Bangkok to Phuket

This fourteen-day coastal ride runs from Bangkok to Phuket along Thailand's southern shoreline, where morning light flashes off salt pans, fishing boats rock just offshore and the air carries sea breeze, woodsmoke and something frying in a roadside pan. After a welcome dinner in Bangkok, riders visit Wat Yai Suwannaram in Phetchaburi and cross salt flats, aquaculture farms and seaweed fields to Cha Am, then explore the limestone caves of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park.

The route follows the Gulf coast past bird's nest farms to Ban Krut and through the shrimp farms of Ao Siam National Park, before tracing the Royal Road across the Kra Isthmus on a dedicated bike path to the Red Cliffs and the Grand Sand Dune Park near Chumphon. After a final coastal ride and a transfer to Surat Thani, riders pedal through rubber plantations past hot springs and the Wat Tham Singh cave temple, then take a long-tail boat to a floating hotel on Chiew Larn Lake.

A free day on the lake allows time for kayaking and exploring crystal caves, before riders return by boat to cycle through the karst landscapes of Khao Sok National Park. The final rides follow quiet backroads to Khao Lak and along the Andaman coast to Natai Beach, finishing with a guided walking tour of Phuket Old Town. Nights are spent in charming boutique hotels, with local guides, a support van and seafood dinners throughout.

Highlights:

• Salt flats and aquaculture farms around Phetchaburi
• Limestone caves of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
• Royal Road bike path across the Kra Isthmus, the Red Cliffs and the Grand Sand Dune Park
• Two nights in a floating hotel on Chiew Larn Lake, with kayaking and crystal caves
• Karst landscapes of Khao Sok National Park
• Andaman coast beaches and a walking tour of Phuket Old Town

Surface and terrain:
Well-paved roads, often with wide shoulders, including a dedicated bike path along the Royal Road. Terrain is flat along the Gulf coast, with small hills and one moderate climb in the south around Khao Sok and Khao Lak. Daily distances 50-75 km across 10 riding days.

Weather:
Best season is December to May, with warm days in the upper 20s to low 30s C and sea breezes helping to moderate the heat along the coast.

Suitable for:
Riders comfortable with consecutive days of 50-75 km on mostly flat roads, wanting a long, varied coastal journey with beaches, national parks, a floating lake hotel and plenty of seafood. An eBike upgrade is available.