Page 49 iGap Travel Guide 2022
P. 49
iGap Travel Guide | Asia
49
Day two: Floating market & wonderful panoramic views of the city
6.00:
Hop on the bus and take a journey to Damnoen
Saduak Floating Market. It is a two-hour journey so
catch up on some rest because the exhilarating chaos
will hit your senses as soon as you arrive. Avoid the
boats until you arrive at the market; instead, walk
or catch a bus to the market and then find a cheap
rowboat for around 200-300 baht. Avoid motorboats
which come around 600-800 baht and do try and
haggle for a lower price. Float along exploring the
variety of stalls, and if the exotic fruits don’t lure you
in, try some freshly cooked boat food: a comforting
bowl of vermicelli fish soup. Once disembarking from
the boat, treat yourself to coconut ice cream and stroll
down the canal-side to shop some more.
14.00:
Take a six-minute taxi to Damnoen Saduak
Elephant Village for an afternoon riding on the
backs of Thailand’s national animal. Remaining
an enduring symbol of Thai culture, the Elephant
Village is one of Thailand’s best preserved elephant
sanctuaries and each ride takes visitors through an
evergreen forest path inside the village and into the
water of River Kwai.
16.00:
A 20-minute taxi journey to the Mueang
Samut Songkhram District for a truly unique market
experience. The Maeklong Railway Market sees an
array of market vendors situated on an active railway
track, giving it the name of Siang Tai Market (life-
risking), for its exhilarating atmosphere and trains
passing around 30kmph. Often, these vendors have to
quickly draw up their stalls for the trains, highlighting
a particular chaos that encapsulates the true essence
of the market. Yet, alongside this frantic tradition, the
market is a fascinating place to see how the locals live
while indulging in a fine selection of fresh goods in one
of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand.
18:00: Near Maeklong Railway Market lies the Wat
Phet Samut Worawihan (Wat Ban Laem), only a
three-minute walk and upholds a significant role in
Thai historical migration and has since become a
widely respected yet tranquil temple. The temple’s
stunning surroundings supplies the perfect tonic
to relax away from the tourist-infused Bangkok
temples, as the temple is mostly visited by local Thai
paying homage to the enshrined Buddhist statues.
TRANSPORT
Bus to Damnoen Saduak (return) - 100 baht.
rowboat – 200- 300 baht.
Taxi - 50 to Damnoen Elephant, 100 to
Maeklong Railway Market.
FOOD
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market -70-100
baht.
Maeklong Railway Market – 100 – 125 baht.
ACTIVITIES
Wat Ban Laem – free.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Maeklong Railway Market - Suthikait Teerawattanaphan / Shutterstock.com
TOTAL COST FROM (INCLUDING
ACCOMMODATION):
900 BAHT (APPROX. £22).
49
Day two: Floating market & wonderful panoramic views of the city
6.00:
Hop on the bus and take a journey to Damnoen
Saduak Floating Market. It is a two-hour journey so
catch up on some rest because the exhilarating chaos
will hit your senses as soon as you arrive. Avoid the
boats until you arrive at the market; instead, walk
or catch a bus to the market and then find a cheap
rowboat for around 200-300 baht. Avoid motorboats
which come around 600-800 baht and do try and
haggle for a lower price. Float along exploring the
variety of stalls, and if the exotic fruits don’t lure you
in, try some freshly cooked boat food: a comforting
bowl of vermicelli fish soup. Once disembarking from
the boat, treat yourself to coconut ice cream and stroll
down the canal-side to shop some more.
14.00:
Take a six-minute taxi to Damnoen Saduak
Elephant Village for an afternoon riding on the
backs of Thailand’s national animal. Remaining
an enduring symbol of Thai culture, the Elephant
Village is one of Thailand’s best preserved elephant
sanctuaries and each ride takes visitors through an
evergreen forest path inside the village and into the
water of River Kwai.
16.00:
A 20-minute taxi journey to the Mueang
Samut Songkhram District for a truly unique market
experience. The Maeklong Railway Market sees an
array of market vendors situated on an active railway
track, giving it the name of Siang Tai Market (life-
risking), for its exhilarating atmosphere and trains
passing around 30kmph. Often, these vendors have to
quickly draw up their stalls for the trains, highlighting
a particular chaos that encapsulates the true essence
of the market. Yet, alongside this frantic tradition, the
market is a fascinating place to see how the locals live
while indulging in a fine selection of fresh goods in one
of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand.
18:00: Near Maeklong Railway Market lies the Wat
Phet Samut Worawihan (Wat Ban Laem), only a
three-minute walk and upholds a significant role in
Thai historical migration and has since become a
widely respected yet tranquil temple. The temple’s
stunning surroundings supplies the perfect tonic
to relax away from the tourist-infused Bangkok
temples, as the temple is mostly visited by local Thai
paying homage to the enshrined Buddhist statues.
TRANSPORT
Bus to Damnoen Saduak (return) - 100 baht.
rowboat – 200- 300 baht.
Taxi - 50 to Damnoen Elephant, 100 to
Maeklong Railway Market.
FOOD
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market -70-100
baht.
Maeklong Railway Market – 100 – 125 baht.
ACTIVITIES
Wat Ban Laem – free.
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Maeklong Railway Market - Suthikait Teerawattanaphan / Shutterstock.com
TOTAL COST FROM (INCLUDING
ACCOMMODATION):
900 BAHT (APPROX. £22).
