Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Destinations

While Thailand is most famous for its white sand beaches and turquoise water, the north is equally beautiful, with lush rolling valleys and jungle-covered mountains. This nine-day itinerary will take you through Chiang Mai, Mae Chaem, Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son and Pai for a full tour of Thailand’s northern beauty. Get ready for long beautiful days spent biking through picturesque lush nature, followed by evenings relaxing in friendly, laidback mountain towns. 

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

  • Ride of a Lifetime: Mae Hong Son is home to some of the most scenic roads in Southeast Asia and the best way to appreciate the beauty of the natural landscape is on two wheels.
  • Hill Tribe Cultures: The north's diverse hill tribes each have their own distinct histories and traditions. Meet Karen, Hmong, Lahu, Lisu, Lua, Shan and other ethnic groups to discover Thailand's rich cultural tapestry.
  • Hot Springs: The mineral-rich waters of Pai's hot springs, as well as the rejuvenating properties of volcanic mud, are the perfect tonic at the end of a mountain biking adventure.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Chiang Mai

Arrive in Chiang Mai and check into your hotel. Touring the largest city in Northern Thailand by bike is ideal as the city is easily navigable and biking is very popular. Hit up the funky coffee shops and boutiques in town, as well as the local wet market. See pieces of the old city gate - the main gate separates the old town from the modern section. We recommend biking 18 - 31 miles on this day as an easy warm-up for the full biking trip ahead.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Individuality: The 137 Pillars House is a recently opened, renovated, historically colonial boutique property of select suites.

Added Extras: Guests receive complimentary breakfasts, soft drinks and beer from the mini bar.

Location: Situated in one of Chiang Mai’s most stylish areas, by the Ping River and near unique art galleries, antique shops, coffee houses and just a stone’s throw from some of the cities most up-market nightlife venues.

See Hotel
137 Pillars House Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The vast resort grounds comprise verdant rice terraces and lush landscaped rainforest gardens over looking a stunning Thai mountain range in the distance.

Dining: Four superb restaurants and a handful of bars in beautiful locations serving Thai, Italian and international cuisine, as well as afternoon tea, signature cocktails and fine wines.

Facilities: Guests may enjoy plenty of world-class facilities including an award winning spa, fitness center, infinity pool, tennis courts, cooking school, library and children’s clubs.

Privacy: The hideaway resort is situated away from the hustle of Chiang Mai city, yet within easy reach of the areas attractions. There are five daily shuttle services to the city center.

See Hotel
Four Seasons Chiang Mai Preferred Hotel
About

Chiang Mai's Villa Mahabhirom is located west of the old city, a short walk from the 700-year-old Wat Umong Buddhist temple and only a 15-minute drive from the international airport. The name translates as "Villa of Great Pleasure," and the property is designed around the concept of groups of friends and families spending time together.

If our Preferred Hotel is unavailable, this accommodation is a reliable alternative and has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Mae Chaem

The day begins with a challenge - you’ll bike to the top of Doi Inthanon. This is Thailand’s highest peak, towering at 8,565 feet. The last five miles are the toughest as you near the top. Be careful as you bike back towards the base of the mountain - it’s just as steep going downhill. You will bike 75 miles in total for the day. Spend the night at a cozy guesthouse in Mae Chaem.

Hotel Options
About

Thailand’s north is blessed with verdant hills and emerald carpeted mountains, home to jungles, cliffs, flowing streams and waterfalls — a paradise for adventurers seeking treks, scenic views, and hilltribes. In these rural areas, accommodation can be found in small guesthouses which offer travelers a chance to experience the warm hospitality of locals.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 3

Mae Sariang

It’s a beautiful bike ride today as you pass lush orchards, dense forests, and blossoming flowers all set against a picturesque mountain backdrop. Look for local tribes living in the hills. The Karen tribe lives near the small town of Mae Sariang - your final destination. This tribe is known for their unique neck stretching practices. You will bike 78 miles today.

Hotel Options
About

Nestled on the banks of the gorgeous Nam Yam River, the Riverhouse Hotel is a home away from home while visiting Northern Thailand. Located in the center of Mae Hong Son province, the Riverhouse Hotel offers breathtaking scenery of lush green hills right from the balcony.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Mae Sariang
Mae Sariang

Day 4

Khun Yuam

It’s an easier day of riding today with not as many steep rides and just a 56 mile distance to cover. There will still be a fair amount of hills to climb as you are now in the heart of hill tribe country. You’re now near the border of Myanmar and will notice the shift in culture and influence. Your final destination is the small village of Khun Yuam, where you’ll spend the night.

