hi.....fiona........my wife and i did a few years ago,we went as part of a booked tour..what put us off ...was.
a.....the dead animals floating by .
b.they offered tins of coke out of the same water.......
yuk yuk yuk .
regards........j.d.......

hmmm
so it was a big disappointment for you then?

hi....fiona......not a disappointment ....but more of a culture shock,we went there before we went to goa.if that makes sense to you.....
many regards.......j.d.....

I understand completely!

Yeah the floating Market is touristy, but its also fun..one of the most funs things in BKK. I'd certainly do it again. We went with a tour...it was on one our early visits to Thailand.

did you do that on its own or tied in with another visit to somewhere sunbear?

It was ages ago but I think it was tied in with other places, probably the Rose Garden and some snake show and many stops in between. One of my first trips on a longtail...great.

I think we will end up giving it a go. OH is probably more keen than I am- but sometimes those are the trips which end up the best.

Hi Fiona,

We did the floating market, as a tour, four or five years ago.

We would definitely go again BUT:

The tour we did, started early and 'bussed' people from hotels to a central collection point. Theerfore the 'early' start was no such thing. We then stopped 'for refreshment' at a wood carving centre - the main point was to get you to buy some carving.

Arrived at the floating market late morning, taking a long tailed boat for the last half mile or so. Interesting if you had not done a long tail before, but otherwise not much to see.

The floating market was touristy, but we would not have missed it. unfortunately it was also getting to the hottest part of the day - no air conditioning here! We took a boat on the klong and there were some great photo opportunities - not to be missed. Unfortunately these are not digital, or I would post them.

The next thing was off to lunch at the Rose Garden - poor lunch. poor Thai dancing and an elephant show that was also, believe it or not, poor.

If you can find someone to recommend a driver, or find a small mini-bus tour, and miss out the bussing around, the sales stop and the Rose Garden, then it would be better. Don't miss it though.

We intend to do it again one day, but it will probably be after taking advice from the Bangkok Tour Agent, who we gave you a link for.

I would put it down as not to be missed!

Peter

that sounds good- just the market. I looked at that site and they do a trip but not a private one. As you say, its worth asking though

Hi Fiona
Just back from Thailand - Bangkok and Pattaya... did the floating market. Did it on our own - a couple of us, and not with a busload or any other tours. Its great fun, and its like a cruise on the river. Enjoyed myself. We took skytrain to the spot, then a boat, and cruised for an hour or so. Great fun, got a bit wet. Splashed around. Best time to do it is in the early morning.
Cheers Smartpati

This is purely in my opinion (!) but I cannot see the point of the Rose Garden. It's basically trying to be Thailand in a resort, and is perhaps suitable for those staying a couple of nights before flying off to Oz or something, who can feel like they have seen everything Thailand has to offer (elephants, dancing, fighting, alms giving, and a very list of etc etc ). But if you are actually staying any length of time in Thailand, avoid it.