teamfounderstory

A Bangkok story, two generations deep

ABC started as one Dutch entrepreneur's obsession with showing visitors the real Bangkok. Almost three decades on, his son is carrying the same standard forward.

By ABC Team3 min read
Michiel, Benjamin and the ABC Bike Tours guides in front of the workshop in Bangkok

ABC (Amazing Bangkok Cyclist) started with a straightforward idea: show visitors the Bangkok that most travellers never see. Michiel Hoes, a Dutch entrepreneur with a genuine love for cycling and local culture, founded the company on the belief that a city reveals itself best through its people, its neighbourhoods, and its daily rhythm. What began as a personal passion grew into something travellers from around the world keep coming back to.

The combination works because it is honest: Dutch thoroughness meets real respect for Thai culture. The result is tours that feel safe and well-run without losing the authenticity that makes them worth taking. Today, under Michiel's son Benjamin, ABC keeps building on that foundation. The warmth and quality that defined it from the start remain the standard, and the curiosity that started it all has not gone anywhere either.

Meet the founder and the next generation

Portrait of Michiel Hoes, founder of ABC Bike Tours
Michiel Hoes. Founder.

Michiel did not set out to build a tour company. He set out to show people a Bangkok worth knowing, past the tourist traps, into the neighbourhoods, markets, and everyday moments most visitors never reach. His routes were not designed in an office. They came from years of cycling the city himself, building trust with local communities, and figuring out what actually makes a place come alive for an outsider. That hands-on instinct set the tone for everything ABC became: personal, honest, well-run.

Portrait of Benjamin Hoes, next generation at ABC Bike Tours
Benjamin Hoes. Next generation.

Benjamin grew up around the company. He knows how it works, what it stands for, and why guests keep coming back.

Taking over is not about reinventing things. It is about carrying the same standard forward while staying open to what comes next: better sustainability practices, new routes, a sharper guest experience, and new technology where it genuinely helps. The core stays the same: get people off the beaten track and into the real city.

The team today

Bangkok has a lot left to show. ABC intends to keep showing it, one honest, well-run tour at a time.

Ready to see the real Bangkok on two wheels?

Small groups, Dutch-speaking guides on request, Trek bikes serviced every week.

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