Sampran Riverside and Thai Village Half-Day Tour from Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand

Escape Bangkok on this half-day tour to the Sampran Riverside Thai Village, located 20 miles (32 kilometers) just outside Bangkok, amidst the rural scenery along the Nakhon Chaisri River.

The Sampran Riverside Thai Village offers numerous reasons to escape the city of Bangkok for half a day with the most attractive being the typical Thai Village. Here, you will see local Thai villagers creating traditional village handicrafts in their natural environment. All sorts of skills are on display including; silk-weaving, pottery-making, umbrella-painting, Khon mask masking, mat weaving, doll making, fruit carving, garland-making, rice-pounding and even the delicate crafting of silver and laquerware.

There are also impressive displays of authentic Thai period costumes, a chance to see busy, typical Thai market, different styles of Thai Houses (from both the North to South regions of Thailand) and an intriguing display of Thai antiques from various parts of the country.

The Thai village offers a real potpourri of different Thai cultural activities that also include Muay Thai boxing, sword fighting, Thai dances and elephants at work.

USD $42.00

Review by:   Sheila L,    November 2016
Had a lovely afternoon here. Not at all crowded but that could be because of the king's death. Disappointed that there was no actual cultural show which was what we wanted to see....... won't be happening again until next year after the king's cremation!!!!!!!_br/_ Enjoyed taking part in the workshops.

Review by:   Melissa C,    March 2016
The tour was lackluster. The tour guide was not good at explaining the history of the Rose Garden. Our tour guide was also pushing us to purchase other tickets for other events as well. We agreed to purchase 2 shows, a dinner/dance plus the ladyboy show at Calypso Carbet. She explained how it was 2 shows. We found out that is wasn't 2 shows, but a combination of dinner and show package. We paid for 2 shows, only to be lied to. We knew something was up when we saw her place the money we gave for the show in her pocket. This was a horrible experience.

Review by:   Iain T,    November 2015
The cultural show was stunning, the elephants were lovely and well cared for but the rest was very average.

Review by:   Donald L. C,    May 2015
Relaxing tour -- another couple had cancelled so we had a private tour. Love the elephants and great shops at the Rose Garden!

Review by:   bob,    February 2015
Great guide.

Review by:   anarkii3,    November 2012
Worthwile doing if this is the only cultural show you intend to do whilst you are in Bangkok. Beautiful gardens.

Review by:   Rasha T,    January 2012
amazing atmosphere, elephants are so cute. take your time to discover the grounds.

Review by:   niallsmum,    January 2012
We were advised upon booking that due to the flooding the elephant had not yet returned to the village. We hoped maybe it may return during the ten days before we actually went, but it had not. However the elephant was not the only reason to visit the village, and their are plenty more things to do and see. The rose gardens are beautiful and pleasant to walk around, so close to the river. The show was quite good. It was inside. They gave us clothes as we entered which were chilled and moistened with lemon water - keep you cool and keep off the mossies. Whilst walking around the village you can see how silk is made from the worms to the weaving of the cloth, you can purchase items from the shop, you can watch umbrella/parasol painting, hear tradtional music, have your photo with ladies in tradtional costume or with an albino reticulated python. You must tip if you take a photo, the ladies in costume happily took 10Baht per photo, the snake handler had a card pinned to him (50Baht) but we took 5/6 photos for that. Great tour as a general overview of Thai life and culture.

Review by:   Leslie A,    September 2011
This is One of the REALLY MUST DO trips when visiting Bangkok. EVERY PART of the experience was most acceptable, The GUIDES and Agents were all there to give the trip a "personal" touch. This was much appreciated.Leslie Armstrong

Review by:   audi2111,    February 2011
We were the only people on this tour. We had time to go to the crocodile farm which was fun, and the elephant show there is MUCH better than the rose garden. DO NOT go to the rose garden and go to the crocodile farm instead.

Review by:   audi2111,    January 2011
We were the only people on this tour. We had time to go to the crocodile farm which was fun, and the elephant show there is MUCH better than the rose garden. DO NOT go to the rose garden and go to the crocodile farm instead.

Review by:   Josephine F,    November 2010
A great tour, although the tour guide doesn't actually show you around the Rose Gardens, she basically pays for the ticket and tells you what time to meet her. The elephants look a bit worn out, but we are Australians and used to seeing very well kept after animals in captivity so i don't know how the animals are treated here. Nonetheless, the show was good, and so was the cultural show. It gave a great perspective into thai culture. A must see!

