Name: Road Escape: Chiang Mai
Brand: SpiceRoads
SKU: THA-TEC
Price: 990 USD
Availability: InStock

About this Cycle Tour

Chiang Mai's hill country sets the stage for this 3-day Road Escape that tackles the region's famous rides and climbs. Test your legs on Day 1, with a 15-kilometre climb up the slopes of Doi Suthep, the pagoda-topped mountain just outside the city. On Day 2, ride the Samoeng Loop, a 75-kilometre lap around Doi Suthep National Park, with the steep ascents the region is known for. The final cycling day is an unforgettable challenge ride- a 30-kilometre climb up Doi Inthanon, Thailand's tallest peak! Along with opportunities to challenge your best KOM, this trip offers beautiful mountain scenery, a fun and relaxed local culture, and a window into one of the largest cycling communities in Southeast Asia.

Itinerary

Day 1

After arrival, warm up the legs with the perfect climb up Doi Suthep, the mountain within Chiang Mai's city limits.

Day 2

A fantastic loop ride through the northwest hills just outside of Chiang Mai.

Day 3

Transfer out of the city for an unforgettable climb up Doi Inthanon- the tallest mountain in Thailand!

Day 4

Transfer to the airport for departure.

Elevation Profiles

Day 1 - Arrival - Doi Suthep Ride 52km. +1,137m / -1,137m.

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Trip Profile

In 3 cycling days and 240 kilometres of riding, this tour showcases some of Chiang Mai's famous climbs. Daily distances are just under 100 kilometres, but each day progressively builds in elevation gain, ending in over 2,000 metres climbed on Day 3. Accommodation for this trip is fixed-base- for all 3 nights, we'll stay in a comfortable and quiet boutique hotel on the river, away from the bustle of the city.

Suitability: For cyclists craving some solid climbs- this is the Road Escape for you. Northern Thailand's terrain is all about the cols, and those with strong fitness and climbing experience will enjoy this trip to its fullest.

Biking Conditions: All cycling takes place on tarmac roads in good condition through countryside and natural mountain areas. There will be many ascents and descents, some of them steep, so good handling skills are essential. Though the terrain can be challenging at times, plenty of scenic stops abound for a photo op or even chance to sip some of the region's local coffee. Your local cycling guide and support vehicle will be with you every inch of the way to let you know what's ahead and to offer you a rest and a lift should you need it.

Day 1 Arrival - Doi Suthep

In the late morning, your guide and support crew will collect you from the airport or your hotel in Chiang Mai in time for lunch. We'll have a short briefing and bike fitting over a delicious and fueling Northern Thai power meal before dropping our bags at the hotel and getting ready for our first ride. It's an easy 10 kilometres out of the city as we make our way to the mountain. It's a steady 16 kilometres to the very top of Doi Suthep, with fluctuating gradients to challenge your pace. The road alternates between shaded sections and open views of the city below and the ascent steepens as we near the peak, showing you why this short and spicy climb is one of Chiang Mai's most beloved rides. We'll savour the winding descent back down the mountain, and make our way to the hotel. Freshen up, take a dip in the pool, or sip one of Chiang Mai's local beers before dinner.

Day 2 Samoeng Loop

Fuel up at breakfast because today's ride is another one of Chiang Mai's best-known rides - Samoeng Loop. After yesterday's climb up the side Doi Suthep, today we'll trace a wide circle around it, exploring the hills and terrain typical of Nothern Thailand. We'll have another 10 kilometres or so outside of the city to warm up before the elevation begins to rise. At 25 kilometres, it's full-on with several leg-testing climbs to test your best KOM. After a cruising descent through the forest, we'll head back to Chiang Mai in time for lunch. The afternoon is yours to relax, go for a Thai massage, or explore some of the city before meeting back up at the hotel for dinner.

