About Us

COME AS CUSTOUMERS, RIDE AS FRIENDS, RETURN AS FAMILY.

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In April of 2004 Christopher Byrd, a formerly enlisted U.S. Marine, registered his company name with the Thai Department of Business Development as “Tour de Asia Bicycle Touring Co., Ltd.” This was inspired by his inaugural solo charity ride he called “Tour de Thailand” in November of 2003 covering 3,200 km in 23 days of cycling with 5 intermittent days off to rest. Chris raised over $10,000 USD for children in need on his initial TDT and was coerced into repeating his efforts in 2004 and started a small business from scratch to run the annual Tour de Thailand Charity Rides and perhaps someday escape Bangkok to do more.

On July 4th of 2005 Chris met Siranee (nicknamed “Gae”) at the Great American Rib Company in Bangkok, where Gae was working while attending university. Shortly after, Gae decided to join Chris in his efforts to continue growing his TDT Charity Rides and build the business while both worked various other jobs to stay afloat.

In July of 2008 Chris & Gae met a British expat in Hua Hin that had started a bicycle day tour business called “Sea Hill Mountain Bike”. After getting to know this man over a few rides together they told him that it was their dream to someday have a business like his running day tours outside of Bangkok while continuing to run their annual TDT charity rides. It turned out that the British gentleman and his wife were planning to move back to the UK and agreed to sell Sea Hill Mountain Bike to Chris & Gae under Tour de Asia Bicycle Touring. Shortly after the acquisition Chris & Gae decided to change Sea Hill MTB to “Doing Business As” Hua Hin Bike Tours (a bit more straight forward and to the point). 

Hua Hin Bike Tours is owned and operated by The Adventure Cycling (Thailand) Company (a licensed Tourism Authority of Thailand Company) was started in April of 2004 for the main purpose of organizing and operating charity bicycle events in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The Founder and Managing Director, Mr. Christopher Byrd, came up with the idea for the 1st Annual Tour de Thailand on August 4th, 2003 and he completed a 3,200 KM solo bicycle journey covering Thailand from Hat Yai to Chiang Rai that started on November 22nd and finished on December 20th of 2003.

In 2008, the Adventure Cycling (Thailand) Co., Ltd. completed its 1st Annual Tour de Isan Charity Bicycle Ride from Nong Khai to Ubon Ratchathani with great success for the charities, the riders, and everyone involved. Adventure Cycling then relocated to the Hua Hin area and assumed the Sea Hill Mountain Biking business (now Hua Hin Bike Tours) when their friend and founder Paul Mason returned to the UK for business. Chris is now able to offer bicycle day tours, multi-day tours, custom tours, bicycle rentals, and sells quality Tour de Thailand bicycle jerseys to support his annual charity rides.

It is because of our ongoing efforts to get support from Corporate Sponsors who will benefit from our Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility programs that we can operate reasonably inexpensive rides and still have 100% of the donations go directly to the charities. Without the generosity of these sponsors the events we organize would not be possible, so we make every effort to give them credit for sharing our vision and dream. Our events are not races, but everyone involved wins!

Adventure Cycling Thailand Co., Ltd.

The Tour de Thailand Charity Rides, Hua Hin Bike Tours, and Royal Coast Bicycle Adventure Tours are all owned and managed by Adventure Cycling (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (or A.C.T.), which is licensed by the Department of Tourism as Tourism Business License No. 14/02904

A.C.T. was started in April of 2004 as “Tour de Asia Bicycle Touring Co., Ltd. for the main purpose of organizing and operating charity bicycle events in Thailand and Southeast Asia.  The Founder and Managing Director, Mr. Christopher Byrd, came up with the idea for the 1st Annual Tour de Thailand on August 4th, 2003 and he completed a 3,200 KM solo bicycle journey covering Thailand from Hat Yai to Chiang Rai that started on November 22nd and finished on December 20th, 2003 with a total of 23 days of cycling and 5 intermittent days off.

The inaugural success was so incredible that Christopher felt that he needed to continue this event to include riders from around the world and start other rides in Southeast Asia that would become more successful each year.  In 2003 Christopher raised over 300,000 baht for the charities by himself and with the help of other riders raised over 300,000 baht once again in 2004.  Since then the donations as well as riders have grown substantially each year raising 1.4 Million in 2006, 1.5 Million in 2007, and 1.1 Million in 2008 for.

In July of 2008 Tour de Asia started its 1st Annual Tour de Isan Charity Ride.  The Tour de Isan was modeled after the Tour de Thailand, only it started in Nong Khai and followed the Mekong River down to Ubon Ratchathani in time for the Annual International Candle Festival. The Tour de Isan 2008 and 2009 were both a great success raising more than 500,000 for Thai Charities. Eventually, the Tour de Isan became known as the “Tour de Thailand – Northeastern Ride”.

The Tour de Thailand Charity Rides now cover the 5 regions of Thailand and include the Tour de Thailand – Northern, Central, Southern, Northeastern, and Eastern Seaboard rides. Each ride is an 8 Day / 800 KM bicycle tour with a day off in the middle and an afternoon/evening before the start, and a morning/afternoon after the closing dinner party for a total of 10 nights / 11 days each. The Northern, Central, and Southern are still run consecutively in case people can come for the full 31 days and ride for 2,400 KM over 24 days of cycling between Chiang Mai and Krabi

The original Tour de Asia mission statement that Adventure Cycling Thailand still follows today:

  1. To promote bicycle touring (responsible and healthy tourism) in Thailand and Southeast Asia
  2. To provide participants with an unforgettable adventure while helping others who are in need
  3. To raise as much money for the charities as possible

Live to Ride, Ride so that others may Live

Christopher Byrd – “Chris”

Managing Director


A formerly enlisted U.S. Marine that originally came from Maryland, Chris lived in Washington, DC for the last 12 years that he was living in the United States. Chris moved to Bangkok in April of 2002 and resided there until August of 2008 when he moved down to Hua Hin to include day tours and multi-day tours as part of his bicycle touring business. He plans to continue living in Thailand and work on growing the popularity of his Tour de Thailand Charity Rides and his Hua Hin Bike Tours / Royal Coast Bicycle Adventure Tours. Chris has over 25 years experience in the hotel and restaurant business as well as many years working in sales and customer service. His time in the Marine Corps gave him the strength to be a leader and to motivate his staff and fellow riders while understanding the physical limits of individuals. Chris is a caring person that loves to have a good time and help others.

Siranee Meesit Byrd – “Gae”

Thai Director


Khun Siranee Meesit (nickname “Gae”) is originally from Surin, Thailand and she came to Bangkok in 2002 to attend Ramkhamhaeng University and continue her studies in English and Hotel & Restaurant Management. While attending university Gae worked in the restaurant business for 3 years. In July of 2005 she met Christopher and joined Tour de Asia and later became the Thai Director just before obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree from Ramkhamhaeng University. After an intense course with the Tourism Authority of Thailand Gae became a licensed Tour Guide for all of Thailand and she loves working in the bicycle touring industry and helping others in need. In 2001 Gae’s brother lost his sight and was part of her inspiration to help the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen.