Bangkok Day Trip-Maeklong Railway Market and Amphawa Floating Market

Maeklong Railway Market is not new to many tourists. Everyone knows the special market which a train goes through (without crushing any vegetable or fruits!)

But Maeklong Railway Market is 80km away from central Bangkok, public transport and drive will be 2.5 and 1 hour respectively.

Bangkok Day Trip
Bangkok Day Trip

It makes sense to bundle your trip with nearby attractions. We love Amphawa Floating Market (there are at least 3 floating markets in the area). (We do not know which one more suitable or has more street food.)

So we book a day trip through Klook (this package), price from $270+ . COMFORTABLE 10-seater van zip us to our destination. If I was driving, I might need to navigate or sit out huge jams 🙂

 

 

Klook Bangkok Promotion

If you are rushing for time, checkout our YouTube Video first

#01 Ride into Maeklong Railway Market (GPS for Lat Yai, 13.436389, 100.049167)

Ok, everyone know the famous Train market, why not ride the last kilometres into the market!

A novelty for us, old-school train was an attraction itself, fellow passenger enthusiasm, and the receiving crowd at the market haha.

Last station before Maeklong Railway Market

The track itself seems like a good spot for photos and wefies too. Do listen out for the Train horns.

We took the 2pm train, journey is only 10 to 15 minutes. \

It is not easy to climb up the train, we need to pull the kids and elderly up. We were told train tickets are not necessary haha, just hitch hike.

Maeklong Railway Market
Maeklong Railway Market

Packed like sardines, but no one is complaining. This is one of those unique travel memories for keepsake. If sweat and crowd is not your thing, go to the market direct :p

 

GPS above is for Lat Yai (last station before Maeklong Railway Market, known as ตลาดร่มหุบ in Thai). Your train will end inside the market at (GPS 13.407422, 99.998507).

Super crowded. Locals call Maeklong Railway Market Crazy Market haha.

We had a quick lunch down the road, many folks will take the opportunity to walk along the track for selfie.

Do hold on to the kids, and do not stand at the edge. You never know who might accidentally push or shove you, it can be extremely dangerous when a train is less than a metre away!

Look at the video above to get an idea of the crowd and adrenaline!

yummy mango sticky rice 🙂

Always crowded!

#02 Wat Bang Kung temple
(GPS 13.445556, 99.941111)

Part two of our Bangkok Day Trip brought us to a special temple. Our guide told us the name is similar to lobster (?).

The temple is also known as Banyan Tree temple.

The most famous thing is the mini temple enclosed within the tree. The roots has gone around the temple.

 

You can see Buddha’s golden Leg through the roots opening. Photo (below right), temple is in the “tree”.

Quite an amazing spectacle. The temple and the Golden Buddha.

Do walk behind the compound, you will see statues of Muay Thai fighters and horses. Feeds are available for purchase, be warned horse tongue is super sticky and yucky haha.

#03 Amphawa Floating Market
(GPS 13.425804, 99.955385)

There are many floating markets in the vicinity, all are packed with snacks and souvenirs. We only went to Amphawa (ตลาดน้ำอัมพวา), and it was authentic enough for us.

So many boats cruising up and down Mae Klong river. Some are park alongside the river, becoming a floating kitchen.

We were not too  adventurous to try the boat’s menu, so we grab only side street snacks. Plenty of options and prices are very reasonable.

It was not as touristy as some other market.

Photo below-right is the signature fish from this area. Their mascot 🙂    

It is more spacious after you cross the bridge.

This stall is very popular with Thais, long queue but we were worried our stomach might not be used to the mixed-rice dishes 🙂

The best food for me at Amphawa Floating Market is this stall selling grilled fish. I went back for round two after everyone gave thumbs up.

Taste a bit like grilled cuttlefish.

The last activity for us was a long boat to watch fireflies along some Maekong river tributaries.

bangkok firefly boat

Maybe we left too early, sky was not dark enough, we could only spot minimum fireflies.

The mini cruise was a lovely opportunity for me to catch a power nap.

Bangkok Day Trip
Bangkok Day Trip

Additional Tips:

-Do take note our Bangkok Day Trip is a whole day package, and meals are not inclusive. The attractions pavements are not wheelchair or stroller friendly.

-Our Amphawa Floating Market was authentic and cool. We heard some floating markets would actually fleece tourists when you try to buy souvenirs

-The journey started at around 7:30am and we reached Bangkok city around 9:30pm.

-We will highly recommend this package if you like to explore another side of Bangkok. the Train, the Floating Market and the Banyan Tree temple are pretty unique.

We will be sharing more about our Bangkok Family Itinerary. Meanwhile, you can read our Thailand adventures here:

-Instagram #skbThailand

Khao Kho Itinerary
Sea of Clouds at Tanrak Talaymok Resort
(Khao Kho Photos are here and here)

Bangkok “Itinerary” with Klook
Bangkok Street food we like (and food GPS)
Little Zoo Cafe (Facebook photos)
Bangkok Bike Tour (Facebook photos)
Maeklong Railway and Amphawa floating markets (Facebook Photos)

..ps..
Our Bangkok Day Trip is sponsored by Klook

Bangkok bike tour with family

Bangkok bike tour is our best activity. That is the statement from the kids!

As we were researching for something authentic, and less touristy, cycling came across. There are many vendors in Bangkok, we took the 4 hour package from Bangkok Bike Tours (GPS 13.720658, 100.515340) (Read more about Klook promotion here).

If you are not taking a cab, the nearest BTS station is Saphan Taksin (followed by a 5 min walk).

