Thailand Family Biking
- Bike gorgeous backcountry lanes through remote villages, where schoolchildren rush out to say hello
- Jungle trek aboard an elephant - hold on!
- Intriguing interactions with Buddhist monks at ornate temples
- A ropes course and scavenger hunt that turn the outdoors into a classroom
- A fascinating convergence of Thai, Laotian, Burmese and Chinese cultures
A Cultural Odyssey in the Golden Triangle
Thais by their very nature are welcoming. With your kids even more so. They smile and invite you in. To their mountain villages, ornate temples, noodle shops and long-tail boats. Even the elephants are friendly, taking you for a ride, and letting your kids bathe and feed them. As you bike past, schoolchildren run out to greet you, their waves and big grins saying it all. Warm. Inviting. Exotic. Approachable. It’s the Asia you dream of.
Days 1-2 Receive a blessing from the village elders and meet the resident monk 
Villagers greet you with smiles as you ride into the countryside on hard-packed paths, cutting through rice and garlic fields, and papaya and teak forests The younger set crafts traditional fire balloons made out of natural paper.
Days 3-4 Bike backcountry lanes through remote villages and rural scenery, with grazing water buffalo as your audience After visiting an Akha hill tribe village, a picturesque downhill and flat route leads to the trading center of Fang Kids embark on a scavenger hunt, ready to interact with locals and practice their Thai numbers Welcome the sunrise by offering alms to monks on a hilltop beneath the White Buddha While adults participate in a Thai cooking class, kids learn about teamwork on a ropes course.
Day 5 A jungle trek aboard an elephant - hold on! In long-tail boats, float down the Maekok River Embark on a spin through the countryside or treat yourself to a massage this afternoon .
Days 6-8 A fascinating convergence of Thai, Laotian, Burmese and Chinese cultures Bike alongside the Mekong River on the Laos border, past tobacco fields and rice paddies into the ancient kingdom of Chiang Saen Sop Ruak’s market stalls provide a chance to sample Thai iced tea and shop for local handicrafts Kids attend a mahout (elephant driver) camp and have fun helping feed and bathe a friendly pachyderm.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
Just returned home from the Backroads Thailand bicycle adventure. I am exhilarated, enthused and disappointed that it had to end. This was my first experience with Backroads, and all aspects of the trip were exceptional. Your organization sets a very high standard of customer service, and it is very much appreciated. The leaders were exceptional. Their enthusiasm for their jobs and their lives is contagious, and their dedication to service is obvious. What a pleasure to spend a week in such an exotic location and have these great people take care of everything. The complete success of each day was never doubted. You can be assured that I will travel with Backroads in the future, and will probably become a Backroads junkie! Thanks for a great trip.- Seattle, WA
My wife and I had a wonderful trip, and the entire experience was so much better than we could have ever hoped for. The trip was well balanced with great food, activity and cultural experiences. It far exceeded our desires. We look forward to our next Backroads adventure.- Lafayette, CA
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)
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This Trip Is Rated Level 1-4
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
The route options below are for adults and older kids with more biking experience who are up for longer rides or hikes. For all other kids (and adults who choose), we make it easy to do even less than the shortest option mentioned below, usually by taking a short lift in one of our support vehicles. We are here to make sure everyone has a great time so there's no need for you to worry about whether your child will be able to "keep up."
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
- 8, 21 miles
- 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
- Optional Walking (Adults) 1.5 hours
- 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
- Levels 2 to 4 3 Route Options Available
- 21, 25, 46 miles
- 1000 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
- Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
- 16, 29 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Optional Walking 1.2 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
- Levels 1 to 4 4 Route Options Available
- 8, 12, 43 miles
- 400 - 1000 feet elevation gain
- Elephant Ride 12 miles
Day 6
- Levels 2 to 5 4 Route Options Available
- 24, 35, 48, 58 miles
- 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 7
- Level 2 1 Route Option Available
- 24 miles
- 500 - 1500 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.
