Famous for its tourist-friendly floating markets, Damnoen Saduak is the one you’ll find in the tourist literature on Thailand. Bring your camera along to witness the river packed with wooden boats overflowing with fruit and vegetables, which they sell to people standing on land. The scene is colourful and loud; just as you’d expect from a Thai market. It is just 100km from Bangkok.
Maeklong Railway Market is a traditional Thai market selling fresh vegetables, food and fruit. What makes the market special is that it occupies part of a train line. A few times a day, there’s a train running directly through the market. A few minutes before the train comes, vendors lower their umbrellas and move some of their produce away from the train tracks. Some are left on the ground, with the train passing right over them. Amazingly, nothing gets damaged or broken, and as soon as the train passes, the vendors move their goods back onto the tracks and continue as normal (until the next train arrives).
What a beautiful memorable experience. We were a group of friends and our kids the boat experience and floating through various shops along the market was absolutely enjoyable. Also loved the temple visit as well as elephant rides.
Perfect floating market experience, especially since most aren’t open during the week. Also stopped at a coconut palm farm which was very interesting & well done. Great value for the $$.
Be careful with this visit. There are many scam stories of how tourists are scammed. I/We were nearly scammed ourselves. The usual going rate to bring a group of tourist there will be 4000baht - 6000baht for a bigger group, inclusive of railway market as a day trip package. But i happened to get a taxi driver outside our hotel at a much much cheap rate the day before. I got the taxi driver's number and watsapped him the night before and agreed that we will NOT take any boat rides - that's how they will charge exorbitant rates to the tourists!! In exchange, when the driver picked us up the following morning, we agreed to go to one of his 'sponsors' - a beehive farm which turned out to be a pleasant visit in itself and quite informative. During the drive there, we agreed that if all goes well, we would like to help him by visiting another of his 'sponsor' on our trip back, and immediately his face lited up. ::))
Tourist trap for sure. Be sure and bargain for items. Offer a 60% discount on their asking price and many times it is accepted. These businesses expect you to bargain according to our tour guide. Food in the restaurants are pretty basic but very tasty.
We booked a half day tour to damnoen floating market and managed to witness the old and newly built floating market. Our guide, Pam, was awesome and helpful. She shared some story of thai culture, how the floating market came about and great information throughout the day. Not only that, she also showed us which area has the best boat noodles, mango sticky rice, coconut water, coconut pancake and more! The overall experience is great and chill. We also had the 30 minute paddle boat ride which was fun. Can’t wait to go back again!!
My recent visit to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market was an enjoyable experience, thanks to our knowledgeable and friendly guide, Pang. Her warm and welcoming demeanor set the tone for the day, and she made sure we felt comfortable and engaged throughout the trip. Starting with the markets themselves, I have to admit that they felt somewhat touristy and lacking the authentic local charm that I had anticipated. While the bustling atmosphere was interesting to witness, it didn't quite provide the genuine snapshot of local life I had hoped for. However, the visit to the coconut plantation was a definite highlight. It was both educational and entertaining, giving us valuable insights into the process of coconut production and adding a touch of excitement to the day. After the boat trip, I found myself less interested in shopping, and unfortunately, there was a bit of waiting involved before the van departed. However, the fortunate part was sharing the experience with a group of lovely people, which made the day more enjoyable. The camaraderie and positive atmosphere compensated for the downtime. As for the pricing, I do believe that for what was offered, the experience could have been better. While the guide and the coconut plantation added value, the overall tour could have been enhanced with more immersive and authentic experiences at the floating markets. On the other hand, another reviewer mentioned their fantastic guide, "Boeing," who truly made their trip memorable. Along with the "2nd best driver," Boeing provided exceptional service and showcased a wealth of knowledge. Their welcoming and humorous nature added a layer of enjoyment to the journey, and their expertise was evident throughout. Similar to my experience, the visit to the family coconut plantation added an intriguing dimension to the trip. It was not only informative but also enjoyable and interactive. The floating markets, although commercialized, still held interest, especially with the historical context and insight into the local trade and commerce. Although the journey to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market can be quite lengthy due to traffic, the excellent guidance and entertaining nature of the guide made the travel time hardly noticeable. Their efforts in spoiling the group with local delicacies and treats further demonstrated their commitment to ensuring a pleasurable experience for everyone. In conclusion, while the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market might not fully capture the essence of authentic local life, the visit can still be an enjoyable and informative experience. The presence of a knowledgeable guide like Pang or Boeing significantly enhances the trip, making it more engaging and entertaining. With some improvements to the overall itinerary and offerings, this excursion has the potential to be an even more remarkable adventure for visitors.
