Tha Kha Floating Market & Wat Bang Kung Day Trip from Bangkok

Summary

Old wooden boats drift by at Tha Kha as locals trade fruit and laughter, then banyan roots swallow a temple wall and lunch comes with river breeze

You’ll glide through Tha Kha Floating Market by paddle boat with a local guide, sample warm coconut treats from passing boats, see Wat Bang Kung wrapped in ancient banyan roots, and relax over lunch by the Mae Klong River. The pace is gentle and real—the kind of day that lingers with you long after you’re back in Bangkok.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the way the morning air smelled—like river water and something sweet, maybe jackfruit? We met our guide just outside Bangkok (she introduced herself as Fon, which means “rain” in Thai—though it was sunny) and drove out to Tha Kha Floating Market. It’s not big or loud like Damnoen Saduak; here, the boats are mostly locals’—old women selling pomelos, a kid helping his dad with fish. At one point, our paddle boat bumped gently against another and the two sellers just grinned at each other. I tried to say thank you in Thai (khop khun ka), but probably messed it up. Nobody seemed to mind.

We floated slowly along the canal, passing under low wooden bridges. Fon pointed out a woman making coconut pancakes right on her boat—she handed us one to try (still warm, chewy in the middle). The market only runs on weekends or Buddhist holidays so it felt like everyone actually knew each other. There was this quiet rhythm to it all—no shouting, just soft voices and paddles dipping in the water. I kept thinking how different it felt from every other floating market I’d seen photos of online.

Afterwards we stopped at a coconut farm nearby. The farmer showed us how he made palm sugar—he let me taste some straight from the pot (sticky, almost smoky-sweet). Then we drove over to Wat Bang Kung. The temple is half-swallowed by banyan roots; you have to duck under branches to get inside. It’s small but there’s this hush inside that made me want to stay longer than we did. Lunch was at an open-air spot right on the Mae Klong River—the breeze off the water felt good after all that sun. I still think about that pancake sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Thaka Floating Market and nearby sites

• Explore Thaka Floating Market
• Visit Wat Bang Kung temple
• Lunch at Mae Kong River restaurant

Top questions

How far is Tha Kha Floating Market from Bangkok?

Tha Kha Floating Market is about 1.5 hours’ drive southwest of central Bangkok.

Is this tour suitable for kids or older travelers?

Yes, it’s suitable for all physical fitness levels; infants need to sit on an adult’s lap during transfers.

What days does Tha Kha Floating Market operate?

The market operates on weekends only, except during Buddhist holidays when it may also open.

Is lunch included in this day trip?

Yes, a Thai set menu lunch is included at an open-air restaurant by the Mae Klong River.

Will there be an English-speaking guide?

Yes, your tour includes an English-speaking local guide throughout the day.

What makes Tha Kha different from Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa markets?

Tha Kha is smaller and less touristy; most vendors are locals trading everyday goods rather than catering mainly to tourists.

Do we visit any temples on this tour?

Yes, you’ll visit Wat Bang Kung—a centuries-old temple surrounded by banyan tree roots.

Is a boat ride included at Tha Kha Floating Market?

Yes, a paddle boat ride through the market’s canals is part of your experience.

What’s included

Your day includes a paddle boat ride through Tha Kha Floating Market with an English-speaking guide who knows everyone by name, a traditional Thai set menu lunch beside the Mae Klong River breeze, plus stops at a working coconut plantation and Wat Bang Kung temple wrapped in ancient banyan roots before heading back toward Bangkok.