North Thailand By Bike

The North of Thailand has been captivating cyclists for decades. While its grueling climbs and gritty off-road tracks often steal the spotlight, this 10-day adventure offers a lovingly curated selection of terrific mixed-surface routes that highlight the region’s gentler side. We navigate farmer trails meandering among rice paddies, concrete paths linking villages, and smooth tarmac roads undulating over low-rising hills. These routes provide a strong taste of Northern Thailand by bike without the need to scale any mountains or rattle through technical singletracks!

Starting from bustling Chiang Mai, we begin with a warm-up ride through the flat plains surrounding the Ping River before venturing deeper into the hilly terrain of northern Thailand. We ride along scenic backcountry roads, visit the sacred Chiang Dao Caves, and reach the highlands along the border with Myanmar. From the small town of Tha Ton, we follow the Mae Kok River through a jungle-clad valley and pass hilltribe villages to reach the eccentric White Temple. We have a rest day in Chiang Rai, a charming city with plenty on offer to fill a relaxed day. We then ride through an agrarian landscape of rice and pineapple fields to arrive at the famed Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge at the confluence of the Mekong River. We zip down the river on a boat, explore the ancient city of Chiang Saen, and crown our adventure with a ride along the Mekong to end the tour in the sleepy border town of Chiang Khong.