How to enjoy a canal tour in Bangkok

Heading out on a boat to explore Bangkok's world-renowned Klongs or canals is a rite of passage all first-time travellers in the city must experience. Teeming with life and vibrancy, this unique water locked area of the Thai capital offers tourists a glimpse of how the river-dwelling communities of Bangkok truly live. Here are some practical guidelines on how to make the most of your tour of the intricate maze network that is the Bangkok canals.

Image by Wilfried Strang from Pixabay 

1. Get a Head Start

While tours of the Chao Praya River canals are conducted throughout the day, those who are visiting this precinct of Bangkok for the first time should strive to schedule a morning excursion. This is because the riverbanks as well as the canals are bursting with life during the wee hours of the morning and remain abuzz till late in the afternoon. Although night-time tours may seem romantic, they are not suitable for those who have not ventured into this part of the riverside before as families that live in the intricate network of klongs or canals and their daily lives are only visible during sun-up when residents and merchants alike are visible on the porches of their stilt homes or paddling away to the floating market.

2. Duration of the Tour

Depending on the tour operator, the length of your Chao Praya River tour will also vary and the shortest excursion to the canals are at least 50 minutes long. This is because reaching the part of the river that contains this complex network of canals takes time, especially since most tourists are based at Avani Atrium Bangkok or other popular Bangkok city hotels in the heart of the city. Tourists must be transferred from their hotel, on to the riverside before they can embark on their boat journey to the canals. Those who wish to sign up for a more immersive experience can find half-day tours of the canals which will also include historical and cultural sightseeing in the area.

3. Select the Right Tour Operator

The quality of a Bangkok canal tour is dependent on the tour operators organizing the excursion as some will pay more attention to detail than others. Those who are visiting Bangkok during the peak tourist season would be wise to select a local tour company before they land in Thailand as these popular tour options are booked up and competitively priced during the high season due to the large influx of travellers. In addition to the duration of the tour, visitors should also look into the inclusions and exclusions as some will include hotel transfer before and after the tour while others will require participants to meet their boat on the riverside. The time allowed for engaging in shopping activities as well as the type of boat or guides available during the journey will also vary from one tour operator to another.

4. Pencil in Riverside Attractions

Those who are in the Thai capital for a limited period may wish to plan their riverside sightseeing tours on the same day as the canal excursion as all of these highlights are located within proximity of one another. A tour of the Grand Palace, Wat Arun or the Temple of Dawn and other well-known riverside landmarks can be concluded with a boat ride to the canals as some tour operators will offer combo deals for those who are pressed for time.

5. Don't Forget to Go Shopping

One of the most enchanting aspects of the Bangkok canals is that some of the city's top floating markets are also located within these maze-like klongs. Travellers can wine and dine on Pad Thai and other noodle dishes purchased right off a boat vendor while fresh fruits, vegetables and other curios can also be purchased in this unique water-bound market.