Going on a tour amid the small canals of the Chao Phraya River appeals to those intrepid travelers wishing to glimpse a place and time that is quickly vanishing from the landscape of modern Bangkok. Our scenic Bangkok Canal and Thai Puppet Show Tour gives our guests the opportunity to experience a peaceful riverside atmosphere and to see a more traditional way of Thai life up close. You will be delighted to discover such a level of tranquility as you drift past enchanting wooden homes on stilts, floating kitchens, Buddhist temples, and small family businesses.
Customer feedback – “Seeing how the people live along the rivers was quite amazing. Seems like we saw more smiling faces on the river than in any of Bangkok’s traffic jams. Our kids, age 6 and 10 really enjoyed the puppet show. Our guide was wonderful, explaining the characters and the story in the puppet show to our kids. A definite recommend.”
In days long gone, the city of Bangkok had hundreds of small canals, known in Thai as Khlongs, that were used by the local people for transportation, communication, and trade. During this period, many European visitors to Bangkok referred to the city as the “Venice of the East.” This name still rings true today as you see elderly vendors paddling wooden boats up and down the canal selling everything from vegetables and noodles to modern goods like electric fans and radios.
Today, most of the canals in Bangkok have been filled in and converted into paved roads. However, on the Western bank of the Chao Phraya River, many of these Khlongs still remain and are used every day by the residents of Thonburi.
Customer feedback – “A truly unforgettable journey using a mode of transportation now rarely used.”
On the Bangkok Canal and Thai Puppet Show Tour you will see for yourself the historical, cultural, and societal impact of canals on the lives of the local people. And, you will be treated to one of Thailand’s centuries-old art forms, a Thai puppet show known as Hun Lakorn Lek. The performers use life-like puppets, along with limited props and settings to act out scenes from Thai history including comedy, heartfelt love stories, and other themes.
On our private tour of the canals our highly attentive tour guide can accommodate your travel needs as well as make suggestions for visiting places along the riverside.
The Bangkok Canal and Thai Puppet Show Tour can easily become the start to a full day of sightseeing, especially considering that there are many attractions nearby and along the canals.
Viewing the Royal Thai Barge Museum and visiting an Orchid Farm is offered on our Two Hour Bangkok Canal Tour, where we explore further into the deep canals of Thonburi.
We also recommend a visit to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and Lad Mayom Floating Market in addition to any of our Bangkok canal tours. Book a private tour guide with Your Thai Guide to arrange your completely private and custom Bangkok canal tour with any or all of these options.
Our scenic Bangkok Canal and Thai Puppet Show Tour is a special treat that is not available every day of the week (no shows on Mondays). Therefore, last minute bookings can not be taken. Please book this tour at least 2 days in advance so that we can confirm that the Thai Puppet Show troupe is performing on the day of your requested tour.
Puppet Show and Boat fees: 2,500 Baht covers the price of an entire boat for up to 8 visitors on this particular tour.
Things you should be aware of when embarking on the Bangkok Canal and Thai Puppet Show Tour:
- Comfortable shoes and clothing are highly recommended since you will need to climb in and out of boats.
- Photography is highly encouraged along every part of this tour. Some of our previous guests have been professional and aspiring photographers who booked this tour with us so that they could take pictures of life along the canals.
