Co van Kessel Bicycle- and Boat tours Bangkok

All Co van Kessel tours include the following (when appropriate):

• Experienced English speaking local guides
• Safe, well-maintained bicycle (city or mountain bike)
• Bicycle helmet (upon request)
• Drinking water enroute
• Boat & ferry rides where appropriate 
• 24-hour emergency insurance

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.  As such, our tours do not go to typical mass tourism attractions like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Jim Thompson House, etc.  We go behind the scenes into the local communities to places that are typically inaccessible to the average traveler.  Please do not be concerned about duplicating location visits on your own during the rest of your time in Bangkok.

Joining one of our bicycle tours in Bangkok is a surprisingly refreshing adventure year round.  The activity of cycling (as opposed to walking), will always create a breeze to help cool you down. We are also aided by the fact that Bangkok terrain is inherently very flat and we cycle at a leisurely pace.  In addition, plenty of cold drinks and rest stops along the way will keep you refreshed for the journey.

We will never cancel a tour due to rain!  The weather in Bangkok is unpredictable and rain can occur at any time, especially during the rainy season of July-September.  Rain is also a very localized phenomenon, happening in small pockets in places while being completely dry only a few kilometers away.  In our vast experience doing the tours, we know that heavy rains rarely last more than 30 minutes and our guides know very well where to take our customers for cover during the deluge.  In light rain, we provide ponchos to our customers and cycle on.  Often times, the rain will offer a refreshing break from the tropical heat.

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.

FOR YOUR OWN CONVENIENCE
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. 

The vast majority of our guides are English speaking local Thais.  During certain peak times of the year (ie. July, August), we may have additional Dutch speaking guides available.

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.

Our bicycle tours are not designed for cycling enthusiasts.  We cycle at a leisurely pace and make frequent stops at interesting destinations along the way.  Children as young as five years and seniors as old as 80 years have joined our tour with no issues.  That being said, we do cycle through narrow alleyways and upon raised footpaths over water, so a certain level of balance and comfort on a bike is required.

Unfortunately, the tour is not appropriate for people who are not comfortable handling a bike and there is no possibility for non-cyclers to join their cycling friends on a tour (ie. via motorbike, tandem bike, or rickshaw)

We do not have any tandem bikes as they will not work in the tight spaces and sharp corners of our tour route.

We do not have any electric bikes. Bangkok is extremely flat and easy to cycle, so we do not find electric bikes to be necessary.

• For larger groups (10+) it is usually not a problem to book a private tour.  In our peak summer months (July-Aug.) this may not apply.

• During non-peak periods (March – June; Sep. – Oct.) it may be possible to book a private tour for smaller groups (ie. 4-8 persons.

• Please send your enquiries to [email protected]. Additional charges may apply depending on the number of participants booked.

Yes, we are happy to work with you in planning teambuilding or other corporate events based on our tours.  In the past, we have organized such events for a variety of corporate clients locally and abroad (Red Hat, Air France-KLM, Accor Group, Elsevier Health Sciences, etc.).

We have designed our own custom yellow Co van Kessel city bikes to give our guests the ultimate local Bangkok experience.  This means our bicycles are comfortable delivering a straight-up position to look around, open frame to easily step on/off,  All of our bikes are adjustable in size and we have bikes suitable for both smaller and taller people.

• Comfortable and straight-up position for a better connection with the environment
• Step-through frame to facilitate easy mounting / dismounting
• Hand-brakes
• Basket to bring along bags, camera’s etc.

On our bicycle tours you don’t have to wear a helmet. However, if you feel like wearing a helmet just ask your guide who will provide you with one.