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River of Kings Ride

Day 1 Meet in Chiang Mai

Welcome to Chiang Mai, “The Rose of the North”! We meet at our tour hotel in the late afternoon for a trip briefing and welcome dinner. Please let us know if you require assistance with airport transfers and pre-tour hotel bookings.

Aruntara Riverside Boutique Hotel
Dinner

Day 2 Chiang Mai Exploration

This morning, we drive up to Wat Doi Suthep, northern Thailand's most sacred temple. Perched on a mountaintop overlooking Chiang Mai, it offers stunning panoramic views on clear days. At the heart of the temple complex is a large, stepped, gilded stupa — a must-see and an iconic symbol of Chiang Mai’s deep-rooted spirituality. After descending the mountain, we head to Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir, a favourite local recreation spot, with a large lake surrounded by forests and traffic-free roads. After setting up the bikes, we’ll enjoy a gentle spin around the scenic lake, keeping an eye out for whimsical straw statues. We continue along the canal road, which features a bike lane, and then switch to a mix of city streets — some busy, some quieter — and discover a few more ancient Buddhist temples, such as Wat Jed Yod, featuring a seven-spired stupa, and Wat Umong, a 700-year-old temple nestled in tranquil woods, famous for its underground tunnels that once kept an eccentric monk from wandering off into the forest! After lunch, we loop back to the hotel. With plenty of restaurants to choose from, dinner is on your own tonight.

Aruntara Riverside Boutique Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch
Ride 38km
+248m
-270m

Day 3 Chiang Mai - Lamphun - Lampang

We manoeuvre our way out of Chiang Mai, and after just a few kilometres, we find ourselves on tranquil roads surrounding Wiang Kum Kam, an archaeological site showcasing the remains of an ancient city predating the foundation of Chiang Mai. Continuing through the lush floodplain of the Ping River, we enter Lamphun Province, Thailand's top producer of longan fruit. Throughout our ride, we pass rows of longan trees with their distinctive wide canopies. After about 30 km, we reach the moated town of Lamphun and visit the glittering Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, one of northern Thailand’s oldest continuously worshipped Buddhist temples. From here, we ride further south, enjoying scenes of rustic countryside until we finish at a small temple, where we load up the bikes and transfer around 1.5 hours to Lampang. We’ll spend the night at a charming northern Thai-style rural resort along the banks of the Wang River

Lampang River Lodge
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 54km
+212m
-197m

Day 4 Lampang - Phrae

Starting from the hotel, we weave through the countryside, passing scenes of daily life in the rice paddies and farming villages of “Lanna,” the local name for northern Thailand. After about 25 km, we take a break at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, an impressive fortified temple complex dating back to the 13th century. We cross the Wang River and continue for another 30 km, including a few hills to conquer, until we reach the junction with the main provincial throughway. That’s our cue to hop in the van for a 1-hour transfer to Phrae. Time permitting, we’ll visit a beautifully restored 19th-century mansion, once the heart of Phrae’s lucrative teak trade. For dinner, we head to the local night market.

PhoomThai Garden Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 59km
+410m
-370m

Day 5 Phrae - Sri Satchanalai - Sukhothai

We 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 grand, historical site of Sukhothai where we are based for two nights. Today’s ride of nearly 100 km 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.

Legendha Sukhothai
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 98km
+152m
-171m

Day 6 Sukhothai Exploration

Today, we immerse ourselves in the illustrious capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom, whose legacy has profoundly shaped Thai culture, language, and religion — its influences still visible in modern society. Starting from our hotel, we cycle through Sukhothai Historical Park, an expansive area featuring an impressive array of temple ruins, fortifications, moats, and ponds, all connected by well-paved, lightly trafficked roads — perfect for cycling. While many sites can be admired 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, with its towering brick stupas and colonnades. Though the total cycling distance is just 20 km, we’ll spend the entire morning soaking in Sukhothai’s historical splendour. After lunch, we return to the hotel where the afternoon is yours to relax by the pool.

Legendha Sukhothai
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 20km
+121m
-120m

Day 7 Sukhothai - Khampeng Phet

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 Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 95km
+245m
-221m

Day 8 Khampeng Phet – Nakhon Sawan - Uthai Thani

We fast-track into the heart of Thailand’s Central Plains with a 1.5-hour transfer to the outskirts of Nakhon Sawan, where the Nan and Ping Rivers meet to form the Chao Phraya, Thailand's "River of Kings." Today, we follow the river south, riding through a vibrant patchwork of rice paddies and fruit-and-vegetable gardens that thrive in the silt-rich soils. Taking a leisurely pace, we ride along village lanes, rural roads, and river-hugging paths, stopping for refreshments at Buddhist temples and visiting a workshop where knives are crafted using traditional methods. Our ride ends in Uthai Thani, where we enjoy lunch aboard a restored rice barge, cruising the Sakae Krang River and taking in the waterborne life of Central Thailand. After lunch, a quick transfer brings us to our charming lakeside resort for the night.

