11 Days
From US $2,495
Off-beat Northern Thailand: Bike, Hike, Raft
Thailand is a lot more than just beautiful, sun-kissed beaches. Come to the north and be mesmerized by a world of lush green forests, lazily meandering rivers with elephants languidly bathing, and zesty mountain streams that provide some excellent white water rafting.
This Thailand multi-sport adventure takes you from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai through a route that few tourists have traveled before. An undulating route that combines the Golden Triangle with Chiang Mai through a myriad of activities; bike, hike, raft. Amidst lush jungles and limestone mountains pedal your way through bright green hues of paddy, and fruit plantations, and along the meandering Kok river, unfolding one dramatic scenery after another.
Hilltop farming to tea plantations, ancient wats, hill-tribe culture, bamboo huts by the river, and elephants lazily relaxing in the river – this is Thailand at its most authentic best!
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
casual
easy to moderate
60km/37mi
Min. 2, Max. 14
CNX
CEI
Highlights
bike, hike, raft
Set out to experience Thailand in myriad ways; bike, hike, raft
Itinerary
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Place | casual Inns or similar | Meals | Distance | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 | Chiang Mai | Aksara Heritage | D | ||
| DAY 2 | Mae Taeng | Baan Rai Lanna | B,L,D | 55km/34mi | cycling |
| DAY 3 | Mae Ngat | Mountain Float | B,L,D | rafting | |
| DAY 4 | Phrao | Khum Lanna | B,L,D | 60km/37mi | cycling |
| DAY 5 | Doi Luang | Homestay | B,L,D | hiking | |
| DAY 6 | Phrao | Khum Lanna | B,L,D | hiking | |
| DAY 7 | Phrao | Khum Lanna | B | ||
| DAY 8 | Phayao | Naga Tara Resort | B,L,D | 60km/37mi | cycling |
| DAY 9 | Chiang Kham | Rico Resort | B,L,D | 70km/43mi | cycling |
| DAY 10 | Hike Phu Sang National Park | Laluna | B,L,D | hiking | |
| DAY 11 | Departure | B |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Chiang Mai
Our guides meet you at your hotel and then shuttle you to the visitor center of Wiang Khum Kam. After getting fitted to your bike, you will ride through the ruins of Chiang Mai's original locations some 725 years ago. Enjoy lunch at a small cafe before continuing the ride to Baan Tawai a village renowned for its woodworking. Returning to Chiang Mai, you will be treated to a traditional Khantoke dinner with a classical dancing demonstration and northern foods.
Day 2: Mae Taeng
After breakfast, your guides will lead you out of Chiang Mai, along quiet riverside roads, passing morning markets, school kids walking to school, and out into the countryside. We follow the river north, until lunchtime. The afternoon leg traverses quiet agricultural lands, perhaps emerald green with the latest rice crop, historic temples, and diminutive villages. Our lodge for tonight is tucked away in the forest surrounding Mae Malai.
Day 3: Mae Ngat
In the morning we will shuttle a short way up the Mae Taman valley to meet with our rafting guides and get outfitted for an exciting morning of class 3 & 4 whitewater. From the river takeout, you will go by van to the extensive, colorful Wat Ban Den for a stroll through the ornate temple buildings and grounds. You head next to Mae Ngat lake where a long-tail boat whisks you to our floating hotel, with free time for swimming, canoeing, and relaxing.
Day 4: Phrao
Returning to the shore after breakfast, the bikes await for a ride along the edge of Sri Lanna National Park, through lush forests and green farmlands, and visit Bua Tong (Sticky Falls) with its limestone "stairs". Upon reaching our overnight stop in Phrao, we will visit Wat Tham Dok Kham (reclining Buddha in a cave ) and perhaps learn a bit about local culture from our hosts. Plant lovers in the group can opt to visit a commercial orchid grower.
Day 5: Doi Luang
Time to break out the walking shoes, as you depart for an overnight trek along the trails, ridgelines, and through the forests of Doi Luang National Park. This park sees very few tourists, so we will have the trails pretty much to ourselves. Our overnight stop will be in a homestay in one of the mountain villages that still exists within the parklands. Lend a hand with dinner preparation to learn a bit about local foods and cooking.
Day 6: Phrao
After finishing the trek, head for Phrao. The overnight stop will be in a Red Lahu Village and we will pass through Lisu villages.
Day 7: Phrao
Today is a rest day. Here you have the options for a cooking class, Thai style vegetable carving, massage or simply in your verandah.
Day 8: Phayao
Today's leg starts with a bit of climbing, as you cycle across the mountain range separating Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Provinces (1500m ascent over 20kms). Take a break from cycling to visit the Mae Poon Luang Royal Project, which was set up to educate hill tribe villagers about alternate money-making crops to drive out opium poppy growing. After lunch, we bike to Wiang Pa Pao, then shuttle to our hotel on the shores of Phayao Lake.
Day 9: Chiang Kham
Our last day of cycling is through flat rural landscapes in areas that see few tourists. You will explore small villages, and colorful wats (temple compounds)en route to Chiang Kham home to Wat Namtaam, a huge Burmese-style teakwood temple. Discover more about the ethnic Tai people who inhabit the region at the Tai Lue Cultural Museum.
Day 10: Hike Phu Sang National Park
After breakfast, we will shuttle over to Phu Sang National Park, for a day hike to visit its unique hot spring-fed waterfall. After which we will head to Chiang Rai, to explore a couple of rather unique Wats, Wat Rong Kung, better known as the White Temple, and Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple. Celebrate the end of a great adventure at your guide's favorite restaurant, Thong Tueng.
Day 11: Departure
Extend your stay here or travel further as per your onwards plans.
Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.
Map
Dates and Prices
Single Supplement
From US $600
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, however, it's good to avoid hiking during during this time.
January
Best
February
Best
March
Offseason
April
Offseason
May
Offseason
June
Mixed
July
Offseason
August
Offseason
September
Offseason
October
Good
November
Best
December
Best
Best
Good
Mixed
Offseason
Visa
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.
