North Thailand by Bike

Price from
US$ 2,450
Duration
10 Days / 9 Nights
Distance
518 km
Tour Code
THA-TNT
Next departure
12-Jan-2025
Number of Cycling Days10
Average Distance Per Day: 52
0
150 Km
Average Climbing Per Day: 632
0
2,250 m
Accommodation
Basic
5 Star
Total Cycling Distance518 kilometres
AccommodationIncluded
Bike HireMountain Bike: US$ 200
Single SupplementUS$ 525
Client Rating (based on 14 reviews)

About this Cycle Tour

Northern Thailand is the country’s premier mountain and gravel biking destination. A network of backroads winds through lush valleys and misty mountains, featuring single tracks through rainforests, farmer trails across tropical fields, narrow village lanes, and smooth highland roads coiling up the hillsides. These trails invite us to journey beyond the usual routes and experience northern Thailand — or “Lanna,” as it’s known locally — at its finest!

Starting from bustling Chiang Mai, we begin with a warm-up ride through the flat plains surrounding the Ping River before venturing deeper into the hilly terrain of northern Thailand. We ride along forest trails and backcountry roads, visit the sacred Chiang Dao Caves, and unwind at a riverside hotel by the Mae Kok River. We then board a boat to fast-track ourselves downstream before cycling through a valley that leads to Chiang Rai, exploring the fantastical White Temple along the way. Next, we head back into the mountains for a challenging, leg-testing climb into the highlands of Doi Mae Salong, famed for its tea plantations and Chinese heritage. After an exhilarating descent, we unwind at a stylish eco-resort before heading deeper into hilltribe country. We conquer a climb up to Doi Tung before descending onto rice-covered plains, leading to the iconic Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos converge at the confluence of the Mekong River. We spend the night in the sleepy riverside town of Chiang Saen, then return to Chiang Mai, where we cap off our adventure with a thrilling downhill blitz from Doi Suthep. The tour ends in Chiang Mai.

Join us on this action-packed journey into the backcountry of Lanna!

Book Your Cycling Holiday

Itinerary

Day 1

We meet at our tour hotel in Chiang Mai in the early afternoon. Our warm-up ride takes us along quiet roads by the Ping River, passing ancient ruins and fruit orchards. In the evening, we reconvene for a welcome dinner.

Day 2

We ride 15 km on forest trails perfect for mountain biking. After cooling off at the "sticky waterfall," we cycle paved roads to lunch at Mae Ngat Reservoir. Then, we continue on scenic farm roads through rice paddies, ending at a beautiful temple before transferring to Chiang Dao.

Day 3

After an early morning visit to the sacred Chiang Dao Caves, we ride through soaring limestone cliffs and endless farmlands. The day features a mix of paved roads and dirt paths, with plenty of ascents and descents, all framed by the charming scenery of rural northern Thailand.

Day 4

We ride to the far north of Thailand, passing by rice paddies, orange orchards, and village temples. Though mostly flat, there’s the option of a short but spicy climb to a hilltop temple before unwinding at our tranquil riverside hotel near the town of Tha Ton.

Day 5

We hitch a ride on a long-tail boat down the Kok River. Back on our bikes, we cycle to Chiang Rai, meandering along the riverbanks through a narrow valley. Before arriving at our hotel, we take a detour to visit the eccentric White Temple, Chiang Rai’s top attraction.

Day 6

In the morning, we transfer to our cycling start point, stopping to visit the eclectic Black House along the way. Today’s ride features an iconic Thailand climbing challenge, winding up the mountain of Doi Mae Salong, surrounded by tea plantations, coffee farms, cornfields, and outstanding highland views.

Day 7

From the summit of Doi Mae Salong, we descend into the valleys, weaving through lush forests and terraced agricultural fields. After a stop at a scenic tea plantation, we conclude our ride at a nature-based mountain resort.

Day 8

We start with a ride through the forests to visit a horse temple, then ascend to the heights of Doi Tung Mountain, a stunning region straddling the border with Myanmar. After our descent, we continue through lush rice paddies to reach the famed Golden Triangle at the mighty Mekong River.

Day 9

In the morning, we cycle a scenic loop through the picturesque countryside of the Golden Triangle, visiting the ancient town of Chiang Saen along the way. In the afternoon, we transfer back to Chiang Mai for our final night.

Day 10

In the morning, we drive up to Chiang Mai’s famed mountaintop temple, Doi Suthep. Then, for an epic tour finale, we descend on one of Thailand’s most thrilling downhill mountain biking trails. After lunch, we’ll transfer you to your post-tour hotel or the airport.

Elevation Profiles

Day 1 - Meet in Chiang Mai Ride 38km. +50m / -51m.
Day 1 - Meet in Chiang Mai Ride 38km. +50m / -51m.

Reviews

My husband and I just finished our bike adventure with the help of Nok and driver Egg. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and thought it was very well designed with hard days followed by easier cycling days. Each days took bike skills, strength and endurance but it was mostly doable for me as a 67 yr old woman. I did have to push my bicycle up a few of the very steep hills but everyone waited patiently. Our guide,Nok, was the best. He spoke English very well and has a wonderful sense of humor. Egg took good care of us and our bicycles. Never could we have managed to find and explore such rich culture and beautiful Thailand without them. Thanks for a memorable trip.

Elaine KeoghJanuary 2019

Spice Roads did it again. This is our second trip with them and they got EVERYTHING right. Knowing we were in expert hands with our guide and our driver tending to our needs, we were able to fully immerse in experiencing the culture, exquisite food, and natural beauty of Thailand. Mind-blowing experience.

Michael EshlemanJanuary 2017

Spice Roads far exceeded our expectations. The accommodations were lovely, the food was fantastic and, most importantly, we were in such good hands with Nok as our guide and Bong as our porter. Nok was so very knowledgeable in answering all our many questions about the culture, the food, and the biology of the area. He was very careful to adapt the tour to our needs. We suffered a few cuts and scrapes and insect bites, which is to be expected and he was always right there to administer first aid. Pong kept the van spotless, kept the bikes in perfect running order checking them thoroughly every day and making tune ups as needed. He made sure we had all kinds of local fruit and delicacies for snacks and observed us quietly to determine our tastes and adapted the fare he offered accordingly. This is just the perfect way for my son and I to spend quality time together making memories that will last us a lifetime.

Matthew EshlemanJanuary 2017

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