Escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok by taking a serene evening river cruise with dinner included – and it’s cheaper than you might think.
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
Bangkok is exciting, fast-paced, exotic and never dull – it can be hard to imagine a moment of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. The answer flows right through this great South East Asian city, in the form of a river dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya river, taking in the sights of the city and some of its world-famous cuisine, all at a relaxed pace. Many of these boats have had a serious amount of money invested in them too – there’s a lot of competition – so choose right and you’ll get the experience of a five-star hotel and dinner for a lot less than you might imagine. Here are five of the best Bangkok river dinner cruises.
Royal Galaxy Luxury Dinner Cruise/Chao Phraya River
When lit in neon at night, the Royal Galaxy Cruise really does look out of this world, roaming through the cityscape like a low flying spaceship. This extravagant three-story cruise ship has double open spaces – the rooftop deck and upper deck open air space – for taking in the city by dark. The food is an international buffet showcasing culinary delights from around the world, everything beautifully presented. It’s just two hours – but still represents great value for money considering the quality. From €41.62.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Chao Phraya Princess Dinner Cruise Ticket
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
This cruise is towards the budget end only in price. Cruising along the legendary Chao Phraya River, it features traditional Thai dancers who tell ancient stories through their movements, along with soft melodies of live music in the background. The dinner is a buffet or both international and Thai cuisine – it’s all extremely tasty and they even have upmarket delicacies such as sashimi. It might not be as fancy as other boats but hard to argue with anything at this pricepoint. From €19.51.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Saffron Luxury Dinner Cruise on the River of Kings
If you fancy more of a fine dining experience than just a buffet, this trip has you covered. It’s not cheap compared to the others but a welcome cocktail and four-course set Thai meal (with petit four) are all delightfully presented and the quality is in line with the city’s upmarket hotels. It’s a serene ambiance, with live music playing as the boat floats by some of the city’s best landmarks slide by the windows. Definitely one for the romantics. From €88.12.
Book at Viator.com
Chao Phraya River Luxury Dinner Cruise and Transfer
(Photo: getyourguide.com)
This tour includes a hotel pick-up at 5.30pm and then it’s straight to the boat to start the evening’s entertainment. This is a modern spacious and clean boat – brightly light on the exterior of course so no one can miss it pottering by – and the tour takes in Bangkok’s most famous attractions, including Wat Arun and the Grand Palace. Once the photos are done it’s time for and international buffet, live music and Thai dancing. A great all-in package for anyone wanting to keep things simple. From €89.00.
Book at Getyourguide.com
Wonderful Pearl Dinner Cruise on Chao Phraya River
This mid-range dinner cruise is aboard the fabulously-named Grand Pearl, cruising past top attractions like the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. There is naturally live music on board, plus a delicious buffet dinner of Thai and international cuisine. As with many of the trips it’s packed into a small two-hour time slot so can feel a little rushed, but good value all the same. From €56.08.
Book at Viator.com