The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and Maeklong Market: Tours from Bangkok

How to choose a tour

Tours to the Damnoen Saduak floating market and the Maeklong railway market are the most in-demand trip from Bangkok in the selection. They differ in duration, group make-up and extra stops.

The Damnoen Saduak floating market (ตลาดน้ำดำเนินสะดวก) and the Maeklong railway market (Talat Rom Hup, “the market with a folding awning”) are the most popular day trip from Bangkok. They are two different worlds: trade from boats on narrow canals in Ratchaburi province, and stalls that vendors clear off the rails in seconds before a passing train, in Samut Songkhram. Both places lie 80–100 kilometres from the capital, so the road takes an hour and a half to two hours each way.

How to get there on your own and when to go

You can go yourself, but with changes. Buses and minivans towards Damnoen Saduak leave from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), and to Maeklong they go from the Southern Bus Terminal and from Wongwian Yai station. The markets are linked to each other only by taxi or songthaew, so in practice most people take a tour with a hotel transfer or a private car: it works out cheaper only for a trip of two or three people by taxi or Grab with a driver for the day.

• When to go. Damnoen Saduak comes alive at dawn and by ten in the morning turns into a solid crowd from buses. If you want photos and quiet, leave so as to be there before 8:00, and take a tour with an early start.
• The train at Maeklong. The train passes through the market several times a day: check the schedule with the guide or at the station on the day of the trip. People wait for it standing at the edge of the platform, and the stalls are pushed back a minute before the train arrives.
• The boat. A boat ride along the Damnoen Saduak canal is paid separately if it is not included in the tour. An electric boat is quieter and cleaner than a traditional longtail; agree the price before boarding.
• Stops on the way. Tours often add Salt Farm, coconut sugar farms and lunch; the more stops, the longer the day, up to 10 hours.

What to take with you

At the market you can buy mango, coconut ice cream, noodles from a boat and souvenirs, but in Damnoen Saduak prices are higher than in ordinary shops, so bargain. If you want an evening option, look at Amphawa: the market there works from Friday to Sunday in the second half of the day, and you can stay overnight in guesthouses on the water. In the evening boats to see fireflies leave from there too.

Which tickets and tours are available

Prices are as of 10 October 2026. See the content, language and terms on the page of the chosen offer.

What else in Bangkok

In the evening go to the Mahanakhon viewpoint, and by day visit the Grand Palace. The city’s hotels: hotels in Thailand.

Limits and tips

• Hat and sun cream. There is almost no shade on the water, and the sun beats down from the morning. Take water, sun cream and light long-sleeved clothing.
• Cash. On boats and in shops only baht are accepted; withdraw it in advance, as cash machines near the market are rare.
• Clothing. If on the way you stop at temples or factories, shoulders and knees must be covered; flip-flops slip on wet boards, so wear shoes with a ribbed sole.
• The Maeklong rails. Step onto the track only when the stalls are in place and the train is far away, stand at the edge on the guards’ signal and don’t take selfies on the rails.
• The rainy season. From May to October downpours are more frequent in the second half of the day; morning tours are more comfortable. Think ahead about a waterproof case for your phone.
• Drones. You may not fly them over the markets without permission.

The description is based on Trip.com listings; opening hours and the contents of offers may change.