Samut Songkhram Province marks the point where the long arm of western Thailand turns to meet the sprawling cityscape of Bangkok. That makes it an accessible place for travelers heading out of the capital; a stepping stone between the bustling streets and the white-sand beaches and karst peaks found further away.

One of the main draws are the striking, earthy floating markets that take place on the waterways of the region just as they have done for centuries. Along the canals of Tha Kha, these show up in a medley of sizzling food vendors bobbing on canoes, stacks of drifting coconuts, and pad Thai cooks with their kitchens mounted onto a kayak. Other famous water markets burst into life during the week and weekends in Damnoen Saduak, while bazaars also spill famously onto the railway tracks in Mae Klong.

Samut Songkhram tour guides can also reveal some stunning shrines on the peripheries of Bangkok in the form of Wat Bang Kung, an ancient Buddhist temple that's now overgrown by a venerable banyan tree. A trip to Wat Bang Khae Noi on the Mae Klong River, meanwhile, promises a glimpse of golden stupas and gloriously carved teak murals.