Day 1: Meet in Chiang Mai and enjoy a northern-style Khantoke dinner
Your bike tour group will gather today in the vibrant northern city of Chiang Mai. After checking into your lodge, they will get everyone set up with their bikes, then head out for a traditional northern Khan Toke dinner with classical Thai and hill tribe dancing. Relax, you have free time to explore until dinner.
Day 2: Cycle through the ruins of ancient Wiang Khum Kam (Ride: 22 miles / 35 kilometers, Land: Flat)
- Explore the woodworking shops of Baan Tawai
- Dinner at a favorite riverside restaurant
This morning, head south of town to explore the ruins of Wiang Kum Kam, the site of the first city built by King Mengrai some 700 years ago. Unfortunately, his choice of land was subject to frequent floods, so after a short while he moved the city to its current locale. After lunch, explore the woodworking village of Baan Tawai and then return to Chiang Mai. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a favorite restaurant perched on the banks of the Mae Ping (Ping River) which flows through the heart of the city.
Day 3: Cycle north to visit Mae Sa Valley and pedal through lush forests to diminutive Baan Rai (Ride: 31 miles / 50 kilometers, Land: Flat)
Head north this morning, following small roads along the Mae Ping through villages and past flower farms. Lunchtime will find you in the town of Mae Rim, where you will break from cycling to visit an orchid grower and a butterfly farm. In the afternoon, remount your bikes for a beautiful ride through emerald rice paddies and past colorful temples en route to your overnight stop in the village of Baan Rai.
Day 4: Cycle through the lush Mae Ping Gorge (Ride: 57 miles / 92 kilometers, Land: Dlat then small hills at end)
- Discover the ornate colorful temple of Wat Baan Den
- Enjoy dinner while relaxing in a hot spring
Your morning ride takes you first to Mae Malai, where you'll visit a traditional market featuring a broad selection of local vegetables, fruits, and fish, along with a tasty array of prepared foods from pad se yu (noodles) to fried insects. You will also visit the magnificent Wat Baan Den, before heading north into the rolling, forested countryside.
The bike tour winds down the day at a delightful resort with a dramatic sunset view of Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand's second tallest mountain. Enjoy a post-ride soak in a private hot spring pool at the base of Doi Chiang Dao.
Day 5: Cycle the Chiang Dao Hills (Ride: 39 miles / 63 kilometers, Land: Moderate climb then flat)
- Pass golden Buddhas then wander into the 1000-year-old Temple Cave at Tab Tao
After breakfast this morning, pedal north, visiting a local hill tribe market offering fresh produce from various Royal Projects, along with delicious teas and dried fruit. Then up to a beautiful giant Buddha, perched beneath the golden cliffs, before enjoying a thrilling descent onto the agricultural realm around Fang. Your last stop is Wat Tham Tub Tao, an ancient temple complex with hundreds of Buddha images inside a giant cavern.
Each year a gathering of 2500 monks takes place at this temple and this has been happening for hundreds of years. You will walk into the giant caverns to visit a stupa deep in the heart of the mountain that allegedly dates back more than 1000 years. The stop is a few miles further up the road in Chai Prakan.
Day 6: Cycle through remote rural valleys and farms (Ride: 40 miles / 64 kilometers, Land: Flat)
- Explore Burmese-style temples
- Enjoy dinner on the banks of the Mae Kok River
The last day of this Thailand bike tour pedals along rural roads through the flat plains of the far north. Along the way discover Burmese-style temples with Buddha statues made from woven wicker. Enjoy numerous photo ops with emerald rice paddies, quiet villages, and remote temples. Your last night's celebratory dinner will be at a great restaurant overlooking the Mae Kok River.
Day 7: Return to Chiang Mai to prepare for your next adventure, Sawasdee!
Your cycling holiday must come to an end today. You will shuttle back to the Chiang Mai airport in the vans, one last chance to enjoy the scenery through which you pedaled for the last few days. Khap khun khap, sawasdee khap.
Good gear
Pedalers provides Merida Speeders, a lightweight, flat bar, sports road bike. Bianchi Kuma mountain bikes are also available, but the roads are all nicely paved. As a safe health measure, guests are asked to bring their own helmets and water bottles for cycling. If necessary these can be purchased economically in Thailand.