Uthai River Lake Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 51km
+91m
-100m

Day 9 Uthai Thani - Chai Nat - Ayutthaya

We kick off the day early, cycling 5 km to the morning market in the vintage town of Uthai Thani. Walking our bikes through rows of tightly packed stalls, we discover sellers of freshly caught river fish, vibrant fruits and veggies from surrounding farms, and other intriguing curiosities! Back in the saddle, we cycle toward the Chao Phraya River on a provincial throughway, and after around 20 km, we return to rural lanes through expansive rice paddy fields. A highlight of this section is encountering water buffaloes in the fields or barns, where we stop to meet these gentle creatures under the care of local farmers who treat them like family. We then cross into Chai Nat Province and cycle south along the river for another 25 km, culminating in crossing a dam that helps prevent flooding in Bangkok. Here we have lunch and then transfer 1.5 hours to the historical site of Ayutthaya, Siam’s once-glorious capital north of Bangkok. We stay at a rural retreat just outside the city and have the afternoon to relax, saving our exploration of Ayutthaya for the next day.

Pludhaya Resort & Spa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 51km
+158m
-168m

Day 10 Ayutthaya - River Kwai

This morning, we uncover the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ayutthaya, exploring the ruins of Siam’s former capital. Nearly destroyed during a war with the Burmese in the late 18th century, Ayutthaya captivates with its faded remnants of former glory. We weave through the city by bike, visiting standout monuments like Wat Mahathat, famous for the Buddha head entwined in tree roots, the trio of stupas at Wat Si Sanphet, and the grand Hindu temple of Wat Chaiwatthanaram. While the cycling distance is short, we spend most of the morning visiting these sites. After lunch, we transfer 3.5 hours into the Western Thailand to a hotel on the banks of the River Kwai. En route, we’ll stop at the historic bridge built by prisoners of war during the Japanese occupation in WWII.

Boutique Raft Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 17km
+51m
-51m

Day 11 River Kwai - Kanchanaburi

We ride in farmlands surrounding the River Kwai with a background of rugged mountains, offering a change from the Central Plains scenery of previous days. Riding along well-paved roads in Kanchanaburi Province, we reach the 13th-century temple ruins of Prasat Muang Singh at around 35 km, once the westernmost outpost of the mighty Khmer Empire which ruled from Cambodia. After exploring this ancient site, we continue for 10 km to a small museum showcasing prehistoric artefacts from the region, giving us an even deeper look into Thailand’s rich past. Our day ends with a transfer to a serene riverside resort, where we unwind and relax.

Royal River Kwai Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 45km
+280m
-299m

Day 12 Kanchanaburi - Floating Market - Amphawa

We have an early start and transfer for about 2 hours into the Mae Klong Delta, a fitting venue for the final leg of our river-inspired bike tour, where the Kingdom’s rivers fan out and spill into the Gulf of Thailand. This fertile delta is home to a sprawling network of canals, floating markets, vintage communities, fruit orchards, and lots and lots of coconuts! First up is Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Thailand’s biggest and most colourful. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s great fun! From there, we embark on a long-tail boat cruise through a maze of canals cutting through local villages and plantations, offering a glimpse into Thailand of old, where locals go about their daily lives with the canal as the focal point. We then ride into coconut plantations and fruit orchards along quiet backroads, stopping to explore interesting temples, including the quirky Wat Bang Kung, propped up by a huge banyan tree, and the intricately carved panels of Wat Bang Kae Noi. Our day ends with a relaxing stay at a cosy hotel on the banks of the Mae Klong River.

Amphawa River View
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 42km
+122m
-124m

Day 13 Amphawa - Bang Krachao – Bangkok

It’s time for the home stretch! This morning we transfer to Bangkok, Thailand’s electrifying capital city located at the terminus of the Chao Phraya River. Driving time is around 2 hours but before we enter Bangkok’s concrete jungle we head into the urban oasis of Bang Krachao for a final ride. Also known as Bangkok’s “Green Lung”, Bang Krachao is a peaceful area filled with lush vegetation, a maze of waterways, small villages, and mangrove forests. We ride along minor roads, pathways, through alleys, temples, gardens and tropical jungle. Some of the canal paths are elevated and quite narrow and we advise caution on these sections. After our short but sweet final ride we transfer to our downtown Bangkok hotel in time for lunch (not included). In the evening we reconvene for our farewell dinner which we will enjoy in the most fitting way possible - a cruise on a converted rice barge on the Chao Phraya, our dear “River of Kings”.

Shama Lakeview Asoke
Breakfast, Dinner
Ride 13km
+69m
-69m

Day 14 Bangkok Departure

Our tour has ended but feel free to extend your stay in the “Big Mango” and discover what this world-class city has to offer. Please let us know if you require assistance with post-tour hotel bookings or airport transfers.

Breakfast

Disclaimer: 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.