Photo Albumnorthern Highlights
7 Days
Deluxe Inn to Inn
Prices
$1595 - Tour Cost
$ 375 - Single Sup
Departures
1st and 3rd Sunday
September thru March
Route
Day 1 - arrive Chiang Mai; Day 2 - bicycle Chiang Mai; Day 3 - cycle to Baan Rai; Day 4 - bike to Chiang Dao; Day 5 - pedal to Fang; Day 6 - cycling to Tha Ton; Day 7 - depart
Mileage
Total: 189 mi / 304 km
Daily Avg: 37 mi / 61 km
Ride Rating
Chiang Mai, an ancient Kingdom dating back 700 years, is well known to tourists around the world but its surroundings are often missed by visitors to Thailand. We invite you to explore Chiang Mai and it surroundings in depth on our Northern Sampler bike tour. Discover ethnic hill tribes still living in thatched villages on the hill tops dressed in their colorful garments, explore ancient temple ruins and city fortifications, taste the delicious cuisine that Thailand is renowned for worldwide and meet the friendly Thais.
Your week long bicycle tour begins in Chiang Mai, where 600 year old stupas co-exist side by side with modern offices, where vegetable and fish markets open every morning at 5 am and where teeming night markets spring up on the sidewalks where business men in suits ply by day. We'll explore the city before heading north through vast farmlands and spectacular landscapes. Ride an elephant through the jungle, soak in a natural hot spring feed pool and discover daily lives of the Paduang and Karen tribes.
Your cycling holiday winds down in the northern reaches of the kingdom, pedaling along the Mae Kok River through lush forests and green rice paddies. Enjoy a variety of excellent accommodations, ranging for delightful city lodges to remote mountain resorts, and fine dinners at our favorite local restaurants featuring the best of the region's cuisine. Join us for an awesome bike tour through the best of northern Thailand.
Itinerary (day-by-day)
Day 1 - Your bike tour group will gather today in the vibrant northern city of Chiang Mai. After checking into our lodge, we will get everyone set up with their bikes, then head out for a traditional northern Khan Toke dinner with classical and hill tribe dancing.
Day 2 - This morning we head south of town to explore the ruins of Wiang Kum Kam, site of the first city built by King Mengrai some 700 years ago. Unfortunately his choice of land was subject to frequent floods, so after a short while he moved the city to it's current locale. In the afternoon we will wend our way back into the town, exploring the old town area with its historic Wats (temples) and ancient fortifications. Tonight we enjoy dinner at our favorite restaurant perched on the banks of the Mae Ping (Ping River) which flows through the heart of the city. 22 mi / 35 kms
Day 3 - We head north this morning, following small roads along the Mae Ping through villages and past flower farms. Lunch time will find us in the town of Mae Rim, where we will break from cycling to visit an orchid grower, butterfly farm and the Mae Rim Elephant camp, where we enjoy a demonstration of the elephant's former work. IN late afternoon, we remount our bikes for a beautiful ride through emerald rice paddies and past colorful temples enroute to our overnight stop in the village of Baan Rai. 31 mi / 50 kms
Day 4 - Our morning ride takes us first to Mae Malai, where we visit a traditional market featuring a broad selection of local vegetables, fruits and fish, along with a tasty array of prepared foods from pad se yu (noodles) to fried insects. We will also visit the magnificent Wat Baan Den, before heading north into the rolling, forested countryside. Our bike tour winds down the day at a picturesque resort tucked in amongst the impressive karst hills ... relax by the lake with a cold Singha beer or on the porch of your teak cottage hidden in the trees. 57 mi / 92 kms
Day 5 - After breakfast this morning, we will pedal up to a beautiful giant Buddha, perched beneath the golden cliffs, then enjoy a thrilling descent onto the agricultural realm around Fang. We will also visit Tham Tub Tao, an ancient temple complex with 100s of Buddha images inside a giant cavern. Each year a gathering of 2500 monks takes place at this temple and has been happening for hundreds of years. In the afternoon we arrive at Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Thailand's answer to Yellowstone with geysers and hot springs. Our bungalows overlook the geyser field and we can enjoy soaks in pools fed by natural hot springs. 39 mi / 63 kms
