Lam Phaya floating market and boat trip

[Bangyai]

If you have nothing to do on the weekend and want to get out of the city, here's a pleasant day trip that's a bit off the beaten path and will wile away a few pleasant hours.
To make this trip you really need your own wheels but if you want to do it by public transport your best bet is to take a bus to Suphan Buri and get off at the district office of Bang Pahsi on route 346. From here try to get a motorcycle taxi the last 5 k. Alternatively, hire the services of a taxi for the day.

Lam Phaya floating market is to the North West of Bangkok , about an hour from the city. To find it look in the Bangkok A-Z map at map A11 grid 1A

What I like about it is that it is not too well known and doesn't feel like a tourist attraction. If you are looking for lots of boats paddling about with old ladies in woven hats then you should try elsewhere. If you want to eat a lot of cheap food whilst enjoying a boat trip, this is worth the effort.

The market is in temple grounds and is built out on rafts floating along the waters edge.



Plenty of food to buy and take on the boat with you ot eat in the market



The boats that come to sell are mostly parked under the market's canopy in little docks, out of the sun






Once you have your food in hand get your tickets for the boat trip. There are services both up and down the river ( Ta Jin ) and they both take two hours. That's 50 minutes up, a 20 minute break at a temple, then 50 minutes back again. Both trips are similar and there are departures throughout the day. However if you leave too late the choice of food diminishes. I usually aim for a 12.30 departure so try to reach the market at just after 11.30. The boats are easy to find and are moored alongside the floating rafts. Of course. if you don't want to eat just get a couple of beers and go along for the ride.











Then, you're underway and pulling away from the market, enjoying the breeze and having a nice cheap lunch.



Lots of nice house to look at lining the river banks




A falang lives in this one.......lucky bloke




The owner of this one has clearly never been to Home Pro !!




Of course, if you want privacy there are other types of boat for rent. These are cheaper but don't go to far. Good for a bit of conoodling.



There are even rafts that are towed by a tug. These have loungers on so good if you have a hangover.



I really like the little tug boats ...... pretty but with loads of power.



Coming at us.







Meanwhile, back on the boat , one of our fellow passengers thinks I'm a Lonely Planet spy .




The captains cool though and plays with his viscious guard dog



Its soon back to work for the dog though who settles down to guard the toilet, which by the way is very clean and user friendly



During the trip outward trip there is a commentory given by the captains daughter but she gives it up for silence on the return leg . A nice girl.




O.k. thats part one. Time for a coffee then I'll put up part 2.

[aging one]

Nice man, I just may do it as have some time off and dont fancy going so far. Thai food, temples, river, and shopping. Sounds like the women who are the majority in this family would enjoy it.

[Bangyai]

O.k. so to continue. If you travel downstream you will arrive at Wat Bangpra in 50 minutes or so






Here you can go and make merit ( if you've been naughty ) or wander around the temple grounds for 20 minutes. The boat is moored waiting for you to re embark
















Mums as good as gold and doesn't need to make merit so she embroided these temple doors while she was waiting. Very talented is mum




Then, its everyone back on the boat for the quiet ride back. Beautiful countryside along the river banks






Finaly, back in the car park spotted this very clean mini. Brought back memories.




I should say these pictures were taken with an entry level Pentax optio E50 which cost about 4000 baht when new. For such a low speck camera the results aren't too bad. The video is not so good but if you'll make allowances here is a video of the above mentioned trip. Getting a new HD camera soon so things should get better.

[Chairman Mao]

lovely mate. Real Thailand. Amazing how many people out here never see these aspects of it.

I was up this way yesterday for a ride on my bike. Didn't go to Suphanburi though.

Will have to do this with a good book to relax one day.

Checked it on on google maps, and appears to be (put Victory Monument in as a starting point).

from: Thanon Ratchawithi to: Route 346 - Google Maps

From Lam Phaya you just go down to the canal I presume, then jump on a boat to Wat Bangpra?

Do you know what's the longest journey you can go on?

[smeden]

nice pics a green is sent

[Propagator]

Another excellant thread Bangyai. You sure have the knack of finding these off the tourist track attractions. Would green you if I could but the system will not let me, owe you one.

[Gipsy]

Nice unknown territory... Half a green from Propagator, half a green from me..

[forreachingme]

Nice Thread and pics thanks...

We got our own similar floating market on Puthamonton 5. Every now and then we go there, specially if we have guests...

There is another such floating market after Salaya, just discovered the sign to go there, will try make the trip, a few pics and post as well...

[Bangyai]

lovely mate. Real Thailand. Amazing how many people out here never see these aspects of it.

I was up this way yesterday for a ride on my bike. Didn't go to Suphanburi though.

Will have to do this with a good book to relax one day.

Checked it on on google maps, and appears to be (put Victory Monument in as a starting point).

from: Thanon Ratchawithi to: Route 346 - Google Maps

From Lam Phaya you just go down to the canal I presume, then jump on a boat to Wat Bangpra?

Do you know what's the longest journey you can go on?

Thanks for adding the map CM. Yep, once you get to Lam Phaya just head to the temple of the same name , which is on the river bank, and you'll find the boats easy enough. The longest trip is the 2 hour one mentioned in the text. I guess if you wanted to charter a boat to go further it might be possible but I have never asked so I can't confirm. The boats and rafts do the full 2 hours but you can rent one of the little covered boats quiet cheaply....very romantic. However, as they are ' man powered ' they don't go as far and obviously, no toilet on board.

I should also say this is mainly a food oriented market. There are a few clothes and wood carvings on sale but not too many.

[aging one]

showed the wife this morning, with in seconds she was on her computer plotting the route there. Thanks again.

[Bangyai]

showed the wife this morning, with in seconds she was on her computer plotting the route there. Thanks again.

