Booking choice: The Amphawa day trip, from $44 per person. Check dates Tour details
Amphawa is the other floating market in Samut Songkhram, the province of the railway market. It sits on a canal off the Mae Klong river, by Wat Amphawa Chetiyaram. Damnoen Saduak is a morning market, busiest from 07:00 to 09:00. Amphawa is a Thai weekend outing instead: grilled seafood, sweets, canal-side shophouses and, after dark, boats out to the fireflies.
It keeps short days. That shapes every plan, the tour included.
The quick answer
Amphawa floating market runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, best from about 15:00 into the evening (Tourism Authority of Thailand). Fireflies are easiest to see in the rainy season, May to October, so from November to February expect fewer of them. The weekend day trip we list adds the railway market and Wat Bang Kung, runs Friday to Sunday only, and includes a 1.5-hour firefly boat.
What days is Amphawa floating market open?
Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) calls 15:00 to 20:00 the best time to go, and Wikipedia gives the hours as 15:00 to 22:00.
TAT says the boats come out only at the weekend. Most Thai visitors drive in around midday for a seafood lunch, and by evening the banks fill with barbecue stalls, coloured lights and cheap shopping. Get there early and you may see monks collecting alms by boat, per the same TAT feature.
On a weekday, go to Damnoen Saduak instead. It opens every morning and is busiest from 07:00 to 09:00 (Wikipedia). Our Damnoen Saduak vs Amphawa guide sets the two side by side.
When is firefly season at Amphawa?
The rainy season. Fireflies are easiest to see from May to October (Wikipedia), which makes November to February the low season for them: the boats still go out, with fewer lights in the trees.
The fireflies gather in the lamphu trees along the riverbanks, and the boats slow down beside them in the dark. In the wet months guests come back with photos and stories like this one from June:
★★★★★The railway market is very special and Eddy reserved a great spot for us to experience that. The boat trip was very good as well. We saw the fireflies glowing on the tree like a Christmas.
From now to February, go for the boat ride itself: a slow run along a dark river after the market, with the shophouse lights behind you, and some fireflies as a bonus. If fireflies are the whole reason for the trip, plan it for May to October.
How much is a firefly boat at Amphawa?
About THB 60 to THB 80 per person on a shared boat, or about THB 600 to hire a boat for one to two hours, per Wikipedia (the figures are uncited, so take them as a guide). On the weekend day trip the boat is included.
Boats leave from the piers along the canal once it is dark. Prices are set by the boat owners, so ask before you step in, and pay in cash. Bring insect repellent: the day trip lists it in what to bring, along with cash, sunscreen and comfortable shoes.
On the tour, the guide handles the boat and the timing, and the van takes you back to Bangkok afterwards, about 80 minutes by road.
The railway market, the banyan temple, two hours at Amphawa and a firefly boat at dusk, with pickup in Bangkok.
Explore the Amphawa day trip Tour detailsWhat does the Amphawa weekend tour from Bangkok include?
The day trip on GetYourGuide (from $44) covers the railway market, Wat Bang Kung, two hours at Amphawa and a 1.5-hour firefly boat, in 8.5 to 11.5 hours, Friday to Sunday only. You watch the train pass rather than ride it.
The operator, TripGuru, meets at the G floor entrance of MBK Center, next to The Beef Master restaurant, with a TripGuru sign; hotel pickup is an option. Included are the air-conditioned van, the guide, the firefly boat, a glass bottle of water and insurance. Meals and other drinks are not. It holds 4.3 stars from 759 reviews.
Some sites on the day have a strict dress code: no bare shoulders, underarms, back or knees. Bring a sarong or scarf. The listing marks it as not suitable for people with back or heart problems, or for wheelchair users. Full details are on the Amphawa day trip page.
| Stop | Time there | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | MBK Center, G floor entrance next to The Beef Master, or hotel pickup by option | Van to Mae Klong, about 1.5 hours |
| Maeklong Railway Market | 1.5 hours | You watch the train pass from the track side |
| Wat Bang Kung | 1 hour | The chapel wrapped in banyan roots; shoulders and knees covered |
| Amphawa floating market | 2 hours | Canal-side stalls, meals at your own cost |
| Firefly boat | 1.5 hours | Included; along the Mae Klong river after dark |
| Back to Bangkok | About 80 minutes | Drop-off points in Pathum Wan, Bang Rak, Sathon and Phra Nakhon |
What is coming up at Amphawa from November to February?
Cooler evenings, three busy holiday stretches and the tail of the firefly months. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) declared the cool season from 9 November 2026, expected to last to about late February 2027.
TMD forecasts Bangkok lows of 19 to 21°C (about 66 to 70°F) this season, roughly 2°C warmer than normal, with January the coolest month. Evenings on the water will be comfortable; midday at the railway market will still be hot in the sun.
The tour runs Friday to Sunday, so a holiday Monday or Thursday does not add a date. What changes is demand: Thai long weekends bring Bangkok families out to Amphawa, and the weekend dates around them go first.
| Date | Holiday | What it means for Amphawa |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 24 November 2026 | Loy Krathong (not a public holiday) | Midweek, so outside the market days. Evening festivities in many towns. |
| Saturday 5 to Monday 7 December 2026 | King Bhumibol's birthday, National Day and Father's Day, with Monday as the substitute | A Thai long weekend. Expect the Saturday and Sunday dates to fill first. |
| Thursday 10 December 2026 | Constitution Day | A Thursday, so no market. The weekend after runs as normal. |
| Wednesday 16 December 2026 | Special government holiday for the royal cremation | Midweek. The ceremonies run 15 to 19 December in Bangkok. |
| Thursday 31 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027 | New Year's Eve and New Year's Day | Four days off for most of Thailand. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are all market days. |
| Sunday 21 and Monday 22 February 2027 | Makha Bucha, with Monday as the substitute | The Sunday is a market day; the Monday is not. |
Amphawa or Damnoen Saduak: which one for your day?
Damnoen Saduak if your free day is a weekday or you want the morning; Amphawa if you have a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and want the evening and the boats.
The Damnoen Saduak tours start early, pair the market with the train and a longtail through the canals, and have most people back in Bangkok by mid-afternoon. It is the touristy one, and guests say so, but the canal ride is the part people remember. Amphawa is slower and later, with a Thai weekend crowd. The day trip guide walks through how each day runs.
A weekday option: the train into the market, then a longtail through the canals to Damnoen Saduak.
Check dates for the train market experienceFrequently asked questions
Is Amphawa floating market open every day?
No. It runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, best from about 15:00 into the evening, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Can you see fireflies at Amphawa in December?
Some, but fewer. Fireflies are easiest to see in the rainy season, from May to October. In the cool months the boat ride along the dark river is the main event.
How long is the firefly boat on the Amphawa day trip?
About 1.5 hours, at dusk after two hours at the market. The boat is included in the tour price.
Does the Amphawa tour ride the Maeklong train?
No. You watch the train pass through the market from the track side, then go on to Wat Bang Kung and Amphawa.
Ready to book
Choose your Maeklong tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Maeklong Railway and Amphawa Floating Market
The afternoon version: the train, the banyan temple, Amphawa and a firefly boat at dusk.
Private Car to Maeklong Railway Market
A car and driver for up to three: choose your own train and stay two hours.
Floating Market and Train Market Experience
- Return transport from Bangkok
- Train ride into the market
- Longtail boat to Damnoen Saduak