Day 6 - The last day of this Thailand bike tour pedals across the flat plains of the far north. Our first stop is in Mae Ai, where we will spend some time exploring Wat Mae Ai Luang, with its historic wooden temple featuring Burmese architecture. Then we roll further north to Tha Ton, our overnight stopping point. After lunch beside the river, we will set out on a beautiful ride along the Mae Kok through farmlands and forests, culminating in a climb to Baan Yapa, a Padaung Village. The Padaung are also known as Long Neck Women and you have the opportunity to watch them create their traditional woven scarves. Our last night's celebratory dinner will be at a great restaurant overlooking the Mae Kok River. 40 mi / 64 kms
Day 7 - Our cycling holiday must come to an end today. We will shuttle back to the Chiang Mai Airport in our vans, one last chance to enjoy the scenery through which you pedaled for the last few days. Khap khun khap, sawasdee khap
Prices:
Tour cost: $1595 - $1695
Single supplement: $375
Tour deposit: $200
Bike rental: $110
Bike rental deposit: $25
Lodging:
Deluxe Hotels & Resorts
... More about this trip's lodges.
What's Included:
- 6 nights Accommodation in the area's better hotels (double occupancy)
- All meals from Dinner on Day 1 until Breakfast on Day 7
- Water, sodas and beer included at dinner
- Service of bilingual Team Pedalers Guide(s)
- Full Van Support
- Daily route directions and maps
- Sightseeing and cultural activities
- Airport pick up & drop off
Meeting & Flights:
The tour meets in the afternoon of Day 1 at Chiang Mai Airport. Guides will meet your incoming flight between 12 noon and 5 pm, please plan your flights to arrive accordingly.
The trip ends at Chiang Mai Airport around 11:30 am on Day 7. Guests who have booked their post tour accommodations in Chiang Mai through our office will be dropped at their lodges after the airport drop off.
Fly into Chiang Mai (CNX) between 12 noon & 5 pm on Day 1
Fly out of Chiang Mai (CNX) after 1 pm on Day 7
NOTE: Due to the late night arrival from and early morning departure of flights to North America, most guests will need to overnight in Bangkok going both directions.
Domestic Flights:
We suggest booking your flight between Bangkok & Chiang Mai separately from your international flight, as it will usually work out much more economical. For ease of connecting with international flights at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, we suggest using either Thai Airways or Bangkok Airways. For more info on the various carriers and links to their websites, please visit our Thai Travel page.
Visas & Travel Documents:
Passports are required for all guests. Your passport should have at least 6 months validity past your intended travel dates. Visas are not required for citizens of the USA, Canada, UK, EU, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, a 30 day Entry Permit is issued upon arrival in Bangkok.
Route Conditions
The entire ride is on paved roads, most with nice pavement and wide shoulders. Traffic is moderate to light and very bike friendly. The route is suitable for performance road, sport road and touring bikes. Terrain is a mix flat, with some moderate hills midway through the route and at the finish point.
Pre/Post Tour Options
A variety of stopover programs are available for Bangkok, with hotels, airport shuttles and some sightseeing. We also have several delightful tour packages that could be enjoyed before or after your ride in Bhutan. Perhaps a visit to fabled Angkor Wat on our 4 day package, that includes cycling through the ruins and a boat trip to visit remote inaccessible temples. You might want to enjoy a cruise along the Mekhong River as it travels from Chang Khong, Thailand to Luang Prabang, Laos, then enjoy a couple of days exploring the UNESCO Heritage City of Luang Prabang. For complete details visit our Asia Stopovers Page.
| WARNING: Participation on this trip may result in an serious addiction to Thai cuisine and chronic wanderlust. |
Go When You Want
Private departures can be scheduled pretty much year round. November thru March is best with warm temperatures and little rain. April & May are hot and sunny. June until October is the rainy season, cooler temperatures but a chance of several days of rain.
Get the wheels rolling and Request Your Personal Date today.
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