Ride a classic longtail boat during this 2-hour canal (klong) tour. Explore the ancient waterways of Bangkok and see how locals live along her famous canals. This tour is perfect for the non-cyclist, photo enthusiast, and anybody with a curious mind.
Historically, canals have been the expressways of choice for the Thai people, resulting in the designation ‘Venice of the East’ being bestowed upon Bangkok by western visitors. Join us for a two hour exploration along the ancient waterways of Thonburi where we observe the many elements of the ‘canal life’ that once characterized all of Bangkok before wheeled motor vehicles came into prominence.
After a short walk from our office to the pier, we will board a longtail boat to take us across the Chao Phraya River to Thonburi. Here, we will enter the canal system and pass by an abundance of interesting wooden homes on stilts, temples and local shops oriented towards life along the water. En route, we will stop by to explore some of these sights up close.
We pride ourselves in being an alternative to the standard tourist experience by taking our customers "off the beaten path" to show them the REAL Bangkok, away from Bangkok’s typical mass tourism attractions (Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho etc). We go behind the scenes into the local communities to places that are typically inaccessible to the average traveler, where our individual fascinations emerge.
Due to the ever changing cityscape, festivals and overall dynamic character of Bangkok we don't have a pre-defined routing that is "set in stone" making each day a new adventure for all of us.All our tours are run at a leisurely pace and typically have several short (10-20 minutes) stops for drinks, snacks and/or sights.
Our mission is to offer a travel experience that is both meaningful and memorable. Every tour draws on Co’s deep knowledge of the city and his instinct for the unseen. We don’t overload you with endless commentary—instead, we let the journey speak for itself. Sharing stories only where they enrich the experience with glimpses into everyday Thai life, told from the heart by local Thai guides, in English.
Along the way, you may be accompanied by one of our junior guides—local talent whom we proudly train and mentor on the job. It’s part of our commitment to giving back, creating opportunities, and growing a new generation of storytellers who love and understand their city as deeply as we do.
By design, our tours do not contain much talking. Our philosophy is to focus more on the interactive experience of cycling within the local community rather than presentations about facts, figures, or history. In that respect, language does not play a large factor in your tour experience, and it is unlikely that you will feel like you've missed out on anything by not having a native language guide.
On our tours we are guests at local and more conservative communities, including temples. Please allow us to ask you to dress more conservatively out of respect for the local community. A top that covers the shoulders and a sarong for covering the legs in a temple is always appreciated in Thai culture.
We recommend you wear light, comfortable clothing with a hat to keep the sun off your head. For footwear, we recommend closed shoes or sports sandals for maximum protection and control during your tour. For your own safety, we discourage the use of ‘flip flops’ as they often compromise the ability of the rider to control his/her bicycle on the tour. The liberal use of sunscreen is also highly encouraged.
Our tours are on an all-in basis and there is no need to bring any food or drinks. You may however want to think consider bringing the following:
For children bicycles and more information on children on our bike tours, please read our dedicated blog posts about kids.
From the beginning (early 1990’s) we have made a conscious decision to support the communities we cycle through and base our decisions upon this philosophy. ‘Sharing is caring’ is embedded in Thai culture and Buddhist beliefs.
“We cycle with our heart, not our feet.”
Chanmanee Phonphakdee
Co-Founder
Chief Happiness Officer & Community Manager
We accept all international payment methods (Credit Card, iDeal, Sofort etc) on our website. For cash payments at our office please select ‘’booking inquiry only’’ on the booking form. Cancelations up to 24 hours before departing time receive a 100% refund.
Children under the age of 12 years old receive a 25% discount on the adult price.
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Co van Kessel Bangkok tours operates this experience from our office at River City Bangkok. We are located on the ground floor (outside mall entrance) to the right of the main mall entrance.
We are conveniently located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and near Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong train- and MRT subway station.
Read more detailed directions on how to reach us on our 'how-to-find-us-page'.
Co van Kessel Bangkok tours operates this tour from our Tha Phra Chan office at Bangkok's old town Rattanakosin. Located in the Phra Chan pier only 5 minutes walk from the Royal Field (Sanam Luang) between the Grand Palace and Khao San Road.
Read more detailed directions on how to reach us on our 'how-to-find-us-page'.