A Thai, a Hungarian, a Nepali and a Dutchman boarded a boat. Is this the beginning of a joke? No, it really happened. We were done with the city for a while. We were done with the crowds for a while. We were done with the cars for a while. We were done with the scooters for a while. We were done with the stinky air for a while. We were done with the Thai street food for a while… No, that last one is not right. You can’t be done with that.
But, we had set aside a day to go to Bang Krachao. This artificial island is better known as the Green Lung of Bangkok. It offers 12.000 rai of land and is home to over 13.000 families. Located in the Chao Phraya River, there are Buddhist temples, little villages, jungle and a lot of lovely vegetation. No, it is not a typo, this “island” is surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. Then again, it’s not an island… decide for yourself what it is. This island offers a variety of activities for both the athletically minded or those looking for a lazy day nestled in nature.
Khlong Toei Pier
We parked the car at the Wat Khlong Toey Nok temple. After a few streets you can cross the river via Khlong Toei Pier for 10 bath. After 5 minutes you have arrived at Bang Kachao. Actually, you’re still in Bangkok, but it doesn’t feel like it at all… There are no tall buildings, no factories, it’s not crowded and there is little traffic. On the island, people are mainly transported by motorcycle or bicycle. We rented bicycles for 100 bath a day, because we didn’t know how long we would be away. You can also rent a bike for an hour.
Bangkok Tree House (Green Hotel & Organic Restaurant)
So from ‘Bicycle Rental Shop Bang Kachao Pier’ we took the bike and made a 45 minute bike ride. It all depends on how fast you cycle, but cycling fast is not recommended. After 15 minutes I was already ‘sweating like an otter’, like we say in The Netherlands. During this ride, there were many shops where we could stop for a fast snack, but we didn’t want to do that. After 45 minutes and many ‘Check Google Maps moments’ we arrived at one of the most attractive restaurants in this part of Bangkok: The Bangkok Tree House. This beautiful location, in the middle of the jungle, can be used to have a delicious lunch or to stay overnight. It is a restaurant and hotel in one. This eco-friendly resort is also known as “Bangkok’s Greenest Hotel”.
Bang Nam Peung
When you are in Bang Kachao, you must have also been to the ‘Floating Market’. This is one of the few Floating Markets that is not built directly on the water, but this one is built around the canals. If you really want an authentic souvenir, this is one of the places to score it. You can also find a wide range of local foods and handcrafted goods for sale here. ‘Talat Nam Bang Namphueng’ expanded a lot in the last decade, from 200 shops over 10 years ago, to numbers that are tripled or quadrupled.
Transportation
To get there, take BTS Skytrain to Bang Na station. From there, walk along Sukhumvit Road towards Udom Suk station, turn left on Sanphawut Road. Continue to the end until you reach the Chao Praya River. The ferry to the island departs every 15 minutes and a one-way ticket costs 10 bath.
