Mae Hong Son Hills

The Mae Hong Son Loop is one of Thailand’s most iconic road biking challenges. Starting and ending in Chiang Mai, this tour takes you to some of the tallest mountain peaks in Thailand, featuring spectacular winding roads that offer tough yet rewarding climbs and exhilarating descents. The route meanders through jungle-clad hillscapes and farmlands cultivated by various highland cultures, including the Karen and Shan. As you put your legs to the test, feast your eyes on breathtaking panoramas from viewpoints, the tranquil sight of Buddhist temples, and the warm smiles of curious locals eager to cheer you on!

After meeting and warming up, we kick things off by riding a section of the Samoeng Loop, one of Chiang Mai’s classic road cycling routes in the mountains that surround the city. Following a ride through the rice fields in the Mae Rim Valley, we venture further west into the rugged mountains of Mae Hong Son Province where we descend into Pai, Thailand’s hippy town. From there, we conquer the famed Doi Kiew Lom Climb and trace the undulating contours of the densely forested Shan Hills. After a night spent at a riverside hotel in Mae Sariang, we tackle the tour's queen stage, gaining nearly 3,000 metres over 130 km to the base of Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s tallest peak. Standing at 2,565 metres above sea level, the 30 km winding ascent to the top of the “Roof of Thailand” serves as our grand finale, after which we transfer back to Chiang Mai.

The majority of the Mae Hong Son Loop is paved with smooth asphalt, making it ideal for road biking. While there may be occasional rough patches with debris or potholes, these are few and far between. Traffic is typically light, especially in remote areas, but you should still expect to share the road with trucks, cars, and motorbikes. Near towns and cities, traffic tends to be heavier. Although we’ve scheduled our departures to avoid the wettest times of the year, rainfall can occur at any time. We generally ride rain or shine, but based on the guide’s discretion or your comfort level, modifications to the planned route can be made. Additionally, from March through April, northern Thailand experiences its annual burning season, when smoke from agricultural field clearings causes smog. While we avoid this period entirely, the exact start date varies each year, and some early burnings may occur in February, impacting air quality on parts of the loop.