Day 3 Mae Wang Ride

To begin our last day of riding in Chiang Mai we'll hop in the van to transfer outside of the city to our ride start point in the countryside in Mae Wang district. We'll warm up on flat terrain through the lush countryside along the river before turning into Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand's tallest peak. We'll take the less-travelled road to the top, climbing up the north side of the mountain on a 30-kilometre ride that's typical Northern Thailand, leg-testing terrain. Once at the top, we'll celebrate with coffee and snacks before continuing down the south side of the mountain and out of the National Park to the end of our ride. It's time to pack up the bikes and drive back to Chiang Mai. Treat yourself this afternoon- Chiang Mai has plenty of opportunities- before indulging in a celebratory farewell dinner with your guide and cycle mates.

Nuts & Bolts

Bikes

Because some people can't imagine going on a trip without their own beloved bicycle, we do not provide them as part of this tour. However, you can hire bikes locally for the price listed in the tour pricing section.

If you bring your own bike, please make sure it is a road bike in good mechanical order.

Bike Repairs

Basic spares and tools are carried by the guide and on the support vehicle, though we cannot guarantee having spares for every conceivable problem. Carrying a basic tool kit, a spare tube and a pump while riding is recommended.

Safety

Wearing a helmet is required on all our biking adventures and is non negotiable. If you do not wear a helmet you will not be allowed to cycle. Your tour leader is trained in first aid and emergency rescue, but to a large degree you must be responsible for your own safety while riding. It is therefore compulsory that you take out travel insurance that will cover you for a mountain biking tour.

Guides

You will be led by a local English-speaking guide and if the group is 9 people or more we will add another guide to the tour. All our guides are well informed in the history, culture and religions of the area where you are biking and are skilled at passing that knowledge on to you. Your guide is also medically trained and an experienced cyclist, able to handle most minor repairs en route.

The Nitty Gritty

Passports and Visas

Visitors from 93 countries can enter Thailand for 60 days without applying for a visa. See here if your country is on the list. If you do not hold a passport from one of these countries please contact the Thai embassy or consulate nearest to you about applying for a visa. If you intend to say for more than 60 days you will also need a visa. Please check this page for more details and the latest updates. Please ensure you hold a passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining. You will need to show proof of an onward flight out of Thailand to be eligible for the visa on arrival. If you do not possess a ticket proving your exit from Thailand within 60 days of arrival, you may be denied boarding.

Health

We recommend that you visit a travel medical doctor and ask about the following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A. A certificate for Yellow Fever is required when arriving from an infected area within six days.

Weather

Thailand generally has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. The North and Central region have a tropical climate with fairly high humidity. Northeast Thailand has a humid hot and dry weather alternatively with medium rain while the coastal areas of the east is humid and hot with intermittent rain. The South of Thailand has a tropical climate with fairly high humidity.

There are three seasons: from March to June it is hot and dry, with temperatures between 27˚C/80 F and 40˚C/104 F, with night temperatures in the 20s. The rainy season is from July to October, but temperatures are slightly lower, because of the effect of the rain. During this time it will not rain continuously, but in sharp bursts, and the sun can come out quickly. The cooler season is from October to February, with average temperatures between 20˚C/68 F and 30˚C/86 F.

Food

Meals are included as per the itinerary where B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner. Most meals are local and feature noodles, rice, curries, and soups. Any special dietary requirements can also be catered for as well. Please let us know at the time of booking.

Drink

Keeping you completely hydrated is a job we take very seriously. Cold water, some energy-restoring local fruit, and soft drinks are included in the tour price while riding. Soft drinks and other beverages during meals are not included. Beer is freely available everywhere but is NOT included in the price.

Solo Travelers

SpiceRoads does not require you to pay a surcharge for traveling alone. We will arrange for you to share accommodation with another traveler of the same gender and if we cannot match you up we will provide a single room at no extra charge. If you prefer not to share a single supplement is payable to guarantee your own room. The cost of the single supplement is listed above.

Extra Expenses

We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20 per day, for incidentals.

