Floating & Railway Markets (Optional Mangrove Visit) Private Tour
Description
Embark on a captivating one-day tour exploring Thailand's iconic floating and railway markets and local communities. Start at a salt farm, where our guide explains the salt-making process. At the railway market, witness the unique "Unseen-Thailand" scenes as vendors swiftly retract their umbrellas when the train passes. Enjoy a boat ride at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, navigating this famous marketplace. Conclude with a visit to a coconut farm to learn traditional methods of boiling coconut sugar and making sugar loaves. For those choosing the expanded tour, you will visit the Mangrove Forest Conservation Center. Glide through tranquil waters, admire lush mangrove forests, and observe local conservation efforts. If conditions permit, you might even plant a mangrove tree yourself. Witness traditional clam digging by locals and enjoy feeding monkeys from a safe distance using floating jicama from the boat. The monkeys won't touch you in this picturesque environment.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Transfer from your hotel in Bangkok downtown to the floating market takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. The Floating Market of Damnoen Saduak is among one of the most attractive floating markets in Thailand. Motor boat rides are already included in your tour! Many Thai and foreign tourists come here to absorb the atmosphere of Thailand water markets that have been like this for over a 100 years. At this floating market, you can try a number of delicious Thai fruits and foods such as sweet mango on sticky rice, freshly-made coconut icecream, and Thai-style boat noodle.
The Railway Market is humorously called as the “life-risking” market! You will have fun riding a local train toward the Mae Klong station. While on this train, you will see the “Unseen-Thailand” experience. When the train signal rings up, the chaos will happen! Vendors will rush to detract their stall and clear away all goods that obstructs the running train at a great speed. Once the train passes, all shop owners will resume their stalls again.
The whitish salt field, not a rice field, of course. A special bonus tour for our guests who join our floating and railway market tour in 2020. This sea salt is produced by Thai local wisdom. The salt farmer will rotate the sea water in different levels matching the strength of wind and sunlight. The rotation will continue until the salt becomes a “salt mountain” which are ready for cooking, skincare, and agriculture. On the Highway 35 in Samut Sakhorn province, our guide will lead you to rub the salt to your hand and take amazing photos!
You will observe how Thai farmers produce coconut nectar and palm sugar loaf. You will see a demonstration of coconut flower cutting, pouring the nectar into a bamboo container, putting preservation woods in the container, boiling up and pasteurizing the coconut nectar into the drinkable one. You will try squeezing coconut milk from coconut shell using a traditional Thai “rabbit-teeth” wooden machine.
Experience the refreshing air and lush greenery at the Mangrove Forest Conservation Center, a sanctuary dedicated to the conservation of mangrove forests and water sources. This center offers both locals and tourists the unique opportunity to actively participate in preserving these vital natural habitats for wildlife, contributing to their restoration and abundance. At the center, knowledgeable staff provide valuable insights and guidance on mangrove planting techniques. You will gain a firsthand understanding of how mangroves serve as natural filters, trapping pollutants and sediments, thereby playing a crucial role in maintaining environmental quality. As you explore, you'll discover the diverse species of flora and fauna that flourish within these ecosystems. This experience underscores the importance of preserving biodiversity to sustain ecosystem balance and resilience.
Join us for an unforgettable journey through the Mangrove Forest Conservation Center, where you'll immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of the local community. Experience a serene boat ride through the lush mangrove forest, a testament to the community's dedicated restoration efforts. Witness traditional clam digging by local fishermen and enjoy the unique experience of feeding the playful monkeys that inhabit the area. Rest assured, your safety and that of your belongings is our priority, as the monkeys will remain in the water while you stay comfortably on the boat, maintaining a safe and enjoyable distance.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We offer complimentary hotel pickup for guests staying in downtown Bangkok or along the BTS Skytrain and MRT subway lines, including the areas of Victory Monument, Phaya Thai, Ratchathewi, Pratunam, Siam Square, Silom, Chidlom, Ploenchit, Nana, and Sukhumvit Road (up to Asoke). Please provide your hotel address at the time of reservation to utilize this convenient service. For guests staying outside of downtown Bangkok, please meet us at Center Point of Siam Square; there are no additional charges for this pickup option.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Total duration of the tour is 10 hours (including the 5 hours of travel time on the road).
Reviews(52)
My experience exceeded way beyond our expectations. Lin and Kevin spoke English which we appreciated very much. Their knowledge helped us understand the history of the places we visited and we would do it again in a heartbeat. You both Rocked!
