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Phetchaburi–Samut Songkhram
2 Days, 1 Night: Amphawa & Floating Markets

Phetchaburi and Samut Songkhram sit right next to each other on the same road, and the drive from Khao Wang down to Amphawa takes barely an hour — so it's easy to thread both provinces into a single trip. Spend the first day in Phetchaburi on Khao Wang, the old temples and mor kaeng custard, then slide south to sleep beside the Amphawa canal. Wake up to the floating market, the railway market where the train rolls right through the stalls, and finish with a firefly boat ride after dark. This is a plan with the timings worked out for real — no rushing, no backtracking.

🏯 Khao Wang + old temples🚂 Railway market train✨ Firefly boat ride
Phetchaburi–Samut Songkhram 2 Days, 1 Night: Amphawa & Floating Markets

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

A lot of people treat Phetchaburi and Samut Songkhram as two separate trips, when in reality the two provinces practically run in a straight line. Driving from Bangkok along Rama II Road (Highway 35) takes you through Samut Sakhon, into Samut Songkhram, then onto Highway 4 for the last ten or so kilometres up to Phetchaburi. From downtown Phetchaburi back down to Amphawa is roughly 60–70 km — an easy hour's drive. That makes it a natural cross-province trip of 2 days and 1 night, picking off the highlights of both towns without ever doubling back.

We've set this trip up with day one in Phetchaburi, since it sits further north — tackle Khao Wang and the old temples in the morning while it's still cool, then drift south to spend the night in Amphawa. Day two covers Samut Songkhram: the railway market, the floating market and a firefly boat ride before heading home. This rhythm means you never drive against your own route, and you get a full night sleeping right by the canal.

Pick the right day for the markets (read before you plan)

Markets are the heart of this trip, and each one runs on a different schedule. Get the day wrong and you'll miss the best of it — this matters more than anything else. Plan around the days the markets are open first, then slot everything else in around them.

  • Amphawa floating market — only buzzes Friday to Sunday, from early afternoon into the evening (roughly 11:00–20:30). On weekdays it's quiet with few stalls open, so aim to have your overnight fall on a Friday or Saturday night.
  • Maeklong railway market (Talad Rom Hoop) — open every day, but the highlight is the moment the train rolls through. You'll need to check the timetable carefully (it's in the next block).
  • Tha Kha floating market — a traditional morning market that only opens on the 2nd, 7th and 12th days of each lunar fortnight (roughly every 5 days). Stop by if the date lines up; if not, skip it — it's not a must.
  • Firefly boat ride — runs for most of the year, but the fireflies are at their best from the rainy season into early winter, and on nights without a full moon.

Short version

To catch both the Amphawa floating market and the fireflies, base your overnight on a Friday or Saturday — and everything else falls into place on its own.

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Day 1 — Phetchaburi: Khao Wang, old temples, mor kaeng custard

Day 1

Phetchaburi → drift down to Amphawa

08:30
Leave Bangkok, head for PhetchaburiTake Rama II Road (Hwy 35) then Highway 4 — about 120 km, roughly a 2-hour drive. There are petrol stations around Pak Tho for a restroom break.
10:30
Up Khao Wang (Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park)A palace on a hilltop about 92 m high, with a funicular tram running up and down so you don't have to walk the whole way. Photograph the royal halls and the white chedi at the top. Watch the monkeys near the path — don't wave bags of food around.
12:30
Lunch in old-town PhetchaburiTry khao chae (if you're here in the hot season) or noodles in the old quarter. Long-running shops are spread along Damnoen Kasem Road.
14:00
Old temples — Wat Mahathat Worawihan / Wat Yai SuwannaramPhetchaburi is a town of master craftsmen, and the stucco reliefs and carved woodwork at its temples are remarkably fine. An easy, relaxed afternoon stroll.
15:30
Buy mor kaeng custard + Phetchaburi treats to take homeThe long-established mor kaeng shops are around the foot of Khao Wang. Sample the taro, mung bean and lotus-seed versions, and box some up to eat later in Amphawa.
16:30
Drive down to Amphawa, check in by the canalAbout 60–70 km, roughly an hour. Pick a homestay or resort right on the Amphawa canal so you can walk into the market easily in the morning.
18:30
Wander the Amphawa floating market at night + dinner by the canalIf your overnight falls on a Friday–Sunday, the market will be in full swing. Eat boat noodles, fried mussel pancake, grilled prawns and Thai sweets straight from the boats, with warm lantern light along the water.

About where to stay

The popular canalside places in Amphawa book out fast on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're planning a weekend trip, reserve at least 1–2 weeks ahead. Rooms facing the canal cost a fair bit more than the inner ones.

