From Railway to River: A Quiet Thai Escape

Khlong Sunak Hon, Samut Sakhon, where nature, community, and heritage quietly reconnect

Boat journey along Khlong Sunak Hon : A gentle canal cruise revealing everyday life along one of Samut Sakhon’s oldest waterways.

Thailand offers countless waterways to explore, each with its own rhythm and story. Many travelers are familiar with famous canals such as Damnoen Saduak or Amphawa, where rivers and canals serve as the lifeblood of local communities.
This journey, however, takes us to a quieter, lesser-known destination: Khlong Sunak Hon, in Samut Sakhon.

Salt transportation by long-tail boat : A powerful long-tail boat tows a heavy salt barge to meeting points between buyers and handlers—a rare riverside scene no longer found on most canals.

In the past, Khlong Sunak Hon was alive with boat trips showcasing riverside life, Benjarong ceramic workshops, ancient temples, and glowing fireflies at night. Over time, water-based tourism faded. Environmental changes, declining mangrove trees, disappearing fireflies, and the loss of craft successors slowly silenced the canal.

Life along the canal : Local residents still rely on boats for daily transport and fishing, preserving a way of life shaped by water.

Today, a small group of riverside residents has chosen to begin again.

Smiles along the way : Warm greetings and genuine smiles from villagers living along the canal banks.

This renewed journey is intentionally simple, designed for half-day or one-day travel, marking a thoughtful first step toward sustainable, community-based tourism that respects nature and local life, while allowing space to adapt and grow in the future.

A Slow Journey Along the Canal

Wat Yai Chom Prasat : One of the oldest temples in Samut Sakhon, believed to date back to the Ayutthaya period and located along the Tha Chin River near the canal mouth.
Its roofless ancient viharn, though no longer in use, remains strikingly beautiful—evoking the atmosphere of Lopburi’s historic ruins. Wat Yai Chom Prasat

The afternoon boat trip begins after a short land exploration of historic temples connected to the canal:
Wat Yai Chom Prasat, Wat Noi Nang Hong, and Wat Chi Pha Khao. Among them, Wat Yai Chom Prasat located at the mouth of the canal along the Tha Chin River, dates back to the Ayutthaya period.

The canal boat : A wooden motorized boat used for cruising Khlong Sunak Hon, comfortably accommodating around eight passengers.

By early afternoon, we board a boat at Ban Khung Nam Resort and gently cruise toward Wat Kalong.

Bridges connecting communities : Multiple bridges link villages to temples and neighboring communities, reflecting everyday connectivity along the canal.

Khlong Sunak Hon is a natural canal, not man-made like Damnoen Saduak. It links the Mae Klong River in Samut Songkhram with the Tha Chin River in Samut Sakhon. Along its length lie multiple communities that still depend on the canal for transport, food, and daily life.

Grey heron along the canal : A grey heron resting in riverside trees—one of many bird species thriving in the canal ecosystem.

The ecosystem remains remarkably rich: fish, crabs, shellfish, otters, monitor lizards, and a wide variety of birds, both resident and migratory. Dense riverside vegetation, including nipa palms, mangroves, and Lamphu trees, creates a thriving habitat where fireflies are now slowly returning.

Children and the canal : Beyond work and trade, the canal is also a playground, where children swim and play as generations before them did.

As the boat glides through the canal during high tide, floating water hyacinths drift past, and birds fill the sky, egrets, herons, stilts, gulls, and more.

Birdwatching stop at Wat Bang Nam Won : A pause along the route to photograph flocks of egrets near Wat Bang Nam Won.

Wat Bang Nam Won : An important temple of the local Mon community, known for its distinctive Mon-style Buddhist art.

The first landmark is Wat Bang Nam Won, an important temple of the Mon community, known for its Mon-style Buddhist art.

Salt boats : Large, sturdy vessels designed to carry heavy loads—an essential part of the local salt trade.

Further along

Further along, salt warehouses large and small appear along the banks, with empty salt boats resting on the water. This quiet scene reveals a hidden salt-trading heritage unique to Khlong Sunak Hon.

Chedi and statue of Luang Por Sut, Wat Kalong : Sacred landmarks within Wat Kalong, revered by the local community.

Buddha image inside the viharn, Wat Kalong : A peaceful interior space reflecting the spiritual heart of the community.

The journey ends at Wat Kalong, where visitors pay respect to Luang Por Sut before walking through the community to photograph salt fields and the iconic Kalong Railway Station is a popular stop for travelers continuing by train to the nearby Maeklong Railway Market.

Salt fields by the railway, Kalong community : Salt pans stretching alongside the railway tracks behind Wat Kalong—a landscape shaped by work and time.

Weaving nipa palm leaves : Locals prepare nipa leaves for roofing, known as “tub chak”, a traditional craft still practiced today.

Harvesting nipa fruit : Collecting nipa fruit along the canal banks, a seasonal activity rooted in local knowledge.

Nipa fruit (split open) : Fresh nipa fruit can be eaten raw or used to make lod chong-style desserts in syrup.

On the return route, we pause to observe local residents weaving nipa leaves and harvesting nipa fruit—small moments that reflect the living relationship between people and the canal.

Getting There

Khlong Sunak Hon is located just 56 kilometers from Bangkok, easily reached by train, public van, or a one-hour drive. Accessible, calm, and deeply rooted in local heritage, it is a meaningful example of how slow travel can help revive both ecosystems and communities.

Old and new on the same waterway : Salt boats and traditional vessels share the canal with modern jet skis—a quiet coexistence of eras.

Travel Slowly. Travel Responsibly.

Twilight over Khlong Sunak Hon : As the sun sets behind the clouds, golden light gently washes over Khlong Sunak Hon, closing the day in quiet harmony.

At Pacific Leisure, we believe that sustainable travel begins with listening to nature, to communities, and to stories that are often overlooked.

Let us take you beyond the well-known routes,
to places where tourism gives back, and journeys truly matter.

Discover community-based, rail & river journeys with Pacific Leisure (Thailand)

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Editor in Chief : Nampetch Siramanon
Editor: Pacific Leisure (Thailand)
Content Creator : Mr. Saroj Na Ayutthaya