Bangkok is laced with so many canals it used to be referred to as the “Venice of the East”.
But Bangkok turned into a bustling metropolis, only Thonburi’s surviving canals and the Chao Phraya River provide memorable vignettes of the traditional waterborne way-of-life that once was. No wonder then that most travellers visit the district by boat.
(Picture from Google map)
The Bangkok Canal Tours have become popular not because of how nice it is to sightsee around the river and canals.
But the chance to be in the longtail boat as part of the experience is kind of fun!
Long tail boat (known as REUA HANG YAO in Thai),where the shaft is very long allowing this to navigate shallow and lily clogged water. With the open motor design, it’s also very real loud boat!
The most convenient option is to take a fixed-price trip, which is a package deal that usually includes a visit to Wat Arun, the Royal Barge Museum and a floating market. Such a tour can be booked through a travel agency…
But it’s easier to go to the pier yourself, just take the BTS to Saphan Taksin, and then walk to the Center Pier.
(Picture from Google map)
There are so many long tail boats around this area, you can start to make a deal with them (But you have to know where you want to go…)
Anyway, try to not pay more than around 1,000-1,600 baht for a two-hour trip per one boat ride which good for 4-6 person.
But today, we did try very hard to make a bargain with the boat owner, at last we got the best price at 250 baht per person to go Snake farm and bring us back to Khao Sarn Road peir.
For the 4 of us (including the camera guy), we paid 1000 baht for our trip today. The trick was, one of us can speak Thai (at least enough to say, “Lod Dai Mai?” – can I get a discount???)…Not a bad price and it’s a nice ride!
Along the ride, you will find the traditional Thai way of life on the canals still exists here, as do the floating vendors – see? you can shop everywhere in Thailand!
(Picture from Google map)
It took about 30 minutes riding around the river and canals, and we arrived Thonburi Snake Farm. (the admission is 50 Baht or $1.20 each). I don’t think you can take your car to here as it’s kind of small canal around the villages. But yes, maybe the motorcycle taxi can!
Here is also a small zoo with a number of animals kept in cages for the purpose of entertaining tourists. Conscious travellers might want to know that the animals in this snake farm live in very bad conditions and in small cages (kind of sad for them…)
The snake show performances are famous all over Thailand.
The venom witch they take from the snake at the farm to make medicine…
You can see the real snake very close, they will bring it around the visitors. 
And your show time…
Keep in mind, there are another snake farm in Bangkok where we believe are a little more animal friendly, such as the “Queen Savapha Institute Snake Farm” in Silom (Sala Daeng – BTS station).
The reason why Thonburi Snake farm is much more well-known is because it is sold by the boat owners as a part of the canal tour…
But try the other options, visit Wat Arun, Royal Barge National Museum…where there are much more charming things to see for and good for all ages!
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