Northern Highlights bike tour from Pedalers Pub & Grille

Cycling the best of Asia, Alaska and the Pacific since 1987

“Explore the colorful world of Northern Thailand beyond Chiang Mai.
Discover its charm and cuisine. Delve into its history and culture.”

Chiang Mai, the ancient kingdom of King Mengrai 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 Highlights 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 Thailand bicycle tour begins in Chiang Mai, where 700 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.

Book Your Trip Request Trip Details

Northern Highlights
7 days (5 days cycling)
Inn to Inn

Level

Price
$1675 - Scheduled Dates
$1925 - At Your Request (2-5 guests)

Next Departure
21 May 2012
(more dates)

Scheduled Departures
21 May 2012
18 June 2012
16 July 2012
15 October 2012
5 November 2012
19 November 2012
3 December 2012
17 December 2012
7 January 2013
21 January 2013
4 February 2013
18 February 2013
4 March 2013
(less dates)

Itinerary
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 Chai Prakan; Day 6 - cycling to Tha Ton; Day 7 - depart

Route Character
Paved roads, moderate traffic, mixed terrain

Mileage
Total: 189 mi / 304 km
Daily Avg: 37 mi / 61 km

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Thailand Bike Tours » Northern Highlights

Day by Day Itinerary

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 delightful resort with a dramatic sunset view of Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand's second tallest mountain. We'll enjoy a psot ride soak in a private hot spring pool at the base of Doi Chiang Dao. 38 mi / 61 kms

Day 5 - After breakfast this morning, we will pedal north, visiting a local hill tribe market offering fresh produce from various Royal Projects, along with delicious teas and dried fruit. Then up to a beautiful giant Buddha, perched beneath the golden cliffs, before enjoy a thrilling descent onto the agricultural realm around Fang. Our last stop is Wat 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. We will walk into the giant caverns to visit a stupha deep in the heart of the mountain that allegedly dates back more than 1000 years. Our stop is a few miles further up the road in Chai Prakan. 38 mi / 61 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. 32 mi / 51 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

Book Your Trip Request Trip Details

Scheduled Dates:
Tour cost: $1675

At Your Request: (private departures)
Tour cost: $1925 (2 to 5 guests)
Tour cost: $1675 (6 or more guests)

Optional Costs:
Single supplement: $495
Bike rental: $175

Deposits:
Tour deposit: $200
Bike rental deposit: $25

At Your Request:
Private departures can be arranged 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 your wheels rolling and request your At Your Request date today. Plan a trip for your bike club or corporate incentive, contact us for more details.

Lodging:
Boutique Hotels, Inns & Resorts
... More about this trip's inns.

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 or 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 noon 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 2 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.

Check current airfares to: Bangkok

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, Bangkok Airways or Air Asia. For more info on the various carriers and links to their websites, please visit our Thai Travel page.

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.

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.

Read More
Overview
Itinerary & Details
Route Map
Trip Extensions
Guest Reviews
Photo Gallery

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Highlights