Self-Launched: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market by Public Train, Longtail Boat & Local Bus
1 days · Bangkok & Samut Songkhram
LJ Biz charges £65
No-markup version: ~£38 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A one-day independent version of LJ Biz's small-group day trip from Bangkok to the Maeklong Railway Market (Talad Rom Hoop) and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market — done entirely on Thailand's own public transport. Instead of a private air-conditioned minibus and guide, you take the city train to Wongwian Yai, a third-class local train down the Mahachai line, a ferry across the Tha Chin river, and the famously scenic Ban Laem–Maeklong railway branch where the train literally rolls through the market stalls. From Maeklong you hop a local songthaew or public bus to Damnoen Saduak, then hire a longtail boat directly at the pier to weave through the floating market's canals. Total cost lands around £30–40 per person versus roughly £65 (~US$83) for the guided group version — and you get the exact same two markets, on your own schedule, with more time for street food.
Day-by-day
Bangkok to Maeklong Railway Market to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market — by public train, ferry & longtail boat
Bangkok → Samut Sakhon → Samut Songkhram (Maeklong) → Damnoen Saduak
Start early (around 06:30) to catch the morning train. From anywhere on the BTS Skytrain network, ride to Wongwian Yai and walk ~10 minutes to Wongwian Yai railway station (or take a meter taxi / Grab straight there, ~£2–4). Catch the third-class Mahachai line train (roughly hourly, ~1 hour, about 10 THB / £0.25) through Bangkok's western suburbs to Mahachai. Walk five minutes to the Tha Chin river ferry pier and cross on the tiny passenger ferry (3 THB / £0.07) to Ban Laem. Walk to Ban Laem station and board the Ban Laem–Maeklong train (~1 hour, 10 THB) — the highlight of the day, as the final stretch crawls through the Maeklong Railway Market with awnings folding back and vendors clearing the tracks seconds before the train passes. Arrive Maeklong around 11:00–11:30, hop off and spend 45–60 minutes eating your way through the market: grilled river fish, kanom krok coconut pancakes, fresh fruit, and the famous 'umbrella market' photo spots. Then take a local songthaew from Maeklong to Damnoen Saduak (around 30–40 minutes, 20–40 THB / £0.50–1) or a public bus on the same route. At Damnoen Saduak pier, skip the packaged tours and hire a longtail boat directly (official pier rate roughly 400–600 THB / £9–14 for a ~1-hour loop for up to 6–8 people — share with others to split the cost, or expect to pay the full boat price solo). Drift through the khlong past wooden stilt houses, noodle boats and produce vendors; buy lunch and snacks from boat vendors (pad thai, mango sticky rice, boat noodles, ~£3–5). Wander the market on foot for an hour afterwards, then return to Bangkok by public minivan from the Damnoen Saduak bus station to Sai Tai Mai / Mochit (roughly 100–150 THB / £2.50–3.50, ~2 hours) or via Maeklong if you prefer the scenic reverse route. Back in Bangkok early evening — no accommodation included, as this is a day trip.
🚌BTS Skytrain + walk or Grab to Wongwian Yai (~£2–4); Wongwian Yai–Mahachai third-class train (~10 THB); Tha Chin river ferry (3 THB); Ban Laem–Maeklong train (~10 THB); Maeklong–Damnoen Saduak songthaew or bus (20–40 THB); public minivan Damnoen Saduak–Bangkok (~100–150 THB). All bookable on the day at the station/pier — no advance booking needed.
🛏None included — day trip. Budget hostel dorms in Bangkok (Banglamphu / Khao San or Silom) run about £10–15/night if you're extending your stay.
- →Ride the scenic Ban Laem–Maeklong third-class railway line
- →Watch the train pass through Maeklong Railway Market (Talad Rom Hoop)
- →Eat your way through Maeklong market — grilled fish, Thai sweets, fresh fruit
- →Hire a longtail boat at Damnoen Saduak pier and cruise the floating market canals
- →Buy lunch from boat vendors: boat noodles, pad thai, mango sticky rice
- →Walk the riverside stilt-house lanes around Damnoen Saduak
Bangkok (day trip)
Public transport day trip to Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market — no overnight accommodation required.
🚌Public train, ferry, songthaew and minivan
🛏None — day trip
- →Railway market
- →Longtail boat floating market
Self-launched vs. LJ Biz
| This itinerary (self-launched) | LJ Biz | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£38 | £65 |
| Duration | 1 days | 1 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £27 per person (42%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more LJ Biz-style trips? Check them out here.~£38
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Maeklong Railway Market by Public Train, Longtail Boat & Local Bus cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £38 per person for 1 days in Bangkok & Samut Songkhram. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with LJ Biz?+
Yes — LJ Biz charges around £65 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £38 — a saving of roughly £27 (42%) per person.
How long is the Bangkok & Samut Songkhram trip?+
This itinerary runs 1 days, covering 2 day-by-day stops through Bangkok & Samut Songkhram.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, foodie, budget trip through Bangkok & Samut Songkhram, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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