Off-the-Beaten-Track in Bangkok, Thailand?

Question

Sometimes it's nice to get away from the tourists and experience Bangkok life as it really is. Anybody have some recommendations for places not covered in the Lonely Planet and the main tourist itineraries? Any favourite klongs (canals) to get away from it all by boat?

Answer 1

how about riding on one of the barges that transport supplies, that travel up the Chao Phraya River. Don't know if it's possible to get a free ride from the company or crew, but i been thinking about it.

ps. the park spanky is talking about is King Rama 9 Park, you can go straight on suk soi 101 about 3 or 4 km from suk road

Answer 2

Bangkok, the capital of Thailand has both old-world attraction and contemporary convenience served up in a seemingly chaotic manner, but always with a gracious look, see more with Hotelbye . At 1,600 square kilometres and counting, Bangkok is major, and the many various areas may be bewildering. In Bangkok you can visit the Grand Palace, one of many must-see on this city. The Grand Palace was built-in 1782 and for 150 decades the house of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government. The Grand Palace of Bangkok is a Grand old dame that continues to have readers in awe with its wonderful architecture and complicated aspect, most of which really is a proud salute to the imagination and craftsmanship of Thai people.

Answer 3

dude. favourite klongs? no. polluted. very polluted.

off the beaten track? if you want that you'd either have to go all the way into the suburbs and outskirts of bangkok cus it a metropolis man.

however, you can always go on a river barge trip; the crew are nice (theyre westerners) and you get to see life along the Chao Phraya which is really a big differnece from the heart of bangkok. you can also see the floating market or take a walk in chatuchak: its big, so it will feel like ur hiking lol.

but if you're in bangkok, i say its the only goddamn city in thailand which is veyr very veyr very developed and very very comfortable so i think, you should enjoy bangkok or what it is
you don't find places like bngkok much, it is one of those incredibly rare stress-free happy go lucky cities which are both carefree and metropolitn at the same time. just look arouind and ull find your own place in bangkok cus err1 fits in here.

Answer 4

Quite easy, but since it is off the beaten track, transport will be necessary. You can either negotiate with a cab driver for a day, maybe at 1500 to 2000baht rate. You can head out northwest to Nonthaburi and even head to Koh Kred for a look at village life just off Bangkok. There are a couple of floating markets around, besides the popular Damnoen Saduak, like Don Wai market in Nakhon Pathum, or Ban Mai out east in Chaochoengsao.

Southward at Samut Prakan is where you find Erawan Temple as mentioned by Nancy. Further south you can find more fishing villages in Samut Songkhram.

There are canal cruises from River City Centre. You can make inquiry and booked with the many cruise companies there if you like.

Answer 5

Well, my experiences w/Bangkok is that if you get out of the obvious and immediate tourist areas, out into the residential areas, beyond the skytrain, you will find your own special places.. There is an enormous park, a left turn on Sukhumvit 101 I think - but please check first and then go a way.. I believe it is in Bangna - but really lovely to walk around and feel as though you are outside the city for a while - maybe soi 110? - check it first - - hope this helps a little

Answer 6

I have not had a chance to do the following yet:

There are a couple companies that provide bicycling tours for a reasonable price, they provide the bikes and your provide the muscle and sweat.

http://www.absoluteexplorer.com/
http://www.realasia.net/

Both are pretty reasonably priced and cover areas that may be of interest and local.

There is a different one, learning to ride a segway and touring bangkok and surrounding areas on it.

http://www.thailandsegwaytours.com/

Personally, I have not been to keen on traveling the klongs, especially since they had 100,000's of fish die up river from Bangkok. Why? Not conclusive but, they say it may be industrial pollution from up stream.

I have heard it is not too safe to put even your hand in the water. Nice to look at but,....

Good luck.

Answer 7

For something to have a look at that the backpackers don't know about (because its not in the guidebooks as far as I can see), try the Erawan Museum - south east Bangkok.

Its not small, in fact it has, amongst other things, the largest freestanding sculptured object in Thailand (a very very big statue of Erawan), so I am not sure why its not in the guidebooks.

If you would like to have information about other places I've discovered that are well worth going to see that are not in the guidebooks you can send me a message through YA.