For travelers to Bangkok looking to experience local life, Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa has announced a new offering: visitors can discover the ancient klong (“canal”) network connecting to the mighty Chao Phraya River with a resident insider as their guide. Visanu Kidkarn is Anantara’s new “Klong Guru;” he grew up along the river and knows the city’s secret spots, floating markets, and hidden temples. By introducing their “Klong Guru Experience,” Anantara taps into the current popular trend of experiential travel.
Guests step aboard a traditional longtail boat and discover an age-old culture, gleaning insights about how the locals live, even feeding the fish for good luck (a Thai custom). Kidkarn also leads guests to a local gallery to learn how Thai crafts are made, and take in a puppet show. The tour is four hours long, starting at 11 am on Saturday and Sunday, includes a traditional Pad Thai lunch, and costs THB 2,000 per person. For more information, visit www.anantara.com.