Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore vibrant Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Witness unique Maeklong Railway Market
- Experience traditional Thai commerce
- Enjoy scenic boat ride through canals
- Capture memorable photos of local life
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Bangkok
- Guided tour of Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Visit to Maeklong Railway Market
- Meals and personal expenses
Itinerary
We'll visit Thailand’s most famous floating market: Damnoen Saduak. Upon arrival, you'll board a traditional long-tail boat for a ride through the canals, offering a glimpse into life along the waterways. The Damnoen Saduak canal was commissioned in 1866 by King Rama IV to connect the Mae Klong and Tha Chin rivers and improve water transport between the Ratchaburi and Samut Sakhon provinces. Photographs of this colorful and bustling market are among the most widely featured in travel brochures about Thailand. While the market today caters largely to tourists, it still offers an unforgettable experience with its lively atmosphere, boats, and canal scenes. Please note that the total time spent on this excursion includes the drive from Bangkok, which takes approx. 1,5 hours each way, depending on traffic. Note: Damnoen Saduak is undeniably touristy these days, and while it may not feel fully authentic anymore, it remains one of the best places to experience a floating market.
Our next stop will be the amazing Mae Klong Railway Market, locally known as Talat Rom Hoop ('Market Umbrella Close'). Imagine a train going straight through a public market! The Mae Klong Railway Market has been around since 1905. Fishing was (and still is) one of the main livelihoods of the people who lived here, and the market was another way in which to sell their goods. Officials decided to build a railway in order to better deliver these goods to other provinces. The market remained, however, despite the new tracks that cut through it. We’ll stroll over the market and see the train arrive or depart before going back to Bangkok. Total time to spend here is including traveling time between Damnoen Saduak and Maeklong Railway Market and from Maeklong Railway Market back to Bangkok (approx. 1,5 hrs - depending on traffic situation).
Wat Bang Kung is famous for its small chapel that is completely enclosed within the roots of a banyan tree called Bot Prok Po. It is almost like the tree itself is the pillars of the temple and that without the roots the chapel would fall down. You can also go inside to pay respect to the Buddha image. The temple grounds once doubled as a naval fort, the site of a fierce 18th century battle between Siam and invaders from Burma. Today, the temple grounds is also a memorial to warrior heroism.
Meeting point
Start Location
WanderSiam - Tour Operator, 459/1 Thanon Chaokhamrop, Khwaeng Pom Prap, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10100, Thailand
Important information
Know before you book
- The tour operates in English; ensure you understand the language for a full experience.
- Be prepared for early morning departure to avoid peak tourist hours.
- Note that the Maeklong Railway Market is an active railway; exercise caution during train passages.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking and boat rides.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect against the sun.
- Carry a camera to capture the vibrant scenes and unique moments.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
- Infants Required On Laps
Good to know
- We visit an ancient temple during the tour. Remember that temples are sacred places and you must dress appropriately. Shoulders and knees need to be covered.
- We provide hotel pick-up only from accommodations located on/near Khao San Road and on Siam Square. If you are not an actual guest at one of the hotels in our pick-up list, the designated meeting point will be our office on Chao Khamrop Road in Chinatown. IMPORTANT: The exact pick-up time will be sent to you via private message on the booking platform 1 day before the tour. Depending on the number of participants, hotel pick-up will be between 6:30 – 7:00 hrs (early slot) and 9:30 – 10:00 hrs (late slot). Please check your email (including junk folder) carefully the day before your tour to avoid any delays or missed departures.
- Bangkok’s traffic can be heavily congested. As our tours run on a group basis, we can wait a maximum of 10 minutes after the scheduled meeting time. After this grace period, the guide will begin the tour. If you cannot make it on time, please let us know before the tour starts. If possible, we’ll do our best to reschedule you for the next available time slot or day, though a rescheduling fee will apply. No refund will be provided in case of late arrival.
- Damnoen Saduak is undeniably touristy these days, and while it may not feel fully authentic anymore, it remains one of the best places to experience a floating market.
- Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour start time are eligible for a full refund. For cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance or in case of no-show, no refund will be issued.
- Our tours operate rain or shine, as tropical rain showers in Thailand usually don’t last long. If it rains heavily, we try to seek shelter and will continue as soon as the weather improves. During the rainy season, it’s a good idea to bring a raincoat or poncho. Please note cancellations due to weather are not eligible for a refund.
Traveler reviews
Coconut guide is amazing
We really enjoyed the tour, but especially our guide, "Coconut." She was very helpful, explained everything very well, accompanied us attentively, took many amazing photos, and is a sweetheart. The tour was definitely worth it because of her company that day. We highly recommend her!
Thank you KITTY!
We had the BEST tour guide ever! Her name is Kitty, like Hello Kitty. She treated us so well and went above and beyond so we could have a great time. She made sure my family and I took all the pictures we wanted and guided us safely through every place we visited. Kitty deserves an award honestly. I’m not sure if she’ll be able to read my review but if she happens to read it, I want to say thank you so much Kitty for making sure I took the picture I really really wanted to take back in November 2025 🥹🙏🏽 I recommend this tour 100% and would do it again if I go back to Thailand in the future!
Nice trip just outside Bangkok
This was a visit to the floating market and railway market. We were very lucky that there were only the two of us on trip, so we had the exclusive services of Paul, our guide and Maue our lady driver. Apologies if I got the spelling wrong. I visited the floating market 40 years ago when it was an actual working market and was surprised to see that now it's purely a tourist attraction and the only things on sale were souvenirs. Having said that, I suppose it's great that they managed to preserve it in some form and it's very pleasant to take a boat trip through the market stores which last time wasn't really possible. Paul was a brilliant guide. He was very cheerful, very funny, full of energy and we exchanged some interesting stories with him. The driving was also perfect. We did get to see a couple of other things which was very nice, a tree which had grown into a 400-year-old monastery building covering it with roots and branches. Also a seafood fish market. The train thing was okay but much like others I have seen in Hanoi. Expensive restaurants on the side of the tracks while you wait for a train to come past. Only downside is it's a bit of a long trek to and from, about an hour and a half each way but the car was very comfortable and air-conditioned
Maeklong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
The pre-tour conversation, the pickup, and the excursion were all perfectly organized. The guide was very knowledgeable, knew the best spots for impressive photos, and provided insightful explanations throughout. It was a wonderful experience, and I’m happy to recommend both the tour and the tour operator.
Amazing Travel Guide
It was a little hard to find the location to meet but our guide was very good and guided us to the meeting place . Our guide explained everything to us and was very good . I would recommend this company to anyone who wants to travel around Bangkok. Both our guide and driver was very friendly