Chao Phraya (River of the Kings)

No trip to Bangkok is complete without a boat ride on the Chao Phraya river.

Chao Phraya, the River of the Kings flows 400 kilometres, starting its journey among the fertile central plains. The lifeblood of the country, it is a major artery in the economic life of the region and connects the ancient capital Ayutthya with the modern day capital Bagkok.

You can cruise the river, boarding the Chaophraya express or the Reua Duan at Wat Ratchasingkhon Pier near Krungthep Bridge and go all the way to its Nonthaburi Terminus and turn around from there. The round trip takes about 3 hours and can be a very rewarding experience, watching life along the river bank, admiring the several temples that are built along its banks. Notable sights are the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat rakhang, the Royal Thai Navy Dockyard, the Thai Maritime Navigation Company and the Old Customs House. There are numerous landing points along the way and if you have the time, you can get off if you find a sight that catches your fancy.

The one-way fares for a standard express boat trip are from 5 to 16 baht, depending on the distance. The boats leave the terminals every 15 minutes from 6.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. daily.

Special express boats, symbolized by yellow, red and orange flags, stop at major piers only and the fares are 15 for the yellow and 10 baht for the red and orange ones. They operate only during rush hours -- 6.00 - 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 - 6.00 p.m.

Numerous tour options are also available, including day trips to the former Thai capital of Ayuthaya, a full day trip, and dinner cruises which can be very romantic.

Trip along the Chao Phraya River to Ayutthaya

A number of cruise companies in Bangkok operate trips to Ayutthaya along the Chao Phraya River. As most companies are affiliated with riverside hotels, the boats depart from the hotels' piers. Normally the trips include visits to the Royal Folk Arts and Handicrafts Center in Bang Sai and Bang Pa-in Palace.

Its unhurried pace allows you to absorb the moods of life on the river over a 24-hour period. A couple of hours into the journey, the bustle of the city is replaced by the tranquillity of the countryside.

There are also express boats sailing to Ayutthaya from Tha Maharat and Tha Chang piers near the Grand Palace every Sunday.