Day 2 — Railway market, floating market, Wat Bang Kung, fireflies

Day 2

Cover all of Samut Songkhram before heading back

07:30
Early wander through Amphawa market / coffee by the canalMornings aren't as busy as the afternoon, but the atmosphere is calm — good for photographing the old wooden houses and the canal bridges without the crowds.
09:00
Head to the Maeklong railway market (Talad Rom Hoop) to watch the train roll throughAbout 15–20 minutes from Amphawa. Vendors fold their awnings back every time the train comes. Trains arrive at the station around 08:30 / 11:10 / 14:30 / 17:40, and depart around 09:00 / 11:30 / 15:30. Double-check the board at the station, as times can change.
11:00
Wat Bang Kung — the temple wrapped in tree rootsAn old Ayutthaya-era ordination hall completely enveloped by the roots of bodhi and banyan trees, with Luang Pho Nin Mani enshrined inside — a photo spot unlike any ordinary temple. Bang Kung Camp is right nearby to walk on to.
12:30
Lunch — Maeklong seafood / local foodMaeklong is an estuary town with fresh seafood. Try the famous Maeklong short-bodied mackerel, prawns and shellfish; there are plenty of riverside spots to choose from.
14:00
Rama II Park / stop at Don Hoi Lot (if the tide is out)Rama II Park sits next to Wat Amphawan Chetiyaram — a museum and shaded garden. For Don Hoi Lot you need to time it for low tide to walk out onto the sandbar.
16:00
Rest with coffee/dessert by the canal, wait for duskHead back toward Amphawa and find a riverside café to relax in, saving your energy for the evening boat ride.
18:30
Firefly boat rideAround 60–80 THB per person, or roughly 600 THB to charter a whole boat, lasting about 1–2 hours. The boat takes you to the lamphu trees where the fireflies cluster and blink in bushy clouds — best on a dark, moonless night.
20:30
Pack up, drive back to BangkokAbout 1.5 hours from Amphawa back to Bangkok — or stay one more night and head home the next morning instead.

Can you stretch it to 3 days?

If you have an extra day and want to go deeper, it's easy to expand this into 3 days and 2 nights. Add one nature day and the pace eases up a lot — you won't have to cram markets and temples into a single day.

For nature lovers

Add a Kaeng Krachan day

Before dropping down to Amphawa, stop at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi to catch the morning sea of fog at Phanoen Thung — great for nature lovers and photographers.

For beach lovers

Add a Cha-am beach day

This trip runs very close to Cha-am, so it works nicely to slot in a half-day at Cha-am beach — eat seafood and stroll the sand before heading into Phetchaburi town.

For old-world charm

Add the Tha Kha morning market

If the date falls on the 2nd, 7th or 12th of the lunar fortnight, get up early for Tha Kha floating market — a traditional market where vendors still paddle their boats to sell, far less crowded and genuinely old-school.

Rough costs (per person, 2 days 1 night)

  • Canalside stay in Amphawa — around 800–1,800 THB/night (split between 2 people per room, that's 400–900 THB each). Canal-view rooms cost more.
  • 4–5 meals + market snacks — around 500–800 THB.
  • Khao Wang (tram + entry) — from a few tens of baht up to the low hundreds.
  • Firefly boat ride — 60–80 THB/person (whole-boat charter ~600 THB).
  • Petrol + tolls, Bangkok round trip — around 600–900 THB/car, split by the number of people.
  • Rough total — about 1,500–2,500 THB/person, depending on your accommodation and how many share the car.

Save even more

With 4 people sharing one car, petrol and accommodation come down a lot — and there's no need for a tour since the route is easy to drive yourself, with clear signs the whole way.

Tips to keep this trip smooth

  • Driving yourself is by far the best option — the sights are spread out and public transport between Phetchaburi and Amphawa is awkward.
  • Book your canalside stay ahead if you're going on a weekend; canal-view rooms sell out fast.
  • Bring an umbrella or hat for Khao Wang — the sun is strong and there's little shade at the top.
  • At the railway market, leave buffer time for the train rounds rather than cutting it fine, and stand back along the line where the vendors tell you to.
  • Bring mosquito repellent for the firefly ride — the canalside gets buggy after dark.
  • Buy all your souvenirs in one go on the way back — Phetchaburi mor kaeng custard plus coconut sugar / Maeklong mackerel.

Want a canalside Amphawa stay or a Phetchaburi-town hotel that genuinely reviews well?

See the Top 10 Phetchaburi stays →

FAQ

Can you visit Phetchaburi and Samut Songkhram in a single trip?

Easily. The two provinces sit on the same route — from downtown Phetchaburi down to Amphawa is about 60–70 km, roughly an hour's drive. A 2-day, 1-night plan is just right: Phetchaburi on day one, Samut Songkhram on day two, then home.

Which day should I go for the Amphawa floating market to be lively?

The Amphawa floating market only buzzes on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, from early afternoon into the evening (roughly 11:00–20:30). On weekdays few stalls open and it's quiet, so plan your overnight to fall on a Friday or Saturday night.

What times does the train pass through the Maeklong railway market?

Trains arrive at Maeklong station around 08:30, 11:10, 14:30 and 17:40, and depart around 09:00, 11:30 and 15:30. Times can change, so check the board at the station again when you arrive.

How much is the Amphawa firefly boat ride, and can you see them year-round?

Around 60–80 THB per person, or roughly 600 THB to charter a whole boat, lasting about 1–2 hours. Fireflies are around for most of the year, but they're clearest from the rainy season into early winter and on dark, moonless nights.

Do you really need your own car?

A private car is recommended, since the sights are spread out and public transport between Phetchaburi and Amphawa is awkward. It's easy to drive, the signs are clear, and you get far more flexibility with timing — especially while waiting for the train rounds and the evening boat ride.

Related

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