14 days
From US $3,395
Bangkok to Chiang Rai Bike Tour
On this trip, journey through the well-watered central plains, and northern mountain landscapes of Thailand. The initial half is flat as we wind our way through the plains followed by some spectacular undulating mountain trails in the second half of the trip.
Our trip is aimed at travelers who want to pace out their journey to really let the region sink in well. Enjoy Thailand’s lush paddy gently swaying in the breeze, world heritage sites, river valleys, and hill-tribe culture, with karst mountains looming in the backdrop all throughout. Your tryst with rural Thailand.
Bangkok | 17:00hrs
Chiang Rai
casual
easy to moderate
60km or 36mi
Min. 2, Max. 14
BKK
CEI
Highlights
rural experience
Your tryst with rural Thailand. The trip ensures that you get a peek inside local life of hinterland Thailand, ride by the paddy fields and get to see the ancient Wats of the country.
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Bangkok | X2 Vibe Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel | D | ||
| DAY 2 | Ayutthaya | Krungsri River Hotel | B,L,D | 30km / 18mi | cycling |
| DAY 3 | Nakhon Sawan | Bonito Chinos Resort | B,L,D | 70km / 42mi | cycling |
| DAY 4 | Kamphang Phet | Chakungrao Riverview Hotel | B,L,D | 80km / 48mi | cycling |
| DAY 5 | Sukhothai | Rueanthai Hotel | B,L,D | 70km / 42mi | cycling |
| DAY 6 | Sukhothai | Rueanthai Hotel | B,L | 30km / 18mi | cycling |
| DAY 7 | Uttaradit | Seeharaj Hotel | B,L,D | 60km / 36mi | cycling |
| DAY 8 | Lampang | Wianglakor Hotel | B,L,D | 70km / 42mi | cycling |
| DAY 9 | Chiang Mai | Kampaeng Ngam Hotel | B,L,D | 70km / 42mi | cycling |
| DAY 10 | Chiang Mai | Kampaeng Ngam Hotel | B | ||
| DAY 11 | Chiang Dao | Marisa Resort | B,L,D | 60km / 36mi | cycling |
| DAY 12 | Tha Ton | Huai Khum Resort | B,L,D | 80km / 48mi | cycling |
| DAY 13 | Chiang Rai | Nak Nakara | B,L,D | 50km / 30mi | cycling |
| DAY 14 | Chiang Rai | B |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok and settle into your hotel. Today you can plan your own day visiting some of the classic highlights of Bangkok. Our guide meets you at 17.00hrs at your hotel lobby for a tour briefing. We convene tonight to celebrate the start of our awesome journey on a bike.
Day 2: Ayutthaya
Our guide meets you at your hotel lobby at 7:30 am and we start with a shuttle transfer from Bangkok to Bang Pa-In. Visit the former summer palace of King Chulalongkorn here and then ride along the Chao Phraya River. Explore the stunning Ayutthaya Historical Park by bike and get to visit various Wats.
At night, we can choose to eat at the in-house restaurant, or head to get a taste of local fare. If your palate is new to Thai food, start with the more popular green curry and rice. Be well rested for the next morning, as we start our Thai adventure with a slightly longer day of cycling.
Day 3: Nakhon Sawan
We take a long shuttle transfer in the morning and then go more into the hinterlands of Northern Thailand. The landscape offers amazing insights into the hinterlands. As we ride through the bucolic villages, enjoy the sights of chickens, and geese, and monitor lizards with paddy fields and plantations in the backdrop.
Day 4: Kamphang Phet
Today expect to see the hinterland whitewashed with bright green hues of paddy and fruit plantations. It is not uncommon to see water buffaloes ambling in a row making their way to the rice fields.
Day 5: Sukhothai
The paddy fields cling onto the side of the village road for almost the entire way. The ride is largely on flat roads. We also come across several bucolic villages on the way – perfect to get great photographs of the interiors of Thailand. The locals are quite friendly and don’t be surprised if you are invited to a home for a cup of tea (or red Fanta).
Day 6: Sukhothai
Today enjoy some of the classic highlights of the original capital of Thailand by bike.
Day 7: Uttaradit
Our ride is through areas replete with vegetation – rice fields, papaya, and garlic being the most prominent.
