Private Bangkok Canal Boat Tour to Big Buddha or The Artist House
Description
See a different side of Bangkok on this private 2-hour canal boat tour. Cruise through the peaceful canals of Thonburi and see a more local side of the city. Pass stilt houses, temples, and small communities along the way. Choose between a longtail or flat boat and add a short stop at Wat Paknam or the Artist House. And because this is a private tour, everything is fully customizable after booking and we can discuss any changes. ⏺ Choose between a traditional longtail boat or a Thai flat boat ⏺ See a quieter side of Bangkok away from the crowds ⏺ Flexible route with optional stops along the way ⏺ Visit Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen and see the impressive Big Buddha ⏺ Ideal for couples, families, and small groups ⏺ Learn more about the history of Bangkok
Tour Options
Itinerary
Start at metro MRT Blue Line "Bang Phai (BL33) Station", Exit 1. Offers convenient bathroom facilities and a parking area for your convenience.
Pass by Wat nang chee
Enjoy views of three temples at Pak Klong Dan (mouth of the Dan canal), where you’ll see two giant Buddha statues facing away from each other with a canal in between.
(STOP 30 MINS / optional) Big Buddha at Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen – one of Bangkok’s landmarks. This bronze beauty stands over 69 meters tall, making it the third tallest in Thailand!
A temple of King Rama III, featuring the original model of the famous Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho. The temple is peaceful and shaded. A hidden gem on the Thonburi side.
A historic morning market that was once a lively and famous floating market in Thailand. If you’d like to visit, it’s best suited for an 8:00 AM tour.
(STOP 30 MINS / optional) Enjoy a boat ride through the Artist’s House and Bangkok Yai or Bangluang Canal. These historic canals were once main thoroughfares and were home to nobility during the Thonburi and Rattanakosin eras. You’ll see old houses and riverside community life blending with the city’s modern vibes.
(STOP 30 MINS / optional) WEEKEND ONLY/ Book before 13.00 - Visit a small local market where locals sell food, fruits, snacks, and souvenirs. A simple, friendly place to experience canal life.
Flexible Return Route. If you want to spend more time at any spot, like the Artist’s House or Wat Pak Nam Phasi Charoen, you can choose your drop-off point. Or head back via MRT Blue Line or BTS at Bang Wa or Wutthakat stations. Other drop-off points can be arranged too.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Travelers decide how long to spend at each stop, or you can choose to stay on the boat for the entire two-hour trip.
Reviews(16)
One of the highlights of our stay in Bangkok! We did the private canal boat tour and cruised the canals for 2 hours with our fantastic guide Nadia and captain Lek! It was a great way to see the city and some of its temples from a different perspective and get a taste of local life. We even got noodles from one of the canal boat vendors! To finish we had a tour of the impressive Big Buddha. Nadia was an excellent guide full of local knowledge and history, and her and captain Lek made this a really memorable experience! Highly recommended as a way to see a different side of Bangkok!
We really had a great tour with Natalie. She was really flexible with the tour, very talkative and nice to our children.
We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Bangkok by The River Tours. Everything about the tour was perfect and incredibly enjoyable. The whole experience was very well organized, relaxing, and a fantastic way to see Bangkok from a different perspective. Our kids loved every minute of it, and it was truly a highlight for the entire family. The atmosphere was fun and welcoming, and we all had such a great time together. It’s not always easy to find activities that both adults and children enjoy equally, but this tour managed to do exactly that. Thank you for such a memorable experience. We highly recommend Bangkok by The River Tours to anyone visiting the city, especially families looking for something special to do together.
Our family had a great trip with our guide Jaoh, who is both extremely knowledgeable about the area and its history - and a pleasure to spend a few hours with. Highly recommended for families. Jaoh was great with our kids, and was mindful of their needs during the tour. We could tailor our tour exactly like we wanted. Absolutely recommended! You wont regret it.
Absolutely stunning, the boat ride was so calm and relaxing with a bit of speed and excitement. We got to see so much more of such a big place thank to Bangkok by the River Team. We 100% recommend and would definitely do again. Adding the tour guide on was a great bonus too, Natalie was absolutely amazing. And Jaoh was a message or call away if we had any questions so thank you all so much!! I wish Trip Advisor would let me upload videos as I took way more vids than pics.
We had amazing morning on the canals with Joah and the Bangkok by the River team. The private tour was just what we were looking for to see a more authentic view of homes along the canals. Their rustic beauty was wonderful. Joah also ensured we had the best seats for lunch and situated us for a taxi before saying good bye. I would highly recommend this tour for visitors to Bangkok.
I highly recommend the canal tour in Bangkok! It was an amazing experience with a very local vibe and a great way to see a different side of the city. Everything was super fun, and the whole family loved it. Definitely worth it! Thank you Jaoh and the team!
Kae and our boat driver were phenomenal. They were gentle with my mom and very respectful to her balance difficulties. Kae’s English was beautiful and her energy was welcoming. The history she shared made the trip even more special. Fantastic way to see the city and understand how commerce was and still is conducted. Thank you.
We are a family of five from Sweden with three children who took a private 2-hour canal tour in mid-December and it was absolutely wonderful. Our guide, Jaoh was exceptional! She has deep knowledge of the local area and a fantastic way of engaging the kids, keeping them interested and happy throughout the trip. We truly appreciated how customizable the tour was. Jaoh allowed us to spend more time at spots we loved and tailored the route to show us special places that suited our family's interests. She even helped us spot some turtles, which was a huge hit with the kids! Finishing the tour with a custom drop-off near Wat Arun made our logistics much easier. If you are visiting Bangkok with a family we highly recommend booking this tour!
We added one more spot to go to before departure and made it a 3-hour trip. The guide was super helpful throughout the trip, helping us plan the trip and communicate with the boat operator. Private tour is definitely a right choice to make when exploring the rivers. Super flexible schedule. The guide even let the boat operator to drop us off at a small pier near our next planned destination. The flyer she made is also straightforward and easy to understand. A detailed timeline (hand-written on the departure spot?) could be better, just a thought. Communicating with the boat driver could be challenging, and you have to communicate with him through the guide. But all went smoothly! The whole trip was way beyond my expectations and our family would definitely have this experience again next time we are in Bangkok.
