🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
What makes the Sampran–Nakhon Chai Si side of Nakhon Pathom special is that it's still a real riverside town, not staged for tourists. Don Wai floating market is an old market on the Tha Chin River where locals actually come to buy their everyday groceries. Sookjai market inside Sampran Riverside is an organic farmers' market where growers bring their own produce to sell. The two have completely different vibes, which is exactly why they pair so well into a single weekend trip.
The key thing that makes this plan click is that Sookjai market only opens on Saturdays and Sundays, and the Wat Rai Khing market only opens on Sundays. So if you want to catch everything, plan your trip across a Saturday and Sunday. We've set Day 1 as Saturday (Don Wai + Sookjai market) and Day 2 as Sunday (Wat Rai Khing + pomelo orchard boat ride).
2-day route overview
- Day 1 (Saturday) — Don Wai floating market mid-morning for braised duck and Thai sweets, then Sookjai market at Sampran Riverside in the afternoon, ending with a riverside café on the Tha Chin
- Day 2 (Sunday) — Wat Rai Khing in the morning, a stroll through the riverside market, then a late-morning boat ride through the Nakhon Chai Si pomelo orchards, with a riverside café on the way back
- Distances — every stop is within a 15 km radius, with 10–20 min drives between them. Best done with your own car or a rental
Book the activities in your Nakhon Pathom trip ahead
Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.
Day 1 — Don Wai + Sookjai market
The first day is all about eating and market-hopping. Start at Don Wai floating market mid-morning when the stalls are fully stocked, then move on to Sookjai market in the afternoon. The two are only about 10 km apart.
Saturday · Don Wai floating market
Timing tip
On weekdays Don Wai has fewer stalls and shops close early, while Sookjai market only opens on weekends. If you come on a weekday you'll only get a quiet Don Wai and nothing else. For the lively atmosphere, aim for Saturday or Sunday.
Day 2 — Wat Rai Khing + pomelo orchard boat ride
Day two starts a little later with a visit to Wat Rai Khing, a royal temple on the Tha Chin River that locals in Nakhon Pathom hold dear. Then comes something you can't easily do in Bangkok: a boat ride into the pomelo orchards of Nakhon Chai Si, the province's famous pomelo country.
Sunday · Tha Chin riverside, Nakhon Chai Si
Don't-miss eats along this route
The fun of a floating market trip is the food. We've picked the standout dishes at each stop along the route, ranked by how often locals here talk about them.
Nai Nub braised duck (Don Wai)
A long-running braised duck shop at Don Wai market. The duck is tender and the braising broth is fragrant with spices — it's the dish almost every table at Don Wai orders.
Pa Khai palm cake (Don Wai)
Soft, fragrant steamed palm cake — an old-style Thai sweet that's getting harder to find. Pa Khai has been making it at the market for years, and it travels well as a souvenir.
Organic vegetables and rice (Sookjai market)
Farmers sell their own fresh vegetables, pesticide-free fruit, eggs, mushrooms, and organic rice at fair prices — great to take home for cooking.
Nakhon Chai Si pomelo
Khao Nam Phueng and Thong Dee varieties with crisp, juicy flesh that's sweet with a touch of tart — famous across the province. Bought fresh from a riverside orchard, it tastes better than what you'll find in town.
Tha Chin river fish and prawns
Riverside restaurants around Nakhon Chai Si serve fresh freshwater fish, grilled river prawns, and clown knifefish cakes — perfect with the riverside setting.
Tha Chin riverside café coffee
Riverside cafés along the Nakhon Chai Si in renovated old warehouses, where you can sit in the breeze and watch boats pass. Some you reach by boat — a relaxed way to end the trip.
Where to stay and getting around
If you'd rather not drive back to Bangkok at night, staying a night on the Sampran–Nakhon Chai Si side is easier. You can wake up early for Wat Rai Khing and catch the Sunday market right on time.
Stay at Sampran Riverside
There are riverside resorts within the Sampran Riverside grounds, an easy walk to Sookjai market — good for a family trip.
Stay in Nakhon Pathom town
If you want to be near Phra Pathom Chedi and the food in town, stay in the town center and drive out to the Sampran side, about 20–30 min away.
Getting around
This route is easiest with your own car or a rental, since the stops are spread along the Tha Chin and there's no direct public transport linking them. Without a car, you can use local taxis or hired vehicles for individual legs, but it's best to arrange pickup times in advance.
Want a different Nakhon Pathom itinerary? See the full travel guide here
See the Nakhon Pathom guide →