About this Cycle Tour
On this 788-kilometre ride you’ll cycle on paved roads in good condition through farming villages, up and over lush green mountains and on winding roads along the Mekong River.
On this 788-kilometre ride you’ll cycle on paved roads in good condition through farming villages, up and over lush green mountains and on winding roads along the Mekong River.
No better way to see the Thai countryside. Beautiful, traffic-free back roads curling up the sides of mountains; plates of cool mangoes and pineapples and coconut rice waiting to quench your midday hunger; mouthwatering plates of local food waiting for you at every meal, and tireless, friendly guides who will both race you up the mountain when you're feeling strong and help you finish the last leg when you're flagging.
A great mix of fun and challenging cycling, local food, beautiful countryside and sites, and knowledgeable guides. We enjoyed our trip from start to finish!
View more: Road
Tours in: ThailandThailand - Chiang Mai
DestinationsThailand
Tour MeetsChiang Rai
Fly in toMae Fah Luang International Airport (CEI)
Group Size2-16 riders
SpiceRoads jerseyWater bottleSupport vehicleGuide(s)Meals (as indicated)AccommodationSnacks and drinks
International flightsDomestic flightsAirport pick upAirport drop offVisa feesAlcoholTips
This tour is 100% on road, and we designed the route with road bikers in mind. We start in Chiang Rai with a warm-up ride to get used to your bikes, then the riding begins in earnest. We will be alternating between hilly and flat days, but we always start off with a gentle ride before we start climbing.
The total distance is 788 km in nine riding days on smooth tarmac roads. Some of the distances are quite long, and there are significant ascents and a few steep sections on some days, but there are also a few flat days to let your legs recover. 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, ice, and fresh fruit.
Suitability: This is a tour for cyclists possessing a moderate to high level of physical fitness. Fitness will be a huge asset on those long days and on the undulating hills. The tour is fully supported, and the bus is always close at hand for those who find the riding too difficult.
Biking Conditions: We ride between 30 and 125 km a day. We built in some easy half-day rides, but the daily ascents range from 129 to 2,000 m. The roads are 100% tarmac and in good condition.
We meet in the afternoon for a warm-up ride to make sure the bikes fit. Our nice and easy ride through the outskirts of the city will also get us accustomed to riding in Thailand and on the left side of the road. We cycle through rice paddy fields and follow the Mae Lao River to the exquisite Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple. Created by Thailand's National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, this temple stands out for its distinctive style. After the visit, we head back to the hotel, so we can refresh before an outing to the night bazaar and dinner.
Laluna Resort
Dinner
Ride 30km
+129m
-129mToday we will be heading up to the hills of Wawee, but we have a nice fast flat stretch of 40 km to warm up our legs before the real work begins. The first climb is through a variety of fields from sugar cane to maize, small farming villages, and endless mountain views, enough to distract you from the effort of ascending 800 m in just 15 kilometres! We stop for a scenic rest stop with panoramic views before a fast 10-km descent. The remainder of ride will be undulating on quiet roads in good condition. We end at Thaton along the banks of the Maekok River where your resort with a swimming pool awaits. We'll have ascended almost 2,000 m in 123 km, a respectable first day!
Maekok River Village ResortBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 123km+1941m-1885mWe have a gentle start to the day as we won't be pushing the pedals very hard until kilometre 25. Then it's time to climb, but we only gain about 350 m over 10 km, for which we are rewarded with a short downhill and another climb. During our cycle, we'll pass hilltribe farmers working their fields and be greeted by children and possibly a water buffalo or two. Our true reward will be the long, gentle descent all the way to the town of Chaing Saen on the banks of the Mekong River. This town dates to the 7th century; however, it was around 1328 that the city walls, which are still standing, were built. Our hotel is directly on the river and overlooks Laos on the other side. Our total vertical climb today is 800 m.
