Choosing a boat · 3-minute read
A cruise around Ayutthaya's old island isn't one product. Prices run from a few hundred baht per person to tens of thousands per boat. Here are the three types that actually exist on the river, laid out plainly so you can pick by budget and occasion.
Type 1
Hundreds of baht / person
A large boat departing on a fixed timetable, several groups aboard together, usually with a buffet or set meal, often routed as a temple-visiting circuit along the river.
Type 2· Our service
Thousands of baht / boat
The whole boat is yours alone. You choose the date and hour, and nobody else boards. A mid-size charter runs in the low thousands per boat — split across a group, the per-head cost often lands near a shared cruise, with the entire boat to yourselves.
Type 3
Tens of thousands / boat
Designer boats with fine-dining service: multi-course chef menus, a dedicated crew, some handling full private events. Prices per boat climb into the tens of thousands.
| Type | Rough price | Best for | How to book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared big-boat rounds | Hundreds of baht / person | Solo travellers and couples on the tightest budget who want a meal aboard and temple stops, and don't mind fixed times and sharing the deck. | Through tour agencies, travel platforms, or at the pier — departure times follow the timetable. |
| Private charter | Thousands of baht / boat | Families, groups of friends, couples after privacy, birthdays, proposals — or anyone who wants to pick their own hour, especially sunset. | Book online, choose your own date and hour — this is what Mercury Cruise offers. |
| Premium luxury boats | Tens of thousands / boat | Big celebrations, hosting important guests, corporate events — anyone putting the dining experience before the price. | Reserve directly with the operator, usually days ahead and often with a minimum spend. |
It depends on the type: shared big-boat rounds start at a few hundred baht per person, a private charter of the whole boat runs in the thousands per trip, and premium luxury boats start in the tens of thousands.
Less than most people expect — a mid-size private charter costs a few thousand baht for the whole boat. Split across your group, the per-person cost is often close to a shared cruise, with the boat entirely yours and the departure time your choice.
All three circle the old island past the riverside temples. The difference is that most shared big boats stop for temple visits, while charters typically cruise past without docking.
If a private charter sounds like yours
See Mercury Cruise prices & times