Road Cycling Bangkok To Phuket

This is Thailand's most popular road cycling journey, and for good reason. There's nothing quite like gliding along excellently paved roads that snake past tropical shorelines, savouring delicious Thai cuisine, and enjoying the world-renowned hospitality of the Land of Smiles. From the coconut groves and sandy beaches along the Gulf of Thailand, through the ancient rainforest of Khao Sok National Park, and on to the Andaman Coast, road bike touring in Thailand simply doesn't get better than this.

The tour meets in Bangkok and heads to the countryside for a gentle warm-up ride leading to the quiet coastal area of Pranburi. From there, riders head south along the Gulf of Thailand shoreline, passing the limestone cliffs of Sam Roi Yot and hopping from one scenic headland to the next, regularly veering inland through coconut, palm oil and rubber plantations interspersed with exotic fruit orchards. A rest day falls mid-trip on the beaches of Chumphon Province.

On Day 7, riders trade white sands for green jungle, cycling to Khao Sok National Park, home to a massive karst-studded lake and one of the world's oldest rainforests. After crossing the peninsula's hilly spine, the route rolls down to the Andaman Sea, soaking in the Old-World charm of Takua Pa, a historic tin-mining town, before reaching the sands of Khao Lak Beach. A final ride down the Andaman Coast leads to Phuket, concluding with the iconic crossing of the Sarasin Bridge, where cyclists come for the challenge and fall in love with the charm of Thailand's coasts.

Highlights:

• Ride past the limestone karsts of Sam Roi Yot National Park
• Cross Thailand's narrowest geographic point through coconut and palm oil plantations
• Rest and relax on the beaches of Chumphon Province mid-trip
• Cycle beside the ancient rainforest and karst-studded lake of Khao Sok National Park
• Explore the Old-World, Chino-Portuguese charm of Takua Pa, a historic tin-mining town
• Finish with the iconic crossing of the Sarasin Bridge onto Phuket

Surface and terrain:
Mostly well-paved secondary roads hugging the coast or through agricultural areas, with occasional narrow lanes featuring potholes, debris or gravel patches. Terrain is predominantly flat over the first six days, becoming progressively hillier through Khao Sok and the Andaman coast. Average climbing is 598m/day.

Weather:
Tropical, humid climate. Hot and dry March–June (27–40°C days), rainy July–October (brief heavy bursts), cooler dry season October–February (20–30°C). Departures are scheduled to avoid the wettest months.

Suitable for:
Rated "Endurance" difficulty (the operator's top road-cycling tier). Suited to experienced road cyclists comfortable with long, back-to-back century-plus riding days; less experienced riders are welcome but should prepare for the distances. Group size 2–16, minimum age 18.