Central Thailand cycling & culture tour
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Central Thailand |
| trip type: | Introductory cycling holidays |
| departures: | Tuesday departures throughout the year |
| price: | From US $430 (4 days) excluding flights. Single supplement US $100. Children aged 12-16 years receive a 25% discount |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 3 travellers reviews
the amazing things you'll be doing
Our Central Thailand Tour takes in the Floating Market, the Bridge over the River Kwai and the temples of Ayutthaya in one great little adventure.
Combining gentle cycling with the splendid culture of Thailand, this tour is a must for anyone that wants to get out into the countryside and really experience Thailand's culture and history. We ride along side the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong, the major rivers of central Thailand and many of the canals that caused old Siam to be dubbed "Venice of the East".
We see all the main sites and learn about the unique heritage of Siam and its people. But perhaps more importantly, we will get to experience the unique spirit of Thailand out in the central plains. Travelling by bicycle we slow down to see the pace of life in the villages and rice fields and experience the real Thailand. This is the tour is perfect for those that want to see the sites but also want a real experience...
What do we see? We visit Damnoen Saduak, the famous and rather touristy floating market before boating and riding into the very untouristy backwater canals to see fruit plantations and traditional Thai markets. In Kanchanaburi we stop to see the Bridge over the River Kwai, Wat Prasat Muang Singh, the Death Railway and the Kraset Caves are visited in between riding through the countryside and teak plantations.
We drive towards Ayutthaya via the scenic rice fields of Suphanburi and discover temples of this ancient capital such as Wat Yai Chai Mongkol and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. On our final day we wake up early and visit the morning market to buy fresh food to join the local people making merit by giving alms to the monk. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we enjoy a really nice ride through paddy fields and countryside to Bang pa-in, the summer palace of King Chulalongkorn, before driving back to Bangkok.
What is the riding like? This tour is a combination of sightseeing and cycling. We ride a very manageable thirty kilometers a day but because we cover quite a lot of ground and take in all the major sites the days are quite full and action packed. The riding is fairly easy and we follow a wide range of trails ranging from canal paths, very minor roads and jeep-trails. There are no long rides, no hills and this tour is fully supported and suitable for all levels of riders. It has proved very popular with families.
Where do we stay? We spend two nights on the river at the magical Cliff View Resort, close to Kanchaburi and one night at the comfortable and well located Kruang Si river Hotel in Ayuthaya. Both hotels have great riverside locations, are nice and comfortable and have swimming pools.
Anything else? Although we say it ourselves, this tour really is the best way to discover Central Thailand in a short time. The temples, markets and other sites are genuinely interesting and worth a visit, but the beauty of our tour is that you get to see everything in between. Travelling by bicycle we get to take in all the wonderful snapshots of Thailand and Thai life that will be the most memorable aspects of your holiday. Throw in some mouth-watering Thai meals, a guide that knows how to reveal the little secrets of Asia and you have a fantastic four-day bicycling experience.
Of course, water, soft drinks and snacks are all included every day and we supply your Trek mountain bike and helmet. The trip is fully supported by our air conditioned minibus, fully equipped with two-way radios.
To turn a short trip into a real holiday you can add our Khao Yai Wine Country tour to this tour and receive a 5% discount on the total price.
Combining gentle cycling with the splendid culture of Thailand, this tour is a must for anyone that wants to get out into the countryside and really experience Thailand's culture and history. We ride along side the Chao Phraya and Mae Klong, the major rivers of central Thailand and many of the canals that caused old Siam to be dubbed "Venice of the East".
We see all the main sites and learn about the unique heritage of Siam and its people. But perhaps more importantly, we will get to experience the unique spirit of Thailand out in the central plains. Travelling by bicycle we slow down to see the pace of life in the villages and rice fields and experience the real Thailand. This is the tour is perfect for those that want to see the sites but also want a real experience...
What do we see? We visit Damnoen Saduak, the famous and rather touristy floating market before boating and riding into the very untouristy backwater canals to see fruit plantations and traditional Thai markets. In Kanchanaburi we stop to see the Bridge over the River Kwai, Wat Prasat Muang Singh, the Death Railway and the Kraset Caves are visited in between riding through the countryside and teak plantations.