Our guide Pang was lovely, warm and friendly...the markets aren't anything more than a tourist trap, not a snap shot of local life at all. The coconut plantation however was so interesting and a highlight. We all weren't interested in shopping after the boat trip, so our time was spent just waiting for the van to leave. We were lucky enough to share the experience with lovely people so the day was great. For the price...it could have been better.
What a fun adventure! We enjoyed seeing a different part of Thailand and a different way of life. Our guide, Natty, was knowledgeable, flexible, personable and fun.
Our guide, Boeing was wonderful, knowledgeable and fun. At the local market he got us samples of everything.
Great day out. This is a must for all visitors. We took ate 8 and 11 year old. The guide Kiwi was fantastic. Highly recommend.
Too much time on the bus and too little time in the paddle boat at the floating market-only 20 minutes! Silly waste of time stopping at the coconut farm which was just a shopping stop for trinkets you find anywhere-should stop at the train market instead. Hotel pick up was nice.
We really enjoyed this trip and that was mainly down to our fabulous guide “Boeing”, one of the best we’ve ever experienced along with the “2nd best driver” as he was known ( apologies, his name now escaped me ) Boeing was so welcoming and friendly, so funny too and his knowledge was second to none. On the way to the markets we visited a family coconut plantation which was really interesting and fun. The floating markets were as we expected, now very commercial but still a very interesting place and hearing the history of them and how they traded and sold their goods. It’s a good 90 mins out of the city and the traffic was awful at times but our fabulous guide made that barely noticeable. Thank you “Boeing” and 2nd best driver for a fun trip, for spoiling us with local delicacies and treats throughout, you are legends 😊
It was quite fun on the boat. The lady who was paddling the boat was friendly and pointed out the different fruit trees like mango and banana trees. There was a stopover at a coconut sugar plantation where they showed us how the sugar was made from the coconut tree.
Super great experience! Our guide Ohm is so knowledgeable, professional and kind. He is also extremely accommodating to my family's needs :) thank you so much! I fully and truly recommend this tour to everyone. The boat ride was also included and fun. The coconut pudding is so good my family bought more to bring back to the hotel !
Our Damnoen Saduak Floating Market experienced was great,and the I Asia Thailand guide made it so easy for us especially we were travelling in group.The markets were wonderful and we sone some shopping, haggling and had a coconut ice cream. The guide service is great, on time to pick us up. Cant fault the morning out.
Awesome day with susie the guide ,so knowledged On thai life and customs .. monday is yellow ,every days is a colour ( who new ) floating markets ,excellent .Boat ride just a great feeling Take susie up on her offer of a friend in market stall if you would like to buy some thai clothing ( cheap cheap ) Coconut house pretty good too ..everyone friendly and no precious to buy
The booking was worth the price with I Asia Thailand. It was affordable and the trip was on time. I recommend everyone to try this as the tourist guide is also fun and knowledgeable. We had a great experience at the market and also tasting the yummy food
Even though it’s a group tour, the tour guide made sure that we were all engaged with the tour and looked after us well. We had a great time at the famous floating market with a free boat ride included too. Great food options as well and the guide suggested the mango and rice which was delicious. This tour helps especially for families, where traveling between all these places will be difficult. Excellent morning out!
There are so many floating market in Thailand, and Damnoen Saduak floating market is the most popular one. We booked this with I Asia as we used them last year in Phuket. We were picked up from the hotel by our guide Nok, transfer was about an hour and Nok kept us entertained on the way. We were glad we chose I Asia as the boat was also included and this was an amazing way to enter the market area. Exploring this legendary floating market here you can see numerous vendors selling local foods, fruits and products on their boats. You shouldn’t miss the opportunity to try the fresh coconuts and also the Mango and sticky rice. In all we had a great day BUT the best part was the guide and also the free hotel pick up. This was excellent value for money!
I really enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend that others consider it too! Tour bus came on time. Juney the guide is very informative, explaining to us to history of Thailand, how the floating market came about and the prices of what we should pay for the items at the floating market. She was with us throughout and ensure we know what to expect. The long tailed motorised boat was fun. Overall, this tour was excellent knowing a different part of Thailand.
