Bangkok - Thailand's Islands and Beaches - page 172

Once the city's dominant form of transport, public boats still survive along the mighty
Mae Nam Chao Phraya and on a few interior klorng .
Canal Routes
Canal taxi boats run along Khlong Saen Saeb (Banglamphu to Ramkhamhaeng) and are
an easy way to get from Banglamphu to Jim Thompson House, the Siam Square shop-
ping centres (get off at Tha Saphan Hua Chang for both), and other points further east
along Sukhumvit - after a mandatory change of boat at Tha Pratunam. Fares range from
10B to 20B and boats run from approximately 5.30am to 8.30pm (to 7pm on weekends
and holidays).
River Routes
Chao Phraya Express Boat ( Click here ) provides one of the city's most scenic (and effi-
cient) transport options, running passenger boats along Mae Nam Chao Phraya to destin-
ations both south and north of Bangkok. The central pier is known varyingly as Tha Sa-
thon and Saphan Taksin, and connects to the Saphan Taksin BTS station, at the southern
end of the city. Visitors are most likely to go northwards, to the stops designated with an
N prefix.
Tickets range from 10B to 40B and are generally purchased on board the boat, al-
though some larger stations have ticket booths. Either way, hold on to your ticket as
proof of purchase. Boats generally run from 6am to 7pm.
The company operates express (indicated by an orange, yellow or green flag), local
(without a flag) and tourist boat (blue flag) services. During rush hour, pay close atten-
tion to the flag colours to avoid an unwanted journey to a foreign province. Ask for one
of the route maps provided at some of the larger piers.
River Crossing Boats
There are also flat-bottomed cross-river ferries that connect Thonburi and Bangkok.
These piers are usually next door to Chao Phraya Express Boat piers, cost 3B per cross-
ing and run from approximately 7am to 7pm.
BTS & MRT
The elevated BTS ( 0 2617 7300; www.bts.co.th ) , also known as the Skytrain, spans two lines
that whisk you through 'new' Bangkok (Th Silom, Th Sukhumvit and Siam Sq). The in-
terchange is at Siam station, and trains run frequently from 6am to midnight. Fares range
from 15B to 42B, or 130B for a one-day pass. Most ticket machines only accept coins,
but change is available at the information booths.