Ko Kret Day Trip from Bangkok — how to get there and what to do
Ko Kret (also written Koh Kret) is a small island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River at Pak Kret, in Nonthaburi Province, about 20 km north of central Bangkok. There is no bridge, so you arrive by boat: an express boat or a bus to Pak Kret, then a short ferry crossing from the pier behind Wat Sanam Nuea. The island is open daily 07:00–20:00 and there is no entrance fee. This guide covers both routes, the operator's own express boat fares, and what to do once you step off the ferry.
Why go: a Mon pottery island on the river
Ko Kret is a Mon community island. Mon people settled here from about 200 years ago, in the period after King Taksin, and again in the reign of King Rama III. Today it is a model OTOP (One Tambon, One Product) village and one of Thailand's recognised centres of Mon pottery, the red unglazed earthenware the island is known for. Ko Kret pottery art is used as the provincial symbol of Nonthaburi.
For a visitor this means a compact, walkable island: pottery shops and workshops where you can watch pots being thrown and fired, a pottery museum, one important temple, and lanes of food stalls — all without a bridge, a car park or a ticket gate.
How the island came to be
Ko Kret is artificial. A canal was cut to shorten the river in 1722, late in the Ayutthaya period, and the bend it bypassed was left as an island, then called “Koh Salakun”. It is one of the same family of canal cuts that gave Bangkok its other river islands.
The name is Mon: “Koh Kred” means a small canal that connects to the large river, a direct reference to the cut that created the island. The wider story of the river's meanders and the settlements that grew on them is in our guide to the river's history and island settlements.
Getting there, option 1: express boat to Pak Kret (N33), then the ferry
The river route uses the Green Yellow Line of the Chao Phraya Express Boat, the longest line in the network. It runs between Pak Kret (N33) and Sathorn (S6), Monday to Friday. Buy a ticket to Pak Kret, not to Nonthaburi, and stay on to the northern terminus.
From the Pak Kret terminus it is a short walk to the ferry pier behind Wat Sanam Nuea, where the crossing to Ko Kret leaves. The crossing is very short, it is a local commuter boat rather than a tour, and you pay in cash on the island side.
| Line | Route | Day | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Yellow Line | Pak Kret (N33) – Nonthaburi (N30) | Monday–Friday | 17 THB |
| Green Yellow Line | Nonthaburi (N30) – Sathorn (S6) | Monday–Friday | 24 THB |
| Green Yellow Line | Pak Kret (N33) – Sathorn (S6), full route | Monday–Friday | 36 THB |
| Orange Line | Nonthaburi (N30) – Rajsingkorn | Daily | 19 THB flat |
| Yellow Line | Nonthaburi (N30) – Sathorn (S6) | Monday–Friday | 24 THB flat |
| Red Line | Nonthaburi (N30) – Sathorn (S6) | Monday–Friday | 33 THB (standard 50 THB) |
The Blue Flag tourist boat does not serve Pak Kret, so the Green Yellow Line is the line you want; it also skips stops on its way north, which is why the distance-based fares above apply. The flag system, piers and payment rules are explained line by line in our Chao Phraya Express Boat lines and fares guide.
Timing note: the Green Yellow Line is a weekday commuter service. If your Ko Kret day falls on a weekend, use the overland route below, or the Sunday boat described further down.
Getting there, option 2: overland to the Wat Sanam Nuea pier
By road, head for Pak Kret. From the Pak Kret intersection, drive about 1 km toward Pak Kret Pier, turn left where the Wat Sanam Nuea sign points, and continue 500 m to the temple, where you can park. The ferry to Ko Kret leaves from the pier behind the temple.
By public bus, services 32, 51, 52 and 104, and the air-conditioned buses 5 and 6, all run to Pak Kret Pier. Nonthaburi town itself is about 20 km from Bangkok and reachable by road or river. A taxi or ride-hailing car is the simplest option if you are carrying a group; ask for “Ko Kret” or “Wat Sanam Nuea” rather than for the island itself, since the driver has to drop you at the mainland pier. For getting to the river piers in Bangkok first, see getting to the river piers.
The Sunday express-boat service from Maharaj Pier
Chao Phraya Express Boat also runs a service from Maharaj Pier to Ko Kret on Sundays. That is the operator's own arrangement rather than the weekday commuter line, so treat it as a bonus if your trip happens to fall on a Sunday — confirm the current pattern with the operator before you build your day around it.
On the island: the pottery village and the museum
Ko Kret's lanes are lined with pottery shops and small workshops. This is not a staged demonstration village: the island is an OTOP community, so the earthenware on sale is made locally, and in several places you can watch the work in progress.