Siam TriangleBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 98km+714m-795mToday is a semi rest day as we have a fast, flat ride in the morning, leaving the afternoon free for you to relax. Our ride today is along the Mekong River, which also forms the border with Laos, on a quiet, smooth road. We arrive in the border town of Chiang Khong in time for lunch, and the afternoon is free for you to sit on your balcony overlooking the river, explore the local market, or take a wander through the bicycle museum before regrouping for dinner.
Chiangkhong Teak Garden Riverfront HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 68km+607m-620mWe ride out of Chiang Khong and head south to Pu Chi Fa for a stunning viewpoint. We warm up for 50 km on a leisurely level route and then it's time to go up, up, up. We rest after the first ascent of almost 800 m up to a plateau. Here we'll have a few undulations along a ridge at 1,200 m to our resort. The mountains here have a patchwork of fields growing a large variety of crops, from cabbage and corn to strawberries to lychee farmed by Hmong. Tonight, you can enjoy fresh cool air in your cosy bungalow.
Ukrist Forest HillBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 89km+1863m-651mWhat goes up must come down. We start with an exhilarating descent down the mountain, and then the ride flattens out as we cycle through a wide and fertile valley. We stop for a break at Phu Sang Waterfall, where the water comes from a hot spring with water temperature around 33-35 degrees. The riding from here on is flat with just a few rises. We cycle on to have lunch in the small town of Chun and then finish at the lakeside town of Phayao. We pass many small towns and villages and see locals going about their daily business as they herd their cattle or till their fields. We end our ride at Phayao Lake, an artificial lake that is now home to more than 22 species of fish. The town is very laid-back, and after checking into our hotel, we'll head to a lakeside restaurant for a feast.
Green Hill HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 125km+650m-1474mThis morning, we ride around the lake before we start our first serious climb of the day, a 11-km ascent. We top out just under 1,000 m after a climb of 500 m or so and have views back into the valley we left. Looking ahead, we enjoy our downhill, with a stop to take photos at Tan Tong Waterfall. After lunch, we get back on our bikes and cross in-to the next valley by crossing a small mountain range. Our ride ends with a flat ride through rice paddies. We stay in a funky resort with individual artwork in each room.
Full HouseBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 85km+1160m-1005mToday's ride has a refreshing end in a waterfall, but before we get there, we have our work cut out for us! We'll be cycling up to 1,400 m, and though the climbs will be tough, they won't be unrelenting. The road winds up through a lush forest, and you'll hear birds seemingly encouraging you on. After a break at the top, a freewheel of 20 km awaits! Our scenic ride continues through rice fields and orchards filled with exotic fruits. We arrive at Bua Thong Waterfall where we can have a dip in the crystal clear water, but watch out for the freshwater crabs! We then transfer one hour to Chiang Mai and our centrally located ho-tel.
Aruntara Riverside Boutique HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 105km+1946m-1962mOur loop takes us around Doi Suthep, the mountain that overlooks the old city. We have a very short transfer out of Chiang Mai to avoid traffic. We start pedalling on quiet country roads with lots of coffee places to stop at along the way. We have one major climb in the morning, which will be after a descent with some sharp curves. We stop for lunch at the village of Samoeng. As we come around the mountain, we have one more tough rise, but once over the top, it's downhill to the fertile foothills north of Chiang Mai. Back to the hotel to clean up and prepare for our farewell dinner.
Aruntara Riverside Boutique HotelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 75km+1670m-1669mToday is yours to relax and rest after nine days of great riding. We can help with arrangements if you’d like to extend your stay in Thailand or organise transfers to the airport for onward flights.
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.
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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Wonderful trip, great scenery, excellent food and accommodation, outstanding guide (who rode with us) and wonderful support driver. But not for the faint-hearted …. Some of the hills were very difficult (often well over 15% and on more than one occasion well over 20%!). I must confess to getting in the van a few times, though overall I feel very happy with my efforts! I appreciated very much that I felt very well supported on the road and was never left feeling bad when a hill became too much for me. I think that Spiceroad's description of the difficulty level is pretty accurate, but recommend that people take the level seriously and do some good training in preparation!