Dear JoAnn_K, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback! It is wonderful to hear that your experience exceeded your expectations, and we will make sure Lin and Kevin know how much their English communication and depth of knowledge meant to you throughout the tour. We hope to welcome you back again soon! Warm regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Lin
It was a full day. We experienced the VIP extended tour. Our guides, Lin and Kevin were exceptional and exceeded our expectations. The rating system only gave us a maximum of 5 to rate our experience, but I want to give them a 10 plus, plus, plus. Both of you were the best and when we return to Thailand, we will request you on our next trip, You both rocked!
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience! It is wonderful to hear that Lin and Kevin made such a lasting impression during your full-day VIP extended tour of the Floating and Railway Markets, and that they went above and beyond to exceed your expectations. We will make sure they know you would rate them well beyond the standard five stars, and we look forward to welcoming you back on your next visit to Thailand! Warm regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guides Lin
Wonderful times during this tour! Truly will become memorable. Tour guide was very pleasant and quite knowledgeable.
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback! We are delighted that you had a memorable time exploring the markets with us. Your kind words about our guide's expertise and friendliness are truly appreciated. Warm regards, Thailand Insight Travel
Lina is one of the best guides I had ever experienced; polite and kind, extremely knowledgeable and very experienced throughout the different markets. She shows you the classics routes but also goes off the main touristy paths to allow for a really unique experience. With Kevin, the driver, they form an incredible duo for an unforgettable tour. Extremely recommended!
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for your amazing review! We are so pleased that you appreciated Lin’s expertise and her ability to show you unique parts of the markets. It is wonderful to hear that she and Kevin provided an unforgettable tour for you. Warm regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Lin
Absolutely lovely day on a long tail boat & bicycles. We had no idea we would get to feed the monkeys and it ended up being the highlight of the trip! Visiting the local farms and seeing how they made their produce was very insightful. Would highly recommend this tour!
Dear Max R, Thank you for the lovely review! We're so glad the long-tail boat and cycling day turned out to be such a memorable one, especially the surprise monkey feeding. It's great to hear you found the farm visits insightful too. Highly appreciate your recommendation! Best regards Thailand Insight Travel and guide Hai
Amazing past experience with Hai who is an exceptional guide. The tour was captivating and really interesting. I recommend it 100% do not hesitate.
Dear Smith N, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're happy to hear Hai made your experience so engaging. We truly appreciate your recommendation. Hope to see you again! Best regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Hai = Un grand merci pour vos mots chaleureux ! Nous sommes contents que Hai ait rendu votre expérience si captivante. Votre recommandation nous touche beaucoup. À bientôt pour une nouvelle aventure !
Great experience with Hai at the floating market and mangrove. I very much appreciated the dedication of our guide, who was able to listen.
Dear Lou B, Thank you so much for your feedback! We're glad you enjoyed the floating market and mangrove experience with Hai. We hope to welcome you again! Best regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Hai = Merci beaucoup pour votre retour ! Nous sommes heureux que vous ayez apprécié le marché flottant et l’expérience dans la mangrove avec Hai. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau !
We had a fantastic time on this tour! Our guide (Tip) and our driver (Samran) were courteous and fun. This was a highly enjoyable experience, we loved the monkeys!
Dear Barbara_P, Thank you for sharing your kind words! We’re so happy to hear you had such an enjoyable experience with Tip and Samran. It truly makes our day to know they, and of course, the monkeys, made your day so memorable! Best regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Tip
We had a fantastic time on this tour! Our guide (Tip) and our driver (Samran) were courteous and fun. This was a highly enjoyable experience, we lived the monkeys!
Dear Elyce, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We're so happy to hear that Tip and Samran provided such an enjoyable tour. We love the monkeys too; they’re always the trip's highlight! Best regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Tip
We enjoyed our private tour led by our tour guide Poppy, who gave us informative insight on places we've visited. We went to a salt farm while waiting to board the train to the Maeklong railway market. We also visited the floating market that had vendors selling various things, such as souvenirs, paintings, clothing, and food. This tour was very convenient with transportation, and I highly recommend this tour if you like shopping and/or sightseeing.
Dear Valued Guest, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re so happy to hear that you had a wonderful time with our guide Poppy. It sounds like the salt farm, railway market, and floating market made for a fun and meaningful day. We're thrilled the convenience and variety made your experience special. Best regards, Thailand Insight Travel and guide Poppy
