Chiang Mai is without a doubt one of the must-visit places in Thailand. Surrounded by green mountains and influenced by a charming Lanna way of life, this famous city is an ideal holiday destination for anyone who seeks a relaxed, back to nature holiday, with a fun mix of activities.
My son and I found the Spice Roads five day family explorer tour suited our needs to a tee! Led by our excellent guide Mr Dum and our attentive driver Mr Pao we visited many and varied places - too many to mention! Each night we stayed in a different place in varied accommodation (from quite luxurious resorts to a mud brick house). The food provided was excellent, especially the biking snacks that got tailored to my sons preferences at the tour went on!
We had a marvellous five day bike tour Of Chiang Mai. Our tour guides, Dum and Van we’re both excellent. Everyone in my family was so well cared for. It was a great family vacation. My sons are 15 and 13. It was challenging, fun and the food (especially the snacks) was delicious. I highly recommended this trip.
Tours in: ThailandThailand - Chiang Mai
DestinationsThailand
Tour MeetsChiang Mai
Fly in toChiang Mai International Airport (CNX)
Group Size2-16 riders
Water bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)Hotel pick upHotel drop offAccommodationBike and helmetSnacks and drinksAccident insurance
International flightsDomestic flightsVisa feesAlcoholTips
We ride on small back roads with little traffic and some short off-road sections. The terrain is flat, but just in case our support vehicle is always close by. This tour is suitable for families and anyone with minimum biking experience.
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 cold drinks and fresh fruit.
Suitability: This tour is suitable for riders with some biking experience. You can expect a fairly gentle ride each day with none of the distances being overly long. There are a few small hills, but these can be tackled by anyone with even a moderate amount of fitness. The emphasis on this tour is Thailand’s scenery off the beaten track.
Biking Conditions: This trip is a mixture of wide, hard-packed dirt trails, single tracks and smooth tarmac. An air-conditioned bus travels behind the group to support us, and participants can cycle as much or as little as they like and still enjoy the same views as the rest of the group.
After an early pickup, it's just a short transfer to start our ride outside downtown Chiang Mai. We start with a gentle ride on quiet back roads, cycling through small villages, numerous paddy fields, fruit orchards, all with a stunning backdrop of the mountains. We will ride across the dam of the sixth largest national park in Thailand, Sri Lanna, and finish at Mae Ngad Reservoir. Here we take off our bike helmets and put on our life vests and launch our kayaks for the next phase of our adventure. We first take a boat out to a floating restaurant for lunch. After a bit of rest, we take up the paddles and kayak around buffalo island, so-named for its primary residents. Back at our raft, you're free to jump or slide into the stream-fed waters. It's back to shore and a short cycle or a transfer to our resort with its own organic farm.
Ban Phraya Lanna Rimnam
Lunch, Dinner
Ride 20kmToday we'll start by exploring the Chiang Dao cave where you can see the numerous natural formations of limestone and crystals. Keep your head low as you are walking through the tunnel filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Then we take a short transfer to stunning Wat Bann Den to check out the Lanna architecture as well as the glittering Nagas. From here we get on our bicycles for an easy ride in the countryside. We take a dirt track along an irrigation canal where we cycle from village to village, meeting plenty of friendly locals along the way. Our destination is Mae Jo Baan Din, also known as Earth Home, a small organic farm promoting sustainable living. Here we'll immerse ourselves in the famous Thai cuisine as we learn about the ingredients, how to prepare them and cook them. Our host will take us to the organic garden to learn about the vegetables and herbs used in Thai dishes, and after picking our ingredients we will prepare dinner. We overnight in an adobe hut built with all natural materials. There is no hot water tonight but it's all part of the experience to go Thai-style.
Mae Jo Baan DinBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 18kmToday we put our bikes aside and spend the day with Thailand's national animal - the elephant. We transfer to the elephant park, get changed and kick off the day learning about these gentle giants and how they have been exploited in the logging and tourism industries. This camp serves as a sanctuary for the rescued elephants. We get up close to these highly intelligent and emotional mammals as we spend the day preparing food, walking and bathing them; it's hard not to fall in love with your new buddy. There will be plenty of photo opportunities, so don't forget your cameras. Enjoy freshly prepared lunch served right at the park. Please note that SpiceRoads does not endorse any activities that will bring harm to the animals and therefore the elephant camp we bring you to will not allow any riding. Please stay attentive, take caution around the elephants and follow the instructions provided by the camp staff, all the while having fun! Tonight we'll spend some time with ethnic Lisu. There are approximately 55,000 Lisu living in Thailand presently in six main tribes. We'll have a villager escort us through the village and he'll take us to a local house to have a cup of tea and teach us about traditional medicine at the shaman's house.
