River and Canal Boats, Bangkok

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Khlong Saen Saeb also known as Saen Saep) is a canal (Khlong) in central Thailand, connecting the Chao Phraya River to Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao. A portion of the canal is used for public transport by an express boat service in Bangkok. The canal is lined with concrete walkways on either side in many areas where people stroll despite the foul smells of the canal, and in other areas the heavily polluted water oozes into adjacent properties, especially after heavy rainstorms. The canal is connected to many other canals in a large network, though most of the other canals do not have a regular transport service.

The Khlong Saen Saep Express Boat service operates on the Khlong Saen Saep in Bangkok, providing fast, inexpensive transportation through the city's traffic-congested commercial districts. The service has a checkered reputation, due to the polluted water in the khlong and the haphazard nature in which the service is operated.

The 18-kilometre route is served by 100 boats of 40-50 seats, and operates 5:30am to 8:30pm daily. Prices are 8 to 20 baht, depending on distance travelled. The service carries about 60,000 passengers per day. It is run by a company called Family Transport.

Line # 1 Golden Mount Station
Phan Fa Lilat - terminal, near Golden Mount and other attractions.
Bobe Market - a large garment market for whole sale price
Charoen Phon
Hua Chang - near MBK Center and Bangkok Skytrain National Stadium station and Siam station.
Pratu Nam - interchange, near Pratu Nam garment district, Big C, CentralWorld and Pantip Plaza.

Line # 2 NIDA Station List
Pratu Nam - interchange, near Pratu Nam garment district, CentralWorld and Pantip Plaza.
Chit Lom - near Central Chidlom.
Witthayu (Wireless Road) - near British Embassy.
Nana Nuea (Sukhumvit Soi 3) - near Bumrungrad Hospital, "Little Africa" neighborhood.
Saphan Asok - near Bangkok Metro Phetchaburi station and the old site of Embassy of Japan.
Prasan Mit - at Srinakharinwirot University (Prasarn Mitr Campus).
Ital-Thai Tower
Wat Mai Chong Lom - near Royal City Avenue (RCA).
Thong Lo - a trendy street with many boutique shopping malls.
Charn Issara - at Charn Issara 2 Building.
Klong Tan - near busy intersection of Petchaburi, Ramkhamhaeng, Rama IX and Phra Khanong roads, with Bangkok Skytrain (BTS) shuttle-bus service.
The Mall 3 - The Mall Ramkhamhaeng, near Rama IX Road intersection.
Ramkhamhaeng 29
Wat Thep Lila - Soi Ram Khamheang 39
Ramkhamhaeng - Opposite Ramkhamhaeng University.
Wat Klang
The Mall Bangkapi - The Mall Bangkapi on Lat Phrao Road.
Bang Kapi - Bang Kapi district office and market.
Wat Si Bun Rueang - terminal pier, near National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA).

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Traveling with Chao Phraya Express Boat is easy and most affordable way to cruise around Bangkok's main river, Chao Phraya River. Other than enjoying scenery, it is the best way to connect you from the BTS Sky train (Saphan Taksin Station) to the main tourist area of Rttanakosin, where the Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha, National art Museum, Khao San Road, Wat Po and etc.

These are the three routes that are good for tourists to visit some of the main attractions:

1) Blue Flag : 40 Baht /way ; 150 Baht Day Pass ( Operating Hrs: 9:30-16:00)
Go: Central Pier, N1, N8, N13

2) Orange Flag : 15 Baht/way (Operating Hrs: 6:00 -19:00)
Go: Central Pier, N1, N8, N9, N13

3) No Flag Boat : 10 Baht, 12 Baht, 14 Baht /way (Operating Hrs: 6:20-8:05; 15:00-17:30)
Go: stops at all the piers in downtown!

Important stops for several attractions:

* Central Pier (Sathon Pier) - BTS (Saphan Taksin Station)
* N1 (Oriental Pier) - Assumption Church, Silom Rd, Surawong Road.
* N8 (Tha Tien Pier) - Grand Palace & Wat Po
* N9 (The Chang Pier) - Emerald Buddha
* N13 (Banglumpoo Pier)- Phrasumain Fortess, National Art Museum, Khao San Road.

Check out the Chap Phraya Express Boat website to learn more!

