Damnoen Saduak Floating Market , Thailand

This large and popular floating market is about 80 km southwest of Bangkok in Ratchaburi province. Photos of this vibrant market featuring many small boats laden with colourful fruits and vegetables and paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats, are among the most often published in travel magazines and brochures of Thailand. The Damnoen Saduak canal was ordered to be built in 1866 by King Rama IV of the Chakri Dynasty to facilitate waterborne travels between Ratchaburi and Samutsakhon Provinces. It was finished and opened to the public in 1868.

Nowadays, apart from providing transportation, Damnoen Saduak canal also provides local farmers with adequate water for agricultural purposes. A number of canals were dug to connect with it by local peasants to get water to splatter their land. As the excellent quality soil along the canal is very fertile, the area has a high potential for producing various kinds of fruits and vegetables.

The Floating Market is routinely crowded with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats selling and buying agricultural products and local food, which are mostly brought from their own nearby orchards. Therefore, it is a very attractive place for tourists to see this old style and traditional way of selling and buying goods.

Around this area, boat trip services are available for sightseeing along smaller canals branching off from the Damnoen Saduak canal. Visitors can observe Thai traditional houses and the way they live as well as tasting exotic fruits, local food and refreshing drinks along the waterway.

There are bus services to Damnoen Saduak from the Southern Bus Terminal on Borommarat Chachonnani Road starting at 6 a.m. You'd better get there as early in the morning as possible to escape a crowd of visitors.

Dolphin Watching

Dolphin Watching
November-February & Seagull Tracing November-May
Venue: Chachoengsao Province and Samut Prakan Province

Once a year, you can witness the miracle of season change from the rainy season to winter close to Bangkok by spending your morning at Bang Pa Kong watching dolphins, “colour of the sea”, in Chachoengsao Province and the evening observing flocks of seagulls, “colour of the sky”, in Samut Prakan Province.

First Location: The mouth of the Bang-Pa-Kong River
From the end of October to February each year, people can go out into the sea with a local fisherman to the food chain area abundant with small shrimps and fishes, and eel catfishes, to find out the answer why dolphins only eat half of an eel catfish and why its head is left over. Species found there are Irrawaddy and Humpback Dolphins. Other interesting activities are watching birds of over 50 species and studying local fishermen’s way of life in their biggest snapper farm.

For more information, please contact: Takham Municipal Office
Tel. 03-3857-3411-8

Second Location: Bang Pa In Seaside Resort
Bang Pa In Seaside Resort, located in Bang Pu Mai District, Muang County, Samut Prakan Province, is a significant bird-watching place near to Bangkok. It has many kinds of bird there but the one that brings reputation to Bang Pa In is the seagull. Seagulls nest and lay their eggs around the lakes in Tibet and Mongolia in summer (which is the rainy season in Thailand). And when the babies are strong enough, seagulls, young and old, will fly over the Indian Ocean and get to the Gulf of Thailand around early November. They will live here until they mate. After reproduction in around April-May, they will fly back to Tibet and Mongolia.

After watching the birds, just walk into Suk Jai Pavilion where you can find a fresh seafood restaurant. On Saturday from 5-9 pm. you can enjoy the dancing and Thai classical music during your meal. Just for an additional 50 baht you can take the floor.

For more information, please contact: Resort Service Office, Military Quartermaster Corps.
Tel. 0-2323-9911, 0-2323-1213


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Pai Attractions

Maehongson, Amphur Pai.
There are many attractions for tourism as

Hilltribe Trekking
Maehongson has several tour operators that specialise in trekking. Treks are designed to expose visitors to splendor nature and a variety of hill tribes. The adventure may combine jungle walks with elephant riding and river rafting. The cool winter months of November to February are the best time to travel. Avoid the height of the rainy season in August and September. In the dry months between March and May, the temperature can soar uncomfortably high for strenuous mountain hikes.

Huai Nam Dang National Park
At Km. 65 on the Pai-Mae Malai route (No.1095), there is a turning leading to the headquarters of the Huai Nam Dang National Park. Visitors can spend the night in tents to wait for the spectacular views of sunrise and mist-shrouded mountain views in the morning. Cherry blossom during January adds charms to the attraction.

Mountain Biking
The centre for mountain biking adventure is Pai district, where several bike shops rent out bikes and gear to tourists. Bike tours explore nearby and remote hill tribe villages, waterfalls and hot springs. The best time is November-May. Experienced guides are ready to lead biking parties through breathtaking back-country trails for up to a week. There are natural cycle paths through the forest, first trod by animals then beaten by man. They range from as narrow as a single persons stride or as wide as an elephant or ox cart.

Pong Dueat Hot Spring
This is a geyser type hot spring which rises up 2 metres high. At Km. 42 of Route 1095, there is a six-kilometre road leading to the hot spring.

Rafting along the Pai River
This is an exciting and delightful recreation. The Pai itself is the longest river of Mae Hong Son originating from mountain ranges in Laos which flows through Pai district and eventually joins the Salawin river in Myanmar, a total distance of 180 kilometres. With an average depth of some 7 metres, the riverbed is mainly pebbled. There are several sectors eminently suitable for rafting past rapids and natural scenery including beautiful waterfalls.
Tour operators in Mae Hong Son town or in Pai district can provide the necessary service, some also able to provide elephant rides. The best time for rafting is from October to March.

Tha Pai Hot Spring
This is another attraction in the area of Huai Nam Dang National Park. The hot spring is two kilometres off Route 1095 at Km. 87. It has an average temperature of 80 celcius. Steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning creating fascinating sights. The area is also rich in teak woods and suitable for overnight camping.

Thailand is the nice place. There are many variety for travel waiting for you discovery as Beach, Waterfall, National Park, Hill, Island, Home Stay and beautiful resort.

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source : tourismthailand.org