Bangkok Private Tour: Floating Markets and River Kwai

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This exclusive, day-long trip from Bangkok provides the optimal opportunity to explore the spectacular floating markets of Thailand and Kanchanaburi, the location of the renowned bridge popularized further by Alec Guiness’s Hollywood film, The Bridge on the River Kwai.

Duration: 9 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

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Highlights

Salt Evaporation Pond - Drive through the salt fields of Samut Sakhon province
Coconut Sugar Farm - Stop and see the fabrication process of coconut sugar, taste the natural candies. Enjoy the wild orchid presentation
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Your journey commences with a leisurely drive from Bangkok, passing through salt fields…

Salt Evaporation Pond - Drive through the salt fields of Samut Sakhon province
Coconut Sugar Farm - Stop and see the fabrication process of coconut sugar, taste the natural candies. Enjoy the wild orchid presentation
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Your journey commences with a leisurely drive from Bangkok, passing through salt fields and rice paddies before embarking aboard your long tail speed-boat on your journey to the Damnern Saduak floating markets. The floating markets are a fascinating experience, a complete contrast to how we shop for food in the west, and are made up of Thai style canoes laden with colorful and succulent fruits, vegetables, sweets and meats - gently plying their way through the canal, selling as they go. It is one of most popular Thai sightseeing experiences and not to be missed. If you want to take a closer look your local Thai guide will help you organize a local boat ride through the markets (optional extra).
War Museum - Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant before visiting the bridge after which a visit is made to the new Thailand - Burma War Museum which is adjacent to the War Grave Cemetery. Combining the two attractions unfortunately means there is not enough time to take a train ride, before your journey back to Bangkok and your hotel.
Bridge Over the River Kwai - You will then board your coach for the journey west to Kanchanaburi, home to the River Kwai and it’s infamous bridge. The building of the bridge in 1943 was part of a wartime project to link existing Thai and Burmese railway lines to create a direct route from Bangkok, Thailand to Rangoon, Burma (now Myanmar) in an effort to support the Japanese occupation of Burma. Over 100,000 conscripted laborers and 12,000 prisoners of war died during the whole project.
River Kwai - Also referred to as Si Sawat. The river used to be considered as part of the Mekong until the late 1960s but was renamed the Kwae Yai. Today, the river can also be crossed thanks to the famous bridge carrying its name.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery - Visit The War Cemetery of the Prisoners of War of the WWII
Tour East - Passing next to it

What's Included

Local expert guide
Scenic river cruise to a traditional floating market
All entry fees included for Museum and Cemetery visit
Delicious lunch provided
Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
Comfortable transport in a private vehicle

What's Not Included

Gratuities
Boat ride in the markets (optional extra, payable direct)

Additional Information

Boat ride is not wheelchair accessible
You must provide your hotel details at time of booking, failure to do so may result in cancellation

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

3.6

(34 Ratings)

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Ricardo_p

Jan 22, 2019

Great Tour - This is a great tour. Combination of Floating Markets and the Bridge on River Kwai is just like hitting two birds with one stone. The guide Niko gave us good information of the places we visited.

Review provided by Viator

Elaine

Mar 18, 2018

Floating Market and Bridge on River Kwai Tour - Excellent trip. Tour guide, Vanda, was very knowledgeable and spoke clear English. The driver was very safe, so never felt uncomfortable on very crowded roads. Floating markets were interesting and colourful but merely a tourist attraction, rather than about the local way of life. Bridge on River Kwai, the little museum with old photos, and the cemetery were all excellent and worth the long drive to see. Only thing I didn't realise was, by combining the two tours, we were unable to see Hellfire Pass or go on the train ride over the bridge, but still a most enjoyable day out with Vanda and her very competent driver.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Anne_h

Mar 13, 2018

This tour was amazing. Our tour... - This tour was amazing. Our tour guide and driver were so professional, helpful and we cant recommend them highly enough.

Review provided by Viator

Ken

Aug 7, 2019

Great days adventure - The visit to the Bridge On The River Kwai was well worth the effort considering the Australian association in construction of this historic war time relic. Floating markets were an experience.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Asher_t

Nov 10, 2019

too long tour for a short visit to a crouded and too touristic destination - For such a long trip, the private car has to be much more confortable and new!! more space for the legs, the way back to Bangkock took almost 3 hours. The guide should add some more interesting items about Thailand during the driving time.

