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SOUTH THAILAND
The pristine beaches and stunning limestone scenery of southern Thailand have made it a favorite backdrop for Hollywood movies, such as “The Beach” and of course James Bond's “Man with the Golden Gun” and you’ll feel like you are on a movie set riding through this gorgeous landscape.
Southern Thailand has more to offer than turquoise waters, white sand and lush jungles - it’s also home to a fascinating mixture of cultures. Thai Buddhists mingle with Muslim seafarers to produce a colorful people steeped in history and tradition. Priding themselves on their openness and hospitality, the people of the south, or Khon Dai, are always ready to show farang (foreigners) their country.
Our tour starts on the Gulf of Thailand, at a pristine beach that is off the tourist track. We then head inland and spend time on a stunning lake and ride on the edge of Khao Sok National Park - home to the last of Thailand's great rainforests - before we head to the beaches on the Andaman Sea. From Khao Lak we'll head to the paradise island of Koh Yao Noi where you'll spend time with a local fishing family. As we boat through Phang Nga Bay towards Krabi be awed by the spectacular limestone cliffs rising vertically from the sea.
Though we ride through the world class tourist destinations of Khao Lak and Krabi, we also leave behind the tourist enclaves and see a Southern Thailand that is a rarely visited gem to be discovered.
TRIP PROFILE
We ride approximately 390 km (a number of rides are optional) mostly on tarmac roads in reasonable repair. The ride is fully supported by a SpiceRoads minibus rigged to carry bikes. The minibus will shadow us for the entire journey.
The early rides are on flat terrain, while later stages embrace a few hills.
| ITINERARY (11 days/10 nights starting in Surat Thani and finishing in Krabi.) | |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | We are met at Surat Thani airport by our team and transfer for lunch before riding on quiet, shady country roads to Khanom beach. |
| Day 2 | Today we do a loop ride along the coast, past some stunning beaches, through a fishing village to a cave and stop off at a refreshing waterfall on our way back to the hotel. |
| Day 3 | We head inland, riding towards a pier where we'll meet our boat for an afternoon boat ride beneath towering karst cliffs on Cheow Laan Lake. |
| Day 4 | We ride downhill for a fast start before a windy and undulating road leads us through a series of magnificent limestone cliffs and green jungle along the edge of Khao Sok National Park. |
| Day 5 | We’ll ride through the old town of Takua Pa as we cycle towards the ferry to Koh Kho Khao Island, stopping en route to visit the Tsunami Victim Cemetery. |
| Day 6 | A free day to relax and enjoy the endless beach or to take your bike and explore the island. An afternoon exploration of the mangroves by boat is planned. |
| Day 7 | We cycle to the Tsunami Memorial and see the big fishing boat that was carried 2 km inland by the waves. We head inland and take a quiet back road as we cycle to Sam Rung waterfall for lunch and a dip. |
| Day 8 | We ride back roads, along canals, past palm and rubber plantations, shrimp farms and along the beach to our next seaside resort. |
| Day 9 | This morning we transfer to the island of Phuket and start to ride on a quiet road past mangroves to the pier where we catch our boat to Koh Yao Noi island. Once on land we’ll explore this paradise island. Overnight at a homestay with a local fishing fa |
| Day 10 | We cycle to the pier and catch our boat for the 45 minute ride through karsts back to the mainland where we’ll ride off road where we’ll be towered over by stunning limestone cliffs as we cycle to Krabi. |
| Day 11 | Morning free before it's time to catch onward flights. |
| FACTS & FIGURES | |
|---|---|
| Tour Cost | US$1600 Single Supplement:US$325 |
| Bike Hire | US$135 |
| Total Distance | 390 km |
| Number of Days | 11 days / 10 nights |
| Number of Cycling Days | Four full days and five half-days |
| Road Surface | This tour follows a mix of good asphalt roads and vehicle-width plantation trails, which may be smooth, gritty, stony, rocky, rutted, loose or hard-packed. |
| Support | One or two 8-seat air-conditioned minibuses specially rigged to take bikes and bikers. |
| Group Size | Minimum 2. Maximum 16. |
| Staff | SpiceRoads cycling guide, plus English-speaking drivers/mechanics. For groups of 10 or more an extra local bike guide also joins. |
| Accommodation | Tourist class resorts or jungle lodges with en suite facilities and a/c, except for one night at the home stay. Whenever possible we try to use hotels with charm and local character. |
| Food | All meals are included from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 11, except for lunch and dinner on the rest day. |
| Biking Grade |
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The variety of food Nat ordered for us was delicious and his knowledge fantastic. Mr Lin is the best driver - always looking after us and making sure we had our water and snacks.
This was our second Spice Roads tour and yes we will be back to do another!
~Leanne
South Thailand Tour, March 2009
I am "extremely" impressed and will recommend to friends in USA.
~Joseph Zilligen
South Thailand Tour, February 2009
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