Samut Songkhram - Is there anything to see or do?

[Big Boy]

I'm planning my next mini break, and there are a couple of things on my to do list in Samut Songkhram, namely:

• I want to take the train in and out of the Railway Market. I've been to the market a few times, but have always fancied arriving and departing on the train.

• I want to walk out on The Red Bridge - don't ask me why. It's only 700 metres in length, but a short walk I've wanted to do for a long time.

Before anybody suggests Amphwa Floating Market - no thank you, I hated it. The boat trip along the Mae Klong from the market was OK, but you can only absorb so many temples in one day. It did become monotonous.

My question is there anything else worth seeing or doing whilst I'm in the area?

I remember Barrys used to do a trip to see the fire flies. Is that a trip in this area? If yes, where from please? I don't think I've ever seen a fire fly, so something new. I'll probably be going mid-August - are fire flies seasonal?

I've been asking Mr Google, but he's been pretty useless this time.

Anything else please?

[buksida]

We went to see the fireflies and it is worth the trip (we went in October 2019). We chartered our own boat for 600 baht for four of us (hotel can arrange it or walk down the riverfront) and it goes in the evening obviously. They seem to congregate in specific trees for breeding which the boatman will know and it is quite spectacular.

Do NOT attempt it at the weekend as you won't see anything amid hundreds of clueless Bangkokians failing miserably to photograph the darkness with their iPhone flashes on!

[Big Boy]

Thank you for that. I will be travelling midweek - probably Tuesday to Thursday. So I am right, you were in Samut Songkhram area for the fire flies.

hotel can arrange it

Do you have a hotel recommendation please? Recommendation is always better than picking randomly from Agoda.

So that's three - is the anything else that might be of interest in the area please?

[buksida]

Yes, we stayed near the Amphawa floating market (which was closed during the week). The hotel was called Baan Saranrom I think, very clean and well-priced during the week as it was quiet.

We only had one night there but had a nice meal on the river at the only restaurant that was open at the time (weekdays are dead here, just how I like it!)

[Dannie Boy]

I'm planning my next mini break, and there are a couple of things on my to do list in Samut Songkhram, namely:

• I want to take the train in and out of the Railway Market. I've been to the market a few times, but have always fancied arriving and departing on the train.

• I want to walk out on The Red Bridge - don't ask me why. It's only 700 metres in length, but a short walk I've wanted to do for a long time.

Before anybody suggests Amphwa Floating Market - no thank you, I hated it. The boat trip along the Mae Klong from the market was OK, but you can only absorb so many temples in one day. It did become monotonous.

My question is there anything else worth seeing or doing whilst I'm in the area?

I remember Barrys used to do a trip to see the fire flies. Is that a trip in this area? If yes, where from please? I don't think I've ever seen a fire fly, so something new. I'll probably be going mid-August - are fire flies seasonal?

I've been asking Mr Google, but he's been pretty useless this time.

Anything else please?

I asked Mr Google and he suggested these!!
https://www.tourismthailand.org/Article ... -songkhram

[Big Boy]

Thanks DB, but that is part of what he suggested to me as well. You have to remember I need to have wheelchair friendly as well. I am not really sure those places will be suitable.

[Bamboo Grove]

I've visited Samut Songkram couple of times years ago. There are other floating markets as well but if you seen some in other places, they are nothing that different.

Where I'd go. (not in this particular order but as they come to my mind.) Nothing as spectacular as the sights in Ratchaburi but worth a short trip.

1. The birthplace of King Rama II.
https://th.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... vince.html
https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attract ... orial-park

2. The temple inside a tree
https://th.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... vince.html
https://www.thailandee.com/en/visit-tha ... t=cmp-true

3. Siamese cats house (it stinks, though)
https://th.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... vince.html
https://samutsongkhram-thailand.blogspo ... -thai.html

4. Shrine of Father Kong
https://th.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... vince.html

5. Wat Chulamanee
https://th.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... vince.html
https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attract ... chulamanee

6. Lunch at Don Hoi Lot (You can try the local "razor clams" there, too)
https://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/don-hoy-lhod
https://th.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_R ... vince.html

Then in the evening, you can rent the boat to see the fire flies.

It's over 15 years since I've been to these places and I don't know about them now but some of them may not be that wheelchair friendly.

[Bamboo Grove]

Actually many of those are the same as in DB's post. Of course add the Railway Market there.

[Big Boy]

Thank you very much BG. I know you probably weren't thinking about it while you were there, but how many of those were wheelchair friendly (wife can manage small sets of steps if I carry the wheelchair)?

[Bamboo Grove]

Like I said above, I don't know how many of them are whhelchair friendly. Would not expect that many are. For example, at Rama II's homeplace, they'd need an elevator there. I don't know if there's any other way to find out but to call them.

If you sometimes have 2-4 days, I'd go to Suphanburi-Ayutthaya-Angthong area where there's plenty to see, particularly history and handicrafts and they are easy to get to with wheelchair as well.

[HHTel]

I've been to the 'temple in a tree' and my mother was in a wheelchair. The carpark is adjacent and the statues and small zoo is okay for a chair, however if memory serves me right, you couldn't get a chair into the small temple.

" I don't think I've ever seen a fire fly"
We often get small clouds of them in our garden. In fact just a week ago there were a few that entered the house much to the amusement of the kids.

[Big Boy]

Thanks HHTel - that's on the list then.

You maybe need to sell tickets to your garden

[Big Boy]

hotel can arrange it

Do you have a hotel recommendation please? Recommendation is always better than picking randomly from Agoda.

Buksi, does this mean no recommendation, or you just didn't see it?

[buksida]

The hotel was called Baan Saranrom I think, very clean and well-priced during the week as it was quiet.

[Big Boy]

LOL, I've just seen that - missed it yesterday. Will most likely book up today.