RIVER TRIPS · BANGKOK RIVER CRUISES
The river is the fastest way across Bangkok and the temples are on the bank. These 15 cover canal long-tails, hop-on boats and the dinner cruises, with departure points and what the buffet is like.
Spend two hours aboard the White Orchid, a three-deck Bangkok dinner boat with Thai and international buffet dishes, unlimited beer, live music, Thai dance, and cabaret. Choose a departure from Asiatique or ICONSIAM, then watch Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, and Rama VIII Bridge glow beside the river.
“Good value for money cruise with good food, beer on tap and lively entertainment”
Use an all-day Chao Phraya Tourist Boat pass from 9 AM to 7:15 PM. Board at 11 piers, including Wat Arun, Tha Chang, Rajinee, Iconsiam, and Phra Arthit. You get a route booklet, not a narrated tour, with boats arriving about every 30 minutes.
“Good time saving activity. For it to be worth the money, you should travel about 4 times (easily done over the 11 piers). No guide included.”
Choose a sunset or evening sailing on a new three-deck boat, with seafood, salmon sashimi, steak, drinks, live music, and Thai classical dance. Dinner cruises leave Asiatique at 8 PM, while sunset sailings leave Yodpiman River Walk at 4:45 PM. Reserve rooftop seating early.
“It’s a very good experience. We would recommend the sunset cruise as the views are great. Mc is very energetic, waiters are super helpful, bottomless food and brinks! Come with an empty stomach to truly immerse yourself.”
Visit Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Lokayasutharam, and Wat Chaiwattanaram on a nine-hour Ayutthaya tour. Your English-speaking guide, often Donna, First, or another local guide, explains the ruins before you return to Bangkok by boat with a Thai and international buffet.
“Well organized and interesting excursion. We appreciate our lady-guide Joan, who was caring about the participants and give us very clear informations, we also had a good and safe driver.”
Travel from Bangkok to UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya by air-conditioned vehicle, visit four historic sites with a guide such as Donna, First, or Ken, then return by riverboat with a Thai and international buffet lunch. Hotel pickup is optional, and the day lasts about nine hours.
“The temples were impressive and the journey went well. The guide was very knowledgeable. There were elephants there too”
Board the Chao Phraya Princess near Iconsiam for a 90-minute to two-hour evening cruise. Enjoy an international buffet, open-air upper-deck views, illuminated Bangkok monuments, and live music ranging from jazz to popular hits. Check your meeting point and arrive 15 to 30 minutes early.
“Outstanding value, the meal was great, great service, very organized. Best value since we have been in Bangkok”
Spend two hours aboard the White Orchid Cruise on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. You’ll enjoy a welcome drink, Thai dance, buffet dinner, live music, and cabaret while passing the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Wat Arun. The $43 price suits visitors wanting an easy evening of food, views, and entertainment.
“Great experience, accompanied by excellent food and very nice show. Highly recommended!”
Travel from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi with an English or Thai-speaking guide such as Luke, William, Woody, or Jokey. Visit the war cemetery and Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, cross the River Kwai bridge, ride the original Death Railway track, and enjoy lunch before returning to Bangkok.
“Pros: Overall great trip, enjoyed seeing historic sights, train ride and countryside. Con: Would have liked a ittle bit more time at museum.”
Spend an evening on the Chao Phraya Princess, sailing from Asiatique, ICONSIAM, or Terminal 21 Rama 3. You’ll enjoy a buffet, welcome drink, live music, Thai dancing, and views of Bangkok’s bridges and riverfront. Choose the sunset sailing for golden light or the later cruise for city lights.
“It was great! Everything was smooth and the entertainment was good”
Board at ICONSIAM for a 90-minute to 2-hour Meridian Cruise past Wat Arun, Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, and Rama VIII Bridge. Choose sunset or dinner, enjoy an international seafood buffet, free-flow soft drinks, live music, and Thai dance on the 7:45 pm sailing.
“One of the best activities I've done in Bangkok! I loved it!”
Leave Bangkok at 6:30 am for Kanchanaburi, where you’ll visit the war cemetery and JEATH War Museum, ride a long-tail boat beneath the River Kwai Bridge, and take a 90-minute Death Railway journey. Guides such as Betty, Luck, and Peter add clear historical context.
“Not the best tour we have been on could have been a bit more forthcoming with information of where we were, Places we were passing etc.”
Cruise Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River for about two hours while dining from a Thai and international buffet. You’ll pass Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Icon Siam, Asiatique, and other river landmarks, with live music, cabaret, Thai dance, and optional hotel transfers.
“Great view, smooth sailing and great service. I had to chance to do some shopping at Asiatique while waiting for departure.”
Use the Tuk Tuk Hop app to call clean, electric tuk tuks between Bangkok’s main districts, then add a full-day Chao Phraya tourist boat pass for riverside sights. You get no-haggle fares, seatbelts, live vehicle details, travel insurance, and an eSIM for app access.
“This was the best travel experience in bangkok, couldn't recommend more. The app is easy and the tuk tuks arrive really fast. Don't hesitate and book.”
Spend two hours aboard the Royal Princess, sailing from Asiatique with an unlimited Thai, Western, Japanese, and seafood buffet. Enjoy live singers, rooftop or air-conditioned seating, and evening views of Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, ICONSIAM, river hotels, and Rama VIII Bridge.
“a great way to see bangkok. the boat was stunning. the entertainment was fantastic. the food was delicious and the drink selection was wide and cheap. thank you for a great evening.”
Spend two hours aboard the Opulence on Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River. You’ll get a welcome drink, buffet dinner, live bands on two decks, and nighttime views of Wat Arun, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Asiatique. Assigned seating helps, but rooftop places are not guaranteed.
“Incredible experience! Well organized and great value for money! I would certainly do it again.”
An hour, an evening, a set of rapids or a week aboard.
Every country and city on the site, from the Nile to the Chicago.