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The Chao Phraya River is the Life Blood of Bangkok and in ancient siam, most thai people in the bangkok area lived in river areas in the river and it's tributaries into klongs. the chao phraya river is enjoyed when you have a day or night dinner cruise around this mighty river or an ayuthaya with chao phraya river cruise tour. you can ride around the chao phraya river via booking a chao phraya river tour from your tour company or ride one of the boat express lining the river and these are:

Chao Phya Express Boats
:: Express Boat - Local Lines (No Flag)
run Monday-Friday from Wat Rajsingkorn to Nonthaburi during 06.00 am.-18.00 pm. and departure every 20 minutes; the fare range from 10 to 14 Baht.
:: Express Boat - (Orange Flag)
run daily from Wat Rajsingkorn to Nonthaburi during 05.50 am.-19.00 pm. and the fare 15 Baht.
:: Express Boat - (Yellow Flag)
run Monday-Friday from Sathorn to Nonthaburi ;and Ratburana (Big C) to Nonthaburi during 06.10 am.-19.30 pm. and the fare 20-29 Baht.
:: Express Boat - (Blue Flag)
run Monday-Friday from Sathorn(Taksin) to Nonthaburi(Pibul 3) during 07.00 am.-18.25 pm. and the fare 24-34 Baht.

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Update. September 2011
*** 15 Baht for Regular and 30 Baht for Express Boat (Blue Flag - Phar Arthit to Saphan Thaksin)

Fare Increaded from April

14 Baht for Orange Flag-Yellow-Green-No Flag (Saphan Thaksin~Phra Arthit up to Nonthanburi/Pakred or vice versa) Be aware, ticket counter at the piers will ask you for 25 Baht which is for EXPRESS (Blue Flag Boat which only perates between Saphan Thaksin to Phra Arthit Pier) Just wait no more then 15-25 minutes for the Orange Flad Boat and pay after get on board.

Avoid Traffic, get to the Sathorn Pier in 15 minutes and a short walk from there if you wish to go Silom.

Wonderful Sight seeing. Comfortable and Cheap
Starts at 06.00 from Nontahnburi Pier from AM till 07.00 PM

Route Map can be seen at the web sitementioned below

Boat Type: Single Deck

Capacity: 60 Persons every seat have inflatable raft if needed in emmergency.

Length: 27.00 m

Width: 3.50 m

Depth: 1.50 m

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The Chao Phraya river cuts right through Bangkok, and it is a central element of the transportation system. A fleet of swift taxis ply the river up and down all day long, cutting off around nightfall. But it is a terrific way to get close to the downtown area (and all the shopping and culture that it holds), as well as move up to the sights of the King's Palace and Wats Pho and Arun.

It is not necessarily the most luxury of ways to travel, as it is used by Thai residents on their daily commutes. To accommodate as many people as possible, the ticket takers try to pack you in, and during the rush hours it can be overflowing with people. But, it is a slice of real life of Bangkok, away from taxis and air conditioned rides, you are traveling amongst kids going to school, business men on their way to the office, families to the market.

Beyond a means of transportation, a trip up or down the river is a travel experience of itself, a highlight reel of the sights from the banks of the Chao Phraya. If you can grab a seat, relax and let the smell of the river and the skyline of the city wash over you. And for about 7-20 bhat, you can't find much better of a deal in the city.

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One of the most fun and cheapest ways of getting around central Bangkok is by express boat along the Chao Phraya River. The 21km route is served by 65 boats and operates between 6:00 am to 7:30 pm on weekdays and 6:00 am to 6:40 pm on weekends and holidays. Current prices are from 9 baht (Local line for distance within one zone) to 30 baht (for green-yellow flag trip on its entire route from Pakkret to Sathorn), depending on the type of boat and the distance travelled. I took the service a couple of times from the BTS Skytrain station at Saphan Taksin which is near the Sathon pier to Phra Pin Klao Bridge pier in order to get to the Southern Bus Station instead of getting a taxi through the centre of Bangkok. It's also a very scenic trip as you pass by the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, churches, Wichai Prasit Fort and some temples along the way.

