Chao Phraya Express Boat will accept BTS cards
For those who want to take the wetter and wilder scenic route around Bangkok, you can try the old fashioned way—by boat. If you’re tired of being at the mercy of the 8th most congested roads on the planet or being packed like sardines in the trains, the Chao Phraya Express Boat just made your life easier.
The older, estranged sibling of the Bangkok public transit family will now accept Rabbit cards beginning the 3rd of October.
Here’s where to book your next boat ride along Chao Phraya.
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Chao Phraya Express Boat accepts Rabbit card payments
Now that you can use Rabbit cards to pay for your trips along the Chao Phraya, here’s where you can go.
Wat Arun and ICONSIAM are two of the major stops for the boat service. So travelers looking to enjoy the scene route along with some neat photos can try dipping their toes into the water.
The boating service has multiple “lines” designated by a flag on the stern (back) which still determine where and how often the boat will stop.
Image credit: cpxcare
This map shows where each boat will stop along the river. You can also find this map on their website here along with timetables and prices.
Image credit: Chao Phraya Express Boat
Discounts for cardholders
Rabbit cardholders will get a ฿5 discount on any ride with the boat service.
Image credit: Chao Phraya Express Boat
The new costs are as follows:
- Orange flagged boat – ฿11
- Yellow flagged boat – ฿16
- Yellow+Green flagged boat
- Pak Kred to Nonthaburi – ฿9
- Pak Kred to Sathorn – ฿28
- Nonthaburi to Sathorn – ฿16
- Red flagged boat with AC – ฿25
This discount will last from 3rd October until 31st December or until 600,000 discounts have been applied.
Try the scenic route
Traveling along the Chao Phraya River used to be the main mode of transportation. In fact, that’s why Bangkok earned its epithet ‘Venice of the East’ along with the many floating markets that are a hit today.
Today, boats are looking to make a comeback by making it more convenient than ever to pay for a ride. As most Thais already use Rabbit cards for their BTS rides to get around Bangkok, this opens up many new routes for them.
So when you’re tired of all the crowds and traffic jams, come taste a bit of history along the river.
Cover images adapted from (From left to right): Chao Phraya Express Boat, @cpxcare
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