Home Destinations Samut Songkhram 🧭 Plan Your Trip 🔎 Search About
Home › Thailand › Samut Songkhram › Samut Songkhram in 2 Days, 1 Night Amphawa, Fireflies & Morning Alms
🪷 Samut Songkhram Itinerary

Samut Songkhram in 2 Days, 1 Night
Amphawa, Fireflies & Morning Alms

Samut Songkhram sits just over an hour from Bangkok, but it feels like another world. Two days and one night is just right here: you can wander the Amphawa floating market in the late afternoon, take a firefly boat ride after dark, sleep in a canalside homestay, then wake up to give alms to monks paddling past your door the next morning. This is a plan paced to flow easily, no rushing, with the restaurants and stops that are genuinely open right now.

🚤 Firefly boat ride🛶 Amphawa floating market🌅 Riverside morning alms
Samut Songkhram in 2 Days, 1 Night Amphawa, Fireflies & Morning Alms

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The charm of Samut Songkhram is that everything sits close together. The Maeklong Railway Market, the Amphawa floating market, King Rama II Memorial Park, and Wat Bang Kung are all within a 20-minute drive of each other, so two days and one night never feels rushed. This plan is laid out so you catch all the highlights: riverside food, the floating market at dusk, fireflies after dark, and a morning alms-giving tradition that's hard to find anywhere else.

Trip Overview & Getting There

From Bangkok, it's about 80 km along the Rama II Road, roughly an hour and a half by car. If you're not driving, you can catch a minivan from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) to Maeklong for around 70–90 THB, then hop on a songthaew or motorbike taxi around town. The best days for this trip are Friday to Sunday, because the Amphawa floating market only runs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from the afternoon into the evening.

Plan Before You Go

The Amphawa floating market is open only Friday to Sunday, from about 3 PM until around 9 PM, and the firefly boats head out after dark. If you want a canalside room near the market, book your stay at least 1–2 weeks ahead — weekend rooms fill up fast.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Samut Songkhram 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.

🎟️ Top tours in Samut SongkhramHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Samut Songkhram attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Samut SongkhramOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Samut Songkhram activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Samut Songkhram tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — Railway Market, Rama II Park, and Amphawa at Dusk

Day 1

Maeklong–Amphawa

09:30
Arrive in Maeklong and stop by the Railway Market (the market on the tracks)Trains pull in and out of Maeklong Station around 9:00 and 11:30. Vendors fold up their awnings as the train passes through. Double-check the schedule on the spot, since times can shift.
11:00
Have lunch in Maeklong townTry the famously plump Maeklong short mackerel, or stir-fried razor clams. There are plenty of riverside spots to choose from in town.
13:00
Visit King Rama II Memorial ParkA museum of traditional Thai houses and a garden of plants from classical Thai literature. Admission is around 30 THB for adults, and you can stroll through at an easy pace in about an hour and a half.
15:30
Check in to your canalside stay in Amphawa, drop your bags, and restRiverside homestays start around 800–1,500 THB, while canalside boutique stays run from 2,000 THB up. Many have a balcony where you can sit and watch the boats.
16:30
Walk the Amphawa floating market and snack along the canalTry the fried oyster omelette, grilled prawns, old-style coffee, and sweets from long-running stalls. Take your time along the canal as the afternoon sun fades.
18:30
Find a riverside spot for dinnerJao Samran and Khao Mai Pla Man stand out for seafood and local Maeklong home cooking. Reserving a table ahead of a weekend is the safer bet.
19:30
Board a firefly boat on the Mae Klong RiverShared boats run about 50–100 THB per person, and a private boat is around 500–1,500 THB. The ride lasts roughly 45 minutes to an hour, taking you to see fireflies clustered on the lamphu trees along the canal.

What to Really Know About the Fireflies

Fireflies are wild, so there aren't loads of them every night. They show up most clearly during the rainy season into early winter (June to November), on moonless nights when the rain has just stopped or the sky is clear. If you come in the dry season or on a full-moon night, you may see fewer. Pick a boat that turns off its lights and keeps quiet — you'll see them far better.

Day 2 — Morning Alms, Wat Bang Kung, and Souvenirs Before Heading Home

Day 2

Riverside Alms–Bang Kung

06:30
Wake early to give alms to monks paddling past your stayMany canalside places sell alms sets in the morning, and monks paddle their boats along the canal to receive them. It's a slice of riverside life that's hard to find in other towns.
08:00
Have breakfast by the canal and a morning coffeeThe market is far quieter and more relaxed in the morning than in the evening — perfect for photographing the wooden houses along the water.
09:30
Head to Wat Bang Kung to see the Bodhi-tree-wrapped chapelAn old Ayutthaya-era chapel completely enveloped by the roots of a huge tree — a quiet corner that not everyone has made it to yet. Nearby are the Bang Kung Camp and a large rooster statue.
11:00
Stop by Tha Kha floating market (if it's a market day)A traditional floating market where locals still genuinely trade, with a more homely feel than Amphawa. It only opens on certain days following the lunar calendar, so check the date before you go.
12:00
Lunch before heading back, and pick up souvenirsThe local favorites are real coconut palm sugar, Maeklong short mackerel, and pomelo. Buying straight from an orchard or a market stall gets you a better price.
13:30
Set off back to BangkokLeaving before 2 PM helps you avoid the evening traffic on the Rama II Road.