Review provided by Viator

Hildur

May 7, 2018

Loved the market - A bit weird tour if I have to be honest, the floating market part was amazing, would liked to be there a bit longer though. After that we went to a small museum and saw the graveyard, which I was not expecting but was interesting.

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Tamas

Nov 27, 2019

Floating Market Tour - Unfortunately we do not have had a super tour guide. He was not really interested, he has told us only the most important information and in the mean time he has played with is I-Phone or have had a sleep. We have to pay extra for the small boot on the floating market. However, the floating market is only for tourist!! I would never go there again. The River Kwai with the bridge was interesting and the cemetery was touching. I would chose another company to make this tour.

Review provided by Viator

Ksibb

Oct 8, 2018

Waste of money - We were very disappointed with this tour the markets were a total tourist trap if you want to view it via paddle boat it will cost you an edition 900thb. As we visited in october which is the low season there wasnt the fruit and food travelling around on the boats like what you expext to see, which we were not told until after the fact. As we went to the markets first we were unable to ride the death railway which was the reason we wanted to go to the river kwai. However we should have done more research on that, we just expected the train to go all day not just in the morning . We did not see the salt fields nor rice fields the lunch was not very good. There was a constant sales pitch for add ons at extra cost at every step.Overall this tour is definitely not worth the money, i would not recommended it.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Dan2006

Apr 15, 2018

Dont bother with this tour, just take a taxi instead! - We booked a private day tour to the floating markets and bridge on the river Kwai with Tour East Thailand with Viator. 1. Pick up time - Having booked our trip through Viator we received a message that our pick up time would be 630am from our hotel lobby. Our tour guide Netsura turned up at 645am, saying she had been at our hotel since 6am, but then the driver did not arrive until 655am. Having got up this early it was not a good start. 2. Floating market - we were asked to pay 900 baht for a small boat for a 30 mins market tour, though this was not mentioned on the tour exclusions on the itinerary. This maybe optional, but how else do you see the floating market? 3. Bridge over the river Kwai - Netsura explained we should take this once in a lifetime boat trip from the JEATH museum to see the original bridge which you cant see any other way. Despite the 1000 baht charge, we went along with her suggestion, only to find the remains of the original bridge are clearly visible from the new bridge and our 5 mins boat ride is clearly a scam for tourists. 4. Throughout the trip Netsura gave very little commentary of any interest, but continually chatted to the driver whilst tapping on her iPhone. One would question why we needed a tour guide if this is the case. We have been to many South East Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore on numerous occasions, so know that this tour falls well below an acceptable standard. Having provided feedback to Tour East and Viator, neither company seems to accept the above the unacceptable - very poor customer service! We would certainly not be using either company again!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Danny_c

Apr 15, 2018

Dont bother with this tour, just... - Dont bother with this tour, just take a taxi instead! We booked a private day tour to the floating markets and bridge on the river Kwai with Tour East Thailand with Viator. 1. Pick up time - Having booked our trip through Viator we received a message that our pick up time would be 630am from our hotel lobby. Our tour guide Netsura turned up at 645am, saying she had been at our hotel since 6am, but then the driver did not arrive until 655am. Having got up this early it was not a good start. 2. Floating market - we were asked to pay 900 baht for a small boat for a 30 mins market tour, though this was not mentioned on the tour exclusions on the itinerary. This maybe optional, but how else do you see the floating market? 3. Bridge over the river Kwai - Netsura explained we should take this once in a lifetime boat trip from the JEATH museum to see the original bridge which you cant see any other way. Despite the 1000 baht charge, we went along with her suggestion, only to find the remains of the original bridge are clearly visible from the new bridge and our 5 mins boat ride is clearly a scam for tourists. 4. Throughout the trip Netsura gave very little commentary of any interest, but continually chatted to the driver whilst tapping on her iPhone. One would question why we needed a tour guide if this is the case. We have been to many South East Asian countries including Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore on numerous occasions, so know that this tour falls well below an acceptable standard. Having provided feedback to Tour East and Viator, neither company seems to accept the above the unacceptable - very poor customer service! We would certainly not be using either company again!

Review provided by Viator

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