We had fun at Damnoen floating market. Mr Bon our tour guide from I Asia Thailand was very helpful, he was giving us tips how to bargain with the locals teaching us how to say it in Thai words...there were plenty of fruits and food to try..liked the sticky rice with mangoes! Its an early start and very busy at the market but I would recommend this tour
We booked online with Viator and the prices were excellent. Picked up at our hotel by I Asia Guide. She was very responsive to questions, it was a very informative tour. Lots of opportunities to buy souvenirs at the market and the time allotted was just right, we never felt rushed through it. The journey in by long tail boat is all worth it. In all an excellent morning
If you’re considering a floating market tour, look no further than I Asia Thailand in Bangkok for an unforgettable experience. We had the pleasure of having Nok as our tour guide on this hour tour to the Floating Market. Nok is so knowledgeable, informative and most importantly she’s very kind and makes sure you feel taken care of during your tour. Initially I considered visiting Damnoen Saduak without a tour company, I am so glad I decided not to do that. This was my first time visiting Thailand and the knowledge Nok has about Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and all the other landmarks you’ll pass on the way is priceless. If your visiting Thailand definitely add this tour to your list of things to do and hopefully you’ll also be able to experience this amazing tour and have Nok as your tour guide!!
Nearly 4 hours in a old decrepit Bus with average AC in high temperatures. Long Tail boat useless kept stalling and going walking pace. Canals smelly and filthy. Floating market just full of Chinese made trash. Waited ages for a paddle boat and went a 100 meters. Ram jammed full of a mix of paddle and Long tail noisy boats that spray Fumes over you. Would waste the money.
Absolutely disgusting. Water so badly polluted we thought we would catch some disease. Rotting rubbish all over the place - in the water and under the shacks and markets. Boats were old and decrepid stalling all the time and gear box ruined. They tried to charge us $150 each but we declined and were prepared to turn straight back around for the two hour drive back. They offered us half the price. Reluctantly and because of previous review we thought to give it the benefit of the doubt. Should have gone with our gut instinct. They most amazing thing was there was no smell! Definitely the downer of our stay in Bangkok.
It’s a day trip hidden full of hidden surprise costs. The market is a glorified souvenir shopping on boats. When you get to the market you have to pay extra for the paddle boats so you access the floating (overpriced souvenirs) market. Then on the way back the tour stops off at an expensive elephant farm. These excursions are solely aimed at gullible & naive tourists.
Always wanted to go to the floating markets and glad I did!! I booked this with Tripadvisor and great to see they confirmed for morning after. It’s an early start, i Asia called me in the hotel to reconfirm. The ride is around 80 minutes and we took a great speedboat into the market. This led us in and we weee at the market for another 90 minutes. The guide Mam was excellent and funny. She really looked after us and brought us to the mango and sticky rice man to sample this. We also had some spicy noodles. Back to the hotel by lunch. Amazing morning out and I Asia prices were crazy cheap. Well recommended
We toured as a small group of five. It was a fun 1/2 day. We all enjoyed the ride in long-tail-speedboat! The market itself is a flurry of activity! Food, clothes, trinkets, impressive wooden carvings, etc etc are all for sale.
Možda je ideja dobra, ali je realizacija katastrofalna. Na jednom mestu gomila čamaca koji stoje zaglavljeni - niti se šta može videti niti kupiti. Čak ne može ni da se diše od smrada motora. A što se tiče cene - čista prevara. Postoje dve varijante: Jedna je da se uzme paket iz Bangkoka, koji je preskup. Druga je da te doveze taksi, koji je u dilu sa vlasnicima čamaca (longboat), do peera, gde ne postoji mogućnost cenkanja, jer svi nude iste preskupe pakete. U svakom slučaju se na kraju dobije skoro ništa za velike novce. Možda postoji i treći način da se vidi pijaca, ali koliko sam video čak i oni koji su iznajmili čamce za veslanje su stajali zaglavljeni u smradu benzina sa ostalih čamaca i nisu mogli ništa naročito da vide i dožive.
The guide Yui was good, told me a lot about all sorts of things. Palm farm and floating market was a bit too touristy for me. It was still fun to have been there.
We buy the ride for 250 Bath per person. We never, ever saw what the pictures say. It's a complete mockery, stolen money and they just take you to make you buy. They take you back and forth without a single picture of floating markets. Not one. Rubbish. Bad.
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