Floating Market, Maeklong Market and Bangkok Temples
Highlights
- Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in one morning
- The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha
- Wat Pho and the forty-six-metre reclining Buddha
- Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn
- All temple entrance fees included
Description
This is the day for people with one day. It fits both of the famous markets into the morning and the three great Bangkok temples into the afternoon, and it only works because the markets sit west of the city along the same road. Maeklong Railway Market opens the day at 09:00 with the stalls folding away for the train. Damnoen Saduak follows at 09:30, with a longtail through the floating market and free time among the canal vendors. By 11:30 you are on the road back into Bangkok for the half of the day most people come to Thailand carrying pictures of. The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha start the afternoon at 13:45. Wat Pho follows with its reclining Buddha, forty-six metres of it. The last stop is Wat Arun across the river on the Thonburi bank, which you leave at 17:00 for a 17:30 to 18:00 arrival back at Khaosan Road.
Pricing
This tour requires a minimum of 2 persons per booking
- Step 1
06:15 to 07:00 Hotel pickup
Pickup from your hotel in the central Bangkok area, then on to the meeting point at Khaosan Road.
Leave Khaosan Road and drive south-west.
Walk the market laid out along the live railway track.
Longtail boat into the market and about an hour of free time among the canal stalls.
Drive back into the city.
The Grand Palace complex and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha.
The reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, then across to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.
Leave the old city.
Drop-off at Khaosan Road, or Sam Yot MRT station on request.
Included
- Return trip by air-conditioned minivan
- English-speaking local guide
- Longtail boat ride at the floating market
- Maeklong Railway Market
- Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha entrance
- Wat Pho entrance
- Wat Arun entrance
Not included
- Food and drinks
- Drinking water
- Travel insurance
- Optional paddle boat at the floating market (150 THB per person)
- Hotel drop-off (150 THB per person, minimum 2 people)
- Clothing that covers shoulders and knees for temple visits
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Sun protection
This tour starts at one of these meeting points. Pick the one that suits you when you book. No extra charge.
- Open in Google Maps
Khaosan / Chana Songkhram Police Station
Check-in 07:15
In front of Chana Songkhram Police Station at the end of Khaosan Road, opposite Wat Chana Songkhram.
- Open in Google Maps
Korea Town / Sukhumvit Plaza fountain
Check-in 06:30
At the fountain in front of Sukhumvit Plaza (Korea Town), between Sukhumvit 10 and 12, ~200 m from Asok BTS exit 2.
A driver collects you where you're staying. Your area sets the collection time.
Free pickup · 14 areasSee all 14 areasHide areas
Your exact pickup time depends on your area and departure time. You'll see it at checkout and we confirm it with your booking.
The Grand Palace enforces its dress code at the gate, and it is the single most common problem on this itinerary. Shoulders and knees must be covered, vests and shorts and see-through fabric are all refused, and the sarong-hire queue eats time the afternoon does not have. Wear temple clothes from the morning, even though the morning is two hot markets. Lunch is not included on this one. It is the only full-day trip in our range without it, because the temples take the whole afternoon. Eat properly at Damnoen Saduak in the late morning, carry cash for it, and expect to be on your feet from 13:45 to 17:00 across three sites with very little shade.
FAQs
Shoulders and knees must be covered. No vest tops, no shorts, no torn jeans and nothing see-through. It is enforced at the gate and sarongs can be hired there, but the queue costs time. Wear suitable clothes from the start of the day even though you are at the markets first.
No. This is the one full-day tour in the range without lunch, because the afternoon is spent at the temples. Eat at Damnoen Saduak in the late morning and bring cash, as the canal stalls do not take cards.
Yes, all of them: the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. The Grand Palace alone is 500 THB, so this is a large part of the tour price.
Yes, if your hotel is in the central pickup area. Pickup times are set by area: Khaosan Road and the old town 06:50 to 07:15, Chinatown and Hua Lamphong 06:40 to 06:50, Sukhumvit, Silom, Sathorn and Pratunam 06:30 to 06:40, and Siam 06:30 to 06:45. If you are staying outside that area you make your own way to the meeting point on Khaosan Road, in front of the Chana Songkhram police station, for 07:15, or to Korea Town at Sukhumvit Plaza for 06:30.
Back in Bangkok at Khaosan Road, or at Sam Yot MRT station if you ask the guide on the day. Drop-off at your own hotel can be added for 150 THB per person, with a minimum of two people.
Yes, this tour needs at least two people to run. Group sizes vary with the season, from about two to nine people on a quiet day up to twenty or more in high season.
You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the tour starts and get a full refund. Inside 24 hours the tour is non-refundable, because the seat and the guide are already committed.
