If you love being outdoors and are looking for something to do outside of Bangkok, a trip to Amphawa district to visit the area’s quaint floating market is highly recommended. The Amphawa floating market is considered the second most popular market of this type near Bangkok, but many locals visit in order to enjoy an evening boat ride under the firefly-filled canopies of canal trees. Visitors to Amphawa are almost exclusively Thai and the evening boat rides have a reputation of being romantic and nostalgic, reminding many locals of a simpler time in history.
Customer feedback – “At night going to see the fireflies is a must! The best time to go is during the wet season, that is when there are the most of them in the trees.”
In 2008, the Khlong Amphawa community was granted an Honorable Mention Award from the UNESCO Asia–Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation as a result of its efforts to preserve the local culture and architecture along the canals. The preservation efforts are apparent as you stroll along areas of wood-framed buildings, small dockside shops, and small pedestrian bridges and alleyways. The community is home to many old and large trees, and it is these same trees that attract the colonies of fireflies as they flicker and sparkle against the waters of the canal.
Some of additional things you will see during the Fireflies Evening Boat Ride in Amphawa:
- The popular and quaint Amphawa floating market.
- Canal life of locals.
- Tasty Amphawa district sweets and deserts.
- Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram, a popular temple among Thais.
- Hungry? Try Tom Yum soup made with fresh river prawns.
- Coconut ice cream with fresh coconut shavings and peanuts on top.
Visitors who plan to enjoy a boat ride to see the fireflies will usually want to indulge in the sights, sounds, and smells of the Amphawa floating market for a period of time before getting on the boat. The stalls at the Amphawa floating market run alongside the canal and are a great place to take a coffee break, try a Thai dessert and enjoy the cool evening atmosphere. Your private tour guide can advise you of the best time for the boat ride so that you need not worry about enjoying the market and surroundings at your own leisurely pace.
Customer feedback – “It’s a nice ride in a long tail boat along the river to see the wonderful naturally lit fireflies. Some trees can really be brighten up by these fireflies.”
The Fireflies Boat Ride in Amphawa can be enjoyed on any evening, 1 hour after sundown. Boat rides begin around 6:00 pm from the dock area of the little Amphawa floating market. Usually, the fireflies are present throughout the year but are more active during Thailand’s rainy season, from May to October. A moonless night, when it is almost or completely dark, is an excellent time for viewing the fireflies.
Admission Price: 1,500 Baht per GROUP up to 6 people.
Other attractions that can be easily arranged along with the Fireflies Boat Ride include our Wat Bang Kung and Damnoen Saduak Floating Market tours. Visit this attraction on our Thailand Royal Coast Experience tour.
Things you should be aware of when booking the Fireflies Boat Ride in Amphawa tour:
- Comfortable shoes and clothing are highly recommended.
- Photography is highly encouraged along every part of this tour.
- Bring your appetite and your sense of adventure.
