{"product_id":"co-combo-4-hour-chiang-mai-by-bicycle-1","title":"Co Combo - 4-hour Chiang Mai by Bicycle","description":"\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOverview\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 4-hour guided bicycle tour will show you the hidden side of Chiang Mai. Experience its bustling market culture and laid-back vibes along the Ping River, while indulging in the delights of Northern Thai food along the way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarting near the famous moat of Chiang Mai’s ancient city walls, we explore the quiet back alleys of the city and get a taste of its residents' peaceful day-by-day routine. Pedaling away from the ancient walls, we encounter the hustle and bustle of Thailand’s unique market culture. See exotic fruits and observe how various types of fish are traded here to local residents and small shop owners alike. Blend in with the community as we try a variety of delicious local snacks and challenge our taste buds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrossing the bridge over the Ping River, an important tributary to the Chao Phraya River and once used to transport teak logs to Bangkok. Here we explore the peaceful environment near the banks of the river, where we learn about typical teak wooden Lanna-style Buddhist temples. Slowly winding down, we then enjoy a variety of typical Thai and Northern dishes at a local hidden family-style eatery. Full (and fulfilled), we cycle back to the starting point, having experienced Chiang Mai’s food and culture as the locals do on a daily basis.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAdditional Information\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat's Included\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExperienced local guide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCustomized city bike\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChild\/adult helmets (if desired)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStreet food and snack samples\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLocal style meal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat to Expect\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDue to the ever-changing cityscape, festivals, and overall dynamic character of Chiang Mai, we do not have a pre-defined routing that is \"set in stone,\" making each day a new adventure for all of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExplore back alleys of Chiang Mai\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDiscover local life at Chiang Mai’s fresh food markets and communities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisit a local Lanna temple\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrossing the Ping River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral short (10-20 minutes) stops for drinks, snacks, and\/or sights\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSumptuous Northern Thai-style meal at a local family-style restaurant\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe pride ourselves on being an alternative to the standard tourist experience by taking our customers \"off the beaten path\" to show them the REAL Chiang Mai, away from Chiang Mai’s typical mass tourism attractions (Night Market, Doi Suthep, etc.). We go behind the scenes into the local communities to places that are typically inaccessible to the average traveler, where our individual fascinations emerge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eFood\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe will be sampling several types of street food snacks along the way without a fixed menu and indulge in a Thai local style meal. For any dietary restrictions, kindly tell your guide before the start of the tour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWeather\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoining one of our bicycle tours in Chiang Mai is a surprisingly refreshing adventure year-round, as most cycling takes place in shaded areas. The activity of cycling (as opposed to walking) will always create a breeze to help cool you down. We are also aided by the fact that the Chiang Mai valley is very flat, and we cycle at a leisurely pace. In addition, plenty of cold drinks and rest stops along the way will keep you refreshed for the journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe weather in Chiang Mai is unpredictable, and rain can occur at any time, especially during the 'rainy season' (which typically means 30 minutes of rain per day) of June-October. Rain is also a very localized phenomenon, happening in small pockets in places while being completely dry only a few kilometers away. In our vast experience doing the tours, we know that heavy rains rarely last more than 30 minutes, and our guides know very well where to take our customers for cover during the deluge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eLanguage of the Tour\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vast majority of our guides are English-speaking local Thais. By design, our tours do not contain much talking. Our philosophy is to focus more on the interactive experience of cycling within the local community rather than presentations about facts, figures, or history. In that respect, language does not play a large factor in your tour experience, and it is unlikely that you will feel like you've missed out on anything by not having a native language guide.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat to Wear and Bring\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eWhat to Wear\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn our tours, we are guests at local and more conservative communities, including temples. Please allow us to ask you to \u003cstrong\u003edress more conservatively\u003c\/strong\u003e out of respect for the local community. A top that covers the shoulders and a sarong for covering the legs in a temple is always appreciated in Thai culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor your own convenience, we recommend you wear light, comfortable clothing with a hat to keep the sun off your head. For footwear, we recommend closed shoes or sports sandals for maximum protection and control during your tour. For your own safety, we discourage the use of ‘flip-flops’ as they often compromise the ability of the rider to control their bicycle on the tour. The liberal use of sunscreen is also highly encouraged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eWhat to Bring\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur tours are on an all-inclusive basis, and there is no need to bring any food or drinks. You may, however, want to consider bringing the following:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSunglasses, hat or cap, sunblock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCamera, smartphone to capture your experience\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePassport number (a copy or in smartphone is sufficient) in case of emergency insurance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn case of rain, you may want to bring a raincoat if you have one. This is not necessary, as we bring them along as well for everyone in the group.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAn open mind and a big smile, it's your holiday!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBookings \u0026amp; Cancellations\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe accept all international payment methods (Credit Card, iDeal, Sofort, etc.) on our website. For cash payments at our office, please select “booking inquiry only” on the booking form. \u003cstrong\u003eCancellations up to 24 hours before departing time receive a 100% refund.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChildren under the age of 12 years old receive a \u003cstrong\u003e25% discount\u003c\/strong\u003e on the adult price. Kids joining in a baby- or child-seat are joining free of charge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eOur Bicycles\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have designed our own custom yellow city bikes to give our guests the ultimate local Bangkok experience. This means our bicycles are comfortable, delivering a straight-up position to look around, with an open frame to easily step on\/off. All of our bikes are adjustable in size, and we have bikes suitable for both smaller (1.40m) and taller (2.10m) people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComfortable and straight-up position for a better connection with the environment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep-through frame to facilitate easy mounting \/ dismounting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-brakes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasket to bring along bags, cameras, etc.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor children's bicycles and more information on children on our bike tours, please read our dedicated \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.covankessel.com\/blog\/bike-tour-for-families-with-children\"\u003eblog posts about kids\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCycle Skills and Safety\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe cycle at a leisurely pace and make frequent stops at local, interesting destinations along the way. Children as young as five years and seniors as old as 80 years have joined our tour with no issues, but a \u003cstrong\u003ecertain level of balance\u003c\/strong\u003e and comfort on a bike is required.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn our tours, we \u003cstrong\u003edo NOT cycle on main roads with traffic\u003c\/strong\u003e and are, therefore, as safe as it gets. Following our concept, we go off the beaten path, using back roads, alleyways, and footpaths (nearly 95% of the tour takes place here). Helmets are also readily available at our office if you wish to wear one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor your comfort and safety, \u003cstrong\u003ehelmets\u003c\/strong\u003e for adults and children are readily available and optional; please feel free to take one if you wish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Co van Kessel","offers":[{"title":"Adult","offer_id":42991288483930,"sku":null,"price":372.0,"currency_code":"HKD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Child","offer_id":42991288516698,"sku":null,"price":279.0,"currency_code":"HKD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0711\/6921\/2506\/files\/DSC7774_1.jpg?v=1773323837","url":"https:\/\/thaiactive.com\/products\/co-combo-4-hour-chiang-mai-by-bicycle-1","provider":"ThaiActive","version":"1.0","type":"link"}