Biking Adventure from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai

Trip Overview: From Chiang-Mai, join the Northern-Trails team and experience some great riding through varied landscapes, scenic Maekok river ride, and challenging off road trails. Discover small hill tribes villages of Northern Thailand and it’s authentic rural life. A great trip where you can enjoy riding and get closer to the country’s “off the beaten path”.

This tour is a shorter version of our most scenic route, NT101, Northern Thailand Mountain Biking.

Itinerary

Day 1 – MONDAY – Cycle 30 to 40 km (25 miles)

08.30 Pick-up participants from Chiang Mai hotels and drive north by covered pick-up truck (songtaew in Thai) to Chiangdao. Our first stop is at the Chiangdao Elephant Camp, where we will have an insight of elephant’s lifestyle and behavior. Watch elephants bathing and demonstrating their skills, pulling and hauling logs.
After the show, we transfer further north to avoid the main road, to eventually reach our cycling starting place. Quick bike fitting and we start pedaling through great countryside, with a climb, to warm up participants! Next is flat and a ride in the forest, on tarmac road, to reach the Chiangdao caves. Take some time to explore the main chamber of the caves, and have lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon, we ride again through rural back roads first, followed by off-road trails, across a pristine landscape leading to small hill-tribe villages. On the way, we visit Lahu, Lisu and Akha villages, and discover the Palong people from Myanmar (with only a few settlements in northern Thailand). We end our ride near a village to find our accommodation for tonight. Overnight at a simple lodge, under mosquito nets.
[Meals: lunch, dinner]

Day 2 – TUESDAY – cycle 60 km (38 miles)

Today is a day of intense riding through stunning nature! We have a long day on the road today, but for exhausted participants, our escort vehicle is always near by.
After breakfast at the lodge, we ride exciting dirt trails (15km) through plantations and forest. We continue onto a paved road. Lunch stop and visit a Buddhist forest temple and caves. Afternoon cycling is rolling hills on tarmac, until car transfer to Ban Thaton for overnight. Overnight at a simple hotel located on the bank of the Maekok river. Dinner at hotel.
[Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner]

Day 3 – WEDNESDAY – cycle 45 to 60 km (38 miles+)

Early morning, after breakfast, we cycle through the Maekok river valley, past rice fields and plantations. Then we follow exciting trails along the river. We will also take a local long-tail boat downriver, to enjoy a rest and the scenic landscapes. Disembark and continue cycling to a Karen village. Depending of participant’s abilities, we can cycle all the way to Chiang Rai city, or transfer by vehicle. End up at your hotel (or if pre-arranged, at Chiang Rai Airport.)
[Meals: breakfast, lunch]
End of the tour.

Note: Flights to Chiang Mai or direct to Bangkok are available everyday on Thai Airways in the evening, between 19.00pm to 20.00pm. Contact us for latest timetable.

Pricing:

(Single room supplement is compulsory when booking alone)

General Information

Departure possible all year long. English speaking tour guide. Quality mountain-bikes are provided.
Participants must bring personal cycling gear including shorts, helmet and sunglasses.
Best (coolest) season is from September to end of February.
Itinerary subject to change according to season.

Accommodation and meals

Overnight one night at Padeng Lodge, a basic eco-lodge nestled in hill tribe country side. Individual rooms with mosquito nets. Western toilets and hot shower facilities outside the room. The second night, we stay in selected tourist class hotel in Ban Thaton. Ensuite bathroom and shower.

Meals are taken at local restaurants or hotels. Drinking water, fruits and snacks are available in our escort vehicle. Other drinks are not included in price, but widely available at local restaurants and shops along the way, when we make a break. Meals provided as per above itinerary: [ B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner].

Included

For more general information on our cycling trips, see our main cycling page.

Places related to this tour: Chiang Rai, Chiang Dao