Where to Eat — Riverside Spots the Locals Go

Food is a big reason people keep coming back to Samut Songkhram — fresh seafood from the Maeklong sea, those plump mackerel, and boldly flavored home cooking. These are the places locals recommend that are genuinely open right now, with a focus on the riverside atmosphere that fits this two-day trip perfectly.

1

Jao Samran Restaurant

Seafood/Thai · Riverside

A classic riverside spot that Maeklong locals vouch for, known for its seafood and authentic Thai dishes. Recommended orders are the grilled river prawns, sea crab stir-fried in curry powder, and the big Maeklong mackerel.

SeafoodRiverside
2

Khao Mai Pla Man Restaurant

Local home cooking · about 10 AM–9 PM

Built from bamboo along the river, it focuses on Maeklong home cooking and fresh seafood — shrimp paste chili dip, sun-dried mackerel, and ranjuan curry. Open roughly 10 AM to 9 PM.

LocalRiverside
3

The Pomelo Amphawa (Krua Som-O Wan)

Thai · Near the floating market

Right by the Amphawa floating market, with pomelo as its star ingredient. Standout plates are the pomelo salad and squid stir-fried with salted egg. There's both indoor and outdoor seating.

Thai
4

Krua Fa Muoy Restaurant

Thai · Sunset view

A riverside restaurant near the Amphawa floating market, good for a sit-down meal at sunset. Recommended dishes are mackerel fried with fish sauce, squid stir-fried with shrimp paste, and crab-roe chili dip.

RiversideGreat view
5

Phawanawa Cafe & Bistro

Cafe/bistro · In the floating market

A cafe and dining room in the middle of the Amphawa floating market, with a view over the Mae Klong River. The cafe opens from morning until late, the dining room from around 11:30 AM, with live music on Saturday and Sunday nights.

CafeRelaxed

Where to Stay in Amphawa

The heart of this two-day trip is sleeping by the canal, because the evening fireflies and the morning alms-giving are so much easier when your stay is right on the water. Prices break down roughly like this.

Budget

Canalside homestay

Simple rooms with a balcony for watching the boats. Some offer firefly outings and morning alms sets. Starts around 800–1,500 THB.

Great atmosphere

Riverside boutique near the market

Nicely decorated rooms within walking distance of the floating market, some with a pool. Starts from around 2,000 THB — good for couples or small families.

  • Pick a genuinely waterside room — ask clearly whether it faces the canal or sits inside, since the riverside balconies make a big difference.
  • Ask about alms-giving — many homestays sell morning alms sets and have monks paddling past the front, so ask before booking to plan it right.
  • Check for parking — the floating market draws crowds on weekends and parking fills up fast, so a stay with its own lot helps a lot.

Want a genuine waterside stay? See the options with the best reviews

See the Top 10 stays in Samut Songkhram →

FAQ

What day should I visit Samut Songkhram for a 2-day, 1-night trip?

Friday to Sunday is best, because the Amphawa floating market only opens on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, from afternoon into the evening. On a weekday the floating market is closed, but the Railway Market, King Rama II Memorial Park, and Wat Bang Kung are open every day.

When are the Amphawa fireflies easiest to see?

Fireflies are clearest during the rainy season into early winter, roughly June to November, and on moonless nights with a clear sky. In the dry season or on a bright-moon night you'll see fewer, since fireflies are wild and don't appear in the same numbers every night.

How much does a firefly boat ride cost?

A shared boat is about 50–100 THB per person, while a private boat runs around 500–1,500 THB per trip. The ride lasts roughly 45 minutes to an hour, and most boats head out after dark in the evening.

Where can I give morning alms to monks on boats?

Many canalside stays in Amphawa sell alms sets in the morning, then monks paddle along the canal in front of your stay to receive them, roughly between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. It's a riverside way of life that's hard to find in other towns.

Is Samut Songkhram far from Bangkok?

It's about 80 km from Bangkok along the Rama II Road, roughly an hour and a half by car. Alternatively, take a minivan from the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) to Maeklong for around 70–90 THB, then catch local transport around town.

Related

🗺️ Samut Songkhram Travel Guide🏨 Top 10 Stays in Samut Songkhram🚤 Amphawa Firefly Boat Ride

Copyright & Image Takedown Policy

Thailandaddict is created to review and share travel experiences. Where an image is sourced from elsewhere, we credit the source. If you are the copyright owner and prefer that your image not appear on this site, please contact us and we will gladly remove the image or correct the information.