Day 8: Lampang
Brace for an undulating ride today through a rich green valley, unfolding one dramatic scenery after another. Hilltop farming to teak plantations, bamboo huts by the river, and elephants lazily relaxing in the river- this is Thailand at its most authentic best! After being submerged in nature, we take the cycles and ride along the river.
Day 9: Chiang Mai
The ride is extremely refreshing as the crisp morning air and clear skies welcome you on the road. We reach Chiang Mai by afternoon.
Day 10: Chiang Mai
Today you can plan your own day visiting some of the classic highlights of Chiang Mai by walk: Wats (temples) like Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Elephant Rescue Park where you can bathe and feed bareback elephants and gentle giants (7.45 – 14.00, need to book in advance).
Day 11: Chiang Dao
Head out for a ride to the Chiang Dao, which lies on the northern part of the Chiang Mai district. Amidst lush jungles and limestone mountains, Chiang Dao is a heavenly escape from the heat of plains and a popular stop for birders and trekkers. The base of the mountain is a highly venerated wát marking the entrance to one of Thailand’s deepest limestone caverns.
Day 12: Tha Ton
The day begins with a visit to Tub Tao Caves and a temple retreat. Later ride to Fang through hinterland trails dotted with farmlands. The ride from Fang to Thaton traverses across paddy fields. The fields cling onto the side of the village road for almost the entire way. The ride is mostly on flat roads, with occasional dips and climbs, which add to the interest for a cyclist. We also come across several villages on the way – perfect to get great photographs of the interiors of Thailand.
We pace out our journey to Thaton and arrive at this beautiful town at the edge of a River. Thaton is one of the last towns bordering Myanmar in this area. The great part of this is that one gets to see the blend of Burmese, Thai and Chinese influences in language and culture.
Day 13: Chiang Rai
We trade our bike with a long-tail boat today to arrive at a scenic riverside area. This brings us to our starting point for cycling. Ride past fruit orchards, paddy fields, banana plantations and arrive at Chiang Rai. The region is home to a distinct array of food, music, art, and lush landscapes.
Day 14: Chiang Rai
Travel as per your onward travel plans.
Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.
Map
Dates and Prices
Single Supplement
From US $800
E-Bike Upgrade
From US $275
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Essential Info
Inclusions
LODGING
All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).
trip leader
Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.
bike
Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.
shuttle
A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.
meals
Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.
refreshments
Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.
entrance
Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.
E-bikes
E-bikes are available (subject to availability) on this trip at a surcharge.
Exclusions
Airport pickup and drop
We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.
Beverages
Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.
Gratuity
Gratuities for your guide team are not included in the trip price.
Bikes
When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.
Merida Speeder T3 or similar
Included in your trip price
Kaze or similar
Available at a surcharge
Weather
The northern highlands in which Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai are located have a cooler climate than the rest of Thailand. The cycle tour season here consequently runs from October to March. During the months of December and January, night-time temperatures may dip below the freezing point in some parts.
- The best time of year is winter (November through February). It is the dry season and temperatures are cooler. The north normally has no rain. Temperatures in the north are in the mid to upper 20s.
- March through May is quite hot in the north (the upper 30s and low 40s) and probably a good time to avoid trips north of Bangkok.
- June through October is the rainy season (or green season as the hotels like to call it). In the north, rains peak in August and are winding down in early October. Rain tends to be short but heavy tropical downpours, then clearing out, usually happening in the afternoon or evening, so cycling tours are still possible.
In a nutshell, winter is great (Nov - Feb), summer (Apr-May) avoid going in the north, and the rest of the year is ok.
January
Best
February
Best
March
Mixed
April
Offseason
May
Offseason
June
Mixed
July
Mixed
August
Offseason
September
Offseason
October
Good
November
Best
December
Best
Best
Good
Mixed
Offseason
Visa
Travelers wishing to enter Thailand have two options: through an airport or overland. Regardless of the mode of entry, the same rules apply to all travelers.
As of July 2024, there are now 93 countries whose citizens can enter without a visa for periods up to 60 days as a tourist. These entries can also be extended once for an additional 30 days. (previously it was 64 countries & 30 day stays) You can find the full list of countries eligible for visa free entry here.
An expanded list of 31 countries can now apply for a Visa on Arrival for stays up to 15 days. The Visa on Arrival entries can not be extended. You can find the updated list of VOA eligible countries here.
Single Entry Tourist Visas (Type TR) allow stays of up to 60 days and are available to all nationalities. They can also be extended once for an additional 30 days. These tourist visas are for citizens of countries that do not qualify for visa-free entry.
