Co van Kessel

Bangkok's Original Bike Tour, Now in Two Cities

Co van Kessel runs its own guided tours in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand, mostly by bicycle but also by boat, on foot and by tuk-tuk. The homepage calls it "Bangkok's original bike tour," and the About page explains the name: Co van Kessel was a Dutchman who "pioneered bicycle tours in Bangkok more than 30 years ago," exploring the city's alleys and canals by mountain bike. He died in July 2012, and the company is now "led by co-founder, Chanmanee Phonphakdee (Nong)," with family members, and says it has been "operating for more than 30 years."

In Bangkok it works from 2 offices. Most tours leave from River City, on the ground floor beside the mall entrance, on the Chao Phraya River at the edge of Chinatown and near Hua Lamphong station; some leave from a secondary office at Tha Phra Chan pier in the old town, "only 5 minutes walk from the Royal Field (Sanam Luang) between the Grand Palace and Khao San Road." A third base serves Chiang Mai. Prices are shown in Thai baht.

The Tours

The Bangkok bike tours, according to the tour menus, are CO ORIGINAL (3 hours) and CO ORIGINAL EXTENDED (4.5 hours, bicycle and boat) and CO TRAVERSE (4 hours) from Tha Phra Chan, exploring the Rattanakosin old town and Thonburi; and CO CLASSICAL (3 hours), CO COMBO (5 hours, bicycle and boat), CO ALL DAY ("The Complete Bangkok Journey; rich in variety") and CO BY NIGHT ("When Bangkok comes alive after dark") from River City, covering Chinatown and Thonburi. The highlight lists mention longtail boats, local temples, Talad Noi, a train ride and street-food meals on the longer tours.

For those who prefer not to cycle, the site offers CO CANALING ("Through the waterways of the Venice of the East"), CO ROCKET BOATING with a longtail, an express boat and a high-speed rocket boat, CO BY TUK-TUK, and CO WALKING. The walking tour page gives the fullest detail: a 2-hour walk through Chinatown's alleys, departing at 10:00 from River City, priced at 750 THB, with an experienced local guide and drinks and snacks included. It "requires a minimum number of guests to operate," with live availability shown in the booking calendar. The page describes Chinatown as a place where "Sino-Thai culture has been evolving since the beginning of the Chakri dynasty over 200 years ago," and pitches the walk as "more relaxing and intimate than cycling and perfect for photographers," reaching "alleyways and passages so small even bicycles cannot pass."

In Chiang Mai, the tours are a 3-hour classical bike tour, a 4-hour combo, a 5-hour countryside tour by bicycle and songthaew, and a 9-hour all-day tour combining bicycle, train and a cooking class, with northern-style temples, local markets and meals along the way. The Travel Desk handles transport and tickets around Thailand, a 4-day "Isaan Life" program along the Mekong in the north-east, a River Kwai (Kanchanaburi) 2-day trip, and "several characteristic complete 2 - 3 week Thailand journeys."

How a Tour Runs

The company says its routes are not "set in stone" because the city changes constantly, and that tours run "at a leisurely pace," and that each stop "usually lasts 10-20 minutes." Guides are mostly "English speaking local Thais," and the site stresses that "by design, our tours do not contain much talking," focusing on the experience rather than facts, so a native-language guide matters less. Junior guides in training may join. Tours are "on an all-in basis" with no need to bring food or drink; the page suggests sunglasses, a hat, sunblock, a camera and a copy of your passport number "in case of emergency insurance." Raincoats are provided for everyone if it rains. Guests are asked to dress conservatively for temple visits and to wear closed shoes or sports sandals, since flip-flops "often compromise the ability of the rider to control his/her bicycle." The site refers families to its blog posts about children's bikes.

Booking, Terms and Groups

The FAQ says the website accepts "all international payment methods (Credit Card, iDeal, Sofort etc)," and that cash payers at the office should choose "booking inquiry only." Cancellations "up to 24 hours before departing time receive a 100% refund," and the booking page repeats "free cancellation or changing up to 24 hours before the start of the tour." Children under 12 get "a 25% discount on the adult price." Phone lines are listed for Bangkok (+66 (0)2 639 7351) and Chiang Mai.

The team building page lists corporate clients including Google, Accor Group and Air France-KLM, and describes an "Amazing Bangkok Bicycle Rally" scavenger hunt by bicycle and longtail boat and a Thai cooking rally in Chinatown. In the rally, teams earn points for photographing items from a list, such as a sacred fig tree, a monitor lizard or a donation tree, and the cooking rally has teams shop a local market for ingredients and cook a Thai dish. The page says the company also caters for larger groups. Gift cards are also sold. The walking tour page shows ratings of 4.9 from 164 Google reviews and 4.8 from 5127 Tripadvisor reviews, and the site lists mentions by Travel Rebels, momondo and Kayak.

The company lists social projects including a "Cycle to School Project," "Children's day" and support for the "pop-and-mom" shops where tours stop for snacks.

What the Site Leaves Open and Who It Suits

The tour menus and homepage do not show prices, so bike tour prices and group sizes need checking on each tour page. The minimum number of guests for the walking tour is not stated, and the walking tour page gives no maximum group size. Fitness levels for the longer rides are not described beyond the "leisurely pace."

Co van Kessel suits travelers who want to see Bangkok's back alleys, canals and markets rather than the Grand Palace circuit, and who are comfortable on a bicycle in city traffic and narrow lanes. Homepage testimonials include a parent who took 3 children cycling and a guest who said "the nine hour tour went surprisingly quick." Families, photographers and anyone who prefers a boat or a walk have alternatives, and the 24-hour free cancellation keeps booking low-risk.