Hotel Options
About

Located in the lush jungles of Northern Thailand, the Ban Farang Guesthouse is the perfect option for travelers who want to experience untouched wilderness and beautiful views of the serene countryside. Nestled in the rustic region of Khun Yuam, Ban Farang Guesthouse offers accommodating bungalows set on a scenic wooded hillside.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 5

Mae Hong Son

This is the easiest day of cycling throughout the whole trip! It’s a beautiful, mainly downhill ride to Mae Hong Son. The total distance for the day is 40 miles. You’ll finish early that afternoon. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy the refreshing pool at Golden Pai & Suite Resort. Going for a swim is the perfect way to stretch out sore legs.

Hotel Options
About

Situated on the banks of the beautiful Pai River, the Golden Pai & Suite Resort is the perfect getaway for travellers who want peace and relaxation. This four-star resort offers 70 picturesque bungalows in a serene garden setting.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Mae Hong Son
Mae Hong Son

Day 6

Mae Hong Son

Enjoy a day of peace and quiet in Mae Hong Son. This little town is tucked into the mountains. The area is populated by the Shans originating from Myanmar. The hilltribes are friendly and welcoming to foreigners. Many sell unique handicrafts within the villages. The surrounding tribes include the Karen, Hmong, Lahu, Lisu and Lua. Take a day to yourself and explore the surrounding rich culture. Rest up for a tough day of biking ahead.

Day 7

Pai

After a day of relaxing it’s time to get back to biking with a challenging ride. The day is full of tough, long ascents. Don’t let the beginning fool you, as the journey starts with 10 miles of a gradual climb before the true steep ascent begins. You will cover 75 miles of ground today. Reach picturesque Pai - a charming, bohemian town nestled in the mountains. Check in to a charming hotel and relax for the evening.

Hotel Options
About

Bask in tranquil hot springs and let all stress melt away at the elegant Pai Hotspring Spa Resort. Experience Thai hospitality at its best at this oriental chalet-styled resort, nestled in the quaint town of Pai.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Pai
Pai

Day 8

Chiang Mai

It’s your final day of biking as you begin with a 12-mile climb out of the vibrant green Pai Valley. Gaze over the stunning view of the valley from an altitude of near 5,000 feet. It’s the perfect combination of uphills, downhills and flat terrain on your last ride. Finish in Chiang Mai where we will celebrate completing a tough, fun riding trip. Spend your last night at a luxury Chiang Mai hotel.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Individuality: The 137 Pillars House is a recently opened, renovated, historically colonial boutique property of select suites.

Added Extras: Guests receive complimentary breakfasts, soft drinks and beer from the mini bar.

Location: Situated in one of Chiang Mai’s most stylish areas, by the Ping River and near unique art galleries, antique shops, coffee houses and just a stone’s throw from some of the cities most up-market nightlife venues.

See Hotel
137 Pillars House Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The vast resort grounds comprise verdant rice terraces and lush landscaped rainforest gardens over looking a stunning Thai mountain range in the distance.

Dining: Four superb restaurants and a handful of bars in beautiful locations serving Thai, Italian and international cuisine, as well as afternoon tea, signature cocktails and fine wines.

Facilities: Guests may enjoy plenty of world-class facilities including an award winning spa, fitness center, infinity pool, tennis courts, cooking school, library and children’s clubs.

Privacy: The hideaway resort is situated away from the hustle of Chiang Mai city, yet within easy reach of the areas attractions. There are five daily shuttle services to the city center.

See Hotel
Four Seasons Chiang Mai Preferred Hotel
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai

Day 9

Departure

After an exciting, active biking holiday, it’s time to return home. Now that you’ve biked through much of the Northern Thai mountains, you can truly appreciate Thailand’s natural beauty as well as feel accomplished from completing such an athletic feat. Check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Suggested Hotels For Day 1

137 Pillars House
Preferred Hotel

137 Pillars House

Located in the heart of Wat Gate, an area in Chiang Mai that was formerly designated to foreigners by the government, 137 Pillars House sits idyllically along the Ping River, adjacent to Wat Gate Khar Rham Temple. Combining the regality of traditional Thai elegance with modern luxury, this boutique hotel offers amenities including high-speed wireless internet access, laundry service, a 24-hour on-call medical professional, babysitting services, a spa, outdoor swimming pool and a fitness facility. The Dining Room offers classic Thai cuisine, one of the many dining options offered at the hotel. 137 Pillars House is approximately 25 minutes by car from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).

