Example Itinerary

Biking Across Northern Thailand

Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Bicycling
Destinations
Thailand

The best way to enjoy Northern Thailand is by spending most of your time outdoors, enjoying the lush jungle-covered mountains that make the region unique. Take in the vibrant green rolling valleys and picturesque peaks as you head towards the famous Golden Triangle. This 10-day itinerary offers an incredible tour of the north as you cycle through Chiang Rai, Mae Salak, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, Phu Chi Fa, Phayao, Viang Pa Pao and Chiang Mai. 

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Thailand on Two Wheels: Thailand's northern landscapes are best explored with the wind in your face as you wind around jungle-covered hills.
  • Art vs Religion: Chiang Rai's Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple, stood derelict until Chalermchai Kositpipat transformed the site into a thought-provoking and aesthetically overwhelming installation that muses on Buddhism, worship, and popular culture.
  • Chasing Waterfalls: This cycling adventure ends at Chiang Mai's Bua Thong Waterfall (sticky waterfall), so named because it's easy to climb the tiers without slipping - the finest reward after a week pedaling around the northern highlands.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Map

Chiang Rai »

Start in Chiang Rai, Thailand’s northernmost large city and once the royal capital of the Mangrai dynasty. Have a relaxing, leisurely warm-up ride befor the trip ahead. This pleasant afternoon journey will help you adjust to biking in Thailand. Bikers ride on the left side in Thailand, which is often a change for many travelers. Bike through stunning rice paddy fields following the Mae Lao River until reaching Wat Rong Khun - famously known as the White Temple. A local architect created the temple in a unique style. Relax at your hotel - we recommend Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort - before perusing the bustling night bazaar and indulging in Northern-style Thai food.

Hotel Options

Day 2

Map

Mae Salak

Rise this morning and begin the first stage of your cycling journey with a 25-mile flat stretch. Then it’s time to begin the ascent. Enjoy the incredible views of crops ranging from sugar cane to maize and rice. Smile at the local farmers as you pass through their small villages. Stop and enjoy a panoramic of the area before finishing your 76-mile ride in Mae Salak. The town is situated next to a Lahu village. This evening, you will have the opportunity to see a traditional dance and musical performance put on by a few of the local children.

Hotel Options
Mae Salak
Mae Salak

Day 3

Map

Chiang Saen

Ease into the day, as you won’t need to start pedaling hard until about 10 miles into the ride. Begin a gradual climb, followed by a short downhill section. Pass hill tribe farmers hard at work in their fields. You will probably pass a massive water buffalo or two grazing along the roadside. Make your descent into the quaint 7th-century town of Chiang Saen along the Mekong River on the border with Laos. All of the ancient walls surrounding the city are still standing.

Hotel Options

Day 4

Map

Chiang Khong

It’s an easy day of riding with a fast and flat ride in the morning! The rest of the day is free for your relaxation needs. The ride traces the Mekong River, which forms the border between Thailand and Laos. Finish your 48-mile ride in the border town of Chiang Khong. Check into a local hotel before hitting the town in search of savory northern curries or flat-egg noodle dishes.

Hotel Options

Day 5

Map

Phu Chi Fa Forest Park

Start the day by heading south to Phu Chi Fah for an incredible view. Warm up for 25 miles at a leisurely pace before beginning to bike up the steep ascent. Pause along the way at viewpoints for an unrivaled view of the surrounding valleys and lush forests. The finish is atop an amazing cliff formation unlike any other in the region. After biking 50 miles, spend the evening relaxing at the accommodation of your choice.

Hotel Options
Phu Chi Fa Forest Park
Phu Chi Fa Forest Park

Day 6

Map

Phayao

It’s time to make your way back down the mountain with an exhilarating descent. The ride levels out and you will pass through a blooming vibrant valley. Watch locals about their business as you pass through rural villages and towns. The 84-mile ride ends at Phayao Lake - an artificial lake that is home to 22 species of fish. Enjoy the welcoming, relaxed town and check into your hotel before heading over to the lake to enjoy a feast.

Day 7

Map

Wiang Pa Pao

Spend the morning at leisure in the laidback atmosphere for which Phayao is famous. After lunch, climb back on your bike and travel to the next valley, biking through the mountain range. After reaching over 3,000 feet, pause and enjoy the stunning views. Ride through the foothills of the mountains as the sun dips in the sky. Reach your resting place for the night after finishing a 45-mile ride.

Hotel Options

Day 8

Map

Chiang Mai »

It’s a fun day of climbs and riding through the dense forests. Look for exotic birds flitting in and out of the trees. Continue the 65-mile ride through rice fields and orchards until you reach the Bua Thong Waterfall. Take a refreshing dip and keep your eye out for freshwater crabs! Finish the day with a transfer to Chiang Mai. 

Hotel Options
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai

Day 9

Map

Chiang Mai »

Do a ride around Chiang Mai’s famous Doi Suthep Mountain, famous for the temple on its summit. From the top, you can view all of the city below. Ride to Samoeng, a farming village, and stop for lunch. Ride to the top of Doi Suthep - it will be quite a workout, but likely the crown of your journey. The ride back is a refreshing downhill loop into the foothills around Chiang Mai.

Day 10

Map

Departure

Enjoy an amazing sense of accomplishment after touring the north of Thailand by bike. The morning is yours to relax before beginning your journey back home.

Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

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