But the location is fantastic for transport... I chose this hotel specifically to avoid buses and taxis. The hotel is slap-bang next to the Phra Athit pier, the express boats go quickly down the river to link with the Saphan Taksin BTS station. How more convenient could that be?

http://www.chaophrayaboat.co.th/routemap_fare_e.htm#

The Chao Phraya Express is a good way of getting around many of the main sights in Bangkok. From Tha Tien Pier (8) near Wat Po we used to local line to get to Khao San Road. Using the local line to can jump on the boat to Phra Arthit (13) which is the nearest pier to Khao San, this is a more effective way of getting there rather than tuk tuk or taxi.

The maps at the piers are relatively easy to use and each is named and numbered. Wait on the pier for your boat, wait for people to get off and hop on quickly before the whistle is blown in your ear! When you pull up alongside the piers look out for the sign and number if the pier you want because they are not announced on board and do not spend long at each one so you have to be real quick. They can get quite busy too with locals so it can be a hectic ride but lots of fun.

Tickets are bought on board when the conductor comes round. Our journey from Tha Tien to Phra Arthit was 20 bahts each, although this just seems to be the standard prices for every journey no matter what it is!

It is madness and still not quite sure I know what to do but the staff are helpful if you looking lost. Or just jump on and hope for the best.

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The Chao Phraya Express Boats are a cheap and efficient way to travel to various sights along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river.

There are several lines, connecting various piers along the river, and you can find a definitive route map here:

ROUTES

I was staying in Chinatown during my visit to the city in September 2007, so my nearest ferry pier was Pier #5: Ratchawong (also called Ratchavongse). All of my journeys on the express boats either began or ended here.

Usually, I would catch the boat from Ratchawong to either Pier #8: Tha Tien (the pier to disembark at if visiting Wat Pho) or Pier #9: Chang Luang (for visiting the Grand Palace). From Pier #8 it is possible to catch a connecting cross-river ferry to Wat Arun, a crossing which takes just two minutes.

I could never quite understand the pricing system of the boats. I was always charged 13 Bahts (approx. 0.20 GBP) when travelling from Pier #5 to Pier #9, but charged 18 Bahts (approx. 0.30 GBP) when traveling the shorter distance between Pier #5 and Pier #8. Either way, the fares are very cheap.

The journey time between Pier #5 and Piers #8 and #9 was roughly 10 minutes.

The boats arrive and leave from the piers very quickly. You have to get straight on and off or the boat will be gone before you get chance! The boats can seat perhaps 70 or 80 people, but all the seats were taken on all of my journeys, so I had to stand up at the back of the boat. There is a special standing section at the back right hand side which is reserved for monks.

At Pier #5, tickets are purchased from a small desk prior to boarding the boat. However, when traveling back from Pier #9, I paid a conductor who came around the boat collecting fares.

The Chao Phraya Express Boats are an efficient means of transport to many major sights, and a great, cheap way to see the city from the river!

I would readily admit that taking the Chao Phraya Express Boat along Bangkok's famous Chao Phraya River was kind of confusing to me at first. But once I sorted that out, it was actually a very convenient manner of travelling along the river.

You will first need to know that there are actually a few different lines, denoted by their flag colors. The basic local line (no flags) will stop at every pier, while the colored ones will skip over some piers. Details can be found here.

For example, if you are planning to get from the Central Pier (also known as Sathorn Pier, where Saphan Taksin BTS Station is located) to Tha Tien Pier (where Wat Pho, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is located) you can either take the local line, or the Orange Flag Express Boat.

Based on the fare chart, it cost 11 baht on the local line, and a flat 13 baht for the Orange Flag Express Boat. The return trip however, will cost 13 baht on the local line, while still remaining 13 baht for the Orange Flag Express Boat. You can also time manage your trips in advance as they keep a pretty accurate schedule.

Note that there will be 2 platforms at the piers. If you are going leftwards, then please wait on the left platform and conversely, on the right platform if you are planning to go rightwards along the river. Otherwise, if there is nobody on the correct platform, the boat heading towards your intended direction will not stop and will bypass the pier.

Another thing to note is that there are 2 kinds of piers. One is for the Chao Phraya Express Boats that move along the river, and another is for you to take the 2 baht ferry boat across the river. You can identify which is which quite easily, since the ones for the Chao Phraya Express Boats will have 2 distinct side-by-side platforms for the purpose mentioned above.