See Hotel
Four Seasons Chiang Mai
Preferred Hotel

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

The Four Seasons Chiang Mai blends with its natural surroundings seamlessly, with trees growing between and around the resort, overlooking terraced rice fields and the mountains of the Mae Rim Valley. The resort has 64 boutique pavilions, each with a private veranda, as well as 16 private luxury residences. The Sala Mae Rim serves Thai cuisine and offers sweeping views of the valley below, and the Terraces have international dishes with a view of the Doi Suthep mountain range. The hotel has a health club with state of the art equipment, including a sauna, herbal steam room, whirlpool, cold plunge pool, 20-meter infinity edge swimming pool, a business center and wi-fi access. There are also mountain bikes available for use, along with maps of trails through the surrounding forest. The Spa at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai has seven treatment suites with rain shower massage tables and private herbal steam rooms. Professional spa therapists can help you choose the best treatment package for your needs. The hotel is 25 minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport.

See Hotel
Villa Mahabhirom

Villa Mahabhirom

Chiang Mai's Villa Mahabhirom is located west of the old city, a short walk from the 700-year-old Wat Umong Buddhist temple and only a 15-minute drive from the international airport. The name translates as "Villa of Great Pleasure," and the property is designed around the concept of groups of friends and families spending time together. The antique Thai villas (ruean thai) date back over a century, featuring traditional elements such as stilts, handmade clay roof tiles and dark teakwood. Reimagined for the modern traveler, the 14 villas range from one- to three-bedroom units, with some offering private saltwater plunge pools. Decor is simple and elegant, with details including vintage furniture and luxurious Italian marble in the bathroom. Custom toiletries are by Pañpuri. Hotel facilities include a large saltwater swimming pool, a spa, as well as yoga and Tai Chi classes (requested in advance). For dining, guests can enjoy home-cooked Thai and international dishes in the property's signature Restaurant or opt for the private Mahabhirom Dining Room. The Noppadol Verandah is perfect for evening sundowners and afternoon tea can be enjoyed in the Mahabhirom Tea Room - the sweet treats follow the recipes of Bangkok's Baan Mo Palace while the aromatic teas are sourced from Thailand's only organic tea plantation.

Suggested Hotel For Day 2

Guesthouse

Guesthouse

Thailand’s north is blessed with verdant hills and emerald carpeted mountains, home to jungles, cliffs, flowing streams and waterfalls — a paradise for adventurers seeking treks, scenic views, and hilltribes. In these rural areas, accommodation can be found in small guesthouses which offer travelers a chance to experience the warm hospitality of locals. Often a wooden cottage, these guesthouses have cozy private bedrooms, lovely gardens, and may offer WiFi and rental bicycles for guests to enjoy the lush green countryside. The on-site restaurant serves authentic Thai cuisine, and breakfast choices may include Continental, Asian or vegetarian dishes.

Suggested Hotel For Day 3

Riverhouse Hotel

Riverhouse Hotel


Nestled on the banks of the gorgeous Nam Yam River, the Riverhouse Hotel is a home away from home while visiting Northern Thailand. Located in the center of Mae Hong Son province, the Riverhouse Hotel offers breathtaking scenery of lush green hills right from the balcony. This quaint hotel is built from tropical teakwood and offers 12 accommodating rooms, each equipped with modern amenities to make one’s stay a relaxing one. During the day, guests can spoil themselves with a traditional Thai massage on-site, indulge in savory Thai cuisine at the hotel restaurant or relax on the terrace and take in the stunning views of roaring rivers and rustic farmland. This hotel is also ideally-located to explore the gems of Mae Hong Son. The wild sunflower garden in Doi Mae Ho is opposite the hotel, the bustling local market is just up the street on Mae Sariang Road and the breathtaking Kaew Komol Cave and the Myanmar border is just an hour away.


Suggested Hotel For Day 4

Ban Farang Guesthouse

Ban Farang Guesthouse


Located in the lush jungles of Northern Thailand, the Ban Farang Guesthouse is the perfect option for travelers who want to experience untouched wilderness and beautiful views of the serene countryside. Nestled in the rustic region of Khun Yuam, Ban Farang Guesthouse offers accommodating bungalows set on a scenic wooded hillside. Elegant VIP rooms provide luxury and comfort and include king-size beds, spacious rooms, a balcony overlooking a gorgeous garden and more. At the guesthouse restaurant, visitors can indulge in fresh food purchased from local farmers market. Here, guests can enjoy delicious Thai cuisine or indulge in a mouthwatering hamburger if feeling homesick. After a long day of hiking, guests can spoil themselves with a health and wellness day at the massage studio on-site. Here, visitors can enjoy a soothing Thai massage from head to toe.


