Kayaking in Bangkok at Nong Bon Lake: Hours, Fees and How to Book (2026)

Kayiwa · October 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Most people see Bangkok through temples, malls, markets and traffic. I wanted a different afternoon, so I went kayaking. Nong Bon Lake Sports Center is a public park in the east of the city with a big reservoir, a cycling path, sports courts and a water-sports centre where you can paddle, sail and windsurf. Entry is free, and it feels nothing like central Bangkok.

This guide covers what the video doesn’t spell out: the opening hours (the park and the water sports run on different schedules), the membership fee for foreigners, how booking works through the BKK Active app, what to wear, and the rules to know before you go.

Nong Bon Lake Sports Center at a glance

The park is in Prawet District, in eastern Bangkok, close to Suan Luang Rama IX Park. It is built around a large reservoir, with landscaped green space, a cycling route and facilities for running, exercise, team sports and water sports. There is more open space here than most visitors expect to find in Bangkok.

Detail	What to know
Address	Soi 43, Chaloem Phrakiat Rama 9 Road, Nong Bon, Prawet, Bangkok 10260
Park hours	Daily, 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Water-sports hours	12:00 to 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Entry	Free
Water-sports membership	Annual fee. Foreigners pay 300 baht (ages 8 to 60) or 150 baht (61 and over). Thai residents pay 20 to 60 baht depending on age.
Booking	Reserve through the BKK Active app, formerly CSTD Smart Member
Water sports offered	Kayaking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, with lessons available
Phone	02-328-0236

Fees and hours are taken from the official Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) page, checked on 5 October 2026.

The hours that catch people out

The park opens at 4:30 a.m., but kayaking does not. The water-sports centre runs in two periods, 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. If you turn up at sunrise hoping to paddle, you will be walking round the lake instead.

Plan your paddle for the afternoon. If midday Bangkok sun is not your thing, the second session from 3:00 p.m. is the better bet. Schedules, equipment and weather can all change, so if you are travelling specifically to kayak, sail or paddleboard, call 02-328-0236 or check the app first.

How to book: BKK Active

Water sports here are not walk-up. You need an annual membership and a reservation, both handled through Bangkok’s sports app. It used to be called CSTD Smart Member. From 5 January 2026 it became BKK Active. The official Nong Bon page still mentions the “CSTD application”, so don’t be thrown if you see the old name. If you already had a CSTD Smart Member account, check that it works when you log in.

Install BKK Active and register an account.
Sign up for the water-sports membership. The annual fee depends on age and nationality: 300 baht for foreigners aged 8 to 60, 150 baht for foreigners aged 61 and over.
Reserve your session. Bangkok says reservations can be made one day in advance, starting at 6:00 a.m.
Arrive in time for your session and follow the staff’s instructions.

Requirements can differ between activities, so check the exact one you want in the app. I would sort out the account the day before rather than trying to work out registration at the counter.

What to wear and bring

Assume you will get wet. In the video I paddle in a cap, a plain T-shirt and a life jacket, which is about as complicated as it needs to be.

Clothes: light, breathable, quick-drying sportswear. A T-shirt and shorts or sports trousers work well.
Shoes: footwear that can get wet, not the pair you need to keep dry.
Sun: sunscreen, a hat and plenty of drinking water.
Valuables: a waterproof pouch or dry bag for your phone, wallet and camera. Strap or case anything you take on the water.
Safety gear: wear the equipment the centre requires and follow staff instructions.

The published information doesn’t set a strict dress code for kayaking. If you are unsure about clothing or footwear, ask the centre.

What else you can do at Nong Bon

Kayaking is the focus of the video, but Nong Bon is a working public sports park. Locals come here to exercise, and you can fit several activities into one visit.

More water sports: canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding, with instruction available if you would rather learn than go out alone.
Cycling: a 4.2 km path around the park, away from Bangkok’s road traffic.
Running, jogging and walking beside the reservoir.
Court sports: basketball, futsal and sepak takraw.
Outdoor exercise equipment for general fitness.
Picnic areas and green space for a break between activities.
A dog park, with bathrooms and parking on site.

That mix makes it easy for a group with different tastes. One person can paddle while the others cycle, run or sit under a tree.

One reminder: the park’s opening hours and each facility’s schedule are not the same thing. Some activities need registration, a membership, a reservation or payment through BKK Active, and availability can change with weather, maintenance, events or equipment. If there is one sport you are travelling for, confirm it first.

Park rules to know before you go

Bangkok’s official Nong Bon information lists what is not allowed:

Smoking and drinking alcohol
Gambling
Trading or selling without permission
Damaging trees or park property
Flying drones

The drone rule matters if you make videos. A handheld camera or a securely mounted action camera is the sensible choice on the water. Also keep the lake clean, stay out of restricted areas and respect other park users. Conditions can change quickly, and staff can restrict or stop activities for safety, so do what they ask.

A different side of Bangkok

Bangkok is known for temples, street food, shopping centres, markets, nightlife and skyscrapers. Nong Bon is a reminder that being active outdoors can be part of a Bangkok trip too.

Once you are out on the lake, the mood changes. The traffic and crowded pavements give way to water, trees, open sky, boats and a long cable-stayed bridge with a red pylon. In the video I go from getting onto the water to paddling around the lake and seeing the park from the middle of it.

Make a day of it

You don’t have to come for kayaking alone. A simple plan: walk or cycle the park earlier in the day, kayak in the 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. session, then relax on the grass afterwards. Nong Bon works well if you are looking for outdoor things to do in Bangkok, or somewhere less touristy.

I have filmed here before too. See Nong Bon Lake Park: Pigeons, Giant Catfish and a Quiet Hour in Bangkok, and the Srinakarin Train Night Market, which is in the same part of the city and a good way to end the evening. The Thailand guide has costs, routes and the dishes worth looking for.

Frequently asked questions

Is Nong Bon Lake Sports Center free?

Entry to the park is free. Water sports need an annual membership and a reservation.

Can foreigners go kayaking at Nong Bon?

Yes. The official page lists a foreigner membership rate of 300 baht a year for ages 8 to 60 and 150 baht for ages 61 and over.

What time can you kayak at Nong Bon?

The water-sports centre runs from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. and from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. The park itself opens earlier, at 4:30 a.m.

Do I need to book?

Yes. Reservations go through BKK Active and can be made one day ahead, from 6:00 a.m.

What is BKK Active?

It is the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s app for finding and booking sports facilities and activities. It replaced CSTD Smart Member in January 2026.

Can I fly a drone at Nong Bon?

No. Drones are on the list of prohibited activities.

Sources

Information checked on 5 October 2026. Opening hours, fees, membership rules and booking procedures change, so confirm the latest details with the centre on 02-328-0236 or in the BKK Active app before you travel.

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