About this Cycle Tour
From the mountains and jungles of the North to the temple-filled plains of central Thailand, cycling through these regions offers unforgettable scenery and cultural experiences.
From the mountains and jungles of the North to the temple-filled plains of central Thailand, cycling through these regions offers unforgettable scenery and cultural experiences.
Professional Support Team, Amazing Food, Excellent daily Briefings for the next stage, and a life full of memories. Thank You Nick, Bird,Rin and Wat. My third bike tour in Thailand, but my first with SpiceRoads. The best tour by far, Thanks to all your staff.
The SpiceRoads team provided everything one could imagine on the trip with great attention to every detail.
Tours in: ThailandThailand - Chiang Mai
DestinationsThailand
Tour MeetsChiang Mai
Fly in toChiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
We ride a total of 927 km over 10 cycling days. Beginning in the mountainous north of Thailand means that the first three days include plenty of climbs. Make sure to arrive well-rested and trained. Once we reach the Central Plains by day 4, however, the terrain remains predominantly flat all the way to Bangkok. We ride on a combination of secondary roads, on the shoulders of main roads and, occasionally, on narrow rural lanes in varying conditions. A highlight of the tour are long stretches of riding through Thailand’s scenic countryside. While this is not a touring-focused trip, we do stop at plenty of temples and other sites along the way, giving particular attention to the incredible ruins at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sukhothai. Most of our rides are point to point with just a few transfers here and there (please see descriptions in the itinerary on days 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10). Accommodations range from deluxe, character-rich properties to more basic hotels, but they are always comfortable and often amongst the best available.
The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of water and refreshments along the way.
Suitability: This tour is best suited for experienced road cyclists capable of handling long, back-to-back, riding days. Days 2 & 3 feature challenging passes with steep gradients, but the remainder of the route is almost entirely flat. While there is no full rest day, on day 5 we have an easy morning on the bikes to discover Sukhothai Historical Park and the afternoon is at leisure. Less experienced riders are welcome but should prepare themselves in advance to manage the long distances at a reasonable pace. The support vehicle is always nearby to offer refuge to any weary cyclists.
Biking Conditions: The majority of the route is along excellently paved roads well suited for road biking. We ride on quiet secondary roads as much as possible but there are regular stretches on busier main roads as well. Occasionally, we also veer onto narrow country lanes where potholes, road debris, and patches of gravel can be common. We have chosen the least busy roads possible but please be aware that traffic can be unpredictable and, especially near the cities and towns, unavoidable. While we have scheduled our departures to avoid the wettest months of year, showers can occur at any time. We generally ride rain or shine though, based on the guide’s discretion or your level of comfort, modifications to the planned route can be made. It’s all part of the adventure!
Welcome to Chiang Mai, the “Rose of the North”! We meet at our tour hotel in the early afternoon and transfer a short distance to the Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir. This is a favorite recreation spot for Chiang Mai locals, featuring a large lake surrounded by forests and traffic-free roads. After setting up and fitting the bikes we’ll go for a gentle spin around the area, riding on a cycling & running track before looping around the scenic lake. Keep your eyes out for some large and whimsical straw statues! We then ride along the canal road equipped with a bike lane and a mix of city streets – some busy, others more quiet – leading us to Wat Umong, a 700 year-old temple set in tranquil shaded woods, famous for the tunnels below its large chedi. From there we loop back to our old town hotel via the main road. We reconvene in the evening for a welcome dinner.
The Rim Resort
Dinner
Ride 30km
+213m
-226mWe transfer from our hotel to avoid the Chiang Mai morning rush and begin our ride on tranquil roads that surround the ruins of an ancient city. Following country lanes flanking the Ping River, we pause at a sparkling temple complex in the moated town of Lamphun. The next leg is a scenic 50 km journey across the countryside, dotted with rice paddies, longan farms, and jungle-clad mountains in the distance. After lunch near a historic railway bridge, we prepare for the day’s main challenge: a 10 km ascent through Khun Tan National Park. This climb features narrow, winding roads that cut through a dense forest, with steep gradients that may require us to push our bikes at times. By the 90 km mark, we’ll have mostly completed the ascent, leading into a long, rolling downhill into the Wang River Valley. Back in the plains, we have a final 20 km on winding back roads that take us to the stunning Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang, an impressive fortified and highly revered temple complex dating back to the 13th-century. Finally, it's just a short ride to our secluded riverside hotel south of Lampang.
Lampang River Lodge HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 141km+953m-1030mDeparting from our hotel, the first 30 km take us on quiet roads in the countryside of Lampang Province. We then merge onto a main throughway where the smooth tarmac allows for a more fast-paced journey. The road leads over the Baan Mai Pass, a 20 km ascent and descent surrounded by lush jungle foliage. Once we have come down, we turn north on a secondary road straddling the foothills of Phrae Province. At 70 km we’ll take a short detour to check out Thailand’s only Bavarian-style train station, built over a century ago by German engineers. As we continue, you may also be intrigued by roadside stalls selling bamboo products, a specialty of the area. We have a final – short but steep – climb into Doi Pha Klong National Park, known for its intriguing rock formations. Finally, we arrive in Phrae, the provincial capital, where we can see a beautifully restored 19th-century mansion, built at a time when Phrae was the center of the lucrative teak trade. For dinner, we head to the local night market.
