Bangkok: Maeklong Railway & Floating Markets with Train & Boat

Markets, trains, boats and the chaos of rural Thailand in a day

You’ll ride right through Maeklong Railway Market as stalls fold away before your eyes, then float by boat through Damnoen Saduak’s busy canals packed with local snacks and colors. With a live guide (plus an audio guide on your phone) and the air-conditioned vehicle, train ticket and boat ride included, you’ll get both chaos and calm on this day trip from Bangkok, plus maybe a new favorite street snack.

Options for this experience

5 options

From US$ 24 to US$ 51 per person, depending on the option and date you choose. See options & prices

Samyan Mitrtown meeting point 06:30, 08:30 and 10:00 Guide in English Up to 15 people Maximum 34 participants: Look for your guide dressed in black at the Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall, outside KFC, on the sidewalk along Phaya Thai Road.

Hotel Pick-up (oneway) 08:30 and 10:00 Guide in English Up to 15 people Pickup starts 1 hour earlier. Maximum 34 participants. The exact time will be sent the evening before the tour. The tour finishes at the Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall. Pickup is included.

Premium Samyan Mitrtown 06:30, 08:30 and 10:00 Guide in English Up to 15 people Small group, maximum 9 participants: Look for your guide dressed in black at the Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall, outside KFC, on the sidewalk along Phaya Thai Road.

See 2 more options

Private tour including transfer 06:30, 09:00 and 10:00 Guide in English Up to 9 people Includes pickup

Premium, with pickup from hotel 06:30, 08:30 and 10:00 Guide in English Up to 9 people Pickup starts 1 hour earlier. Choose this option for a small group tour with 9 participants. The tour finishes at the Samyan Mitrtown shopping mall. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 12 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Train and boat market tour near Bangkok

• Drive through countryside to train station
• Ride local train to Maeklong Railway Market
• Watch train pass through market stalls
• Explore and shop at Maeklong Market
• Travel to pier for long-tail boat
• Boat ride through canals to floating market
• Visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
• Enjoy local snacks and crafts

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Maeklong Railway Market 1h 30m
2. Damnoen Saduak Floating Market 1h 30m

What’s included

• Your day includes round-trip transport from Bangkok in an air-conditioned vehicle, tickets for both the local train ride through Maeklong Railway Market and a longtail boat cruise at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market.
• There’s bottled water provided along with accident insurance for peace of mind.
• You’ll have a live English-speaking guide throughout plus access to an audio guide in 28 languages using your own phone, so you won’t miss any stories even if English isn’t your thing.

Times

Looking for another day or time? ›

• Every day 06:30 08:30 09:00 10:00

Information

Feel the rush as a train passes through Maeklong Market and ride a longtail boat at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market on a guided day trip from Bangkok.

Group Up to 34 7 similar private tours ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Audio guide Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts. When you book, you choose your hotel from 866 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure. See the exact addressSee the pickup points

Book up to the start time

Ages Adult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby Infants must sit on laps

More information The exact meeting point address, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

Traveler reviews

4.77 ★★★★★ Excellent 92 verified traveler reviews 87% rated it 5 stars

5 ★ 80

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2 ★ 2

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The experience

“Don’t blink or you’ll miss your mango,” our guide joked as we squeezed between baskets of chilies and flip-flops at Maeklong Railway Market. She was right. One minute I was eyeing some dried fish, the next, our guide was waving us back as vendors started folding their awnings with this practiced, almost lazy speed. The train’s horn sounded, not loud, but enough to make my heart thump. I didn’t expect to be that close. Like, centimeters-from-the-train close. You could smell metal and something sweet in the air (maybe jackfruit?). It was crowded and honestly a bit chaotic, but everyone (locals and tourists) seemed to hold their breath for those few seconds as the train slid by. Then just like that, stalls popped open again and it was all noise and bargaining.

The drive from Bangkok took nearly two hours (so bring snacks), but I actually liked watching the city fade into rice paddies and small villages. Our guide told us stories about her childhood trips to these markets. She laughed remembering how she used to beg her mom for sticky rice sweets. There’s an audio guide on your phone too if you want extra details. I tried it out for fun while she explained things to the group.

After Maeklong, we hopped into a longtail boat. Those engines are loud, but there’s something calming about gliding along the canal past stilted houses and dogs barking at nothing in particular. At Damnoen Saduak Floating Market it was all colors: bright umbrellas, piles of dragonfruit, grilled skewers sending up little clouds of smoke. I bought coconut pancakes from a woman who smiled without saying much. They were warm and chewy with that slightly burnt edge I weirdly love. It’s touristy for sure, but there are still these tiny moments where you catch someone laughing with their neighbor or hear kids splashing somewhere behind the boats. On the way back to Bangkok I kept thinking about that first moment when everything stopped for the train. It felt like being part of some old ritual that just keeps going.

Top questions

Can I be picked up at my hotel?

You can choose: pickup at your hotel, or go straight to the meeting point. When you book, you choose your hotel from 866 pickup locations; if yours isn’t listed, you arrange it with the operator after booking. Pickup is about 60 minutes before departure.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What should I expect at Maeklong Railway Market?

You’ll see vendors quickly folding away their stalls just before a real train passes right through the crowded market: an energetic and unique sight.

How far is Damnoen Saduak Floating Market from Bangkok?

The floating market is about two hours’ drive from central Bangkok depending on traffic.

Do I need cash at the markets?

It’s best to carry some cash (Thai baht) at both markets, since most stalls add a 5% fee when you pay by card.

Operated by TRIPZA sightseeing. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated today