Evening Bangkok Longboat Ride
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 16
Evening Bangkok Longboat Ride
All,
Hopefully this isn't a repeat question. I am passing through Bangkok briefly in a few weeks and want to do a short (60-90 min), private longboat ride on Choa Phraya river at around 5pm on the day we arrive. Googling suggests going to a pier and negotiating directly with the drivers, has anyone done this? The concierge could only suggest a tour which does not work with our timing and my cousin who lives in Chiang Mai didn't know.
If we cannot get this sorted we will just do the tourist boat.
I appreciate your information/suggestions.
Neil
Hopefully this isn't a repeat question. I am passing through Bangkok briefly in a few weeks and want to do a short (60-90 min), private longboat ride on Choa Phraya river at around 5pm on the day we arrive. Googling suggests going to a pier and negotiating directly with the drivers, has anyone done this? The concierge could only suggest a tour which does not work with our timing and my cousin who lives in Chiang Mai didn't know.
If we cannot get this sorted we will just do the tourist boat.
I appreciate your information/suggestions.
Neil
#2
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
You can certainly hire someone privately but be aware that depending on when it gets dark it may be a bit late to do 90 minutes after 5pm (not sure now but I've been in Bangkok when it got dark around 6pm IIRC)
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 16
Estnet,
Thank you for the info. My cousin's wife, who is non-Thai but has lived in and out of country for 15 years, had a funny comment. "You can do it but you will be ripped off, it is just a matter of how much". Hopefully we will get to the pier with enough time to scope the situation and still make the last tourist boat if it seems like too much of a hassle...
Thank you for the info. My cousin's wife, who is non-Thai but has lived in and out of country for 15 years, had a funny comment. "You can do it but you will be ripped off, it is just a matter of how much". Hopefully we will get to the pier with enough time to scope the situation and still make the last tourist boat if it seems like too much of a hassle...
#4
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Estnet,
Thank you for the info. My cousin's wife, who is non-Thai but has lived in and out of country for 15 years, had a funny comment. "You can do it but you will be ripped off, it is just a matter of how much". Hopefully we will get to the pier with enough time to scope the situation and still make the last tourist boat if it seems like too much of a hassle...
Thank you for the info. My cousin's wife, who is non-Thai but has lived in and out of country for 15 years, had a funny comment. "You can do it but you will be ripped off, it is just a matter of how much". Hopefully we will get to the pier with enough time to scope the situation and still make the last tourist boat if it seems like too much of a hassle...
There are 2 river boats - the "Tourist boat" flys a blue flag I think and has marginally better chairs and only goes part of the way up the Chao Praya, vs the regular river boats. Cost 100? baht for tourist (can't remember) vs 14ish baht for the regular boat (there are express and local but not a big difference). From Thaksin to the end of the line it takes about an hour with lots of stops along the way - one of my favorite ways to spend a lazy day - BUT if it's late and you're pressed for time (esp. to get back before it gets too dark) that could easily factor into your decision. If you board at Thaksin (and maybe other places) you can ask when the last boat goes - but also at Thaksin make sure you are in the right line - there are at least 3 on the main pier (and others that go to various hotels, etc.) the "regular" boat, tourist boat and cross river ferry.
If you just want a short river trip you can do it for free! Asiatique has a free boat starting late afternoon until 9 or 10! Not my favorite place to go - but a nice 10ish minute ride and no worries about being stuck with no boat back!
#5
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: most of them
Posts: 3,283
I wonder if there are safety restrictions that time of day. I don't think any of those long boats have lights.
It's easy to catch a taxi from Asiatique if you don't want to wait for a boat or it's crowded.
It's easy to catch a taxi from Asiatique if you don't want to wait for a boat or it's crowded.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Posts: 12,375
In addition to the safety issues, I'm not certain how much you'll be able to see at night?
The allure of the long-tail boat trek is navigating the canals on the west side of the river while a large engine screams away, racing other boats, disturbing residents, getting soaked with raw sewage, stopping at a temple, pulling up to another boat to buy a drink, stopping for lunch, going to the Royal Barge Museum, etc.
Chao Phraya Express Boat service This is mainly for commuters as the timetable illustrates.
The allure of the long-tail boat trek is navigating the canals on the west side of the river while a large engine screams away, racing other boats, disturbing residents, getting soaked with raw sewage, stopping at a temple, pulling up to another boat to buy a drink, stopping for lunch, going to the Royal Barge Museum, etc.
Chao Phraya Express Boat service This is mainly for commuters as the timetable illustrates.
Last edited by transpac; Nov 25, 2016 at 6:57 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
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Posts: 4,833