Ratchaburi

Ratchaburi: Floating Markets, Art, and Alpacas?!

Welcome to Ratchaburi, the province that proves you don't need to fly halfway across the world to feed an alpaca or feel like you're in a European mountain village. Just a couple of hours west of Bangkok, this artistic and diverse province is one of Thailand's coolest weekend getaways.

From the world's most famous floating market to a thriving art scene and a mountain district that looks like the Swiss Alps (well, almost!), Ratchaburi is full of surprises. Ready to paddle, paint, and play?

Why Ratchaburi is Awesome

Panoramic view of the rural Ratchaburi landscape featuring dramatic limestone karst mountains rising above green forests, fields, and a village with a traditional red-roofed Thai temple.

The Ratchaburi Bucket List

Get ready for a mix of culture, chaos, and cute animals.

Paddle Through Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Okay, it's touristy. But it's also iconic. Damnoen Saduak is the original floating market. Jump in a long-tail boat and navigate the narrow canals (klongs) jammed with vendors paddling boats piled high with coconuts, noodles, and souvenirs. It's loud, colourful, chaotic, and a total must-do experience at least once.

Get Crafty at Tao Hong Tai Ceramics Factory

Ratchaburi is famous for its large, brown glazed water jars decorated with swirling dragons. At Tao Hong Tai, they’ve taken this tradition and made it cool. You can tour the factory to see how these massive jars are fired, explore their funky contemporary art garden, and sit down to paint your very own ceramic souvenir. It’s a great spot for coffee and creativity. 🎨

Escape to the Mountains in Suan Phueng

Head west to the border with Myanmar and you'll hit Suan Phueng, a district that feels like a different country. The vibe here is "European countryside." You can feed sheep at The Scenery Vintage Farm, hang out with alpacas at Alpaca Hill, and visit a candle factory. It’s the perfect place to breathe fresh air and take adorable photos.

Walk the Snake Mountain at Khao Ngu Stone Park

Don't worry, there aren't actual snakes chasing you! Khao Ngu (Snake Mountain) is a stunning park featuring limestone mountains that were once a rock quarry. A beautiful wooden walkway winds over a lake, flanked by sheer cliffs. It’s incredibly scenic, especially in the late afternoon, and you can even rent a paddleboat to explore the water.

Watch Shadow Puppets at Wat Khanon

For a dose of culture, visit Wat Khanon Nang Yai. This temple is keeping the ancient art of grand shadow puppetry alive. You can see the intricate leather puppets in the museum and catch a live performance where dancers manipulate the giant puppets in front of a backlit screen. It’s mesmerizing and rare.

How to Get There

Ratchaburi is practically a neighbor to Bangkok.

By Car: The easiest way to explore, especially if you want to go to Suan Phueng. It's just a 1.5 to 2-hour drive.

By Bus/Minivan: Vans leave from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal and Mo Chit constantly. They can drop you in Ratchaburi town or Damnoen Saduak.

By Train: A train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Station will drop you right in the city center near the river.

The Provinces of Central & Western Thailand...

Wat Muang is located in Hua Taphan sub-district, Wiset Chai Chan district. It is presumed that the temple was constructed in the late Ayutthaya Era

Ang Thong

View of the Chao Phraya River looking south from Bang Rak

Bangkok

A golden Buddha statue nestled on a hillside.

Chai Nat

An ancient temple.

Kamphaeng Phet

A serene, hazy view of the long, wooden Mon Bridge in Kanchanaburi, spanning a calm lake where a small boat is cruising. Layers of forest-covered mountains are visible in the background under a soft, warm light.

Kanchanaburi

Macaque monkeys play on the green entrance sign for the ancient stone temple of Phra Prang Sam Yod in Lopburi, Thailand.

Lopburi

A high-angle, scenic view looking along the crest of the massive Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam in Nakhon Nayok, Thailand, with its reservoir on one side and a lush green valley and forested hills on the other, under a partly cloudy sky.

Nakhon Nayok

The magnificent golden stupa of Phra Pathom Chedi in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, glows against a deep blue twilight sky, with a Buddhist monk in orange robes standing in the foreground courtyard.

