The Prices of River Cruises to Thailand
Jump to: Best Tours | Tour Prices
Exploring a destination by river has a unique magic that land-based travel just can't replicate. River cruises let you sit back, relax, and enjoy the views as you float past iconic towns, beautiful landscapes, and cultural gems. In Thailand, these cruises offer an exciting way to experience the best of the region's natural and historical beauty – all while you kick back with no luggage to worry about.
In this article, we'll take you through the costs of river cruises in Thailand, uncover some of the top-rated cruises, and showcase the most popular routes that make river cruises such a special way to travel. We've analyzed a variety of cruise options to bring you the best deals, comparing prices, destinations, and onboard amenities. So, whether you're new to cruising or a seasoned traveler, get ready to float through your next unforgettable journey!
Why does Thailand appeal to river cruise passengers?
River cruises in Thailand appeal to travelers for their relaxed pace, scenic views, and access to culturally rich, often less-touristed destinations. Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Chiang Rai offer plenty of amazing museums and sights to explore. Koh Phi Phi is known for its stunningly beautiful beaches, world-class snorkeling and diving, and wild booze cruises. Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Chiang Rai are foodie destinations with fantastic cuisine and world-class restaurants. With easy, all-inclusive travel arrangements and immersive stops in culturally rich areas, river cruises provide a convenient and enriching way to explore multiple regions in comfort and style.
How much do River Cruises in Thailand cost?
The average price per day for river cruises in Thailand is $391, based on our analysis of 10 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $178 to $565 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $183 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $560 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
We partner with TourRadar because they offer the world's largest selection of multi-day organized tours, offering seamless travel experiences while supporting local businesses. It's the perfect way to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.
The Best Cruises in Thailand
Budget-Friendly Cruises
Budget-friendly and affordable river cruises in Thailand average $183 per day, with daily prices from $178 to $187. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out Chiang Mai Cruising Tour To Pak Beng, Luang Prabang, And Vientiane – 8 Days here.
Mid-Range Cruises
For typical river cruises in Thailand that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $419 per day. Daily prices range from $301 to $533. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is Independent Treasures of Vietnam & Cambodia.
Luxury Cruises
Luxury river cruises in Thailand average around $419 per day, with daily costs ranging from $554 to $565. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River with Hanoi, Ha Long Bay & Bangkok (Southbound) 2026.
Which tour companies offer these trips?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer river cruises in Thailand. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
Avalon Waterways
Focusing on river cruise tours through Germany, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands, Avalon Waterways is a well established tour provider. Most participants on their tours are adults and their tours range in length from 5 days to 4 weeks. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. Most of the tours provided by Avalon Waterways are high-end and luxurious with a top-tier level of service.
See All Tours from Avalon Waterways
VietLong Travel
VietLong Travel is a smaller international tour company with tours to 4 countries, including Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. This company's tour offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers.
See All Tours from VietLong Travel
Globus
Globus is a large multi-national travel company which offers tours to destinations around the world. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Great Britain, Italy, and Canada. Some of their offerings cater to families with children. A large number of their tours fall within in the mid-range price category. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as wine tasting, island hopping, snorkelling, and whale watching.
Departure Destinations in Thailand
Wondering where tours launch from in Thailand? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
Bangkok
Bangkok is the colorful capital city of Thailand. It is filled with temples and religious sights as well as shopping centers and markets. There is a network of canals and the Chao Phraya River is filled with boats. The city has many high end hotels as well as backpacker meccas and everything in between.
The temples and energy are what give this impressive city it's own form of beauty.
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, is surrounded by mountains and filled with beautiful temples. It sits on the borders with Laos and Myanmar and it is a gateway to the Golden Triangle.
Surrounded by the mountains and filled with temples and impressive parks, this city is a beautiful place.
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a cultural city that's located in the mountainous part of northern Thailand. The city has many temples, a famous night market, and a unique cuisine that is among the best in the country. Many visitors book treks into the countryside from Chiang Mai and the city has become a popular destination for digital nomads.
It is famous for it's beautiful surrounding countryside where visitors often enjoy trekking and getting out in nature. The city is also filled with historic temples, night markets, and a relaxed atmosphere.
More
Other popular destinations for river cruise tours through Thailand include Chiang Khong and Damnoen Saduak.
Which is cheaper?
Is independent travel cheaper than guided river cruises? The answer is not simple. Tours provide many of the services that you would otherwise pay for yourself on an independent trip. Hotels, transportation, food, entry tickets, guides, and activities are provided on organized tours, whereas you would pay for everything separately on your own. To deterine the difference in price, you would need to compare the combined price of everything in a tour with everything you would book separately. Sometimes you might want to stay in a cheaper hotel, or eat at a more expensive restaurant, so the price of a tour could be more or less than what you would otherwise pay on your own. Make sure you know what is included before making your comparison.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Thailand, The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Historical Tours in Thailand, The Best 10-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 3-Week Tours in Thailand, The Best 4-Week (1-Month) Tours in Thailand, The Best Extended Trip Tours in Thailand, One Month or Longer, The Best Bicycle Tours in Thailand, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Thailand, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Thailand, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand, The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in Thailand, The Best Cruise Tours and Packages in Thailand, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Thailand, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Thailand, The Best Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Thailand, The Best Music Tours in Thailand, The Tours for Animal Lovers in Thailand, The Best Volunteering Tours in Thailand, The Best Photography Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best Self Drive Tours in Thailand, The Best Safaris in Thailand, The Best Budget Safaris in Thailand, The Best Nightlife Tours in Thailand, The Best Religious Tours in Thailand, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in Thailand, The Best Walking Tours in Thailand, The Best Honeymoon Tours in Thailand, The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Luxury Tours to Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand, The Best Contiki Tours to Thailand, or The Best G Adventures Tours to Thailand for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 3-Day Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Rai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok, The Best 10-Day Tours from Chiang Mai, The Best 10-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best 10-Day Tours from Chiang Rai, The Best 2-Week Tours from Bangkok, The Best 2-Week Tours from Chiang Rai, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Phuket for more package tour options.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.