Northern Thailand Mountain Biking
Duration: 4 days / 3 nights (4 days of great cycling)
Departures: Regular departure every Monday from Chiang Mai
Activities: Mountain biking; off-road trails and small country roads; motor boat, cave exploration
Fitness Level: Easy cycling with off-road trails. Suitable for fit participants. Cycling experience is recommended to fully enjoy the tour.
From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, join us and experience our most popular mountain bike route over four days of great cycling from the hills of Chiangdao down to the Maekok river. Discover small villages and the ethnic hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Ride your sturdy mountain-bike through scenic areas with plenty of exciting trails and sights. Ride at your own pace on a well organized program, with full support of our dedicated local staff.
Detailed itinerary
- DAY 1: CHIANG-MAI TO CHIANGDAO
- Around 8:30 am, pick up participants from various Chiang Mai hotels and drive north by covered pickup to Chiangdao region. Stop at elephant camp in jungle. Watch elephants bathing and demonstrating their skills. Explore the Chiangdao caves, part of a Buddhist sanctuary, followed by lunch in local restaurant.
- After the lunch and a short bike fitting, we start our ride through rural back roads, eventually turning into dirt trails, across a pristine landscape leading to small hill tribe villages. Visit Lahu, Lisu and Akha villages, and discover the Palaung people from Myanmar, with only a few settlements in northern Thailand. We finish our ride at the Palong village and near by Padeng Lodge, to spend the night. Enjoy a succulent Thai dinner served at the lodge.
Meals: -/L/D. - DAY 2: CHIANGDAO TO BAN THATON
- This morning we ride mostly off road through great trails and scenic landscape! The route is not too difficult and the escort vehicle is always near by. Morning distance is nearly 20 miles (30 km). Lunch stop and visit Buddhist forest temple and caves. Afternoon cycling around 15 miles (25 km), paved road, then car transfer to Ban Thaton for overnight.
Thaton is a small village located by the Burmese border on the bank of the Maekok river. Night and dinner at tourist class hotel.
Meals: B/L/D. - DAY 3: BAN THATON TO CHIANG-RAI TOWN
- Early morning, after breakfast, we cycle through the Maekok river valley, passing rice fields and plantations. We then follow an exciting trail winding it’s way along the river. Next we ride a local long-tail boat downriver, to reach a forest park and take our bike again, to continue cycling to a Karen village by the river. After a break, we continue cycling, or proceed by car to our Chiang-Rai hotel. Evening and dinner free at leisure. It might be the good opportunity to stroll around the small night market, or go for a reinvigorating Thai traditional massage.
Meals: B/L/D. - DAY 4: CHIANG-RAI HALF DAY CYCLING LOOP, AND BACK TO CHIANG-MAI
- Cycling itinerary is flexible today and to some extent will depends on the season. We ride out of the city and follow the river bank to discover exciting new trails. Cycle up the mountain village, and down via another trail. We ride more trails to reach a waterfall for a local lunch. Relax and shower at the waterfall before an overland transfer back to Chiang Mai (3 hours+) with our vehicle. Arrive around 7pm and drop off at your hotel.
Meals: B/L/-.
Monday (around 30 to 45 km cycling / 18 to 28 miles)
Tuesday (30 to 60 km cycling / 18 to 38 miles)
Wednesday (45 to 60 km cycling / 28 to 38 miles)
Thursday (cycle between 20 to 40 km / 12 to 24 miles)
End of tour suggestions / options:
- Stay some extra night(s) individually in Chiang Rai hotel, then depart by flight to Bangkok, when you want.
- Direct flight to Bangkok (we recommend evening departure) Check with Thai Airways (http://www.thaiairways.com/), or Air Asia (http://www.AirAsia.com).
- Additional day(s) cycling to the Golden Triangle and Chiang Saen, or the Lao border can be organized as a custom trip (available on request for a minimum 4 persons).
General Information
- Anyone in good physical condition can join our regular cycling trips. Experienced bike riders will best enjoy trip.
- Monday departures year round from Chiang Mai.
- Private tours can depart any day, subject to prior advance notice and availability.
- Small groups not exceeding 12 persons. We can accommodate larger private parties group if required, with departure at your convenience.
- Best (coolest) cycling season from September to late February.
Accommodation
Padeng Lodge: Basic wooden Thai house with separate rooms. Comfortable bedding, room with fans. Western toilets and hot shower outside the rooms. Great location surrounded by moutain and scenic views of Doi Luang Chiangdao.
Ban Thaton: tourist class accommodation located in the small town or near the Maekok river (accommodation in private rooms with en suite bathrooms, hot shower + air-condition).
Chiang Rai: La Luna Hotel, tourist class hotel with individual bungalows located in landscaped garden. Swimming pool, internet and WI-FI. Traditional Thai massage service. Our staff can bring you to the night market area in the evening.
Pricing:
Rates per person in Thai Baht. Valid from now until 30 April 2012
| Code NT101 | Rate / person | Departure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Join Tour | 12,900 | Every Monday | |
| Private Tour | 2 – 4 persons | 15,500 | Every day |
| 5 – 6 persons | 11,000 | ||
| single room supplement | 2,000 | - | |
(Single room supplement is compulsory when booking alone)
Included
- Fully Inclusive tour as per itinerary. Transportation/escort vehicle (covered pick-up truck). Accommodation in twin share room. Elephant camp visit and cave admission fees. Boat trip.
- Quality Equipment + Full support! we provide well maintained 24 gears mountain-bikes with front-suspension (Model TREK 4300). We supply helmets and water bottles. English-speaking tour guides/mechanic assistance.
- Meals and beverages: most meals are included and mentioned in the itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner. You will have one dinner on your own, in Chiang-Rai town, so you can chose what you fancy amongst the many restaurants near the Chiangrai night market. During the rides, drinking water and snacks are always available in our escort vehicle.
Not Included
- Meals not mentioned. All beverages at local shops and restaurants/hotels.
- Personal spending, tips and optional tours.
- Personal travel insurance
- Compulsory gala dinner at hotels during festive holidays (we inform you at time of booking)
- Participants must bring their own cycling gear and appropriate equipment.
Remarks
- No reduction for participants bringing own bicycles. (Please contact us for groups)
- All programs subject to our general conditions.
- Itinerary changes are sometimes necessary, depending on weather condition.
- Anyone in a good physical condition can join our regular cycling trips!
- Participants should have some previous cycling or mountain biking experience.
- We welcome accompanying non-cycling participants, to travel in the escort vehicle.
ActiveThailand Adventure Tours
Participants understand this type of adventure travel incurs some risks. We require participants to sign a full liability release before trip departure.
For more general information on our cycling trips, see our main cycling page.
Please make an inquiry below; our online reservation officers will get back to you within 24 hours!