The Ko Kret Pottery Museum occupies “Kwan Aman House” at 19 Moo 7, Ko Kret, Pak Kret, Nonthaburi 11120 (tel 02-584-5086). It is open 9:00–17:00 daily, admission is free, and it displays traditional Mon pottery alongside the history of the craft on the island.
Buying pottery: pieces are sold as-is with no shipping desk, so bring a bag or wrap and plan to carry your purchase for the rest of the day. Cash is the norm.
On the island: Wat Poramai Yikawat and the walk
The island's must-see temple is Wat Poramai Yikawat. Its Phra Maha Raman Chedi is modelled on Myanmar's Shwedagon Pagoda, a reminder of the Mon and Burmese roots of the community, and the temple is also home to the Mutao (Leaning) Pagoda, a symbol of Ko Kret and the image most visitors come away with.
Beyond the temple, the thing to do on Ko Kret is walk. The island is small and flat, the lanes are shared with bicycles, and the perimeter path keeps the river in view. Small boats also loop the island from the pier for those who would rather sit than walk; these are local boats, not a scheduled service, and they are paid in cash. Our riverside sights guide covers the rest of what is on and around the river.
Food to try on Ko Kret
The island is as much an eating trip as a pottery trip. Local specialities to look for:
- Fried flowers — a symbol of Ko Kret, sold in paper cones along the lanes
- Thod man nor kala — a fish cake made with a local plant
- Khao chae — rice in chilled scented water, the classic hot-season dish
- Khanom jeen — fermented rice noodles with curry
- Kalamae — a dense, chewy palm-sugar sweet
Stalls on the main walking route are busiest at the weekend. Bring cash; card payment is unusual on the island.
A half-day itinerary
Ko Kret works as a half day on its own, or as a full day with a slow lunch. This is the shape most visitors follow.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| Morning | Green Yellow express boat from Sathorn (S6) north to Pak Kret (N33), Monday–Friday; or bus/taxi to the Wat Sanam Nuea pier |
| Late morning | Short ferry crossing from behind Wat Sanam Nuea; step off on the island side and pay in cash |
| Midday | Walk the pottery lanes; Pottery Museum (“Kwan Aman House”), 9:00–17:00, free |
| Early afternoon | Wat Poramai Yikawat, the Phra Maha Raman Chedi and the Leaning Pagoda |
| Afternoon | Lunch or snacks from the stalls — fried flowers, thod man nor kala, khanom jeen, kalamae |
| Late afternoon | Walk the island path, or take one of the small boats that loop the island, then ferry back to Pak Kret |
Practical notes and FAQ
Ko Kret is a working community island, not a resort, and the practical rules are simple. There is no bridge, so every arrival and departure is by boat. Local boats — the crossing and the island loop — take cash, and the fares are small; pay on the island side of the crossing. The island is open daily 07:00–20:00 with no entrance fee, but individual shops, workshops and the museum keep their own hours. Weekends are the busiest time, both on the island and on the boats. Bring water, sun protection and shoes you can walk in, and carry a bag for anything fragile you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Ko Kret from Bangkok?
Two ways: the Green Yellow express boat to Pak Kret (N33) and then the ferry from the pier behind Wat Sanam Nuea, or overland to Pak Kret by bus (32, 51, 52, 104, and air-conditioned 5, 6) or taxi and then the same ferry. There is no bridge.
Is there a ferry straight from central Bangkok to Ko Kret?
Chao Phraya Express Boat runs from Maharaj Pier to Ko Kret on Sundays. On other days you change at Pak Kret and take the local crossing.
How much is the ferry to Ko Kret?
The crossing is short and cheap, and you pay in cash on the island side. We do not quote a figure here because the fare is unpublished — ask at the pier on the day.
What are Ko Kret's opening hours and is there an entrance fee?
The island is open daily 07:00–20:00 and there is no entrance fee. Shops, workshops and the Pottery Museum (9:00–17:00 daily, free) keep their own hours.
How long does a Ko Kret day trip take?
Half a day is enough for the pottery lanes, the museum, the temple and lunch. Add the river journey at each end and it comfortably fills a day from central Bangkok.
Can I cycle or walk around Ko Kret?
Yes. The island is small and flat and the perimeter path is walkable. Bicycles are available on the island, and small boats also loop the island if you would rather not walk.
What is Ko Kret known for?
Mon pottery. Ko Kret is a model OTOP village and a centre of Mon earthenware, with pottery shops, workshops and the Pottery Museum; the island's pottery art is the provincial symbol of Nonthaburi.
When is the best time to visit Ko Kret?
Weekday mornings are quietest, which also suits the weekday-only Green Yellow express boat. Weekends are busiest but have the fullest selection of food stalls and shops.
If you are planning more than one day on the water, start with our complete Chao Phraya River guide, and check what's on along the river before you fix your dates.