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Chachoengsao for Nature Lovers
Bang Pakong Dolphin Cruise, 2 Days 1 Night

Chachoengsao is just over an hour from Bangkok, but there's far more here for nature lovers than you'd expect. The highlight is cruising out to watch the Irrawaddy dolphins that follow the fish into the Bang Pakong river mouth from late rainy season into early summer. We've put together a 2-day 1-night plan, from a mangrove island in the middle of the river to Bang Khla floating market and a colony of flying foxes.

🐬 Bang Pakong Irrawaddy dolphins🌿 Tha Kham mangrove island🛶 Bang Khla floating market
Chachoengsao for Nature Lovers Bang Pakong Dolphin Cruise, 2 Days 1 Night

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Plenty of people know Chachoengsao for Luang Pho Sothon and its famous temples, but if you love the outdoors, the Bang Pakong river mouth is what makes this town special. Every year when the water turns calm, a pod of Irrawaddy dolphins swims in after the sea catfish all the way to the river mouth, and local boats take visitors out to see them for real. Around it you'll also find mangrove islands, migratory birds and an old floating market to stop at, so we've put it all together as an easygoing riverside trip across two days.

Before you go: when the Bang Pakong dolphins show up, and where the boats leave

The dolphins here are Irrawaddy dolphins — round-headed with small dorsal fins, and they rarely leap and show off the way they do in cartoons. Mostly they surface to breathe in short bursts, so you need patience and a sharp eye. The pod comes in following the fish when the sea is calm, generally from late October to around April, with the best sightings in January–February. Some years you'll see a pod of dozens; some days it's quiet. They're wild animals, so no one can guarantee them one hundred percent.

Boats leave from around Tha Kham subdistrict, Bang Pakong district. The main piers are Ban Tha Laem pier (Moo 1) and Ban Khlong Tamru pier (Moo 8), and you can ask through the Tha Kham subdistrict municipality. When we checked, prices ran around 100–180 THB per person for a shared seat, or several hundred up to roughly a thousand THB to charter a whole boat depending on its size. A cruise takes about 2 hours.

Check before you set off

Because the dolphins are wild, before you drive out it's worth calling the pier or the Tha Kham subdistrict municipality (tel. 0 3857 3434) to ask whether dolphins are still being seen, what time the boats leave, and to book ahead — especially on weekends — so you don't waste the trip.

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Day 1 — Bang Pakong: bird island, mangroves and the dolphin pod

Day 1

Bang Pakong · the river mouth

08:30
Leave Bangkok heading for Bang Pakong districtFrom Bangkok take the motorway / Bang Na–Trat; it's just over an hour to Tha Kham. Booking your boat slot ahead gives peace of mind.
10:00
Board the dolphin cruise at Tha Kham pierAbout a 2-hour cruise — bring a hat, sunglasses and drinking water. The skipper takes you to the spots the pod likes to come into; stay patient and keep watching the surface.
11:00
Stop at Tha Kham nature island (the bird island)A mangrove island in the middle of the river mouth, formed by sediment building up over decades. It's home to dozens of bird species — fresh air and quiet.
12:30
Lunch: seafood by the Bang Pakong riverThe Bang Pakong area has several riverside seafood and sea-bass restaurants. Fried sea bass with fish sauce and river prawns are the local specialties.
14:30
Relax and check in at a riverside stayThere are several resorts among the mangroves along the Bang Pakong river — quiet places that are perfect for sitting out in the cool afternoon breeze.
17:30
Watch the sunset over the riverEvenings along the Bang Pakong bring a lovely sky as the fishing boats head back to shore — the best moment of the day for photos and just sitting back.

Keep an open mind about the dolphins

If the morning run comes up empty, don't be too disappointed. Many skippers will circle and keep looking until they've made the time worth it, and the bird island and the river-mouth scenery alone are pretty enough to be worth the boat fare. Treat it as a riverside nature trip rather than a guaranteed dolphin trip and you'll enjoy it more.

