Region Overviews: Asia Travel Guide: Overview
Comprised of 48 countries and nearly 60 percent of the world’s population, Asia boasts a dizzying assortment of natural wonders, rich history and cultural feats.
Biking
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Thailand Bike Tour
The Golden Triangle from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Couples, Friends & Solos
8 days 7 nights
Activity Levels 1-4
Premiere Hotels
From: $5,299 - $6,399 pp dbl occ
($1,300 for sgl occ)
Bike an oxcart path among lush rice paddies. Admire an ornate Buddhist temple in a jungle-filled valley. Relish a homemade curry and marvel at jagged limestone hills. Welcome to Thailand, where the only thing more impressive than the bustling market towns, towering cliffs and timeless villages is how perfectly at home you feel, immersed in the beauty of it all.
Thailand Biking
Thailand
Start Chiang Mai / End Chiang Rai
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Experience a traditional blessing from a local elder, a ritual for travelers who have arrived from faraway locales
- Float along the gently flowing Maekok River aboard longtail boats, then cycle the short stretch into colorful Chiang Rai
- Delve into Thailand's intriguing cultural roots and connect with our local friends—they're happy to share stories with you
- Bike from temple to temple along stunning backcountry lanes, where village children rush out to greet you
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Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
8 Days Premiere Hotels*
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-2
Description
Experience a fascinating convergence of Thai, Laotian, Burmese and Chinese cultures | Receive a blessing from the village elders and visit with the resident monk | Cycle into the countryside past thriving rice and garlic fields and stands of papaya and teak | Learn from a local gardener how to plant and harvest rice | Get a behind-the-scenes look at how traditional Thai dishes are prepared.
Accommodations
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
Mae Rim
| Premiere Hotel This impeccable hotel amid rice paddies, mountains and lush gardens, sets the industry standard for luxury. Condé Nast Traveler Gold List. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
Days 3-4
Description
Curious locals welcome you as you bike picturesque rural roads through remote villages | Beneath the white Buddha, offer alms to monks at sunrise | A scenic descent leads to the trading center of Fang and temple-rich Thaton | Learn about a local hill tribe, their history and their experience living in Thailand | Put your culinary skills to the test during a cooking class, then taste the fruits of your own labor | Listen to a remarkable performance of a hill tribe choir.
Accommodations
Maekok River Village Resort
Ban Thaton
| *Casual Hotel Basic bungalows and a fantastic riverside location await at this authentic Thai-style inn. (pool)
Day 5
Description
Float in longtail boats down the Maekok River | Ride through a peaceful village-dotted landscape into vibrant Chiang Rai | Embark on a culinary adventure as you wander the streets of Chiang Rai and sample some of Thailand’s unique delicacies and delicious street food.
Accommodations
Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
Chiang Rai
| Premiere Hotel A large yet inviting resort with modern furnishings and an idyllic setting along the banks of the Kok River. (pool, spa)
Days 6-8
Description
Bike alongside the Mekong River on the Laos and Myanmar border, passing tobacco fields and rice paddies on the way to the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Saen | Cycle to the spectacular Chom Kitti temple | Learn about the area’s history of the lucrative opium trade, a commodity worth its weight in gold | Browse Sop Ruak’s market for a refreshing Thai iced tea and one-of-a-kind handicrafts.
Accommodations
Anantara Golden Triangle Resort
Chiang Saen
| Premiere Hotel Described by the Hideaway Report as a "stylish hill country retreat amid 160 acres of tranquil gardens in the Golden Triangle overlooking Burma." (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
From our Guests
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#MyBackroadsTrip
Share your adventure #MyBackroadsTrip
Activity Level: 1-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for bike options specific to this trip (click the arrow to see more). Please note that bike requests, including e-bikes and Carbon bikes, are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
Electric-Assist Bike
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Co-Motion Torpedo Tandem Bike
Tandem Bike
This hand-built frame features Co-Motion's custom-designed cro-moly steel tubeset, powerful Avid disc brakes, Shimano Ultegra drive train, and a custom, upgraded wheelset. For experienced tandem riders.
$400 rental fee
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations
Throughout the trip we've selected hotels that, in addition to being both comfortable and authentic, allow us to provide you with an itinerary that flows naturally and with purpose, becoming a genuine travel experience and not simply a collection of sightseeing events. The Maekok River Village Resort, a Casual Hotel, is our home for two nights. Although it offers simpler guest rooms than the other hotels on this trip, it is by far the nicest lodging in the area and has been selected because of its access to the best riding in the region.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations
Throughout the trip we've selected hotels that, in addition to being both comfortable and authentic, allow us to provide you with an itinerary that flows naturally and with purpose, becoming a genuine travel experience and not simply a collection of sightseeing events. The Maekok River Village Resort, a Casual Hotel, is our home for two nights. Although it offers simpler guest rooms than the other hotels on this trip, it is by far the nicest lodging in the area and has been selected because of its access to the best riding in the region.
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