Review by:   Josephine F,    September 2010
A great tour, although the tour guide doesn't actually show you around the Rose Gardens, she basically pays for the ticket and tells you what time to meet her. The elephants look a bit worn out, but we are Australians and used to seeing very well kept after animals in captivity so i don't know how the animals are treated here. Nonetheless, the show was good, and so was the cultural show. It gave a great perspective into thai culture. A must see!

Review by:   Sharlene G,   Australia, July 2010
we went on the afternoon trip to rose gardens it was a lovely place, it startd off quietly but once the show startd it was great, we all enjoyd the show and well worth a visit to see, i would recommend it to anyone and the elephant show was great too, all up for a few hrs out well worth the experience so make sure u go !!

Review by:   Leslie A,    May 2010
A good trip good guide.

Review by:   Leslie A,   United Kingdom, April 2010
A good trip good guide.

Review by:   John A,   United Kingdom, March 2010
Thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.

Review by:   Ernel Arcangel F,    December 2009
This is a good fit for first time visitor of Thailand. I highly recommend the content of the tour elephant show and cultural presentation. Both were spectacular. I was immensely impressed by the cultural aspects. It was well presented and well-planned. On the other hand, the tour guide, though she spoke English, was not of great help at all. All she did was take me to the ticket booth, and I was practically on my own until the presentation. It turned out well though so I could have my personal time to explore the garden. The souvenir shops inside the garden were of good value. I loved the elephant show. Very entertaining! The hotel pick up and drop off worked well. Thailand is beautiful! Great people, great experience.

Review by:   Ernel F,   United States of America, December 2009
This is a good fit for first time visitor of Thailand. I highly recommend the content of the tour elephant show and cultural presentation. Both were spectacular. I was immensely impressed by the cultural aspects. It was well presented and well-planned. On the other hand, the tour guide, though she spoke English, was not of great help at all. All she did was take me to the ticket booth, and I was practically on my own until the presentation. It turned out well though so I could have my personal time to explore the garden. The souvenir shops inside the garden were of good value. I loved the elephant show. Very entertaining! The hotel pick up and drop off worked well. Thailand is beautiful! Great people, great experience.

Review by:   Angela H,    September 2009
The elephants and the culture show was nice. Worth the money because to get there on your own would be an expensive taxi ride.

Review by:   Angela H,   United States of America, August 2009
The elephants and the culture show was nice. Worth the money because to get there on your own would be an expensive taxi ride.

Review by:   David R,    May 2009
We were picked up at our hotel at the time stated when we confirmed the trip. The trip was a bit rushed but well worth seeing, a very beautiful place.

Review by:   David R,   United Kingdom, April 2009
We were picked up at our hotel at the time stated when we confirmed the trip. The trip was a bit rushed but well worth seeing, a very beautiful place.

Review by:   Anne M,    April 2009
A tour definitely not to miss. It was a wonderful insight into Thai culture. The elephant ride was spectacular and we enjoyed the elephant performance immensely. Traffic was very congested on the way home.

Review by:   Carol C,    April 2009
We could have spent a lot longer here. The show was a very good way of finding out about Thai life. The costumes were beautiful and the elephant show was charming. The gift shops were full of authentic items made locally.

Review by:   ,    April 2009
A great way to get a taste of Thai culture.

Review by:   Vincenzo P,    April 2009
A great way to get a taste of Thai culture.

Review by:   Ken E,    April 2009
Interesting.

Review by:   Paul B,    April 2009
Not much in the way of roses! The cultural show is very good, but don't plan on spending much time in the rest of the garden. The Elephant show is a bit sad, really - the logging element shows how elephants worked originally, but the dancing is a bit degrading.

Review by:   Anonymous,    April 2009
A great way to get a taste of Thai culture.

Review by:   Anne M,   Australia, April 2008
A tour definitely not to miss. It was a wonderful insight into Thai culture. The elephant ride was spectacular and we enjoyed the elephant performance immensely. Traffic was very congested on the way home.

Review by:   Carol C,   United Kingdom, December 2007
We could have spent a lot longer here. The show was a very good way of finding out about Thai life. The costumes were beautiful and the elephant show was charming. The gift shops were full of authentic items made locally.

Review by:   Anonymous,   Australia, September 2007
A great way to get a taste of Thai culture.

Review by:   Vincenzo P,    September 2007
A great way to get a taste of Thai culture.

Review by:   Ken E,   United States of America, July 2007
Interesting.

Review by:   Paul B,   United Kingdom, November 2006
Not much in the way of roses! The cultural show is very good, but don't plan on spending much time in the rest of the garden. The Elephant show is a bit sad, really - the logging element shows how elephants worked originally, but the dancing is a bit degrading.