Bangkok Canal Tour by Boat and Bike

ThailandBiking’s full-day boat-and-bike tour starts at the operator’s own shop on Rama III Road, where you’re fitted for a bike and helmet before heading into parts of Bangkok most tours skip. Two kilometres in, the route reaches a local fresh market selling everything from pig heads to fresh-cut flowers, then continues through small riverside communities to a stop at a “Golden Temple”, where you can go inside and the guide explains its history.

The second half of the day swaps wheels for paddles. After riding along canals lined with dense greenery, the group reaches a boat shop and picks up a canoe or kayak for the next stretch. The canals here hold more than 60 recorded bird species, and it’s a decent bet for spotting a kingfisher or a Brahminy Kite circling overhead, a different pace after hours of cycling, and the part of the day that stands out most from a standard city bike tour. A Thai lunch at a local restaurant breaks up the two halves.

Watch out: children under 12 aren’t accepted on this tour, and the operator can refuse service, without a refund, to anyone showing signs of intoxication.

Insider Tip: this is a full 8-hour day split fairly evenly between cycling and kayaking, so it suits someone comfortable in the saddle for a few hours rather than a first-time rider looking for a short spin.