Bangkok City Culture - ride through the heart of Bangkok

Enjoy a gentle ride through the heart of Bangkok’s business districts. Stops include the city's biggest daily fresh market and Benjakitti and Lumphini parks. See the cultural diversity and economic contrast of the city as you bike through some of the wealthiest and most poverty-stricken communities.

Meet your tour group and guide and choose a well-fitting bicycle and helmet. Once on the road, stop at a local temple, ride along a train graveyard, and view everyday life in one of Bangkok's largest slums, which your guide leads you safely through. Then park and stroll through the biggest daily fresh-market, Khlong Toei Market. Immerse yourself in the smells, sounds, and sights of the market, taking as many photos as you have time for.

Next, cross the busy Rama IV Road and arrive at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and the popular and tranquil Benjakitti Park, featuring an artificial lake and attractive fountains. Rest and take in the scenic views before continuing on.

Catch a whiff of tobacco as you ride past the Tobacco Monopoly, which has had a monopoly on Thailand's tobacco industry for the last 75 years. Pedal down one of Bangkok's wealthiest streets, Thanon Witthayu, where you find the entrance to the “Central Park of Bangkok,” Lumphini Park—a tranquil haven offering recreation, an artificial lake, and food vendors.

Relax and discover this beautiful park, where you may catch locals doing tai chi or yoga. If you're lucky, you may also see the park's famous permanent residents, huge monitor lizards. Although they look scary, they’re actually harmless. After your time in the park, begin your return ride through small neighborhoods, arriving back at your original starting place with a new perspective on the Thai lifestyle and wonderful memories to look back upon.