Thailand Bike Tour

Overview

Welcome to Thailand, affectionately known as the Land of Smiles. Your trip starts in Chiang Mai, gateway to the north. Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at Anantara Chiang Mai Resort at 9:00 AM. Please come dressed ready to ride. A 30-minute shuttle brings you to the ride start at Wiang Kum Kam, a peaceful area filled with the remains of ancient temples. Here your guides will fit you to your Trek Checkpoint bike, walk you through some safety and regional tips, and invite the resident Buddhist monks to inaugurate the trip with a blessing ceremony. Today's ride is an easy-rolling introduction to riding in rural northern Thailand, winding through the lush plains of the Ping River past longan fruit trees with their distinctively wide canopies. We'll stop to visit the woodworking village of Baan Tawai, then continue to a lunch by the river before the final few miles back to the Anantara, its open-air spaces and inviting pool the perfect place to unwind. Once you've unpacked and settled in, we'll gather for a social hour, a look at the week ahead, and dinner at Ekachan, where dishes from every region of Thailand arrive layered with the country's signature flavors of chili, lemongrass, and fresh herbs.

Overview

This morning we transfer west of Chiang Mai, leaving the city behind and starting the ride at Royal Park Rajapruek, where you'll ride a mix of gravel and dirt paved roads crossing forested foothills and farmland growing longan, bananas, and other crops. You'll skirt past emerald-blue lakes left behind by the area's former quarries. While all ride options include some challenging, steeper sections, your guides are on hand to help you choose the right adventure for you today. The routes end with lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Mae Wang Reservoir. Afterwards, a short shuttle brings you to an elephant sanctuary, where you'll meet Thailand's beloved gentle giants up close. You'll have a chance to hand-feed the elephants and accompany them into the river as they cool off in their natural environment. From there, a 90-minute shuttle returns us to the hotel. The evening is free to stroll the nearby Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, a stretch of stalls and street food that comes alive after dark. With some recommendations in hand, you can explore your options for dinner in this fascinating city.

Overview

This morning a half-hour shuttle takes you to a Buddhist temple in Mae Rim district, where your ride begins. Farmer lanes crisscrossing rice paddies give way to pavement as you reach the shore of the Mae Ngat Reservoir, where we'll stop for lunch overlooking its calm waters. Enjoy locally caught fish paired with rice, curries, and stir fries - something for every appetite. Following lunch, striking backcountry riding through agricultural fields framed by mountains leads you to the temple complex of Wat Ban Den, known for its large, intricate sculptures of Naga serpents, guardian lions, and other figures from Thai mythology. From here, you can take a short shuttle to Sibsan Resort in the Mae Taeng Valley or pedal the remaining distance, which includes some gentle climbing on paved roads. You'll have a chance to settle in to your charming villa before gathering for a dinner full of the spice, herbs, and warmth that define this region's cooking.

Overview

A 45-minute shuttle carries us north into the Chiang Dao Valley, home to Thailand's third-highest peak. Before hopping on the bikes, we’ll explore the sacred Chiang Dao Caves, entering narrow chambers that house an unusual mix of stalagmites, stalactites, Buddha images, and other religious relics. From here, you'll settle into a mildly rolling loop ride across the valley, cycling through bountiful farmlands framed by the silhouettes of towering ridges and peaks. About nine miles in, you'll cross the Ping River and turn north through flooded fields and fruit orchards, the impressive limestone cliffs of Chiang Dao Mountain looming in the background. Lunch will be at the end of the ride at an excellent restaurant at
the base of the mountain. From there, a two-hour shuttle carries you to the northern town of Tha Ton. You'll check into your room with a patio surrounded by vibrant tropical flowers, before having dinner at your leisure at the hotel restaurant.

Overview

From your home base in the far northern corner of Thailand, you'll ride a loop through a landscape of orange groves and rice fields. The route follows a mix of peaceful paved roads and dirt tracks, with a few rougher sections along irrigation canals that wind through the countryside. After a gradual three-mile climb, we'll stop in a Lahu village set against the highlands that separate Thailand from Myanmar, where you'll enjoy local tea and hear guide-translated stories from the community. From there, gentle downhill riding carries us to the plains along the Fang River and back to Tha Ton for lunch at a restaurant in the orange groves. For those looking to add a bit more challenge to the day, an optional one-mile climb leads to a hilltop temple, where sweeping views of the valley reward the effort. If you'd rather not ride up, the van can take you to the same view, or you can stay back at the hotel to lounge by the garden pool or treat yourself to a traditional Thai massage. This evening, we'll gather in the hotel lobby for a short drive to one of our favorite local restaurants for dinner.

Overview

We start things a little differently today. After a brief shuttle to the Tha Ton river pier, we'll climb aboard a long-tail boat for a scenic, two-hour cruise down the Mae Kok River, past a narrow, jungle-clad valley dotted with hillside villages. You'll disembark and saddle up, watching the valley give way to the plains surrounding Chiang Rai as you ride. Veering north along rural roads that braid through rice paddies, we visit the eclectic Black House, known for its dark, atmospheric art collection. From here, you'll ride to Wat Huay Pla Kang, a colorful, Chinese-style temple complex, before you bike or shuttle the remaining miles to our hotel, the Riva Vista. This intimate riverside retreat, where saltwater pools sit tucked into the grounds, rests on the Kok River in a quiet corner of Chiang Rai. In the afternoon, you can choose to take a 30-minute shuttle to visit the eccentric White Temple, Chiang Rai's top attraction, where traditional Thai temple architecture meets modern art and pop culture. Tonight, dinner is on your own and we recommend visiting Chiang Rai's lively Night Bazaar, which is a great place for souvenir shopping and casual dining.

Overview

This morning, coffee comes with a view over the river before our final full day of riding. A brief shuttle out of Chiang Rai avoids morning traffic, and we begin riding north along the Ping River. You'll weave along the city's backwaters, past plains of corn, rice, and rubber, then over rolling hills lined with pineapple plantations. We'll stop for lunch en route at a local café. After lunch, the terrain turns to dirt and gravel through wetlands to Chiang Saen Lake, a tranquil sanctuary for migratory birds. From here, you can take a shuttle that delivers you to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet at the Mekong and Ruak Rivers. If you are in the mood for more riding, you can add about thirteen miles to reach the Golden Triangle by picturesque backcountry roads instead. After taking in the views, we'll shuttle 90 minutes back to Chiang Rai for our final evening at the hotel. We'll gather for a social hour to toast this incredible Thailand adventure before heading to a riverside dinner in a beautifully restored colonial house, one of the region's most memorable tables.

Overview

For those who want one more ride, you can head out before breakfast for a cool-down spin through the paddies surrounding Chiang Rai. Savor your last impressions of rural northern Thailand as you glide over farmer trails flanking the canals and cutting through fields, then ride back through town and along the Kok River to the hotel in time to shower, pack, and enjoy breakfast. Your guides will offer a shuttle to the Chiang Rai Airport for those flying out today. If you're staying longer in Chiang Rai, you're free to relax at the hotel until check-out at 12:00 PM noon.