Thailand Biking
- Bike gorgeous backcountry lanes through remote villages, where schoolchildren rush out to greet you
- Jungle trek aboard an elephant - hold on!
- Intriguing interactions with Buddhist monks at ornate temples
- Float down the Maekok River in traditional long-tail boats
- A fascinating convergence of Thai, Laotian, Burmese and Chinese cultures
Exploring the Golden Triangle near Laos & Myanmar
Language barrier, embrace it. Bookstore travel guide, dump it. Fear of street food, chuck it. Liberate yourself from all that. Wake up expecting anything. Mai pen rai (keep smiling). Because "hey, you’re in Thailand." Bike an uncharted oxcart path among lush rice paddies and garlic fields. Be startled by an ornate Buddhist temple quietly sitting in the middle of a jungle-filled valley. Relish a truly homemade curry and stare at the jagged limestone hills that have not changed for thousands of years. Say to yourself, "Is it Tuesday?" Even that doesn’t matter because you're in Thailand. So mai pen rai.
Days 1-2 Receive a blessing from the village elders and visit with the resident monk 
Meet Ghing and Diak, our Thai guides who know the back roads of northern Thailand better than anyone Ride into the countryside on hard-packed paths, cutting through thriving rice and garlic fields, and stands of papaya and teak Light a traditional fire balloon and make a wish.
Days 3-4 Bike gorgeous backcountry lanes through remote villages, where schoolchildren rush out to greet you Fall for the handmade jewelry at an Akha hilltribe village A scenic descent leads to the trading center of Fang and temple-rich Thaton Savor Thai cuisine at an atmospheric café - and find inspiration for your upcoming cooking class.
Day 5 A jungle trek aboard an elephant - hold on! Beneath the White Buddha, offer alms to monks at sunrise Float in long-tail boats down the Maekok River Pedal on narrow lanes past small villages into vibrant Chiang Rai.
Days 6-8 A fascinating convergence of Thai, Laotian, Burmese and Chinese cultures Bike alongside the Mekong River on the Laos and Myanmar border, passing tobacco fields and rice paddies on the way to the ancient Burmese kingdom of Chiang Saen It’s up to you: relax poolside, indulge in a massage or spin to the spectacular Chom Kitti temple - en route you can browse Sop Ruak’s market for delectable Thai iced tea and unique handicrafts.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
This was my third Backroads trip, each of which has been fabulous. The Thailand trip was the best trip yet!!! The leaders were fabulous and incredibly accommodating.- New York, NY
The immersion into the local Thai culture along with the Backroads' leadership made this trip a truly amazing experience. The daily itinerary with all the special "surprises" was beautifully orchestrated. After 23 trips with Backroads, I can say with no hesitation that the quality of Backroads trips remains superb...off the charts in every way!- Minneapolis, MN
It was a great way for me, as a solo traveler, to experience Asia for the first time.- Saint Petersburg, FL
Premiere Inns*
Suanthip Vana Resort
Mae Suai (2 nights) A simple countryside retreat blending Thai and Western comforts, with an open-air restaurant in forested surroundings. (pool)
Maekok River Village Resort
Ban Thaton (2 nights) Basic teak-framed rooms and a fantastic riverside setting at this authentic Thai-style inn. (pool)
* Casual Inn
The Legend Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai (1 night) With panoramic views of the hills, mountains and river, this small boutique hotel offers an ideal location for exploring Chiang Rai. (pool, spa)
Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa
Chiang Saen (2 nights) This Travel + Leisure World's Best Award winner is described by Hideaway Report as a "stylish hill country retreat amid 160 acres of tranquil gardens in the Golden Triangle overlooking Burma." (pool, spa)
Bali Biking
Island of Exotic Culture & Tranquil Beauty
Classic:
Singles+Solos:
This Trip Is Rated Level 2-5
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Activity Level | Average Time | Road Bike Average | Mountain Bike Average* | Walk & Hike Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 2-3 hours | 10-20 miles | 10-15 miles | 2-5 miles |
| Level 2 | 2-4 hours | 21-30 miles | 16-20 miles | 5-7 miles |
| Level 3 | 3-5 hours | 31-40 miles | 21-25 miles | 7-9 miles |
| Level 4 | 4-6 hours | 41-55 miles | 26-30 miles | 9-11 miles |
| Level 5 | 5-7+ hours | 56-75+ miles | 31+ miles | 11-13+ miles |
*Mountain bikes are used in locations where the best riding is on a combination of dirt and paved roads. View trip locations
Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain
Day 1
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 5 miles
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- 21, 25 miles
- 430 - 520 feet elevation gain
- Optional Walking 1.5 hours
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
- 25, 45 miles
- 1000 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- 16, 29 miles
- 1200 - 1250 feet elevation gain
- Optional Walking 1.2 miles
Day 5
- Level 1 1 Route Option Available
- 15 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Elephant Riding
Day 6
- Levels 2 to 5 3 Route Options Available
- 28, 40, 58 miles
- 800 - 1600 feet elevation gain
Day 7
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 24 miles
- 330 feet elevation gain
Day 8
- Conclusion of Trip
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For 33 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Thailand tour experts. See our award-winning Asia & the Pacific biking tours, Asia & the Pacific walking and hiking tours and Asia & the Pacific multisport tours.
