Private Tour: Floating Markets and Sampran Riverside Day Trip from Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

Head out of Bangkok for a day of Thai culture and activities on this private day trip with your own personal guide. Visit the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market to marvel at the array of fruits, veggies and other goods being sold by locals on their canoes. Then have lunch and spend the afternoon at the Sampran Riverside Thai Village for an introduction to many skills and cultural traditions from across Thailand. Watch villagers display their talents like making pottery and weaving silk, and enjoy native dancing, sword fighting and more.

Your day trip from Bangkok starts with pickup at your hotel by private vehicle for the drive to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, 68 miles (110 km) west of Bangkok. During the drive, admire views of salt fields and rice paddies, and get an introduction to the market from your private guide.

When you arrive, board a long-tail boat with your guide to explore the busy, colorful market where vendors sell fruits, vegetables, flowers and sweets right from their canoes. This is one of the most famous floating markets in Thailand, and it can be crowded, but if you wish to get off the beaten waterways, you can rent another boat to take you through the smaller, often more peaceful canals (time permitting; own expense).

Once you’re back on dry land, you’ll be driven to the Sampran Riverside Thai Village, a resort-style attraction 20 miles (32 km) west of Bangkok. Enjoy lunch at the garden’s restaurant, and then spend the rest of your tour immersed in Thai culture.

At the traditional village within the resort, see Thai villagers make handicrafts and demonstrate other skills such as weaving silk, making pottery, painting umbrellas, weaving mats, carving fruit, pounding rice, making masks and dolls, and crafting silver and lacquerware. See authentic Thai period costumes, different styles of native architecture and antiques from around the country. You can also watch displays of cultural activities like Muay Thai boxing, sword fighting, dancing, a wedding ceremony and an elephant show.

When your time at the Rose Garden is up, you’ll be returned to your hotel in Bangkok, where your tour ends.

USD $86.00

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   MYRNA P,    July 2018
Felt very rushed by tour guide, 10 minutes here 5 there, could not enjoy time at floating market. So rushed, that there was more driving involved than the floating market itself!

Review by:   Fran,    January 2018
We had a wonderful time seeing the floating markets of Bangkok. We had the best guide. Her name is Nooee phonetically. She was very generous with information. She made the tour most interesting. Then we went to visit a Thai village to see how they make their handicrafts of weaving, martial arts, pottery, parasol painting. All most interesting. But Nooee was the best part. Actually she is one of two best guides we had in Thailand. Highly recommended tour. Thank you Nooee.

Review by:   Nathalie T,    December 2017
I was clearly informed of the pickup time. Very punctual. Clean and comfy vehicle. Good guide who provided clearly explanations. However, the tour started very early 7am and I then found myself having an early lunch, more wait to enter the cultural centre and then the guide dropped me there before the show telling me to have a rest....I did not even have time to check my watch and so did not realise I would have had to wait 1h30 hours for a show. I managed to get hold of him again and decided to drive back to the hotel. Not much going on at the cultural centre. That said, the floating markets, boat ride on the canals, temple and information about coconuts were amazing. Probably better as a half day tour, skipping the cultural centre in the afternoon.

Review by:   macook72,    July 2016
Great tour, lots of history which was very interesting. Floating markets was fun and crazy. A lot of driving involved for the day but we had an awesome time with our guide and driver.

Review by:   Roger C,    April 2016
When I book a private tour I expect a guide that is informative and makes the trip interesting. I do not expect one that sleeps between locations, leaves us to our own devices and spends the time sitting in cafes eating and drinking! The locations were as expected, but the tour guide was a waste of space!

Review by:   Stanford H,    July 2015
Our guide was not as helpful as other guides we have had. The floating markets and cultural center were very interesting.

Review by:   William S,    May 2012
Enjoyed the floating markets and, whilst they are more commercial now than when my parents visited back in the 1970s, there were still some bargains to be purchased. The long tail boat ride up the canals was interesting. The Rose Garden Cultural Centre wasn't quite what we expected - very commecial. Enjoyed the show inside but the elephant show was somewhat disappointing. Would revisit the markets but wouldn't bother about returing the centre.

Review by:   JAMES G,    March 2012
Worst private tour of our lot, we asked to modify the tour (more time at one place , less time at another) and rthe equest was not honored by rude, deceiptful and uninformative tour guide( at first he said no problem then didn't do as asked then got mad and rude when we called him on it). Why bother paying extra for the private tour then? Floating markets are sort of a must but can get crowded, cultural center was just OK, not a must see but nice if you have the extra time.

Review by:   Ian W,    August 2008
This was our most enjoyable day out; the rose garden was fabulous. Again, our guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Once again, the food and restaurant were first class. I even purchased a hat from one of the floating market stalls.

Review by:   Stephen B,    August 2008
A must-do! The boat ride was fun with so many people from all over the world in one place. The private tour was the best of all. You get so much more from a private tour for just a little more money. There was plenty of time for shopping, and we had a wonderful guide. _br /__br /_ We were never rushed and treated extremely well. We were very informed and given personal attention and even cold packs for our necks to cool down. (The heat can get to you.) The car ride to the Rose Garden takes a little while but is worth it. We rode in nice, clean and comfortable air-conditioned sedans. The gardens are beautiful and lunch, elephant ride and show were wonderful, too. We really got our money's worth!

Review by:   Ian W,   United Kingdom, September 2007
This was our most enjoyable day out; the rose garden was fabulous. Again, our guide was very nice and knowledgeable. Once again, the food and restaurant were first class. I even purchased a hat from one of the floating market stalls.

Review by:   Stephen B,   United States of America, May 2007
A must-do! The boat ride was fun with so many people from all over the world in one place. The private tour was the best of all. You get so much more from a private tour for just a little more money. There was plenty of time for shopping, and we had a wonderful guide. _br /__br /_ We were never rushed and treated extremely well. We were very informed and given personal attention and even cold packs for our necks to cool down. (The heat can get to you.) The car ride to the Rose Garden takes a little while but is worth it. We rode in nice, clean and comfortable air-conditioned sedans. The gardens are beautiful and lunch, elephant ride and show were wonderful, too. We really got our money's worth!

Review by:   ,    May 2007
The tour would be absolutely fantastic if we were able to go through the market itself, without having to rent another boat.

Review by:   Anonymous,    May 2007
The tour would be absolutely fantastic if we were able to go through the market itself, without having to rent another boat.

Review by:   Ausra S,   United States of America, August 2006
The tour would be absolutely fantastic if we were able to go through the market itself, without having to rent another boat.

Review by:   Anonymous,    August 2006
The tour would be absolutely fantastic if we were able to go through the market itself, without having to rent another boat.

All Traveler Reviews...