Temple

☸️ Observe the Famed Buddha inside the Banyan Tree Roots

The Wat Bang Kung Temple dates back to the Ayutthaya period (1351 to 1767). Over the years, the roots have grown to cover the temple. Today, you can observe the beauty of spiritualism and naturalism mixed into one.

⚔️ Observe the Memorial Statue of King Taksin and His Soldiers

The land around Wat Bang Kung Temple was the site of a battle between Burmese invaders and Siam soldiers in the 1767. In 1967, the Thai government launched a restoration project and erected a statue of King Taksin to commemorate his efforts to drive out the Burmese invaders during the 18th century.

? Drink Some Free Herbal Tea

Everyday, a fresh batch of herbal tea is provided for free to all visitors. The tea has herbs that has great health benefits to the body.

➡️ Amphawa Floating Market

✴️ Watch Fireflies During the Evening Cruise

Near the Wat Bang Kung Temple is the Ampawa Floating Market, the second largest floating market after Damnoen Saduak, and the visitors here are exclusively more Thai. In the evenings, you can go on a cruise and watch fireflies fly around the trees–very beautiful and romantic.

Note: The KKday Tour only goes there on weekends.

? Tour Package Options (KKDay)

There are weekday and weekend packages available. *As of 11/9/18

(Things to Note: Different return points and meetup/return times on weekdays & weekends + An additional stop on weekends)

➡️ Weekday Tour: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Departures

• Locations: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Wat Bang Kung Temple, Maeklong Railway Market
• Duration: 12 hours
• Meeting Time: 8:10am
• Departure Time: 8:30am (tour will depart on time)
• Meeting Point: In front of Central Plaza Grand Rama IX, near MRT Phra Ram 9 Station (Exit 2), 9/9 Rama IX Rd, Khwaeng Huai Khwang, Khet Huai Khwang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10320
• Returning Time: 5:00pm
• Returning Point: Asiatique The Riverfront (will return to CentralPlaza Grand Rama IX from October 23rd) *Check their tour page to confirm.

➡️ Weekend Tour: Friday, Saturday, Sunday Departures

• Locations: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Wat Bang Kung Temple, Maeklong Railway Market, Amphawa Firefly Cruise
• Duration: 12 hours
• Meeting Time: 9:10am
• Departure Time: 9:30am (tour will depart on time)
• Meeting Point: in front of Central Plaza Grand Rama IX, near MRT Phra Ram 9 Station (Exit 2), 9/9 Rama IX Soi 4, Khwaeng Huai Khwang, Khet Huai Khwang, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10310
• Returning Time: 9:00pm
• Returning Point: BTS Asok Station

? Itinerary (KKDay)

➡️ Weekday Tour: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Departures

• 8:10am Meet in front of Central Plaza Grand Rama IX
• 8:30am Depart on time
• 10:00am Arrive at Damnoen Saduak
• 11:00am Taste local food and desserts
• 12:00pm Depart to Wat Bang Kung
• 12:30pm Arrive at Wat Bang Kung
• 1:15pm Depart to Maeklong Railway Market
• 2:30pm Arrive at Maeklong Railway Market
• 3:30pm Depart to ASIATIQUE The Riverfront
• 5:00pm Arrive at ASIATIQUE The Riverfront (will return to CentralPlaza Grand Rama IX from October 23rd) *Check their tour page to confirm.
  

  ➡️ Weekend Tour: Friday, Saturday, Sunday Departures

• 9:10am Meet in front of Central Plaza Grand Rama IX
• 9:30am Depart on time
• 11:00am Arrive at Damnoen Saduak
• 1:15pm Arrive at Maeklong Railway Market & Lunch
• 2:30pm Maeklong Railway Station
• 3:30pm Arrive at Wat Bang Kung
• 4:30pm Arrive at Amphawa Floating Market & Dinner
• 6:30pm Amphawa Firefly Cruise
• 7:45pm Depart to BTS Asok Station
• 9:00pm Arrive at BTS Asok Station

? Other Tour Packages (Comparison)

If you don’t like the tour package above, here are some other ones with different points of interests.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, I enjoyed touring the different markets with KKDay. The English-speaking guide made the experience very enjoyable (and there are other language-speaking guides as well). The tour itself already makes up for the transportation costs of getting around alone. This saves me time and energy of planning, and I can just enjoy the sights.