If you decide to go, Saturday is a bit quieter than Sunday and the boat will be less full. First time I went , there were only half a dozen people on the up river trip !! Hope you enjoy it

[aging one]

We are going to try and find out if its open during the week being that its building up to new year. if not we will go saturday. Wife about had a heart attack I proposed going there and had pictures for her to see as well. Happy its a 20 minute stop at the Wat.

[klongmaster]

Bagyai: Great stuff. what tours are made of!!...

There is another such floating market after Salaya, just discovered the sign to go there

have a look at this one..thailands-travellers-tales/17125-klongmasters-day-trip-to-mahasawat.html
fok...DD... WTF it used to work now all we get is entry to TD...did inform you about this two weeks ago...

Sorry FRM

tried ten variations but none work...sometimes I think that TD mods have lost the plot...instead of tweaking the board in a good way they indulge in shit fights with other board members and forget that their main task is keeping the board running...

Happy new year anyway...

[Spin]

^ Link works fine for me, nice thread by the way, not seen that one before.

[dirtydog]

fok...DD... WTF it used to work now all we get is entry to TD...did inform you about this two weeks ago...

Informed me of what?

The link works fine for me.

From TAT

Wat Lampaya Floating Market

It is situated in front of Lampaya temple, on the Tha Cheen River. The floating market was initiated by the Tambon Lampaya Cultural Council and Lampaya temple. It is a centre of trade for fruits and vegetables as well as agricultural produces including rattan ware, woven cotton, dyed cotton, and inexpensive food. Local food like noodles with beef, Thai desserts, and steamed curried fish patty, are sold by local vendors who do their trade in their boats. In front of the temple is another haven for the various species of fish including big catfish-like fresh water fishes, black ear, and giant gourami. The cruise services along Tha Cheen River are also available. Several types of boats cater to the needs of the visitors, which include:

Ancient rowing boat : cruising along Tha Cheen River: leaving from Wat Lampaya, paying homage to Chao Mae Thabthim Shrine, the most revered shrine of Tambon Lampaya. The trip costs 20 Baht/person. It takes around 30 minutes;

Towed boat : a round trip along Tha Cheen River: departing from Wat Lampaya to Wat Sukvatanaram. Feeding fish can be done in front of Wat Lampaya. The trip costs 50 Baht/adult and 20 Baht/child.

Passenger boat : leaving from Wat Lampaya to Wat Bang Phra (Wat Luang Pho Pern). The trip takes two and a half hours. An adult fee is 50 Baht, a child fee is 20 Baht.

This floating market is open only on Saturdays and Sundays, from 06.00-15.00. For more information contact Wat Lampaya, Tambon Lampaya Cultural Council tel: 034 391-626, 391-985, 392-022.

Nakhon Pathom

[Marmite the Dog]

Works fine for me. Old people, eh?

sometimes I think that TD mods have lost the plot...instead of tweaking the board

Mods can't 'tweak' the board. All we do is move stuff around and start shit fights.

[Bangyai]

Bagyai: Great stuff. what tours are made of!!...

There is another such floating market after Salaya, just discovered the sign to go there

have a look at this one..thailands-travellers-tales/17125-klongmasters-day-trip-to-mahasawat.html
fok...DD... WTF it used to work now all we get is entry to TD...did inform you about this two weeks ago...

Sorry FRM

tried ten variations but none work...sometimes I think that TD mods have lost the plot...instead of tweaking the board in a good way they indulge in shit fights with other board members and forget that their main task is keeping the board running...

Happy new year anyway...

Thanks for the link KM. Just read your thread and will check it out after my next visa run as that area is not too far from me. Looks like a nice way to spend the day. Theres something about canals and rivers here that seem so alluring. Lots of little side canals that make you want to investigate. I think Mathos would find it interesting .

Yep , and the link worked fine for me too. Thats how it is with computers. One minute everything is roses next minute ........ buggered. Sometimes I go to bed and my PC is smokin', working perfectly and very fast. Wake up 10 hours later, takes 5 minutes to load each site. So I spend all day ' fixing ' things but no result. Whenever there's a problem with the net here, it seems that 9 times out of 10 its with your ISP. ( unless you serf a lot of dodgy porn sites )

[Stinky]

Excellent photo thread Bangy, very interesting and worth a green

[krungbin]

This post is great!
Will try this destination one of the next week end!
Thanks a lot for this brilliant idea!

[Thaiguy]

Works fine for me. Old people, eh?

sometimes I think that TD mods have lost the plot...instead of tweaking the board

Mods can't 'tweak' the board. All we do is move stuff around and start shit fights.

What in blue blazes is a TD mod? - how do you tweak a board? more technophobic computer speak?

[Thaiguy]

Good Post Bangyai , nice pics , interesting cover , will put it on the should do list.

[Bangyai]

We are going to try and find out if its open during the week being that its building up to new year. if not we will go saturday. Wife about had a heart attack I proposed going there and had pictures for her to see as well. Happy its a 20 minute stop at the Wat.

I think its only a weekend thing but good luck anyway. Don't forget to take some pictures and add them to the thread !

[aging one]

I have to remember how to upload them to photobucket. I can get them down. The wife is really happy. From here in Don Muang its short, just cut across at Pakkret and then meet up, and head right there.

[Bangyai]

I have to remember how to upload them to photobucket. I can get them down. The wife is really happy. From here in Don Muang its short, just cut across at Pakkret and then meet up, and head right there.

You can also upload them from your own computers picture files. Took me a while to suss it out but got there in the end. If you have any problems let me know and I'll walk you through it , save Marmite from getting exasperated

[aging one]

save Marmite from getting exasperated

Or killing me, he first taught me 3 years ago. Was supposed to be part of buying a motorcycle as I recall.