Suggested Hotel For Days 5–6

Golden Pai & Suite Resort

Golden Pai & Suite Resort


Situated on the banks of the beautiful Pai River, the Golden Pai & Suite Resort is the perfect getaway for travellers who want peace and relaxation. This four-star resort offers 70 picturesque bungalows in a serene garden setting. Each spacious room is equipped with modern amenities including mini-bar, cable TV, high speed Internet and more to ensure a comfortable stay. The resort offers an outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, grand meeting facilities and a riverside restaurant that serves delicious Thai cuisine. For guests interested in a spa day, the resort provides soothing mud-mask treatments, which are considered to have healing effects. Exciting recreational activities can also be booked at the hotel such as elephant and donkey trekking, bamboo rafting and hiking adventures through local misty mountains and scenic rivers.


Suggested Hotel For Day 7

Pai Hotspring Spa Resort

Pai Hotspring Spa Resort


Bask in tranquil hot springs and let all stress melt away at the elegant Pai Hotspring Spa Resort. Experience Thai hospitality at its best at this oriental chalet-styled resort, nestled in the quaint town of Pai. Situated on the banks of the scenic Pai River, the resort offers stunning views of pristine streams and endless rolling hills. Providing 68 private villas, each spacious room is equipped with modern amenities including satellite TV, high-speed Internet, mini-bar and more. Guests can spoil themselves by booking one of the stunning 29 Chalet rooms, which include a private balcony and personal hot spring tub. At the resort, guests can enjoy therapeutic hot springs where detoxifying mineral waters rejuvenate the mind and body. Other services offered include spa and health treatments where local herbs and volcanic mud are used to refresh face and skin. Finally, guests may take this opportunity to indulge in an authentic Thai massage and experience the ultimate relaxation. 


Suggested Hotels For Day 8

137 Pillars House
Preferred Hotel

137 Pillars House

Located in the heart of Wat Gate, an area in Chiang Mai that was formerly designated to foreigners by the government, 137 Pillars House sits idyllically along the Ping River, adjacent to Wat Gate Khar Rham Temple. Combining the regality of traditional Thai elegance with modern luxury, this boutique hotel offers amenities including high-speed wireless internet access, laundry service, a 24-hour on-call medical professional, babysitting services, a spa, outdoor swimming pool and a fitness facility. The Dining Room offers classic Thai cuisine, one of the many dining options offered at the hotel. 137 Pillars House is approximately 25 minutes by car from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).

See Hotel
Four Seasons Chiang Mai
Preferred Hotel

Four Seasons Chiang Mai

The Four Seasons Chiang Mai blends with its natural surroundings seamlessly, with trees growing between and around the resort, overlooking terraced rice fields and the mountains of the Mae Rim Valley. The resort has 64 boutique pavilions, each with a private veranda, as well as 16 private luxury residences. The Sala Mae Rim serves Thai cuisine and offers sweeping views of the valley below, and the Terraces have international dishes with a view of the Doi Suthep mountain range. The hotel has a health club with state of the art equipment, including a sauna, herbal steam room, whirlpool, cold plunge pool, 20-meter infinity edge swimming pool, a business center and wi-fi access. There are also mountain bikes available for use, along with maps of trails through the surrounding forest. The Spa at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai has seven treatment suites with rain shower massage tables and private herbal steam rooms. Professional spa therapists can help you choose the best treatment package for your needs. The hotel is 25 minutes from Chiang Mai International Airport.

See Hotel

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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.

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An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

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Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.

A Family from Toronto, booked by Wonderland Travel

A Family from Toronto, booked by Wonderland Travel

We loved the level of service and attention to detail...we felt very spoiled.

Thailand, Hong Kong

A family from Los Angeles

A family from Los Angeles

Every moving part of the itinerary was perfectly planned and executed. The day to day program [Remote Lands] devised took into account all of our individual interests and preferred levels of activity.

Bhutan, Cambodia, Thailand

A mother and daughter from Delaware

A mother and daughter from Delaware

We had such a great time on our recent trip to Thailand that Remote Lands put together for us

Thailand, Myanmar

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