Money

The Thai currency is the baht. ATMs, which are abundant, are the easiest ways to get Thai baht. Have a supply of US dollars in cash on hand, just in case your card doesn’t work. Banks or the rarer private moneychangers offer the best foreign-exchange rates. Credit cards are accepted in big cities and resort hotels but you’ll need baht for family-run guesthouses or restaurants.

General booking info

If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:

FLEXIBLE BOOKING CONDITIONS

Booking a SpiceRoads cycling adventure is easy and we try to do everything possible to make sure you have full flexibility and peace of mind. We do not require a deposit to hold your place on a tour and once full payment has been made your money is protected in our client account and you have the flexibility to cancel or change your booking if needed.

CONFIRMING YOUR BOOKING

Just complete our online booking form or send your booking details offline (email or post), and we will confirm your participation. No deposit is needed to confirm your place on a SpiceRoads tour.

You are advised to read our Booking Conditions in full before you make your payment and should you require further clarifications of any of the conditions below, please email us or call our office.

TRIP STATUS

There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office.

BOOKING ONLINE

From the tour page, click the 'Book Now' link. All departures for this tour will appear, just select the date you'd like to travel. For the next steps, you'll need to know the names of the people travelling. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height (for bike hire), or you can add that later by logging into Manage My Trip (we'll set up an account for you automatically if you don't already have one). Our system will contact you from time to time to fill in the missing information, as it will be required before departure. However, if the trip that you are booking offers a child discount, you will have to fill out the date of birth of each rider (so we can calculate the appropriate discount).

If you are having any problems please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 026 3295) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.

BOOKING OFFLINE

Just call us or send an email indicating which trip you want to join and we will happily send you a list of questions and process your booking for you.

DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

We do not require a deposit or full payment to book a place for you on a tour.

The balance of the tour’s cost (final invoice) will need to be paid 60 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights.

In the case where a booking is made when there are less than 60 days until the tour departure date, the tour’s cost should be paid in full within 72 hours of receiving an invoice from SpiceRoads. Payment can be made by credit card using our online payment gateway or by bank transfer. When making payment online you will need to confirm that you have read these booking conditions during the "checkout" process, which equates to agreeing to the terms of services and stipulations as indicated in this document.

In all cases, tour fees need to be paid “in full” before participation in a tour. No person(s) will be allowed to join a tour without fully settling their invoice and receiving a confirmation number from SpiceRoads.

The exception can be made for last-minute miscellaneous fees that can be paid locally (visas, additional local hotel bookings, etc.) can be settled on the day of arrival.

FULL FLEXIBILITY FOR TOUR CANCELATIONS

If the tour is cancelled or postponed by SpiceRoads because we didn't make the trip numbers and the tour can’t run, we will make a full cash refund (by bank transfer or on your credit card).

If the tour is cancelled for any other reason, including due to Covid related travel restrictions, we will give you a full credit (with no deductions for admin or any other small-print item) to use on any SpiceRoads tour with no time limit. (Exceptions being flights, special permits and other non-refundable items and these will be advised when booking the trip).

Before paying for your tour, you can cancel your booking with no charge and up until 40 days before departure, you can change your booking to another travel date or move your booking onto another SpiceRoads tour with no charges.

If you need to cancel after you have made full payment, please see our cancellation policy.

Loyalty Riders Club

For those who have been on several long tours with us, we reward customer loyalty by offering repeat customers a special discount off the tour price (excludes single supplement and bike rental). If this is your fourth scheduled tour or more you will receive a 5% discount. If this is your eighth scheduled tour or more we will extend a 10% discount. The discount will be reflected in your online booking, but please contact us if any questions. Loyalty discounts cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for a loyalty discount.

International Flights

International flights, to and from the start and finish points are not included in the tour price. Once your tour is Guaranteed to Depart you can book your flight. Please contact us for advice before arranging flights for the best arrival and departure times. We would only cancel a trip for an extreme circumstance, but in that case, where we cancel your trip, we cannot be liable for losses incurred relating to any flight booking you have made. Please claim any losses from your travel insurance that you acquired when you booked your holiday.

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Road Escape: Chiang Mai