Overview
This is the best way to discover Thailand's lower north.
Start off with a bike tour through the ancient kingdoms of Sukhothai and Chiang Mai for a firm foundation in the country’s early history. Pass beside Thailand's tallest mountain, Doi Inthanon, visiting villages and the walled city of Lumphun.
With cheering villagers urging you on, you will discover a great deal about this exciting country, topping it all off with a tour around Chiang Mai.
This is one of those bike tours that will leave you satisfied, having travelled from one great city to another on the backroads and byways and gained insights you would only find on two wheels. Experience the traditional Chiang Mai new year for a cultural immersion like no other. We arrive in the city just in time to enjoy the festivities.
326 Km riding. This ride is a mixture of flat terrain with a few days of rolling hills. Most of the trip is on rural back roads and occasionally on dirt roads and highways. This ride is achievable by anyone who can ride a bike for the distances involved (and if not just jump in the air conditioned support vehicle for a rest).
For tours commencing from Dec 20 to Jan 5, and Apr 13-16 there is a peak season surcharge of 15% on the price of this tour due to hotel rate increases at this time of year.
Highlights
Visit an ancient temple before pedaling through sugar fields and orchards in the countryside.
Ride through Si Chanalai Historical Park and then cycle to a temple in Ramkhamhaeng National Park.
Visit local communities as we check out what local craftsmen are up to.
Enjoy the festivities of Loy Kratong in Chiang Mai as you see hundreds of lanterns float into the sky.
Day to Day
We will meet in the late afternoon at a hotel near Bangkok's main railway station. If you are flying in, we will gladly have you picked up from the airport. The sleeper train is still a viable alternative for long distance travel in Thailand. It is well run, relatively punctual and a pleasant way to travel. We have dinner before boarding the train and as we leave the metropolis of Bangkok, the rocking motion will almost certainly send you into an early sleep.
The train arrives early in Uttaradit, so we make use of some rooms at a guesthouse to shower and change into cycling gear and then have a great local breakfast before heading off on the bikes. As we leave town, we find Wat Phrathat Thung Yang, an ancient temple that is still in use today, with an unusual Buddha image. We are then out in the countryside, meandering through sugar fields and orchards over fairly flat terrain. We reach the small town of Si Satchanalai in the early afternoon and have an afternoon to explore this small town and relax.
This morning we will ride along country roads next to the Yom River visiting artisans who are weaving gold into cloth and creating various pieces of pottery, before we ride through the Si Chanalai Historical Park. This evening we settle in our hotel outside the city gate of Thailand's first capital, Sukhothai.
Today is our first opportunity to stretch out and enjoy the landscape of the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai. We start off with a gentle pedal through the Sukhothai Historical Park, visiting the scattered ruins of the ancient city. We then cycle south along the base of a mountain to a temple in the Ramkhamhaeng National Park.
Following lunch in the afternoon, we have a fun outing to explore the local community. You'll have the chance to see and experience local life as we join them in the rice fields and their places of work, checking out rural handicrafts such as weaving, woodwork or making coal.
Following a 1.5 hour transfer, today's ride brings us into hill country with lots of easy ups and downs, amidst some twists and turns. The journey is peppered with charming hilltop temples and stupas - the most impressive of these being Wat Prathat Huai Thom. At the end of the day's cycling, we transfer 1 hour to Chom Thong.
Starting off the shadow of Thailand’s tallest mountain Doi Inthanon, wend your way across ride paddies and small villages and towns to the site of the ancient Kingdom of Haripunchai, nowadays called Lumphun. From Lamphun riding out of town first along tree-lined roads, through fruit orchards, along irrigation canals and across paddy fields, you will eventually arrive in the artisan village of Ban Tawai. From Ban Tawai we will transfer that last bit by van into the city of Chiang Mai. This evening enjoy a special dinner and joining the Yi Peng and Loi Kratong ceremonies where the skies and waters are filled with light.
The journey concludes after breakfast today. Our team including your leader will be more than happy to assist you in confirming any onward travel plans and should you need to reach the airport, our van will be waiting for you, however we recommend that you stay on in Chiang Mai for at least one night to enjoy the Yi Peng or Loy Kratong festivities that will be taking place this evening. Meals: B
This ride is a mixture of flat terrain with a few days of rolling hills. Most of the trip is on rural back roads and occasionally on dirt roads and highways. This ride is achievable by anyone who can ride a bike for the distances involved (and if not just jump in the air-conditioned support vehicle for a rest). We take a slow and relaxed pace so this trip is well suited to fit riders looking for a relaxing ride or those new to cycle touring who are looking to find out what it's all about.
WHAT MAKES US STAND OUT
GRASSHOPPER STYLE
In order to provide the most cultural immersion possible, we’ve crafted this tour that ends in Chiang Mai on the day of the new year Loy Kratong so you can enjoy the festivities. We stop in a national park and historical park along the way to fully inform your view of Thailand and its history and culture. Relax knowing we have taken care of all of the small details so you can enjoy the ride!