Nakhon Pathom

A panoramic view from a high vantage point in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand, looking out over a dramatic, forest-covered limestone peak and a vast plain of green and yellow patchwork agricultural fields stretching to the horizon under a blue, cloudy sky.

Nakhon Sawan

A modern cable-stayed bridge with a distinctive pylon topped by a golden, traditional Thai spire, spanning a wide river in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The foreground is filled with green water hyacinths under a clear blue sky.

Nonthaburi

A traditional Thai temple with an orange-tiled roof sits in the middle of a tranquil pond in Pathum Thani, Thailand. A large, ornate Naga serpent statue encircles the structure, its body forming a walkway leading to the entrance. The building and a blue sky are reflected in the water, and the scene is framed by dark green leaves in the foreground.

Pathum Thani

A scenic view of the Wat Pha Sorn Kaew temple complex in the mountains of Phetchabun, Thailand. A massive, white seated Buddha statue and an ornate, golden pagoda are nestled in the lush green hills, with layers of distant mountains visible in the background.

Phetchabun

A white pickup truck with a boat trailer parked on the dirt shore of a large, calm lake in Phetchaburi, Thailand. In the distance, mountains line the horizon under an overcast sky, with dramatic sunbeams breaking through the clouds and shining onto the water.

Phetchaburi

The ancient brick ruins of a temple in Phichit, Thailand, are illuminated by the warm, golden light of sunset, with surrounding trees and a clear sky.

Phichit

A scenic, high-angle view of the patchwork rice paddies in Phitsanulok province, Thailand. The fields, some flooded with water and others a vibrant green, stretch towards a line of dense trees with rolling hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Phitsanulok

The red brick ruins of the ancient temples at Ayutthaya Historical Park in Thailand, with crumbling walls in the foreground and several towering prangs against a blue sky with clouds.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

An elevated, panoramic view of Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand at sunset. A red-roofed temple is nestled in the foreground, overlooking a vast landscape of winding rivers, aquaculture farms, and a small town, with dramatic limestone mountains rising in the hazy, golden-lit background.

Prachuap Khiri Khan

A riverside view of Phra Samut Chedi in Samut Prakan, Thailand, at sunset. The chedi is brightly illuminated in pink and white, reflecting on the calm water next to a traditional temple and docked boats under a colourful sky.

Samut Prakan

A large, golden statue of a mythical bird stands before an ornate Thai temple in Samut Sakhon, featuring a multi-tiered red and gold roof, all set against a clear blue sky.

Samut Sakhon

A red and yellow train approaches on a track running directly through the center of a bustling market in Samut Songkhram, Thailand. Crowds of tourists stand inches from the track, holding up their phones to photograph the train as it passes the colourful market stalls.

Samut Songkhram

A wide stone staircase with ornate Naga serpent railings leads up to the magnificent golden Mondop of Wat Phra Phutthabat temple in Saraburi, Thailand, under a bright blue sky with white clouds.

Saraburi

A white Thai temple in Sing Buri with an ornate, multi-tiered red and gold roof. In the foreground, on a manicured green lawn, are several colourful and whimsical statues, including two large pink rabbits, a rooster, and a black elephant.

Sing Buri

An aerial view of the sprawling temple ruins at Sukhothai Historical Park in Thailand, showing numerous ancient brick stupas and pillars set amongst green lawns, trees, and ponds, with mountains visible in the distance under a warm, hazy sky.

Sukothai

A massive, golden dragon statue at the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri, Thailand. The dragon is coiled over stylized clouds with its mouth wide open, spouting a cascade of water onto a structure below. Visitors walk on the paved plaza in front of the immense statue under a clear blue sky.

Suphan Buri

An aerial view of the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province, Thailand, a large, curved concrete structure surrounded by lush green mountains and a vast reservoir under a cloudy sky.

Tak

An ornate, multi-tiered golden temple in Uthai Thani, Thailand, featuring intricate gables and numerous pointed spires set against a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. In the foreground is a manicured garden with red flowers and green hedges.

Uthai Thani