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. Travel guide, dump it. Fear of street food, chuck it. Liberate yourself from all that. Wake up expecting anything. Mai pen rai (no worries). 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, our Thai guide who knows 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.
Days
3-4 Bike gorgeous backcountry lanes through remote villages, where schoolchildren rush out to greet you Beneath the White Buddha, offer alms to monks at sunrise 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 Float in long-tail boats down the Maekok River Pedal on narrow lanes past small villages into vibrant Chiang Rai Embark on a culinary adventure, wandering the streets of Chiang Rai and sampling some of Thailand's unique delicacies and delicious street food.
Days
6-8 A fascinating convergence of Thai, Laotian, Burmese and Chinese cultures An elephant ride through the jungle - hold on tight! 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 Relax poolside, indulge in a massage or spin to the spectacular Chom Kitti temple Browse Sop Ruak's market for delectable Thai iced tea and unique handicrafts.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
What an incredible trip - in every way! I couldn't believe how HAPPY, kind, genuine the Thai people are, how delicious the food was. I have such wonderful images of happy faces, gorgeous scenery, cooking class, long boats, wats, monks, water buffalos, massages - not a dull moment the entire time.- Kentfield, CA
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
I am still overwhelmed by what a great trip this was. Perfect support (always there when needed, never hovering), great rides, incredible cultural experiences, unbelievable accommodations and delicious food experiences.- Issaquah, WA
Premiere & Casual Inns*
Suanthip Vana Resort
Mae Suai (2 nights) A 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)
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
Chiang Rai (1 night) An inviting resort with modern furnishings and an idyllic setting along the banks of the Kok River. (pool, spa)
Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa
Chiang Saen (2 nights) Described by the Hideaway Report as a "stylish hill country retreat amid 160 acres of tranquil gardens in the Golden Triangle overlooking Burma." Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
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Classic:
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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.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 5 | 200 | ||||||||
| 2 | 22 | 400 | 25 | 500 | ||||||
| Walk to temple (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 3 | 25* | 0 | 45* | 0 | ||||||
| 4 | 17* | 1200 | 24 | 1200 | ||||||
| Sunrise walk (1.2 miles) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 8* | 400 | 43 | 1000 | ||||||
| 12 | 400 | |||||||||
| Maekok River cruise (2 hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | 28* | 400 | 41* | 800 | ||||||
| 60 | 1600 | |||||||||
| 7 | 24 | 300 | ||||||||
| 8 | Conclusion of the trip | |||||||||
On this trip, we'll be using titanium mountain bikes that are just right for the non-technical dirt road riding as well as the paved riding. (approximately 20% dirt and 80% paved).
* Includes a shuttle
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For 34 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.