We drive towards Ayutthaya via the scenic rice fields of Suphanburi and discover temples of this ancient capital such as Wat Yai Chai Mongkol and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. On our final day we wake up early and visit the morning market to buy fresh food to join the local people making merit by giving alms to the monk. After returning to the hotel for breakfast, we enjoy a really nice ride through paddy fields and countryside to Bang pa-in, the summer palace of King Chulalongkorn, before driving back to Bangkok.
What is the riding like? This tour is a combination of sightseeing and cycling. We ride a very manageable thirty kilometers a day but because we cover quite a lot of ground and take in all the major sites the days are quite full and action packed. The riding is fairly easy and we follow a wide range of trails ranging from canal paths, very minor roads and jeep-trails. There are no long rides, no hills and this tour is fully supported and suitable for all levels of riders. It has proved very popular with families.
Where do we stay? We spend two nights on the river at the magical Cliff View Resort, close to Kanchaburi and one night at the comfortable and well located Kruang Si river Hotel in Ayuthaya. Both hotels have great riverside locations, are nice and comfortable and have swimming pools.
Anything else? Although we say it ourselves, this tour really is the best way to discover Central Thailand in a short time. The temples, markets and other sites are genuinely interesting and worth a visit, but the beauty of our tour is that you get to see everything in between. Travelling by bicycle we get to take in all the wonderful snapshots of Thailand and Thai life that will be the most memorable aspects of your holiday. Throw in some mouth-watering Thai meals, a guide that knows how to reveal the little secrets of Asia and you have a fantastic four-day bicycling experience.
Of course, water, soft drinks and snacks are all included every day and we supply your Trek mountain bike and helmet. The trip is fully supported by our air conditioned minibus, fully equipped with two-way radios.
To turn a short trip into a real holiday you can add our Khao Yai Wine Country tour to this tour and receive a 5% discount on the total price.
travellers' tales
Seeing such a massive range of scenery, plus having a knowledgeable guide with us, to explain some of the history and culture of the places we visited. Awesome trip! Highly recommended. (more)
how this holiday makes a difference
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We passionately believe that Responsible Tourism can be of immense help to local communities; providing income, positive cultural exchanges and an incentive to protect the natural environment. Recognising that there is always room for improvement, we continually strive to narrow the gap between principle and practice.
Prior to our tours, we liaise with local community leaders to ensure we are welcome and in a manner that minimizes negative social and cultural impact. We visit local development and community projects specific to the region, encouraging our clients to donate and/or assist such projects in appropriate and sustainable manners. In Thailand’s most underprivileged communities, educational programs tend to remain highly anaemic. We realized inline with our social responsibility program, that not only did we have the capacity to help change this, but we had the obligation to do so. By working to improve educational programs within the region, there is a corresponding positive trickle effect. We are committed to being a catalyst for this effect by raising awareness and financial support. Every catalyst needs ignition and we found ours in the fall of 2006. It came by way of creating a cycling event called “The Tour of Hope.” The Tour of Hope is a 26 day cycling tour from Singapore to Bangkok, Thailand, tasked to raise money for two significant purposes: to fund educational programs for underprivileged regions in Thailand, and for cervical cancer research and treatment within Asia. All proceeds from the event were donated to JHPIEGO (a John Hopkins University non-profit affiliate). Through sensitive hands on experience, we encourage cross cultural interaction and education between clients and the local communities. This is achieved by limiting tour group sizes, which also minimises any social and environmental impact. We also assist in the development of local infrastructure such as rural pathways. We make sure that where and whenever possible our tours positively benefit the local community. We stay at locally owned accommodation and visit cottage industries for local handicraft souvenirs, generating income for local businesses. We employ and train local guides, drivers and assistants on all trips to ensure that the local community benefits not only short term but with increased employment opportunities for the future. Adopting a “carry in – carry out” policy, we actively engage in environmentally responsible practices to minimise tourist impact upon the local habitat. From biodegradable soaps to re-usable water containers, we provide clients with the best information and means to help them identify and implement effective ways to positively protect local nature and communities. It is a vital ethos that can be passed on and abided by all, long after the trip has ended.” |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |