Doing a Bangkok Canal Tour is popular with tourists. A canal is called ‘khlong’ in the local language. I went on a tour called Khlong Bang Luang. My guide for the day told us there are many routes on the canals. She added that doing a canal tour is mostly a tourist things. Locals seldom use the canals as they have access to roads.
Long Tail Boat- The Vessel of Choice on a Bangkok Canal Tour
Long tailed boats are very popular across Thailand. they are used for navigating in shallow waters. They are the vessel of choice on the Bangkok canal tours. In the local language the boats are known as reua hang yao. They are fitted with a second hand car or truck diesel engine mounted on the rear long tail and hence the name. The tail is used to navigate the boat!
The Sights on the Bangkok Canal Tour
In earlier times the canals were used for navigation by the locals. Now most of the areas are connected by the road so it is rare to see such sights.
I saw a long tail boat stopping at this canal shop to buy something. There are some shops and restaurants on the canals.
As we were taking this tour during songkran I only had my waterproof cell phone with me. All the pictures in this post are clicked with it. I did not see too much graffiti. Whatever was there was colorful.
When I would ask my guide with all excitement about the monument we were passing by, her usual reply would be, “oh it is a local temple.” The Bangkok canal tour offers many such moments.
Songkran on the Bangkok Canal Tour
As I was in Thailand at the Thai New Year, I enjoyed songkran, the water festival. As we went on the Bangkok canal tour in the morning the tone was muted. Still, we did get some water thrown at us!
This group also splashed some water on us. They were clearly enjoying their day by getting drenched, an excellent way to keep cool on a hot day!
Feeding the Fish on the Bangkok Canal Tour
Nothing was bared, the stall was just selling bread. The bread is used to feed the catfish in the river. Feeding the fish is considered to be auspicious in Buddhism.
Here was one of my group members feeding the fish. You can see that we were in our Songkran attire.
Passing by the Taling Chan Floating Market on the Bangkok Canal Tour
I visited Taling Chan Floating Market on my first trip to Thailand in 2013. On my fifth trip in 2015 I passed by it again on the Bangkok canal tour through Khlong Bang Luang.
My tour guide said taking a canal tour was a touristy thing now. I was still quite happy to sit in the long tailed boat and let Bangkok go by me.
It looks so charming 🙂 🙂
Thank you Preethi.
Those long tailed boats are so beautiful and colourful. That should be a nice experience.
It was quite a lot of fun Niranjan.
The long=tailed boat reminded me of the boats in the backwater of Kerala… 🙂 But, these are more colourful…
long-tailed*** sorry for the typo…
Yes Maniparna they do resemble the Kerala boats!
These colourful boats surely look like a lot of fun.
Thank you Somali.
You’d have lots of fun on this canal tour on Thai New Year. Songkran seems something like Holi of ours without colour.
Yes Ravish but it is a public festival, quite safe to join in with the crowd. I wish holi will become like that one day.
I have never been on a long tail boat and the one featured here looks so gorgeous. Though I am averse to doing touristy things while travelling, but boat rides are something I love! Lovely post, Mridula ma’am!
Thank you so much Ragini. I like new experiences, tourist, non-tourist all are welcome!
Wow! What fun! I haven’t done this yet!
Archan do it the next time!
An interesting must do kind of activity. Great pics Mridula.
Thank you so much Indrani.
Interesting Post! Touristy or non touristy, experience and the fun that really matter! Pics are nice!!
I agree Anupam.
What fun it must have been! Gorgeous Boat that was!
Thank you Akanksha it was indeed fun 😀
Very nice indeed. Have not been to one as yet but saw them when we had gone to the floating market 🙂
Cheers
Ami @http://thrillingtravel.blogspot.in/
You mean the long tailed boat? 😀 It is fun.
Amazing! Thank you Mridula for taking us around:)
Thank you Amit for joining the tour 😀
Very nice and inviting pics, Mridula!!
Thank you Jatin.
Thalinad is being your second home and we are enjoying your posts. Thanx Mridula ji for taking us there . Very attractive pictures.
Pl. read it as * Thailand
Thank you Yogi, it does feel like my second home!
wonderful photos
Thank you Rupam.
Yippiee… this was fun!
We had a fun group and colorful boats and the river cheered us for the day…
True Manjulika 😀
Beautiful Shots.
http://www.srikri.com
Thank you.
Interesting information, haven’t come across this piece of info anywhere else… thanks for posting !
Thank you Arv.
Highly exciting journey…………………
Thank you Debopam.
Such a colorful and interesting journey. It seems very nice… and as always.. your clicks are beautiful 🙂
Thank you so much Bushra.
Very innovative kind of tour– Canal tour. Wonder is it possible in Kerala backwaters. Feeding fish , water baths , shopping on water – all are wonderful concepts.
I have been on a kayak on the Kerala backwaters and it was amazing fun!