Northern Thailand Bike Tour

This seven-day loop from Chiang Mai reveals the quieter character of Northern Thailand, a journey of temples, caves and curry through golden rice paddies, temple rooftops glinting through the trees and roadside shrines. After a bike fitting and a traditional Khan Toke dinner with Thai and hill tribe dancing, riders set out to explore the thirteenth-century ruins of Wiang Kum Kam and the woodcarving village of Baan Tawai, ending with a riverside dinner on the Mae Ping.

The route then follows the Mae Ping River on quiet roads past orchid and butterfly farms, stopping in Mae Rim for lunch before rolling through rice paddies to Baan Den. The longest day visits the Mae Malai market and Wat Baan Den temple complex before riding through the Mae Ping Gorge to soak in private hot spring pools.

Next comes a hill tribe market supported by the Royal Projects and a climb to a giant Buddha beneath golden cliffs, followed by a descent to the farmland around Fang and the cavern temple of Wat Tham Tub Tao, home to hundreds of Buddha images. The final ride passes rural valleys, farms and Burmese-style temples with wicker Buddha statues before a celebratory dinner overlooking the Mae Kok River. Nights are spent in boutique riverside and teakwood resorts, with bilingual guides, a support van and family-style Thai meals throughout.

Highlights:

• Khan Toke dinner with Thai and hill tribe dancing in Chiang Mai
• Wiang Kum Kam ruins and the Baan Tawai woodcarving village
• Mae Ping River, orchid and butterfly farms, and the Mae Ping Gorge
• Private hot spring pools after the longest riding day
• Wat Tham Tub Tao cave temple and a giant Buddha beneath golden cliffs
• Celebratory dinner overlooking the Mae Kok River

Surface and terrain:
Well-paved, quiet rural roads, often with wide shoulders. Terrain is mostly flat, with small hills at the end of Day 4 and one moderate climb on Day 5. Daily distances 35-92 km across 5 riding days.

Weather:
Best season is the drier winter from October to February, with days in the upper 20s to low 30s C and cooler evenings in the hills. Brief showers are possible once or twice per tour.

Suitable for: Riders comfortable with moderate daily distances, including one longer 92 km day, on mostly flat roads, wanting temples, markets, hot springs and Northern Thai food. An eBike upgrade is available for extra assistance.