Day 19. Bangkok
Overnight – Mandarin Oriental
If this is a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, your day will start in the mid-morning and end in the late evening, after a visit to the picturesque Amphawa Floating Market. If it is another day of the week, your day will start early and end in the mid to late afternoon, and the floating market you visit will be your first stop this morning. The description for the day is written based on visiting Amphawa Floating Market.
Continue your exploration of Thailand with an excursion to a fascinating area located a little over an hour away to the southwest of Bangkok. After a scenic drive through pastoral countryside (after exiting Bangkok) you will arrive at a restaurant where you will break for lunch. After lunch you will experience the famous Maeklong Railway Market, also known as the Umbrella Pulldown Market. This name is derived from the fact that the vendors spread their wares and awnings to cover the railroad tracks, and then everything is pulled back upon a trains approach – your time here will be during one such train arrival.
The market is one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand and also sells a host of other local food specialties, as well as other goods, including clothing and souvenirs. Next you will enjoy a very unique experience as you cruise through the dense mangrove forests of Samut Songkhram. You will visit one of the unique oyster farms of the region, and will encounter the local monkeys that are expert swimmers, providing visitors with great photo opportunities. All this while you will be experiencing rural Thailand, cruising past remote villages and fishermen going about their work.
The picturesque Amphawa Floating Market has an incredible variety of Thai food available, from fresh seafood to cut fruits of all sorts, a lot of fried street food, and the stalls at the bank of the river are peddling the unavoidable local souvenirs. The food boats are usually manned by colorfully attired Thai women, and the culinary options are charmingly well presented. After the floating market you will enjoy the scenic drive back to Bangkok.
If this is a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, your day will start in the mid-morning and end in the late evening, after a visit to the picturesque Amphawa Floating Market. If it is another day of the week, your day will start early and end in the mid to late afternoon, and the floating market you visit will be your first stop this morning. The description for the day is written based on visiting Amphawa Floating Market.
Continue your exploration of Thailand with an excursion to a fascinating area located a little over an hour away to the southwest of Bangkok. After a scenic drive through pastoral countryside (after exiting Bangkok) you will arrive at a restaurant where you will break for lunch. After lunch you will experience the famous Maeklong Railway Market, also known as the Umbrella Pulldown Market. This name is derived from the fact that the vendors spread their wares and awnings to cover the railroad tracks, and then everything is pulled back upon a trains approach – your time here will be during one such train arrival.
The market is one of the largest fresh seafood markets in Thailand and also sells a host of other local food specialties, as well as other goods, including clothing and souvenirs. Next you will enjoy a very unique experience as you cruise through the dense mangrove forests of Samut Songkhram. You will visit one of the unique oyster farms of the region, and will encounter the local monkeys that are expert swimmers, providing visitors with great photo opportunities. All this while you will be experiencing rural Thailand, cruising past remote villages and fishermen going about their work.
The picturesque Amphawa Floating Market has an incredible variety of Thai food available, from fresh seafood to cut fruits of all sorts, a lot of fried street food, and the stalls at the bank of the river are peddling the unavoidable local souvenirs. The food boats are usually manned by colorfully attired Thai women, and the culinary options are charmingly well presented. After the floating market you will enjoy the scenic drive back to Bangkok.