Northern Thailand has a cool climate during the wintertime. It offers mountainous regions that form the Pre-Himalayan Mountain range, with summits up to 2500 meters, a large variety of ethnic villages and people. Beautiful jungle, a quantity of little used dirt roads and trails transform this area in a biker’s paradise! Come and ride along with us to discover the mountains of Northern Thailand.
Day 1: Arrival At Chiang Mai And Transfer To Chiang Dao
Pick up at your hotel in Chiang Mai in the morning. The day starts with a drive in a covered pick-up truck in northern direction towards the Chiang Dao area. At the Chiang Dao Elephant Camp you can watch elephants take their daily morning bath and demonstrate their skills. From there start cycling on paved roads until lunch, then ride small road and trails, which are crossing tropical forest and plantations and lead through remote villages. Visit Lahu, Lisu and Akha villages along the way. Discover also the Palaung people, who migrated from Myanmar and live in only few settlements in Northern Thailand. The cycling trip ends at a hill-tribe village, where you will spend the night at Padang Lodge, a basic northern Thailand style wooden house with separate rooms. You sleep on the floor on a Thai style mattress and under a mosquito net. Western style toilets and hot shower are in separate toilet block. Your guides will prepare and cook dinner for you tonight.
Day 2: Chiang Dao To Thatorn (Cycling Distance Around 60 Km/40 Miles)
Today is a strenuous cycling day in the nature. Follow seldom traveled trails through scenic landscapes of limestone peaks and teakwood forest! The escort vehicle will carry supplies of food, fruit and water for you. Start riding on challenging trails before lunch at a Buddhist forestry temple cave. In the afternoon, follow various trails and paved roads in the valley, riding mostly off-road, before you meet up with the escort vehicle again, which will transfer you to Ban Thaton for dinner and overnight. Overnight at Khun Mai Naan Suan Resort or similar.
Day 3: Thatorn To Chiang Rai (Cycling Distance Is 45 - 60 Km/30 - 40 Miles)
After breakfast, departure for the great Mae Kok River valley ride, which passes rice fields and plantations first and then follows exciting trails along the river. Experience also a local long-tail boat transfer down river as the trails ends. After the boat ride, enjoy a picnic lunch, then cycle again on a scenic riverside trail section to reach a hot-spring, where you can relax. Continue cycling the last stretch to Chiang Rai, or transfer by truck. Overnight at Phowadol Resort or similar (dinner not included).
Day 4: Departure
After breakfast, start to cycle from the hotel on paved roads to reach the outskirts of town where you continue on dirt trails uphill to reach several hill-tribe villages. Cycle down the valley to a scenic waterfall with time to relax and picnic lunch. Relax, shower and change before your transfer to Chiang Rai airport or transfer back to Chiang Mai by covered pick-up truck (non air-conditioned).