Co van Kessel Bangkok Tours

Co van Kessel is a well-known Bangkok tour company, best known for guided bicycle rides through the city's backstreets, canals and riverside communities. It is named after its founder, whose detailed knowledge of the lanes, footpaths and waterways of greater Bangkok shaped the routes, and the company describes its approach as sustainable and community-driven. Rather than queuing at the busiest sights, the tours deliberately head for neighbourhoods most visitors never see: narrow alleys between houses, temple courtyards, markets and the quieter parts of the Thonburi side. The main base is at River City Bangkok on Charoen Krung Road, with a second meeting point at Tha Phra Chan in the old town and a branch in Chiang Mai.

Bicycle tours form the core of the programme. CO Original and CO Classical are three-hour rides, CO Original Extended runs to four and a half hours, and CO Traverse is a four-hour ride that includes a meal. For a longer outing, CO Combo lasts five hours with a meal, CO All Day takes eight hours, and CO By Night is an evening ride of about three hours with dinner. Alongside the bikes, CO Canaling is a two-hour longtail boat trip through the canals, CO Rocket Boating combines several types of boat over five hours, CO Walking is a two-hour walking tour, and CO By Tuk-Tuk mixes tuk-tuk rides and walking over four hours.

Routes can involve narrow paths and busy lanes, so riders should be comfortable on a bicycle, though the pace is relaxed and guides stop frequently. Bring sun protection and water, wear clothes suitable for temple visits and expect to get a little hot. The company holds Tourism Authority of Thailand licence number 11/10279. Bookings can be made through the website, by phone or by WhatsApp.

Co van Kessel suits active travellers, couples, families with confident older children and repeat visitors who want to see a side of Bangkok away from the main sights. The night ride is a good choice for anyone who finds daytime heat difficult. Prices for the shorter tours are moderate, with meals included on the longer options.

The River City meeting point is at 23 Charoen Krung Road, Soi 24, in Samphanthawong, beside the Si Phraya pier area on the Chao Phraya. Ratchawong and Marine Department piers on the express boat route are nearby, and the Talat Noi quarter and Loy La Long are a short walk away.