We had purposely arrived early to explore nearby street food (read our street food blog) .

All yummy. Mr Jo Crispy Pork, Kimpo Fish Porridge and the best wanton noodle experience (photo).

Now, it might not be straightforward to find the shop. It is in a wet market!
(Interestingly, Bangkok Bike Tours also conduct cooking classes for Tourists)

A wall mural depicts the route around Bangkok. You can choose from 2 to 6 hours trip. The trip anticipation feels a bit like embarking on a treasure hunt.

Before you start, you need to go through a safety video. Helmets are available but not mandatory in Thailand. On hindsight, I would recommend helmets.

Road and pavement can be uneven, and I would feel safer on the road segments. The tuk tuks can overtake quite near to us!

奶奶 was supposed to join us, but she failed her “balancing” test :p
This was a blessing in disguise, as she would have struggled to catchup.

 

The video will show some of the narrow corridors, sharp 90 degrees bend and human jams at Chinatown!

The Mrs had a fall when she lost her balance at a sharp road bump. She brought some bruises souvenir home Ouch.

Our guide will share stories with us at scenic and historical spots. We learnt that there is always a school next to a temple in Bangkok 🙂

You will be cycling around old neighbourhoods, under a lot of shade and in the back alleys. Many of these tracks are marked as bicycle lanes.

The old Bangkok Custom House.

We are never far from the busy Chao Phraya River.

Mosque and temples are near to each other, religious harmony.

This area is some sort of warehouse, and now a boutique art exhibition. (please correct me if I am wrong)

Some Graffiti, I meant art murals (rough GPS 13.733056, 100.512778)

Bangkok bike tour
Bangkok bike tour

200 years old Old Temple (Chao Zhou Shi Kong GPS 13.734444, 100.511667)

Do take note some of our Bangkok Bike Tour segments are on the road. Keep left and watch out for tuk tuk and buses.

 

We visited a 7×24 Flower market (Pak Khlong Market Flower Market,
GPS 13.741389, 100.496667). Many hawkers were busy packing the chrysanthemums, maybe for offerings?

Bangkok bike tour along the river, pretty authentic and unusual for most of us. It was not too hot, temperature hovering around 33 degrees.

Our Bangkok Bike Tour route has two ferry crossings. Ferry crossing is 6 baht per pax and 15 baht for bike (and pax).

River crossing with our bike, this is a novelty 🙂

Adults would need to help the kids with the loading and unloading of bikes, we do not want bikes or kids to fall into the river.

Bangkok cycling tour

Wat Kan is just across the river, but I do not know how to pronounce the
long name.(Wat Kalayanamit Woramahawihan GPS 13.740278, 100.491389)

We heard this temple is Half Thai and Half Chinese, you can see Thai and Chinese elements in the design.  Solemn and dignified Buddha statue.

Bottom right photo, you can see the tall Stupa from nearby Wat Arun Ratchawararam. This is one of the most prominent temples in Bangkok.

Next stop, turtle feeding!

At 20 baht per child/feed, kids had 20 minutes to fatten the turtles.

There is a huge pagoda too  (Wat Prayunwongsawat , GPS 13.737222, 100.496111 ). Maybe kids should not wander around on their own, this area also serves as a funeral parlour.

Serene surrounding.

After feeding the turtle, we fed the humans at another pit stop. The pit stops are really fun and refreshing, we always learn and see something new.

These pit stops also give tired legs a breather. Recharge with yummy street food, grilled chicken and pork.

Next stop, whisky!

Thais will brew herbs with whisky, toast to good health 🙂
We gave the whisky a skip as we did not want to wobble back heh heh.

But if you are game, this shot might be an energy boost.

We are near to the end of our 4 hour trip. This is the rough map (credit Google Map) for our Bangkok bike tour.

Final jetty for our trip, just opposite River City Bangkok. (Khlong San pier, GPS 13.736667, 100.503333 ) 

Sunset to welcome us. It also means we have to speed up a bit, as we do not have lights on our bikes.

Everyone arrived back safe and sound, with memories of another side of Bangkok 🙂

Video (YouTube link): Fun cycling around Bangkok

This is our friendly guide “Black”. Always patient and helpful, we learnt that he is keeping his hair long for charity. It will be donated for chemo patients, KUDOS!

Additional Tips:

Bangkok Bike Tours
+66843354078
-Our vendor does not provide photos, some others does .

-More cycling options and routes for your research, try here and here.

-I would prefer vendor to provide a sweeper.  There was only one guide with us, those who are less confident might risk getting lost. Some sections zig-zag as is easy to lose track of each other.

*If you are comfortable with balancing, you are good to go. You need not worry about stamina as it was a leisurely pace. Just bring an adventurous spirit along.
-Look out for each other and be alert, especially at junctions.
-More photos from our Bangkok Bike Tour can be found on Facebook (link below)

-Do follow our local and overseas cycling adventures here Cycling blog.

We will be sharing more about our Bangkok Family Itinerary. Meanwhile, you can read our Thailand adventures here:

-Instagram #skbThailand

Khao Kho Itinerary
Sea of Clouds at Tanrak Talaymok Resort
(Khao Kho Photos are here and here)

Bangkok “Itinerary” with Klook
Bangkok Street food we like (and food GPS)
Little Zoo Cafe (Facebook photos)
Bangkok Bike Tour (Facebook photos)
Maeklong Railway and Amphawa floating markets (Facebook Photos)

..ps..
Our Bangkok bike tour is sponsored by Klook