Bustling Vibrant Markets (Weekday)
Note: Pick-up time between 06,20 - 06.50 hours
Start your day with an invigorating visit to the renowned Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, followed by an excursion to the fascinating Maeklong Train Market.
Begin your journey with an early start, passing through picturesque landscapes of rice paddies and shrimp farms (approximately 50 kilometers/30 miles) to reach Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Board a longtail boat and navigate the intricate network of canals leading to the lively market, where you'll find vendors peddling a diverse array of goods, including fresh fruits, vegetables, souvenirs, and more. Proceed on foot to the nearby Lao Tuk Lak market, a smaller and more traditional marketplace, and absorb narratives about the local community that frequents it.
Enjoy a Thai-style iced coffee before your journey continues to the Maeklong Train Market. Stroll along the railway tracks, and listen for the approaching train. Witness as the stallholders hasten to clear the tracks of their wares, only to swiftly restore their stalls once the train has passed. On your return to Bangkok, make a stop en route at a family-operated coconut palm sugar factory. Observe the production process and sample some delectable snacks crafted from palm sugar (similar to jaggery).
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Trains and Markets (Weekend)
Note: Pick-up time between 06.20-06.50 hours
Following breakfast set out on a 90-minute drive southwards to the Railway Track Market, one of Asia's most unusual marketplaces. Here, vendors line and cover the railway tracks, but as the train approaches, the vendors swiftly disassemble their stalls to allow the train's passage. Shopping briefly pauses as passengers disembark and board, after which the vendors promptly reassemble their stalls to resume business. Navigate through the wet market adjacent to the train station and gain insights into the fresh merchandise on offer from your guide.
Afterward, proceed by car to Wat Bang Kung, where you'll explore the petite chapel entirely encased within the roos of a banyan tree. Then, set out on a long-tail boat journey up the Mae Klong River to visit the King Rama II Memorial Park and Museum, housing art and other artifacts from the 18th century within four classical Thai architectural structures. Explore the exhibitions depicting Thai court life in each of the four halls.
In the afternoon, visit the Amphawa floating market, which operates exclusively on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Unlike Bangkok's renowned Damneon Saduak floating market, few foreigners visit this almost exclusively Thai market. It's a place where locals gather to buy and sell a wide range of items, from cooking utensils to fresh flowers and toys. Vendors load their boats and cruise through the waters, hoping for potential customers to signal them down from the dock. The area surrounding the market provides a pleasant environment for a leisurely stroll, featuring open-air restaurants and intersecting bridges. Delicious meals are cooked right from the boats, including pad thai, curry, noodles, and chicken satay. Your day ends with a return to your hotel in the evening.
