Co van Kessel: Bangkok Chinatown and Thonburi 3-Hour Bicycle Tour
Highlights
- Chinatown's narrow alleyways, markets and backstreets
- Bangkok's largest flower market
- Ferry crossing to Thonburi's local communities
- Thai snacks and drinks at family-run shops
Description
Chinatown is best explored somewhere a tour bus cannot go. On this three hour ride you cycle through its narrow alleyways, markets and backstreets, past shophouses, hidden temples and spirit houses, in the middle of a neighbourhood in motion. For more background and practical advice, see our Bangkok Chinatown guide.
Pricing
Adult
Age 12-99
THB 1,250per person
Child
Age 3-11
THB 938per person
Infant
Age 0-2
Free
per person
Highlighted reviews from travelers
See all reviews →Meet at River City Bangkok
Departure times08:0014:00Meet on the ground floor outside the mall entrance, to the right of the main entrance. Tours depart at 08:00 and 14:00. You get a fitted city bike and an optional free helmet.
Ride into Chinatown's alleyways, markets and backstreets, past shophouses selling everything from Buddhist amulets to recycled truck engines, hidden temples, ritual paper burnings and spirit houses. About 95% of the roughly 12 km route uses back roads, alleys and footpaths, with snack and drink stops at family-run shops.
Pedal past Bangkok's largest flower market, a fragrant kaleidoscope of marigolds, orchids and jasmine, then roll the bikes onto a commuter ferry and cross the Chao Phraya River with views of the city skyline.
Cycle the slow-paced residential lanes of Thonburi, the historic third capital of Thailand, past diverse riverside communities, and stop at a local temple to see how Buddhism shapes everyday life.
Cross the Chao Phraya once more and ride the last stretch of backstreets to River City Bangkok, where the three-hour loop ends.
Included
- Experienced local guide
- Custom city bike
- Helmet (optional, free)
- Ferry river crossing
- Drinks and snacks en route
- Accident insurance
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (the tour starts and ends at River City Bangkok)
- Meals (drinks and snacks are included)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Tips for the guide (optional)
- Light, comfortable clothing and a hat
- Closed shoes or sports sandals (flip-flops are discouraged)
- Sunglasses 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 (08:00 or 14:00).
Check-in at River City Bangkok opens 15 to 30 minutes before your departure, at 08:00 or 14:00, with time to get fitted to your bike before rolling out. The morning ride is cooler and catches the flower market and Chinatown’s food streets at their liveliest.
Expect about 12 km at a genuinely easy pace: single file through the alleys behind your guide, then a ferry across the Chao Phraya with the bikes wheeled straight on board. Several stops of 10 to 20 minutes are built in, long enough to try Thai snacks at family-run shops and have a proper look around.
The Thonburi half is the contrast that makes the ride: quiet residential lanes, local temples and open skyline views back across the river. Baby seats, child seats and small bikes for ages 5 to 10 mean all ages genuinely can come along.
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.
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Reviews
Based on 79 reviews
- Raz GolanAugust 11, 20265.0
The bicycle route linked Chinatown and Thonburi beautifully. Bikes rolled onto the ferry with the skyline behind us. Thonburi felt calm after the intensity of the markets.
- Galit ShapiraJuly 27, 20265.0
Hidden temples and spirit houses appeared between everyday neighbourhoods. Children waved as we passed a residential lane in Thonburi. definately worth the early start.
- Yaara GolanJuly 21, 20265.0
Thonburi felt calm after the intensity of the markets. A short pause gave us a clear view back toward central Bangkok. The bicycle route linked Chinatown and Thonburi beautifully. As a solo traveller, joining the small group felt easy. Bikes rolled onto the ferry with the skyline behind us. We had already visited Chinatown on foot and still saw plenty new. Three hours passed remarkably quickly. Flower Market colours were worth the early start alone.
- Nursulu TulegenovJuly 1, 20265.0
A calm ride through busy Bangkok.
- VakhtangJune 4, 20265.0
The ferry crossing gave the tour a satisfying change of rhythm. The river breeze arrived exactly when the heat started building. Flower Market colours were worth the early start alone. The afternoon ride fitted perfectly after a quiet morning. The flower sellers were already arranging towers of marigolds. really well orgnaised.