In Bangkok, a cruise is a great way for tourists to explore the city. The Chao Phraya River is a major transportation artery and features numerous options for travelers to sightsee via boat. Travel by boat is incredibly convenient as most boat services connect to the BTS Skytrain Silom line at Saphan Taksin Station and stop at sightseeing attractions up and down the river, including the Chao Phraya’s most celebrated sight, Wat Arun (the Temple of Dawn).

In addition to daytime sightseeing cruises, there are a number of dinner cruises during which visitors can enjoy the illuminated attractions along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River while dining on outstanding Thai food. Smaller, more romantic dinner cruises are also major attractions in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya, the latter of which is just upriver from Bangkok, a day trip journey that is a fascinating cruise of its own.

Around Thailand’s beaches and islands there are innumerable opportunities for getting aboard a boat for a single or multi-day adventure. From Phuket, boats provide day trip services to Phang Nga Bay, Koh Phi Phi, and even the Similan Islands. From Koh Samui, day cruises combine snorkeling or kayaking with lunch around Mu Ang Thong National Marine Park or Koh Nang Yuan, the postcard-perfect triangle of sandbar connected islands near Koh Tao. Renovated Chinese Junk boats and other luxury sailing vessels are also available for either a single day’s outing or a longer, more exclusive and romantic holiday out of Phuket.

On Thailand’s smaller islands and at inland, riverside, provincial capitals its typically possible to hire long tail boats by the hour or for the day, cruising between beaches and nearby islands or visiting remote riverside villages.

Finally, several international cruise lines service Pattaya and Phuket as part of pan-asian or global cruises aboard enormous luxury cruise liners.