You’re seeking a tranquil floating market experience that captures the authentic local vibe? Tha Kha Floating Market should be at the top of your list!

Situated in the serene Samut Songkhram province, this market is just an hour’s drive away from bustling Bangkok. Known for its laid-back atmosphere and genuine local charm, Tha Kha Floating Market offers a truly relaxing and immersive experience for visitors.

Authentic Experience

The market was originally only open for 4-5 days, depending on the phase of the moon. Nowadays, it’s also open on weekends. To this day, the canal and market are used as a place to trade and sell local products, most of which are foodstuffs.

The locals’ main source of income is farming, which has been handed down from generation to generation. They get up very early in the morning to work and hide from the sun during the day. This is why it’s best to go to the Tha Kha floating market in the morning, as by one o’clock in the afternoon, the vendors are probably all gone. There may still be a few boat vendors offering spices, fresh fruit, food and even hand-woven baskets to latecomers.

But don’t worry if you arrive late! Someone will come up to you and offer you a boat trip for 50 THB. As you float along the river, a guide will also tell you stories. It will be a completely peaceful, relaxing and remarkable trip for you.

Highlights of Tha Kha Floating Market

Local food

Here you’ll find plenty to eat and drink at low prices. Along the floating market you’ll find basic restaurants, with some vendors preparing dishes on their small wooden boats. Among others, you can try Thai street food such as noodle soup, pad thai, fried chicken, dumplings, papaya salad or spring rolls. If you like seafood, try crab, cockles, mussels or fish.

After the meal, enjoy desserts or fresh fruit such as coconut ice cream, fried bananas, dragon fruit, pineapple or papaya.

Rural Area

The area surrounding the Tha Kha floating market is rural, with coconut plantations, farms and orchards linked by a system of waterways called khlongs. At dawn, locals bring vegetables from their farms and fruit from their orchards to the market.

Local businesses produce coconut sugar, which they sell at the market. Some locally-grown flowers are sold at the Tha Kha floating market, while a large proportion are sold at Bangkok’s largest flower market, Pak Khlong Talat.

Boat Ride

If you want a taste of a floating market, take a boat trip around the market and canals.

Moving around the area by boat will show you how people lived when the main mode of transport was by boat. Discover local farms and orchards and visit a coconut sugar plantation where palm sugar is produced. If you’re lucky, you’ll see large monitor lizards swimming in the water.

Trips last from twenty minutes to an hour. A twenty-minute boat trip on a shared boat carrying five people costs 250 baht.

Location

Tha Kha floating market is located near the Amphawa floating market in Samut Songkhram province, about 80 km from central Bangkok.

How to get there

There’s no direct connection between Tha Kha and Bangkok, other than by car. The easiest way to get there is to catch a taxi- or book an excursion. The journey takes around 1h30 to 2h by car, depending on traffic.

To get there by public transport, take a minibus or bus from Bangkok’s southern bus station (Sai Tai Mai) to Amphawa. From there, hire a tuk tuk for around 200 baht one way.

Opening Hours

Tha Kha is a weekend market that runs every Saturday and Sunday from 6am to around 12pm.

Price

Admission is free, but you have to pay a little if you want to take a boat along the canals.

Tha Kha floating market is one of the true hidden gems among floating markets. It’s considered a rare sight these days with the authentic way of life and minimal number of foreigners. Add this destination to your bucket list and get ready to travel to Thailand with Thai Unika Travel.