Finding Roots on 2 Wheels: Exploring the diverse ethnicities of Thonburi during Bangkok Design Week 2025
Bangkok Design Week 2025 has concluded with “Finding Roots on 2 Wheels” and a “Self-Guided Audio Tour on Pedals,” two bike tour programs aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation, deeper travel, and meaningful connections with the local community! It has been three years since we joined Bangkok Design Week as part of the driving force behind Thailand’s creative economy!
Using the power of storytelling, technology, and cultural and heritage preservation, we collaborated with Anywheel, a bike rental startup, to design a type of guided bike tour that immerses travelers in the diverse cultures of different ethnicities in Thonburi’s community. The guided tour program was divided into two different routes: the Khlong San route and the Itsaraphap route while the self guided bike tour focuses more on the exploration around Bangkok Old Town area.
The Khlong San route tells the story of how Khlong San became a melting pot of trade, where people from different backgrounds and nationalities—ranging from Chinese and Muslim to Thai—have conducted commercial businesses for generations. The route includes hidden gems such as Lhong 1919, Thong Noppakhun Temple, and the old salt factory of the Khlong San community. It also offers unique biking experiences, such as crossing the Chao Phraya River with your bike during sunset and riding through Songwat Road in the late evening.
The Itsaraphap route showcases another side of Thonburi—the way of life and legacy of diverse cultural influences—highlighting how different communities coexist in the Itsaraphap area. Stops include Prayurawongsawat Temple, Kudi Jeen, Kudi Khao, and a 100+-year-old Muslim house. Participants not only witness the landscape of cultural coexistence but also discover rare and unseen elements, such as the Lud Ti cake, which cannot be found anywhere else in Bangkok.
Lastly, the last program we introduced this year was our self-guided audio tour on pedals—an improved version from last year with a better experience. Combined with Anywheel’s bikes, this program enables participants to navigate our routes faster and more easily around Bangkok’s Old Town. The self-guided bike tour highlights lesser-known locations such as the Trok Mor Market, the Three Phraeng Neighborhoods, Thepidaram Temple, and the Sunthorn Phu Museum, all within Bangkok’s famous tourist district.
We want to express our gratitude to all of our partners and participants for joining us on this journey—to dive deep into Thonburi’s community and develop a deeper respect for the people and their traditions.
Missed our special limited-time bike tour for Bangkok Design Week 2025? No worries! Explore more of our guided routes and travel deeper with us here!