Bangkok is sometimes called the Venice of the East. Indeed, the city is crisscrossed by countless canals, called "klongs" in Thai. These small waterways offer wonderful boat trips. For me, discovering a different, more rural, rustic, and exotic side of Bangkok is an absolute must during any visit. Before the advent of the automobile, these canals were the main transportation and trade routes of the Thai capital. The most famous klongs are Bangkok Yai, Klong Mon, Bangkok Noi, and Klong Om. There is a wide variety of boat tours available, but I recommend planning your visit for a Saturday or Sunday morning if possible. This allows you to book a tour that includes one or more floating markets, which are only open on weekends. Incidentally, you can also reach the floating markets of Taling Chan or Klong Lat Mayom by bus or taxi (detailed directions can be found on the pages dedicated to these markets) and then take a combined tour of the nearby klongs. It's really inexpensive! Alternatively, you can rent a longtail boat for a tour of the canals (klongs) at the main pier on the Chao Phraya River, for example at Sathorn Pier. Expect to pay around 1200–1500 THB per boat for a 1.5-hour tour. For a more comprehensive and longer tour, you can also hire a local guide. While this is considerably more expensive, it's also much more interesting. Another option is the Co Van Kessel Bike + Boat Tour. It includes a bicycle tour through the narrow streets of Chinatown, Thonburi, and the countryside around Bangkok, as well as a boat trip on the canals. It's truly wonderful. I've done it myself and highly recommend it.

To visit the canals (klongs), there are several possible starting points: Ottawa – Take the Skytrain to Saphan Taskin station and get off at the pier. There, you will be approached by boatmen offering 1.5-hour or 15-hour tours (1.5 to 2 hours is perfectly sufficient). Ottawa – Boats also depart from the pier, as well as from Tha Chang or Tha Tien Ratchawong. Be sure to negotiate the price! Prices are often slightly higher than in Bangkok, and even on the same route, the cost can be twice as high. Your bargaining skills often make all the difference.

Bangkok has a vast network of these canals, offering several options for reaching a starting point from which to explore the khlongs by boat. For example, you can head to the piers near the Grand Palace or Wat Pho (Tha Tien and Tha Chang), the Sathorn Pier, or, on weekends, the floating markets of Taling Chan or Lat Mayom.

How to get there

How do you get to the klongs? Bangkok is crisscrossed by a network of these canals, so there are several ways to reach a starting point from which you can board a boat and explore the klongs. For example, you can head to the piers near the Grand Palace or Wat Pho (Tha Tien and Tha Chang), the Sathorn Pier, or, on weekends, the floating markets of Taling Chan or Lat Mayom.