X

Get FREE Email Updates

Sign Up

Dave's Travel Corner

Seeing the World One Step at a Time

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Guides
  • Journals
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Links
  • Interviews
  • About

journals

Visitor submitted travel journals. Submission guidelines


Nature Tour of Bangkok? You’ve Got to be Kidding, Right?!

March 4, 2016 by Dave2 Comments

At Wat Bangkrachaonok

At Wat Bangkrachaonok

M.R. Kukrit House

M.R. Kukrit House

When I first signed up for the Follow Me Siam Sawan ‘Jungle Tour’ I cursorily glanced at the itinerary and assumed this would be an urban jungle tour – especially since their office is located in Sathorn, right in Bangkok’s Financial District.

I also assumed it would be a sweaty tour with rivulets of water running off of us after just a few minutes in the saddle and also traffic would be terrible (a Monday morning). Unbelievably neither of these was true – this was a rare cool day in Bangkok – one of those wonderful days you can bike all day and barely work up a sweat. And for some reason the traffic just wasn’t that bad.

This tour is like being in a maze except for a select few (namely the guides) who are familiar with these particular narrow streets and alleys. Even in the main arteries of Sathorn there are plenty of smaller sois (streets) that are much less congested. It is these streets you will start following to begin your tour.

First stop is the M.R. Kukrit House, a former residence of a Prime Minister. This land is valuable considering its location – surrounded by tall buildings. Despite being in the city it feels calm and quiet on the 2 acres. The home provides an excellent example of a historic Teakwood Thai house.

Then it is on to Klong Toey – where narrow paths barely passable for pedestrians wind through an assorted collection of part of the area’s slums – small wooden homes with ramshackle tin roofs are all squeezed together. A ride through here is a quick look at the daily life of those who live here.

Happily cooking in a narrow alleyway in Klong Toey

Happily cooking in a narrow alleyway in Klong Toey

Continuing on you will reach a very hidden Chao Phraya River crossing – bikes go into a wooden long tail boat and then so do you for the 10 minute crossing.

Once you reach the other side of the river you will be less than 6km from Follow Me’s main office – yet it dramatically feels world’s apart. Here green vegetation dominates and soon you will be riding bikes on raised concrete pathways through jungle-like vegetation. This is Phra Pradaeng, a protected conservation area.

Plenty of drinks, several restroom stops and some ice cream are provided on the tour. The pace of the ride is leisurely and you never feel rushed. There are plenty of opportunities for photo stops or let the guide email you photos post tour.

After your tour a fish spa is available at their clubhouse for your free use – not a bad way to unwind and rest your feet after a few hours on a bicycle!

Follow Me offers additional bike tours of Bangkok including a 6 hour night tour.

To reach their office:
Find the Chong Nonsi BTS Skytrain stop and follow the handy map listed on their website for a short 10 minute walk to their office located on a small side street off of the busy Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Road. If you get there a bit early – check out the small stand serving delicious smoothies on the corner of Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Road and the small street between the 7/11 and the tall Empire building.

For more information about the tour described above (Siam Sawan), visit: www.followmebiketour.com/cycle-bangkok-siam-sawan-siam-heaven-tour

Entrance to Follow Me’s clubhouse
The fishspa and clubhouse
Inside room at the M.R. Kukrit House

You will see plenty of pigeons at the M.R. Kukrit House
Crossing the Chao Praya River
Elevated walkways in Phra Pradaeng

Related posts:

Sundarbans Tour, Bangladesh Weekend in Bangkok An Exceptional Tour with Nicholas, owner of Daintree Safaris Queensland A Guide to Planning your Proposal in Bangkok Experience the best of Britain with a central London tour

Filed Under: Asia · Tagged: Art, Bangkok Thailand, Bicycle, Ice Cream, Rainforest, Seafood, Spa, Traffic, Walking tour, Wildlife

Comments

  1. Michael Zullo says

    March 12, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    Very good article, Dave. Thanks for the tour. We lived in Bangkok for six months and our loss not knowing about the ‘Follow Me Siam Sawan ‘Jungle Tour’. We do know all the neighborhood’s you mention in your article and the big surprise is traffic wasn’t terrible. We lived a short walk from the Chong Nonsi sky-train stop and near Sathorn Road, maybe 4 stops away from the National Stadium. Wow – – I remember the busy elevated BTS that quickly took us all over the busy city. I forwarded your article to six friends living in Bangkok for their info.

  2. Dave says

    March 13, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    Thanks Michael – I look forward to trying one of their night tours later this year 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want an avatar to show with your comments? Get a free Gravatar

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow @DaveDTC

Get FREE Email Updates  I

Categories

Journals — Home

  • Africa
  • Antarctica
  • Asia
  • Australia
  • Caribbean
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • North America
  • South America
  • South Pacific
  • Other

Latest Posts

  • On April 29, Yo-Yo Ma and Louisville Orchestra Per…
  • Jackson Doktok, Chairman of Palau Visitors Authori…
  • Artezzan Restaurant and Bar, ChesterFunctional and sophisticated base from which to en…
  • Rediscovering Lithuania’s Springtime Nature:…
  • Taiwan-Based STARLUX Airlines Launches First Trans…

Explore

  • Above the Clouds
  • Guides
  • Highlight of the Month
  • Interviews
  • Journals
  • Press Releases
  • Videos

Prepare

  • Book Reviews
  • Pack List
  • Quiz: Geography
  • Quiz: Travel
  • Tour Booking
  • Travel Insurance
  • Travel Products

Share

  • Contribute
  • Forums
  • Links
  • Photos

About

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Contributors
  • Email Dave
  • Media Coverage
  • Media Kit
Hi I'm Dave. After a life changing trip in 1996, I began this site as a creative outlet to educate, inspire and share travel experiences. Read more...
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Return to top of page
Copyright © 1996–2023 Dave's Travel Corner · All Rights Reserved · Log in

7ads6x98y