Phoomthai Garden HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 115km+1212m-1282mWe fast-track ourselves with a 1.5-hour transfer south into the heartland of Thailand’s first kingdom, Sukhothai, which thrived from the mid-13th to late 14th century. Despite this relatively short era, some of the most exquisite examples of early Thai art and architecture originate from this period. Over the next three days, we’ll delve into these historic landscapes, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their cultural significance. Today’s ride begins with a pavement cruise through Sri Satchanalai, a satellite city of the Sukhothai Kingdom known for its ancient pottery kilns and well-preserved temple ruins. We then follow the course of the gently-flowing Yom River, passing a patchwork of villages and fertile farmland that hug its banks. Our destination is the modern town of Sukhothai where we are based for two nights. Today’s ride is entirely flat and on a mix of narrow, country lanes in varying conditions and well-paved secondary roads. We keep a relaxed pace, taking in our surroundings and stopping at a few standout temple ruins along the way.
Ruan Thai HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 81km+282m-309mToday, we immerse ourselves in the illustrious capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom. Its legacy has profoundly shaped Thai culture, language, and religion, with influences still visible in modern society. Starting from our hotel, we briefly navigate city streets before transitioning to rural roads that lead us to Sukhothai Historical Park. This expansive area showcases an impressive array of temple ruins, fortifications, moats, and ponds connected by well-paved, lightly trafficked roads, perfect for cycling. While many sites can be appreciated from the saddle, we’ll make several stops for a closer look. Highlights include Wat Si Chum, home to an elegant seated Buddha statue, and Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai’s royal temple, featuring towering brick stupas and colonnades. Although the total cycling distance is just 35 km, we’ll spend the entire morning appreciating Sukhothai’s historical splendor. After lunch, you can choose to return to our hotel by van or cycle back along the main road (approximately 12 km). The afternoon is yours to relax by the pool, and we’ll reconvene later for dinner.
Ruan Thai HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 35km+136m-128mWe start with a brief transfer to avoid retracing our steps from yesterday. Beginning at Sukhothai’s ancient moat, we ride along a tree-lined boulevard towards Ramkhamhaeng National Park. The gently rising, forested hills provide a pleasant backdrop for the first 30 km as we skirt along the edges of the National Park. The remainder of our journey takes us along peaceful secondary roads through a vast expanse of rice paddies. At around 60 km, we pass through Phran Kratai, a charming community with vintage wooden houses. Finally, we arrive in Kamphaeng Phet, known as the 'Diamond City' for its fortification walls from the Sukhothai Kingdom era. Before reaching our hotel, we’ll detour through this historical fortress, passing by walls and ruins embraced by tree roots.
Navarat Heritage HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 93km+238m-216mWe head into the heartland of Thailand today with our journey to Nakorn Sawan. You’ll quickly understand why Thailand is the top exporter of rice when you see the many paddies on your route today. Look out for water buffaloes wallowing in a puddle and for ducks taking a dip in a rice field. This is an area of Thailand not visited by many tourists, so you will pique the interest of locals (especially if you tell then you have ridden from Chiang Mai!), and it is a good opportunity to stop and say Sawadee!
Bonito Chinos ResortBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 130km+474m-525mWe really start to feel we are approaching Bangkok as we see signs of industrialisation, but there are still plenty of open spaces with fields, as well as small towns and villages along the way. The ride is again on backroads that pass through many small towns.
Chaisaeng PalaceBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 145km+619m-636mAs we leave Singburi, don’t forget to look up and wonder at the magnificent reclining Buddha in Ang Thong before continuing the ride to the old Siamese capital of Ayutthaya – the centre of old Siam for over 400 years until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic park boasts some spectacular temples that are best visited by bicycle. The town lies along the Chao Phraya River, and our hotel for the night is located on its banks.
Krungsri River HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 90km+493m-492mWe have the last leg of our sojourn through Thailand. We ride down to Bangkok along country roads that will take us past Bang Pa-In Palace, the former summer palace of King Chulalongkorn. We end our journey in north Bangkok, and we transfer the last few kilometres to our hotel in the city centre. We then meet in the evening for a celebratory dinner and bask in the glory of a job well done!
Shama Lakeview Asoke BangkokBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 60km+202m-203mFree day to enjoy Bangkok and pack your bikes.
BreakfastDisclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.
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.
We also have E-Bikes available for hire, but they are limited in number & size - please send an email to us to check on availability.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We recommend that you tuck away a few extra dollars, perhaps US$20 per day, for incidentals.
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.
If this is the tour for you here's what you need to do to confirm your place:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The information in this document is given in good faith, and covers the average range of conditions likely to be found on this trip. Please note that the itinerary is subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, however, we will always do our best to adhere to this original itinerary
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This was my fourth ride with SpiceRoads in Thailand and was every bit as enjoyable as my previous experiences.