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Bangkok is crisscrossed with khlong (canals) and cut in two by the chocolate-colored Chao Phraya River, which make it an ideal city to explore by boat. There are options aplenty, including the public Saen Saeb Express and the rainbow-roofed longtail boats that ply its main waterways, but few are as hassle-free and culturally immersive as the tours organized by locally owned outfit <a href="https://www.hiddenbangkoktours.com/?destinasian">Hidden Bangkok Boat</a>.
Its routes, all done in a classic wooden canal boat that carries up to 10 passengers, range from one to two hours (longer and bespoke itineraries can be arranged upon request) and mix must-see highlights such as <a href="https://www.wat-arun.com/?destinasian">Wat Arun</a> and the <a href="https://www.royalgrandpalace.th/th/home?destinasian">Grand Palace</a> with stops at under-the-radar spots like the artsy Baan Silapin gallery and the giant golden Buddha that towers over Wat Paknam. Attractions aside, it’s the peek into everyday life along the canals that makes for the real highlight: you’ll spot croc-sized monitor lizards lazing in the sun; locals cooking, cleaning, and chatting on the verandas of their careworn wooden homes; and vendors still selling fruits and vegetables from rowboats, like they’ve done for generations. —Chris Schalkx
<a href="https://www.hiddenbangkoktours.com/?destinasian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hiddenbangkoktours.com</a> 
+66 91 870 1719

Hidden Bangkok Boat Tours allow you to explore the myriad canals of the Thai capital.

Hidden Bangkok Boat Tours: River Adventures

Bangkok Attractions

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