jules39

OK we have been to Bangkok 5 times and have never made it to a floating market or on a klong tour!!!!! I guess we have always just been distracted elsewhere! So we are heading back that way on our way to revisit Siem Reap and I am thinking that this could be the trip we do these things. Now I know I posted something about Klong trips a while ago when we were going to make this trip but illness forced us to reschedule and now I can't get those results to come up. So my questions are;
What are the steps to finding and enjoying a Klong tour with the main aims being to see Bangkok Klong life and photography?
What do we need to say to our hotel to get a trip to the floating market that gets there before the tour buses but we don't nec neeed a guide??

Thanks to you all in advance

J

althom1122

I'm sure many will help you with this. Booking a klong tour is easy - we didn't even do it in advance! Just went down to the pier (Saskin) and someone approached us offering various options. Or you can tell your concierge and he'll handle it for you - in our case just going to the pier worked out best. We could arrive when we wanted and ours was, in fact, cheaper than some of the others. However, make sure you ask for just what you want. I thought they were all the same and we missed the Royal Barges, which I had wanted to see.
Regarding the floating market, would suggest you contact one of the many drivers you see referred to here on the board - Ratt, Tong, or JulieTaxi (she's who we used and we loved her!). Full details (and lots of them) are in my trip report if you want to check it out...

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34762799

It's very easy to arrange things, whether you want to do it in advance or wait until you get there.

Karen

jules39

Thanks Karen!

simpsonc510

Karen is right. I've been on a number of klong tours, and I didn't book any of them ahead. I just went to the pier and made arrangements. It's really that easy! Have not done the floating market so cannot comment on that one.

Oh, and btw, I've been to BKK 9 times and I have yet to visit the Royal Palace and all the temples (other than Wat Pho for a Thai foot massage)...

Carol

BELLE0516

Can someone please give me directions to the pier? This is our first time to BKK. We are staying at the Marriott Resort and Spa. Thanks!

Craig

BELLE0516 - You can make arrangements right at the Marriott pier but if you prefer the Marriott boat goes directly to the Taksin pier and you can make arrangements there.

Gpanda

Jules-riding around in a long-tail boat is cool and breezy. Make sure you have a long sleeve cover up with you. You can actually arrange for a Klong tour at almost any pier. You won't need to plqan ahead. They will call the boat over for you as soon as you arrange for it.

As regards the floating market, this is a mixed adventure. It can get very touristy when the large bus tours arrive. You need to get a very early start from BKK to get there early enough. Even so, while it's interesting, it's not fascinating.

BELLE0516

Craig-Thank you for the info!

jules39

Thanks all. I knew I didn't have to pre book these things (which is probably why we have never done it in 5 trips) Carol good to hear you are like us and just don't seem to get to do main stuff because other little adventures always deviate you!
J