Cycling Adventure from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Tour ref: NT104
Duration: 3 days / 2 nights
Departures: From Chiang Mai, regular departure on Mondays
Activities: Forest trails and off-road mountain biking, cave exploration
Fitness Level: Suitable for participants in good fitness condition! Off-road riding experience is recommended. Some undulating hills and a few steep climbs (it’s called mountain-biking!) but nothing too hard, as we cycle mostly in the valley.
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 cycle a few more kilometers to find our accommodation for tonight. Overnight and dinner at the Padeng lodge.
[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. Drop off at your hotel, or if pre-arranged, at Chiang Rai Airport.
[Meals: breakfast, lunch]
End of the tour-
Note: Flights from Chiangrai airport (CEI) to Bangkok Suvanhabhum airport are available everyday on Thai Airways and Thai Air Asia. This flight must be after 7pm. Contact us for latest timetable.
Or book your Air Asia flight online at www.AirAsia.com
Pricing:
Rates per person in Thai Baht. Valid from now to 30 April 2012
| Code NT104 | Rate / person | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Join Tour | 10,400 | Every Monday | |
| Private Tour | 2 – 4 persons | n/a | n/a |
| 5 – 6 persons | n/a | ||
| single room supplement | 1,200 | - | |
(Single room supplement is compulsory when booking alone)
Included
- Tour as per itinerary. Transportation in support vehicle (covered pick-up truck).
- Quality TREK brand Mountain-Bikes with 24 gears and front suspension. We provide cycling helmets and water bottle.
- Experienced English speaking tour guide and driver/mechanic.
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
- Drinking water and snacks always available with the escort vehicle.
Not Included
- Guide tipping or gratuities; optional tours, as boat, visit, etc..
- Personal expenses as beverages and meals not mentioned
- Any domestic flights
General Information
Departure possible all year long. English speaking tour guide. Quality TREK mountain-bikes are provided.
Participants must bring personal cycling gear including padded shorts, cycling gloves, helmet and sunglasses. Cycling helmets are available from our office if you need; let us know in advance.
Best (coolest) season is from September to end of February, with busiest month being November through January.
Itinerary subject to change according to season (rain, local festivals, etc..)
Accommodation and meals
Overnight one night at Padeng Lodge, a basic eco-lodge nestled in hill tribe country side. Individual rooms with mosquito nets and fans. Western toilets and hot shower facilities outside the room. The second night, we stay in selected tourist class hotel in Ban Thaton, with en suite 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 the price, but widely available at local restaurants and shops along the way when we make a break. Meals provided as per above itinerary.
For more general information on Thailand cycling trips, see our main cycling page.