Half-Day Tour of Damneon Saduak Floating Market from Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

On this private or non-private tour we visit the colorful and bustling Damnoen Saduak floating market, located 62 miles (100 km) west of Bangkok. See merchants paddling along congested canals selling their fresh produce to shoppers along the canal banks and try your hand at bargaining.

The Damnern Saduak floating market is actually a combination of 3 different markets. The principal market is at Ton Khem.
Merchants paddle their small boats piled high with fresh fruit and vegetables along the crowded, narrow canal, offering their goods to buyers standing along the banks of the canal. The canal is lined with food stalls and souvenir shops. If you’d like to buy souvenirs from the shops here, remember that bargaining is expected.

The floating market is at its best early in the morning before the crowds arrive and the heat of the day sets in. The best photos of this colorful scene are from the bridge at Ton Khem, which crosses over the canal. The market is bustling with activity from the early morning hours until around 11:00. The floating markets are at their best early in the morning before the crowds arrive and the heat of the day sets in.

USD $58.00

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   dwhitfield1214,    January 2018
An experience well worth seeing , but the canal boat trip was just on and off and too crowded to enjoy._br/_ The local markets are good , and the journey enjoyable and an opportunity to see outside Bangkok.

Review by:   Robert,    March 2017
If you are looking for a local for Thai people floating market, this is NOT it!!_br/_ This is a disappointment for my friend and I as we wanted to see locals interacting on the _br/_ waterways. The trip over from Bangkok was about 80 minutes. Guide seemed disinterested_br/_ and offered little info on the way over. You will board one of many longtail boats at the boat station-- it seemed_br/_ like an assembly line with one boat coming in after another. The ride through the khlongs was interesting and _br/_ I admired the boat driver's skill in negotiating 90 degree corners. Once there you will step onto land and you noticed_br/_ immediately how the whole thing is geared for tourists. Hundreds of stalls offering everything from food, handicrafts, etc. lined_br/_ the canals. Don't even think of going through the canal with a paddle driven boat unless you have plenty of time on your hands. We signed up for a paddle driven boat, but asked for a refund after waiting at least 30 minutes for a boat. There was just too much congestion in the canal and everything moved slowly. Just walk along the canal and call out to a boat if you like what it offers. They have baskets on long poles to make exchanges. So yes, worth seeing once, but just understand this is a tourist trap.

Review by:   john1953collins,    March 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed thiis, our guide was superb . Turned out to be our guide ,driver and just the two of us so very comfortable._br/_ The market is completely tourist driven as opposed to being a genuine 'local' market but that did not disappoint. _br/_ Great atmosphere in this floating traffic jam . Tic tac twixt boat driver and vendors is amazing . If you look interested in anything they will take the boat back to the stall. _br/_ Be prepared for some quick bartering and you have to be firm , but polite, if it is something you do not want. Our guide was very helpful re appropriate tips and where to start the bartering process. We did feel peckish for a couple of bananas and ended up with a massive bunch. Still they were very nice.

Review by:   Kathryn M,    October 2016
Lovely half day tour to the floating markets, we were the only people on the tour which took in a coconut farm where we could see how they make the coconut milk followed by some time at thr markets. The markets themselves are interesting but they do tend to sell a lot of tourist tat. Still it's worth a look.

Review by:   Theresa W,    March 2016
The market itself is full of tourist tat but go for the experience especially if you enjoy photography. Stopped at the railway market on route. Very interesting if you enjoy a good food market. Also stopped at a plantation which was interesting but a little too long.

Review by:   Sophia L,    February 2016
Excellent tour. Loved the Floating Market. We had a wonderful time sailing down the river to the market. Plenty of time to look around and didn't feel rushed. Mindy, our guide, was very good at explaining things and extremely sweet. The side trip to learn more about coconuts was also excellent. Recommended.

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