| Jun 28, 2012
Fancy a day spent cycling past Chedi Chet Yot or up the steps of Preah Vihear but don’t actually have the time to head there? Why not just jump in a cab and visit Muang Boran, the Ancient City (02-709-1644. Open daily 8am-5pm. www.ancientcity.com). This cultural park, about 30 minutes past On Nut BTS, features 3/4 size replicas of most of the Kingdom’s historical sites set in gorgeous parkland laid out in the shape of Thailand. You can rent bikes there—B50/B150 (single/three-speed) or bring your own and pay B50 to cycle round the Kingdom in an afternoon.
Best known for its cute floating market and fire flies, Ampawa, the small town in Samut Songkram, is also a great place for a bike trip. As well as offering bikes to rent, Thai Theeb @ Ampawa (2/1, Prachasret Rd., Ampawa, Samut Songkram 082-777-5999. Mon, Wed, Thu 10am-8pm/Fri-Sun 10am-9pm) provide maps to places of interest and historical sites in the area so you can explore on your own. Cost: free for rides under 30 min, B50 for 60min, B300 for a day.
Wachirabenchatat Park (Suan Rot Fai) is a great picnic and cycling spot. You don’t even need a bike here, with rentals available for just B20-30 each, depending on the bike model or your negotiation skills. They’ll take your ID so you don’t cycle off into the sunset with their precious ride. There’s also a butterfly park and a faux urban environment (complete with traffic lights) for kids to practice riding their bikes.