Day 2 — Bang Khla: the old floating market and the flying foxes

On the second morning, head north toward Bang Khla district, the riverside area on the upper Bang Pakong. It has an old floating market and a temple where a colony of flying foxes really does live — a different kind of nature from yesterday's river mouth.

Day 2

Bang Khla · the upper riverside

09:00
Walk Bang Khla floating marketOpen Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, roughly 08:00–17:00, with local food, old-style sweets and Chachoengsao souvenirs. On a weekday the market may be winding down, so check the day before you go.
10:30
Visit Wat Pho Bang Khla to see the flying foxesA riverside temple where a colony of flying foxes hangs upside down all over the trees — a slice of nature that's hard to find this close to Bangkok.
11:30
Take a small boat to see Bang Khla riverside lifeAt times there are boats that take you along the river and stop at temples — a light activity before lunch.
12:30
Lunch: Bang Pakong river prawns / snakehead fishBang Khla is known for fresh river fish and prawns. Find a relaxed riverside spot and close out the trip with a good meal.
14:00
Stop at Wat Saman Rattanaram before heading backOn the Bang Pakong river, with a giant reclining Ganesha. Open roughly 08:00–18:00, it's on the way back into town — good for photos and a quick prayer.
16:00
Drive back to BangkokIt's a short distance, so an easy drive gets you home before it's late. You can stop for mangoes and Chachoengsao souvenirs along the way.

Extra nature spots if you have more time

Along the route

Bang Pu Recreation Center (Samut Prakan)

A little past Bang Pakong, this is a coastal wetland with hundreds of migratory bird species and the Suk Ta bridge for walking through the mangroves. From November to April, seagulls come in for the show.

Old market

Khlong Suan 100-Year-Old Market

An old canalside market straddling the Chachoengsao–Samut Prakan line, with old wooden shophouses and traditional food — a pleasant morning stroll.

Overnight

Bang Pakong riverside stays

Resorts set among the mangroves along the river, ideal if you like quiet and want to wake up to a river view in the morning.

Getting ready for the dolphin cruise

  • Pick the right time — dolphins show up most often from around late October to February, especially January–February. Outside this season the odds drop sharply.
  • Go in the morning — the sun isn't harsh yet, the water tends to be calmer, and you have time to spare to circle and look for the pod.
  • Come sun-ready — hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and drinking water, since you'll be out on the river for about 2 hours.
  • Call to check and book — especially on weekends, contact the pier or the Tha Kham subdistrict municipality ahead of time.
  • Respect the wildlife — don't be loud or let the boat get too close to the pod; let them feed as they normally would.

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FAQ

What's the best month to watch the Bang Pakong dolphins?

Irrawaddy dolphins follow the fish into the Bang Pakong river mouth when the water is calm, generally from around late October to February, with the most frequent sightings in January–February. Going in the morning, when the water tends to be calmer, is the best bet.

How much is the Bang Pakong dolphin cruise, and where do the boats leave?

Boats leave from around Tha Kham subdistrict, Bang Pakong district, such as Ban Tha Laem and Ban Khlong Tamru piers. When we checked, prices ran around 100–180 THB per person for a shared seat, or several hundred up to roughly a thousand THB to charter a whole boat, with a cruise of about 2 hours. It's worth calling the pier to check current prices before you go.

Am I guaranteed to see dolphins?

No one can guarantee it, since they're wild animals. Some days you'll see a pod of dozens; some days it's quiet. Treat it as a riverside nature trip — if you see dolphins, count it as a bonus — and going in the season when they show up often will improve your odds.

How many days does this plan take, and who's it for?

It's set up as 2 days, 1 night: day one is the dolphin cruise and the bird island at Bang Pakong, and day two is Bang Khla floating market and the flying foxes. It suits families and anyone who likes easygoing nature close to Bangkok. If you're short on time, you can trim it to a single day just for the cruise.

What days is Bang Khla floating market open?

It's only open on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, roughly 08:00–17:00. On a weekday the market is usually winding down, so it's best to schedule day two for a weekend or holiday.

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