Bangkok Canal Tour by Longtail Boat
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This small-group longtail boat tour takes you off the busy roads and onto the quiet canals of Thonburi, the old side of Bangkok. You glide past wooden stilt houses, stop at the Baan Silapin Artist's House on Khlong Bang Luang, and see Wat Arun and the giant Buddha of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen from the water. With the default option, we collect you from your hotel and bring you back after the cruise. A guide explains local life along the way.
Highlights
- Ride a traditional longtail boat through the canals of Thonburi
- Visit Baan Silapin, the Artist's House on Khlong Bang Luang, in a wooden house more than 200 years old
- See Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, from the river
- Photo stop at the towering Buddha of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen
- Watch daily canal life: stilt houses, wooden docks and local boats
- Round-trip hotel pickup and drop-off with the default option
- English-speaking guide and a bottle of drinking water per person
Full Description
Longtail boat ride through the Thonburi canals
A longtail boat canal tour is the most relaxed way to see a side of Bangkok that most visitors never reach. Thonburi, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, is threaded with narrow khlongs (canals) that once served as the city's main roads, and many families still live in wooden houses built right at the water's edge. The slim boats, powered by a car-style engine on a long pole, weave through the narrow channels while your guide points out daily life on the banks.
The whole cruise lasts about two hours, so it fits easily into a morning or afternoon. If you are wondering whether a Bangkok canal tour is worth it, this is the quiet, local alternative to the crowded river boats and temples. Expect a short wait at a water lock, which is normal here.
Khlong Bang Luang and Baan Silapin, the Artist's House
The main stop of the tour is Khlong Bang Luang, a canal-side community linked by a wooden walkway along the water. Here stands Baan Silapin, the Artist's House, a traditional Thai house more than 200 years old that its owner restored and opened as a small space for art and traditional performance. You have about 40 minutes to step ashore, walk the boardwalk, look at the paintings and craft shops, and take photos of the old shophouses.
If you are searching for the best Bangkok canal tour or things to do in Thonburi, this stop is why people choose it: it feels lived-in rather than staged. Bring a light hat and a little cash for small purchases; the walkway is narrow, so comfortable flat shoes are the best choice.
Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen and its giant Buddha
Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen is an Ayutthaya-era temple in the Phasi Charoen district of Thonburi, and it holds one of Bangkok's tallest Buddha images, rising close to 70 metres in a cross-legged meditation pose. Our boat makes a photo stop here of about ten minutes, so you can see the statue from the canal side, which is the best angle to appreciate its size against the trees and roofs.
Many travellers ask how to see the big Buddha of Bangkok without a long temple visit. On this tour it is a simple, quick photo stop between the canal community and the river, with your guide explaining who the temple is dedicated to and why it matters to local families.
Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, from the river
Wat Arun is one of the best-known landmarks of Bangkok, its tall central prang covered with porcelain and shell fragments and glowing in the afternoon light on the Chao Phraya River. On this tour you pass by it from the water, which gives a clear view of the whole riverfront and is a good moment for wide photographs.
If you plan to visit Wat Arun on foot as well, ask your guide for timing tips: opening hours for temples can change, and mornings are usually calmer. The boat ride shows you the temple from the same side that visitors saw in the past, when the river was the city's entrance.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickupWith the default option, your driver collects you from your hotel in the Bangkok pick-up area and takes you to the boat pier.
- Longtail boat departsYou board a traditional longtail boat and leave the river for the quiet canals, about 20 minutes of cruising.
- Wat Arun viewYou pass Wat Arun from the water and your guide explains its history.
- Wat Paknam Phasi CharoenPhoto stop of about 10 minutes at the giant Buddha.
- Khlong Bang Luang and Baan SilapinAbout 40 minutes ashore to walk the wooden walkway, meet the local community and visit the Artist's House.
- Return cruise and drop-offYou cruise back to the pier and are taken to your hotel.
What's included
- Long-tail boat ride through the canals
- English-speaking tour guide
- One bottle of drinking water per person
Not included
- Hotel transfer
- Additional food and drinks
- Tips (optional)
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Anyone who wants to see it from the water
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- You get seasick easily
Not suitable for
- Travellers with mobility difficulties, as the piers have no stairs and boarding a longtail boat can be hard
- People with back problems
- Babies under 1 year
- Very elderly travellers who find stepping into a small boat difficult
Meeting point
With the default option, we collect you from your hotel in the Bangkok pick-up area, and the driver takes you to the boat pier and brings you back to your hotel at the end. Other options let you meet at the pier instead; the exact meeting point appears in your booking confirmation. Please be ready at the lobby at your confirmed time, as there is only a short grace period.
Important information
- The tour operates in sun and rain. Weather cancellations are not refundable, so bring a light rain jacket or a small umbrella in the wet season.
- There is a 10-minute grace period; if you are running late, tell us before the tour starts and we will try to move you to the next slot, though a rescheduling fee may apply.
- A no-show is not refunded.
- Wear light clothes and closed or strapped shoes; bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
- Drugs and other prohibited substances are not allowed on board.
- You may wait a short time at a canal water lock; this is part of the authentic canal experience.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Bangkok longtail boat canal tour cost?
The price depends on the option you choose, for example with hotel transfer or meeting at the pier. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, for adults and for children.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, with the default option we collect you from your hotel in the Bangkok pick-up area and bring you back. Some other options are meeting-point only, so check the option name before you book.
How long is the canal tour?
The cruise lasts about two hours. Add travel time for the transfer if you choose an option with hotel pickup.
Is the canal tour suitable for children?
Children aged 3 to 11 are booked at the child rate shown in the booking panel. The boats are small and the piers have no stairs, so please supervise young children closely; babies under 1 year are not recommended.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear light, comfortable clothes and shoes with a grip. Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and a light rain layer in the wet season.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Often yes, depending on available departure times. Choose your date in the booking panel to see which times are open.
What is the difference between the options?
Some options include hotel pickup and drop-off, others start at the meeting point. There are also departures with different start times for the cool season. The name of each option in the booking panel shows what applies.
What is Baan Silapin?
Baan Silapin, the Artist's House, is a traditional wooden house more than 200 years old on Khlong Bang Luang, restored as a space for art and traditional performance. It is the main stop on this tour.
Can I see Wat Arun on this tour?
You pass Wat Arun from the water and can photograph it from the boat. If you want to go inside, we suggest visiting on another day, as temple opening hours change.
Is the tour cancelled in rain?
No, it runs rain or shine. Cancellations for weather are not refundable, so please choose your date with the season in mind.
More in Bangkok
Getting to & around Bangkok
Popular across Thailand
-
-
-
-
-
-
