river / canal trip on a khlong

[alt]

Hi all,

Last thing on our to do list is to spend an hour or two on a khlong exploring the canals.

Is the best advise to just rock up to central pier and go for the upstream pier and wait for someone to sell us a tour?

[alantheembalmer]

Why not take the public boat along the San Saeb Khlong? It is very inexpensive, goes out to Minburi from Phan Fa, (changing boats at Pratunam), and is a real authentic experience.

By the way, don't worry about drowning in the canal if you should fall in. It is so polluted that will dissolve first!

[asanee]

the best to do-as nearly always-is to do proper homework. Older guidebooks have nice descriptions

Another not that minor disadvantage of kl SnSaep is that you only see backsides of houses/buildings, IF you can see anything at all, as big tarpauklins are hauled up-for that stinky dirty water, and not much klong life. BTW this route runs from below Golden Mount=PhanFa/Wat Sraket -change near BigC Rajprasong toward Bangkapi-the Mall.

There used to be regular cheap klongboats along nearly all klongs west of the Chao praya into the Thonburi side-bar 1-2 in peak hours these have all been stopped-and the few that still run do explicitly not want tourists-there must have been some nasty incident some time ago, i assume.

The Central Pier is only called such as its at the BTS (as long as it lasts), but its not central at all for klong trips. For that the pier near the BMA Tourist info, Pinklao Brdige, close by Sanam Luang is best, Tha Chang could be Ok but is thoroughly spoilt tourist inflated now.

[Sirpia]

Tha Chang Pier.

1 or 2 or 3 hour tours available.

Was 600b per hour per boat, enforced by TAT with their own stall there. Now that stall is gone and least you will get is 1,200 per hour for 4 people.

Don't use the stall near the water, use the old man near the steps to the market. Charges half the price.

[alt]

Thanks for the info folks. Been on the public boatany times, want to get I to the canals.

Sirpia will use your info thanks

[LuckyLew]

As mentioned just hop on a boat near Pratunam market and go along the san saeb cannal

Goes all the way to Bangkapi Mall, cost you 20-30 baht each

enjoy the nice fresh clean smell

[katana]

If you go to Tha Prachan pier next to Thammasat University and walk along to the left a bit through the Amulet market there are sometimes long tail boat owners sitting in their boats there who you could strike a deal with for a private tour. At least that's what I did.

[Denim]

The Saen Saeb Klong trip might be authentic, as it is a genuine commuter route , but it's not the most picturesque.

There are no other commuter trips along canals these days but there are one or two cheap tours available. If you can get to Ko Kret island at the end of Chaeng Wattana, there is a boat ride around the island that enters a little way into a canal on the Nonthaburi side. I believe it is still possible to charter a boat out to Bangyai from either the old Bangyai pier or from the Sanam Luang area. From Rattanakosin island this would be probably be expensive and take a few hours but you do see some really nice unspoilt canals out around Bangyai. I know this because one of our favourite resteraunts is on a canal out here and from time to time we see tourists on chartered boats go past looking either really interested or thoroughly bored.

[alt]

Guys thanks a lot for the info!

[rak sa_ngop]

The only piece of advice I will give is that if you do the Saen Saeb Klong trip do NOT wear tight jeans. Scrambling on and off the boats requires a fair bit of dexterity!