Thailand Bike Tour
- 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 book, 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.
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. Read the 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
Our hotels in Thailand are selected for their amenities, cultural charm and ideal location that allow for a flexible itinerary full of genuine travel experiences. While there may be other hotel options that look better on paper, they would involve long shuttles and superficial sightseeing. We believe this trip offers the best itinerary possible and provides the chance to customize the days as the mood strikes, whether you want to maximize your time on the bike (and never hop in the shuttle) or take the time to leisurely explore the local markets and temples. Either way, we make it happen!The Maekok River Village Resort, a Casual Inn, 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.
Suanthip Vana Resort, a Premiere Inn, is a lovely and comfortable hotel, but can lack the sophistication one might expect. We've chosen this hotel for its friendly staff, remote location and its proximity to our biking routes.
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 one-of-a-kind handicrafts.
Guests Reviews About This Trip
It seemed to be designed for me. Just the right amount of biking, wonderful food and accommodations and of course learning so much of the Thai people and cultures. I've taken many memorable active trips over the years but Backroads Thailand might be the benchmark for future ones.- Woodstock, MD
Anantara Resort & Spa Golden Triangle: One of the most beautiful resorts I've ever seen, the attention to detail in the design and landscaping is incredible, and of course the elephants and their wonderful families are special. Waking up to the early mist and hearing elephants in the fields and the birds was just magical.- Needham Heights, MA
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
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) A large yet 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)
Private Trips Options & Pricing
Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities.
You can pick any open date for your group of 8 or more except for trips departing during the last two weeks of December, where a 16 guest minimum is required. Call us for date availability.
Pricing for Private Trips (prices may vary based on departure date)
| 8 - 9 guests $4,898 pp dbl. occ. | 12 or more guests $3,998 pp dbl. occ. |
| 10 - 11 guests $4,598 pp dbl. occ. |
For groups of 2 to 7 guests, please call for Custom Trip pricing.
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* | 200 | 45* | 300 | ||||||
| 4 | 17* | 1200 | 24 | 1200 | ||||||
| Sunrise walk (1.2 miles) | ||||||||||
| 5 | 8* | 400 | 43 | 1000 | ||||||
| 12 | 400 | |||||||||
| Maekok River crusie (2 hrs) | ||||||||||
| 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 35 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.
