Start daily at: 8:00 & 9:30 & 11:00 & 12:30 & 14:00 & 15:30 & 16:30 hrs.
Leave the busy streets behind and step into a world of wooden houses, smiling locals, and timeless traditions along Bangkok’s canals.
Hop aboard a traditional Thai long-tail boat and set off on a relaxing journey through Thonburi, the historic part of Bangkok. This area retains a slower pace of life, offering a fascinating contrast to the city’s modern skyscrapers and bustling streets.
During this (approx.) 2-hour canal adventure, you’ll catch glimpses of local life along the waterways.
Bangkok is a city of contrasts. Beyond its glittering temples and luxurious neighborhoods, the city also has areas of poverty and simple canal-side communities. On our tour, you’ll pass some older, more fragile houses that are at the mercy of floods during the rainy season. We want to show travelers a more authentic side of Bangkok, one that reflects local life beyond the postcard-perfect sights. It’s a perspective that many find eye-opening and enriching.
One of the highlights is Khlong Bang Luang, a riverside community dating back to the Ayutthaya period. Lined with old wooden houses and family-run shops, it offers a glimpse of traditional canal-side life. At its heart is Baan Silapin (The Artist’s House), a beautifully restored 200-year-old home serving as a creative space for local artists. A wooden walkway invites a quiet stroll along the canal, making this a true hidden gem.
As the boat continues, you’ll pass Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, an important temple built during the mid-Ayutthaya period. Your boat will pause so you can admire and photograph the enormous golden Buddha from the water, soaring nearly 70 meters high (please note that we do not disembark at this temple).
This tour offers a unique way to explore Bangkok, combining the charm of its canals, the vibrancy of local life, and glimpses of iconic landmarks, all from the comfort of your boat. It’s perfect for travelers seeking a traditional, intimate, and photogenic side of the Thai capital.
Important notes:
- Please note that during the tour, we may experience a wait at one of the water locks, which regulate canal levels. These operate on no fixed schedule and are beyond our control, but they are part of the authentic canal experience.
Meeting point:
The meeting point is at the bus stop directly opposite Elefin Coffee and Bangkok Bank on Maha Rat Road, just south of Wat Pho.
The easiest way to reach the meeting point (and to avoid Bangkok’s heavy road traffic) is by taking the MRT (metro) to Sanam Chai Station. From there, use the 'Museum Siam' exit. The meeting point is just a short 5-minute walk away.
For the location on Google Maps, please click HERE.
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1,668 Comments
5
Great morning out
Great guide and long tail boat … Enjoyable day out! Includes a temple and a market visit. Suggest either then 8am or 4.30pm tour slots so it’s not so hot…
5
Fun
Our tour guide, Joe was great! Was fun to see things from the canal as well as make a few stops at a temple as well as a market.
3.5
Rushed
Waited for late people for ten minutes. Left dock for 5 min then returned to dock to pickup late people. Started 20 min late on tour. Driver drove way too fast trying to make up lost time. Most of trip is through very dilapidated areas. Guide gave little help. Left on our own to shop. Then back in boat to get to dock on time for end of tour. Waste of money compared to Tuk Tuk tour.
4.5
WonderSiam Long Boat Tour.
We enjoyed the long boat tour and it gave us a chance to see a very different side of Bangkok and the way that people live here The stop at the Giant Buddha temple was really enjoyable and we would have liked to spend a bit more time here to explore the temple. Whilst the Artist House stop was also interesting we thought that 35 minutes here was way too long and we would have preferred to have a shorter time here and longer at the Giant Buddha temple. We did think the tour was good value for the 2 hours.
3.5
Ok way to spend a few hours if you get into the boat without falling
This boat tour started very badly as I didn’t know where to step when entering boat and landed on the floor hitting my lower back on the wooden seat as I fell so have very bad bruising. I felt the guide should have given more guidance where to step to avoid this accident happening but he was concerned and offered me ice. There was no explanation of Thai culture on the tour despite this being advertised which we were disappointed about. The artist house was a gimmicky stop where we could feed fish, get a drink or do some arts and crafts – not what we were interested in. We were 45 minutes late returning as we spent longer at the artists house then delayed over 30 mins at the lock which became stressful as we had plans that depended on arriving back on time. We had no idea we could have been delayed at the lock. It was good to see the big Buddha and interesting views along the canal but overall this was not a great experience