2-Hour Canal Tour Longtail Boat Ride

Explore Bangkok from the water on a guided longtail boat journey through the canals of Thonburi. This relaxed experience offers insight into local life, with visits to Baan Silapin and views of Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen’s striking Buddha statue.
Meeting point: Elefin Coffee PFVV+P2F, Thanon Maha Rat, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon
Duration: 2 hours
Group size up to 300 persons
Children allowed
English
Mobile ticket
Full refund for cancellations up to 24 hours
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund

What is included in activity

English speaking guide
Long-tail boat & boat driver
One bottle of drinking water per person

What is not included

Gratuities for the boat driver and guide (optional)

Details

Discover a quieter side of Bangkok on a guided canal tour through the historic Thonburi district. This experience lasts around 2 hours and offers multiple departure times throughout the day, making it easy to fit into your travel plans.

Meet your licensed English-speaking guide near Wat Pho, then walk together to the pier to board a traditional longtail boat. As you cruise along the canals, observe everyday scenes of local life, riverside homes, and small communities that still rely on Bangkok’s historic waterways.

The tour includes time at Baan Silapin (The Artist’s House), a restored wooden house where you can explore the grounds and learn more about aspects of Thai culture. The boat also passes Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, with a stop to take photos of the temple’s impressive Buddha statue.

After exploring the canals of the Chao Phraya River by klong, the tour concludes back at the original departure point, offering a well-paced introduction to a lesser-seen part of Bangkok.

Important Info

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Not recommended for travelers with back problems
• Our Bangkok canal tour operates rain or shine. Therefore, cancellations due to weather are not eligible for a refund
• Bangkok’s traffic is notorious, so we kindly ask all participants to arrive at the meeting point on time
• As our tours operate on a group basis, we cannot delay departure
• The most convenient way to reach the meeting point, and avoid Bangkok’s often congested road traffic, is by taking the MRT (metro) to Sanam Chai Station
• From there, take the “Museum Siam” exit
• The meeting point is just a short 5-minute walk from the station
• The guide can only wait for a MAXIMUM of 10 minutes after the set meeting time
• After the 10 minutes grace period, the guide will start with the tour
• Please note that during the tour, we may experience a wait at one of the water locks, which regulate canal levels
• These operate on no fixed schedule and are beyond our control
• Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues, as boarding and disembarking the boat may be difficult due to the lack of stairs at the piers
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 300 travelers
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Online Booking

Price
Adult (Age 7-99)
$37.98
per person
Child (Age 3-6)
$34.68
per person
Infant (Age 0-2)
$0
per person
For any payment method you must book a ticket through the booking form below and receive confirmation by e-mail and (or) SMS.

Tour program

Please note that the program and conditions are subject to change.
Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun) (Pass By)

As we cross the Chao Phraya River on our way to Thonburi, you’ll catch a beautiful glimpse of Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn. This iconic riverside temple is one of Bangkok’s most famous landmarks, with its central Khmer-style prang (tower) rising elegantly above the water, adorned with intricate porcelain mosaics that shimmer in the sunlight.

Please note that we will NOT get off at Wat Arun. You will only see it from the river while on our way to Thonburi.

Baan Silapin

Tucked away along the peaceful banks of Khlong Bang Luang (Bang Luang Canal) on the Thonburi side of the Chao Phraya River lies one of Bangkok’s hidden gems: a charming riverside community where time seems to slow down. This historic neighborhood is made up of traditional wooden houses, small local shops, and family-run galleries connected by a wooden walkway that follows the edge of the canal. It offers a rare glimpse into what everyday life in Bangkok used to be like, long before the city’s skyline was dominated by concrete and glass. At the heart of the community is Baan Silapin, or The Artist’s House, a beautifully restored wooden home over 200 years old. Dedicated to preserving and celebrating Thai culture, this house functions as a small art center where visitors can enjoy rotating art exhibitions and handmade crafts. Wandering through the area, you’ll find small shops, cozy riverside cafés, and friendly locals who’ve lived here for generations. Duration of stop 30-40 minutes. 

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen (Pass By)

As we cruise through the canals of Thonburi, we pass by Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen, a historic temple founded during the mid-Ayutthaya period. Located in the Phasi Charoen district, this temple has long been a center of Buddhist learning and meditation. Today, however, it is best known for its enormous seated Buddha statue, which rises dramatically above the surrounding rooftops and is visible from far across the city. The boat will pause here briefly, allowing you to admire and photograph this awe-inspiring statue from the water. At nearly 70 meters tall, equivalent to a 20-story building, and 40 meters wide at its base, it is the tallest Buddha statue in Bangkok. Cast in shimmering gold tones, the statue sits in a calm meditative posture and makes a striking contrast against the skyline. While we don’t disembark at the temple, viewing this colossal image from the quiet of the canal offers a truly unique and memorable perspective. 


Places you will see

• Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun)
• Baan Silapin
• Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen

Activity book period

You can book tour up to 2 hours in advance.

Your transport

Activity languages

English

Directions to meet your guide

Address: Elefin Coffee PFVV+P2F, Thanon Maha Rat, Khwaeng Phra Borom Maha Ratchawang, Khet Phra Nakhon

How long your tour will be

2 hrs

Photos

Reviews by travellers

4.8 out of 5
730 reviews
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168
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Linda F.
Great intro to Bangkok. Good to do at 4:30 as you catch the sunset. Yes, it has its touristy things, but we are tourists. We were lucky as the locks were open so no wait and we went back a different route,
2 days ago
Charles H.
Easy to book and the tour itself was great. Saw some really interesting sights from both the river and the canal. Seeing the giant buddha then the stop off at Thon Buri were highlights for me. The only issue I had was that the initial organisation was rather chaotic with several different trips all congregating at the same place. The various tour guides found it hard to separate who was in which group and because I'd only booked a couple of hours earlier, I didn't seem to be on anyone's list. I had to be really firm with the guides to ensure I was included on one of the tours otherwise I felt they would have left me behind.
10 days ago
Kenneth W.
Great value. Saw a lot of the city. Knowledgeable guide. Learned a lot about the city and culture. Would recommend.
12 days ago
Judy C.
This was a great tour that I would highly recommend. It’s a great introduction to Bangkok culture especially if you’re a little bit jetlagged and you’re looking to start your adventure but not overdue.
15 days ago
Francis R.
Loved my experience. Our tour guide Yohan was so friendly, informative and funny he really made the experience special.
15 days ago
Todd Y.
Amazing experience. Great guide Joe. Very informative and a lot of fun. Wonderful view of the giant gold Buddha.
20 days ago
Carol W.
It was a fantastic trip and we had the modt wonderful guide! I tgink his name was Johanne. Would have liked more time at the Artist House but apart from that we absolutely loved it!
about 1 month ago
Steven M.
This longboat khlong tour was an interesting way to see a bit of Bangkok's canal-side life. Our nice guide, Fern, was helpful and managed things under sometimes challenging conditions. The only drawback was in the difficulty hearing her narration and announcements over the boat noises. But overall, a fun experience!
about 1 month ago
Michael H.
Nothing special , hot weather , hat , water , good pictures possible , no time to seat for a drink , special plaisant guide !
about 2 months ago
Maria B.
The long boat ride is an excellent experience, an opportunity to see a part of Bangkok you would otherwise not see. Our host, Bella, is informative, engaging, and funny. So glad we did this. It’s definitely worth the investment and then some.
2 months ago
Program details changed.
More info