Lisu LodgeBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerAfter breakfast, we are likely to see Buddhist monks on their morning ritual, walking in their peaceful manner for their daily alms from villagers. Thai Buddhists give alms with their highest respect. This morning a transfer takes us to the Ginger Farm, where you will have the opportunity to learn about the important role the water buffalo has played in ancient rice farming techniques. If you are willing to get your feet dirty you can participate in a hands-on demonstration of planting and harvesting rice. We have lunch at the Ginger Farm that serve a wide variety of organic food and refreshing healthy drinks to cool down with. After lunch, we cycle on flat terrain to Ban Tawai to see sculptures handcrafted from wood featuring many unique shapes that reflect the heritage of the local craftsmen. Next we ride for 15 km to visit the historic ruins of Wiang Khum Kham, the first Mon settlement dating back to the 11th century. Following our visit back in time we have a 30 minute transfer to our resort, the Horizon Village Resort surrounded by a beautiful botanical garden, a mini zoo and of course a swimming pool.
Horizon Village ResortBreakfast, Lunch, DinnerRide 25kmAfter breakfast, a short transfer to Bor Sang Umbrella Village. Bor Sang is famed for handmade parasols made from bamboo and rice paper. The village has made umbrellas for generations and the art has been handed down through a small number of families that live here. You can create your unique painted umbrella as a souvenir. Then get back on your bike and start cycling on a smooth tarmac road. Today is an easy flat ride, shaded small tarmac roads lead you through villages, pass by schools, temples and many fruit orchards. When the mountains start to appear in the background we are close to our destination – a hot spring. San Kamphaeng Hot Springs offers many different pools, including one that you can boil an egg in! Let the minerals and the heat do their magic on your biking muscles. After lunch, our tour is over and we transfer you to your hotel in Chiang Mai city or the airport.
Breakfast, LunchRide 30kmDisclaimer: 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.
Bike hire is included in the tour. Child bikes and tag-along bikes (for ages 5-11, max weight: 38 kg/85 lb) are available. Adult must be an experienced rider to pull a tag-along and preferably have experience with tag-alongs. The bikes are well-known makes of hybrid or mountain bikes (depending on the tour) with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes and Shimano components and front suspension.
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: Read our Booking Conditions
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. 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 you are unsure about the trip status, please email us or call our office. For the next steps you'll need to know the names of the people traveling and have either a Visa or a MasterCard. If you wish you can also provide extra details such as passport numbers, height, 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). However, if you wish to get a children's discount, please do fill out the date of birth of the riders. If you are having any problems, please send us an email, or give us a call (+66 2 381 7490) and one of our travel specialists will assist you with your booking.
When booking your tour, you'll be required to pay a deposit to guarantee your place. For tours less than 7 days, the deposit amount is 100% of the tour price, per rider. For tours 7 days or longer, the deposit amount is 30% of the tour price, per rider.
Read more about booking and paying for your trip here.
All SpiceRoads trips require proof of travel insurance when booking your holiday. Besides covering you during your trip, travel insurance will also enable you to claim any fees that you have paid to us, including your deposit, if you have to cancel your trip
Day tours and tours shorter than 7 days require full payment at the time of booking. For tours 7 days or longer, full payment must be paid 45 days before the departure date with fees for any bicycle rental(s), single supplement(s) and extra hotel nights. Our confirmation will include personal details you provided us (including your flight information), visa application advice, a packing suggestion list and a detailed tour itinerary. It will also include a checklist to ensure you get everything ready for your holiday.
On the rare occasions when we, SpiceRoads, must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be 100% refunded, which constitutes full settlement. There will be absolutely no deductions. If you, the client, must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to when you cancel. For full details, please read our cancellation policy.
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 can not be used in conjunction with any other offer. Note: Only tours of 7 days or more will be applicable for loyalty discount.
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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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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Perfect five day adventure for my 11 year old son and I. A great mix of activities plus the bonus of staying in different types of accommodation each night.