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Chao Phraya River Boat Fare
The Chao Phraya has three parallel services: the orange-flag Express Boat (locals' choice, 14–32 THB), the white Tourist Boat (40 THB hop-on-hop-off, English commentary), and Chao Phraya Tourist Boat at 200 THB. Most blog posts miss the third option — and the express boat schedule gaps.
Pick your route
What this solves
You want to get from Sathorn to Grand Palace cheaply — and you don't want to wait at the wrong pier for the wrong boat. Also tells you when service stops running (orange boat stops ~7 pm; tourist boat stops ~5:30 pm).
How to read
- Orange boat — pay onboard, 14–32 THB based on distance, runs ~6 am to ~7 pm.
- White tourist boat — flat 40 THB, runs ~9 am to ~5:30 pm, English announcements.
- Hop-on-hop-off — 200 THB all day, includes audio guide, runs ~9 am to ~5 pm.
- Service completely stops in evening — need a taxi after 7 pm.
Limitations
- Service times change by ~30 min in monsoon season; verify at the pier.
- Some piers close for repairs (~1 month rotation). Boat staff will redirect.
- Long-tail boats (negotiated) can go upstream cheaper for 2+ people; this tool doesn't include them.
FAQ
Why is the orange boat so confusing?
Several companies run different routes from the same pier. Watch the flag color (orange = all-stops, yellow = express limited, blue-green = no-tourist remote). The fare depends on the flag color and distance.
Can I use BTS/MRT stored-value on the river boat?
No. Buy a ticket at the pier or pay the collector on the boat in cash. Rabbit Card does not work on river boats.