To comply with the rules, travelers entering visa-free or applying for a VOA must present an airline ticket that departs Thailand before their initial entry period ends (60 and 15 days, respectively). Other travelers may also be asked by the airline to show proof of a departing flight.
When applying for a VOA, travelers must be able to demonstrate that they have 10,000 THB for an individual or 20,000 THB for a family. For those entering visa-free or with a Tourist or Non-Immigrant visa, proof of financial ability must be shown in the form of 20,000 THB and 40,000 THB, respectively. It's important to note that cash is the only acceptable form of proof of financial ability, and credit cards or bank statements do not count. Any major currency is equivalent is acceptable.
Although the majority of travelers are not asked to show proof of financial ability, some travelers may occasionally be asked to do so at Immigration. Therefore, travelers should always be prepared to provide evidence of their financial ability.
Citizens of most countries can apply for a Thai tourist visa at the official Thai government website here.
If your country is not eligible for online applications, then visas must be applied for through the nearest Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, your trip leader will carry bottled water or RO water in a camper in the support van for guests' use.
Yes, please communicate your dietary preferences to your trip leader and they'll ensure that the food you eat is spiced as per your requirements.
We've designed this itinerary such that most of the cycling happens on quieter countryside roads far from busy traffic. The shuttle transfers on this tour have been strategically planned to bypass busy vehicular traffic.
The road surface is mostly good. 90% of the cycling on this bike tour happens on paved roads.
Yes, you may wear riding shorts while riding your bike. When not cycling, it would be advisable to wear comfortable full-length pants. We recommend keeping a pair of comfortable pants handy in you support van.
When visiting temples and monuments, visitors should wear full-length, loose-fitting pants. Holy places of certain religions may also require covering your head. Your guide will inform of the dress etiquette required for visiting specific religious places.
We are not medical advisors, and as such are not qualified to dispense medical advice. However, we recommend consulting the resources below for advice on vaccines and medications:
- CDC portal for travelers from the US
- NHS' Fit For Travel portal for travelers from the UK
- Smart Traveller portal or travelers from Australia.
In addition to the above, you may also refer to the travel advice issued from time to time by your government.
Although your tour price includes most common expenses, except a few meals not included in the itinerary, you can refer to the following broad guidelines for extra expenditures:
- US $25 per person per day for tours with stays in casual inns
- US $35 per person per day for tours with stays in premiere inns (luxury bike tours)
Most cities in Thailand have ATMs where you can use your card to withdraw local currency. Any international card with Visa and Mastercard will work at most ATMs.
Tips are not included in your tour price.
As a general rule, you may tip US$ 15-25 per person per day.
This figure is for the entire crew including the trip leader, the driver, and other support staff.
However, you are not obligated to tip, and you can always tip less or more than the above amount depending on the level of service you received on tour.
It is usually the norm to tip the tour guide, who then distributes the amount among the entire crew. However, you can also tip each individual member of the crew if you so desire.
In case you want to tip the staff at a hotel such as porters, you may pay them US $2-3 per day.
The fitness level required for each trip is indicated by the "level" of the tour, which in turn is mentioned on each tour page right next to the price and the trip duration.
Easy: The terrain is mostly flat with a few gentle climbs.
Moderate: The terrain is either mostly flat or consists of rolling hills with a few challenging climbs. There could also be a few days with longer riding distances of up to 75 kms (45 miles)
Difficult: The terrain is mostly hilly with strong elevation gains and/or has long days on the bike. Such trips are recommended for intermediate to advanced cyclists.
Please note that we usually bike around 4-5 hours per day irrespective of the level of the trip.
No, airport transfers are not included in the price for this tour. We recommend booking a cab from the airport to your hotel on the day of your arrival, and booking a cab from the hotel to the airport on the day of your departure.
There's no special clothing required for riding. You can pack a fleece jacket for evenings and early mornings if you're doing this trip from November to February.
Farmers in northern Thailand and Laos typically burn crop residue from late-March to early-June. We do not recommend this as a good time to go cycling in northern Thailand and Laos.
This does not, however, impact the air quality in southern Thailand.
The meeting time on Day 1 is mentioned in your travel planner shared with you. You can arrive either on the morning of Day 1 depending on the meeting time, or book a pre-tour night to arrive a day earlier.
We don't have anything planned for the last day, so you are free to depart at your discretion.
