Co van Kessel: Bangkok 5-Hour Bicycle and Boat Tour with Meal
Highlights
- About 15 km of cycling through Chinatown and Thonburi
- Longtail boat through the Venice of the East canals
- Green plantation pockets inside the city
- Local Thai meal and a temple visit included
Description
This five hour combination shows you more faces of Bangkok than any single ride: the busy streets of Chinatown, the canals that earned the city its Venice of the East name, and the quiet green plantation pockets that survive between the neighbourhoods. For more background and practical advice, see our Thonburi & the Canals guide.
Pricing
Adult
Age 12-99
THB 2,500per person
Child
Age 3-11
THB 1,875per person
Infant
Age 0-2
Free
per person
Highlighted reviews from travelers
See all reviews →Meet at River City Bangkok
Departure times07:0013:00Meet on the ground floor outside the mall entrance, to the right of the main entrance. Tours depart at 07:00 and 13:00. You get a fitted city bike and an optional free helmet.
Pedal into the narrow alleyways and backstreets around Talat Noi and Chinatown, past shophouses selling everything from Buddhist amulets to recycled truck engines. Around 95% of the roughly 15 km route runs on back roads, alleys and footpaths, with 10 to 20 minute stops at family-run shops for cold drinks and Thai snacks.
Roll the bikes onto a commuter ferry and cross the Chao Phraya River alongside locals on their daily journey, with wide views of the Bangkok skyline from the water.
Board a classic longtail boat and cruise into the klong network that earned Bangkok its Venice of the East name, gliding past wooden stilt homes that have housed the same families for generations, canal-side temples and shops that still face the water.
Back in the saddle, follow elevated pathways through the leftover plantation pockets on the Thonburi side, unexpected stretches of green in the middle of the city, and stop at a neighbourhood temple to see the everyday role Buddhism plays in Thai life.
Sit down for a local-style meal at a family-run eatery, typically in the second half of the tour, with vegetarian and dietary options available if you tell your guide. Then ride the backstreets home to River City Bangkok.
Included
- Experienced local guide
- Custom city bike
- Helmet (optional, free)
- Ferry river crossing
- Longtail boat ride
- Local-style light meal
- Drinks en route
- Accident insurance
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (the tour starts and ends at River City Bangkok)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tips for the guide (optional)
- Closed shoes or sports sandals (flip-flops are discouraged)
- Sunglasses, hat and sunblock
- Camera or smartphone
- Copy of your passport (for insurance)
- Raincoat (optional; one is provided if needed)
This tour starts at a fixed meeting point. Please make your own way there.
River City Bangkok
River City Bangkok is the riverside complex in Si Phraya, just off Charoen Krung Road; any taxi or Grab driver knows it by name. Coming by river, get off at Si Phraya pier next to the Royal Orchid Sheraton and walk a couple of minutes, and from BTS Saphan Taksin you can pick up the Chao Phraya Express boat at Sathorn pier. Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your departure time (07:00 or 13:00).
Check-in at River City Bangkok opens 15 to 30 minutes before your 07:00 or 13:00 departure, and the first job is getting fitted to your bike. Helmets are free if you want one, baby seats and child seats are available, and there are small bikes for kids of about 5 to 10, so families can all ride their own size.
The 15 km sounds like more than it is: it is spread across five hours at an easy pace, broken up by the ferry crossing, the longtail boat leg and regular stops. You ride back streets and alleyways rather than main roads, single file behind the guide through the tight sections of Chinatown.
The Thai meal comes at a local-style place along the route, and drinks are handed out as you go. Vegetarian or other dietary needs are no problem if you mention them when booking.
The morning departure is the cooler option and catches Chinatown’s markets at their busiest; the 13:00 ride finishes as the day softens. Either way, ponchos appear if rain does.
FAQs
Please arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure so there is time to check in and get fitted to your bike.
Tours run rain or shine. In light rain ponchos are handed out; in a heavy downpour the guide finds shelter and waits it out, usually no more than about 30 minutes.
Yes, all ages are welcome. Children under 12 join at the child price and infants ride free: baby seats fit little ones up to about 10 kg, child seats up to about 35 kg, and small bikes are available for ages 5 to 10. Child helmets are available on request.
Light, comfortable clothing with shoulders covered works best, especially at temple stops. Closed shoes or sports sandals are safer than flip-flops.
Yes. Cancelling or moving your booking to another date is free up to 24 hours before the tour starts, and anything you have paid is refunded in full. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded. If we have to cancel, for example for weather or safety, you can move to another date or take a full refund.
Group departures run with a small minimum number of guests. If your departure cannot go ahead, we will contact you to move you to another time or refund you.
You might also like these Bangkok tours
Reviews
Based on 92 reviews
- Ilgın ErdoğanAugust 11, 20265.0
Starting with a careful bike fitting immediately built confidence. Frequent head counts made the busy sections feel controlled. The route used corners of the city we would never have found alone. Canal-side temples and shops showed how much life still faces the water. The vegetarian option had been prepared without any fuss. My cousin rode with me.
- BinyaminJuly 8, 20265.0
The morning departure gave us cooler air and lively Chinatown markets. The guide checked brakes and saddle height before departure. The elevated paths required attention but added to the adventure. A short pause on the boat made the next green section feel easy. Snacks and water appeared regularly rather than all at once. My city bike shifted smoothly and the brakes responded well. The commuter ferry crossing offered a broad view of the skyline. This tour made a huge city feel personal.
- Kutay ÖztürkJune 15, 20265.0
Our family was unsure about fifteen kilometres, but the pace was gentle. Local stories were shared at quiet stops where everyone could hear. Talat Noi's old shophouses and workshops were fascinating from the saddle. We carried small day bags.
- Bo-Ram HanMay 15, 20265.0
Bangkok looked completely different from these back lanes. The guide knew when to pause for photographs without blocking residents. Returning through Chinatown completed the loop nicely. Loading the bicycles onto the boat was handled efficiently. Lunch portions were enough without making the return ride heavy. My cousin rode with me.
- NadavMay 9, 20265.0
The combination of cycling and boating kept the day fresh. Our guide signalled every turn clearly and watched the back of the group. A few tight turns rewarded confident handling rather than high fitness. Passing under small bridges was fun for the children in our group. The neighbourhood temple stop felt respectful and uncommercial. The route was mostly flat and did not require athletic fitness. The elevated paths required attention but added to the adventure. It became a highlight of our city stay.