Waterfront shop houses, gilded temples, and a traditional lunch await along the capital’s canals.
Tucked away from the neon lights and frenetic buzz of central Bangkok, the Thonburi khlongs reflect a more traditional way of life in Thailand’s capital, and the best way to explore them is by boat. On this guided small-group tour, you’ll cruise along the canal network in a solar-powered longtail boat, passing by wooden shop houses, tiled temples, and a huge golden statue as your local guide reveals the history and culture of the region.
The tour will start just after breakfast at your hotel, where you’ll be picked up by your guide and driven to Bangkok’s bakery-lined Portuguese quarter, Kudichin. You’ll spend a while strolling its maze-like streets to the chimes of church bells, before sampling local delicacies, like khanom farang, a golden raisin-topped cake.
Then, you’ll head to the nearby pier to begin your khlong cruise. As you move gently through the narrow waterways — once major trading routes — you’ll be surrounded by stilted teak houses and overhanging palm trees. You might pass locals selling food from rowboats as you go, an aquatic twist on Thai street food. Many smaller temples also line the route, but it’s the giant golden Buddha statue at Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen that often steals the show, towering over 60 m (197 ft) above the temple.
Finally, you’ll step off the boat and sit down at a sustainable family-run restaurant set within a 100-year-old lychee garden to enjoy a traditional Thai lunch overlooking the canal.
The entire experience lasts around six hours.