Absolute Explorer run a wonderful day trip to the countryside around Bangkok. It begins with a trip to a market, in Bangkok, where the villagers from the Khlong Bang Phra area, where the cycling takes place, sell their fish, fruit and vegetables. This is followed by a 60km train trip to the village, in itself, a very interesting experience.

The cycling is very easy and is along pathways, tracks and very quiet tarred roads. Frequent stops are made and the guides give a great insight into country life. Lunch was taken in a local house and later fresh coconuts and mangoes were sampled straight from the trees. Demonstrations were made of local fishing techniques.

A final visit was made to a school where we became an integral part of an English lesson. The children were delightful and seemed both enthusiastic and genuinely appreciative of our efforts to help them with our language.

This tour really is recommended for anyone wishing to immerse themselves in Thai country life. Absolute Explorer are a very professional outfit and their guides certainly personalise a great trip. It provides quite the antithesis to the normal tours available and is great value at 1200 baht which includes not only the cycling, but train transport, lunch and soft drinks. As an added bonus they publish a photographic record of your trip on their website. If you want to witness another side of Thai life it cannot be more highly recommended.