12-day self-guided cycling tour around Chiang Mai |
Code: CNX-CLSG 12GNNMJBBS++
Code: CNX-HSSG 12GNNMJBBS++ including guided half day tour south
Itinerary
Day 01:
- CNX-CLSG 12GNNMJBBS++: At around 17:00-18:00, you will be picked up from your hotel or guesthouse in Chiang Mai for a meeting and briefing at our office about the self-guided tour.
- CNX-HSSG 12GNNMJBBS++: After the guided tour, you will get a final briefing at our office.
Day 02 - SG Day 01: Chiang Mai to Mae Jo. About 40 km.
After leaving Chiang Mai, you will cycle on country roads through beautiful ever changing scenery. You will see orchards, rice fields, irrigation canals, pass through small villages and witness the farmer’s daily life activities. Your first accommodation is a beautiful resort with a nice swimming pool and a lot of space.
Day 03 - SG day 02: Mae Jo to Mae Taeng. About 54 km, with 10 km gentle uphill. (B)
The first part of this day's ride, you will cycle along an irrigation canal; you will continue to witness the farmer’s daily activities as this canal is a very important water source for the whole area. You continue through small villages and country side and enjoy the countryside as only a cyclist can see it. The overnight stop is at a beautiful resort on the banks of the river Ping with a swimming pool. Thai massage available.
Day 04 - SG day 03: Mae Taeng to Chiang Dao and back to Mae Taeng. About 56 km. (B)
Early in the morning, you can visit the nearby Chiang Dao elephant training center and observe these beautiful animals bathing. This morning ritual is followed by a demonstration of the work they used to do in the forest. Your cycling trip continues towards Chiang Dao where you can visit the Chiang Dao Caves, a nearby monastery may be worth a visit as well. After these visits you cycle back to your resort where you spend another night.
Day 05 - SG day 04: Mae Taeng to Baan Rai. About 34 km, with 4 km uphill. (B)
Along this cycling route you will have the chance to visit a fancy temple, rarely visited by foreigners. Yyou are staying overnight at a small but superb resort in the middle of nowhere; it has a nice swimming pool with a stunning view. The food is great and very good Thai massages are available. If you arrive in the early afternoon, you could go for a walk with the gardener (for a small fee) who can show you the area and parts of the jungle around the resort. If you arrive late, you could do this walk the day after as well. As your resort is situated out of town you don’t have much light pollution, so it is the perfect place for some star gazing.
Day 06 - SG day 05: Baan Rai, R&R. (B)
On request of many of our guests, you will be staying an extra day and night at this superb resort. You have a couple of choices: cycling through the surrounding villages and visit places of interest, enjoying a very good massage, relaxing at the swimming pool. If you plan well, you could enjoy all of them or at least some.
Day 07 - SG day 06: Baan Rai to Mae Rim. About 31 km. (B)
The first part of today’s cycling is one of my favourite routes: very good country roads and very nice, ever changing scenery. There are plenty of touristy things to see or visit during the next few km, if this is your cup of tea. Today you will stay at a Thai style resort; they serve very good Thai food, have their own bakery and a nice swimming pool. After check in you can visit a nearby orchid farm.
Day 08 - SG day 07: Mae Rim to Doi Saket. About 42 km. (B)
After leaving the Mae Rim area, you are back in the Thai countryside. While cycling along an irrigation canal, you will have the chance to observe Thai farming life. You will pass a Chinese cemetery and glimpse tantalizing views of a temple on top of a hill. You can visit this beautiful temple, which is also an important social centre and school for the area and visit the nearby local market before you continue to cycle through small villages and paddy fields. Your accommodation for tonight is a small scale project; it has only a few but very nice and well decorated bungalows in a very peaceful setting. The resort has a nice swimming pool and the food is great. Thai massage is available.
Day 09 - SG day 08: Doi Saket to Baan Pong. About 42 km, 10 km gently rolling hills. (B)
Today’s cycling will give you further insight into the Thai way of life. You continue to cycle through rice fields, orchards, and small villages. Along the way you can also visit some local hot springs, caves and an interesting temple. Today’s accommodation is a small lodge in a local village. It has only a couple nicely decorated rooms available. The lodge has a nice swimming pool with bar where excellent cocktails are served. The restaurant has a very good choice of delicious Thai food. Thai massage is available.
Day 10 - SG day 09: Baan Pong, R&R. (B)
You have a couple of choices today. You can enjoy a very good massage or just relax at the swimming pool. Another idea is a walking tour around the area or a cycling trip through the local villages. If you plan well you may enjoy all or at least a couple of them.
Day 11 - SG day 10: Baan Pong to Saraphi. About 44 km, mainly flat. (B)
After a short flat warm up the next few kilometres are up hill, then the country flattens out and you are back into an area of paddy fields and local villages. The scenery of today is completely different again. You pass a large standing Buddha protruding from the flat countryside. Afterwards you will continue to cycle along canals and through small villages until you reach your very nice accommodation of today. This luxury bed and breakfast in a private country villa has only a few, very nicely decorated guest rooms. The infinity swimming pool has an open air gazebo and pool side bar. The food is great as your host is an excellent cook. Thai massage is available.
Day 12 - SG day 11: Saraphi to San Patong via Lamphun. About 45 km flat. (B)
Today you will cycle to Lamphun, you can visit the Wat Phrathat Haripunchai, one of the most revered temples in Northern Thailand (dress nicely). As the trip of today is not that long, you will have time to visit some other interesting places as well. Our route description avoids the traffic to cross Lamphun and the cycling continues on quiet back roads. The last part is through a village where time has stood still. On either side you will discover chedis and ruins, some of which are over seven centuries old. Your overnight accommodation is in a resort converted from old tobacco barns, tastefully and luxuriously decorated in quiet and peaceful surroundings, with a large swimming pool.
Day 13 - SG day 12: San Patong to Chiang Mai via Baan Tawai. About 50 km flat. (B)
The first part of today you will ride through mainly longan orchards. Families in this area make sa paper using traditional methods. Via nice routes you cycle to Ban Tawai, a small village famous for wood carving artisans. You have enough time to look around the various stalls. If you want good quality souvenirs for a very good price, this is the place to be. (It’s your last cycling day anyway). Soon after leaving Ban Tawai you will join the Ping River that will lead you back to Chiang Mai again.
Day 14: Stay in Chiang Mai or departure for your next destination.
Tour Facts
Duration: 12 days, 11 nights.
Distance: Total biking distance is about 440 km.
Included:
- modified mountain bike.
- waterproof "Ortlieb" panniers.
- cyclometer, pump, lock, repair kit, inner tubes and multi tool.
- helmet, local insurance and backup.
- a light poncho will be provided during the rainy season.
- detailed route description.
- local map and map holder.
- the best guidebook of the area.
- accommodation.
- meals as specified in the itinerary: B-breakfast.
Not included: overnight before and after the cycling tour.
Grading: 
General information
Bicycles: Adapted mountain bikes, also known as comfort bikes, with 24 gears and front suspension are used for their multifunctionality and comfort. The bikes are equipped with water bottle carriers and racks. Frames for both men and women are available.
Personal gear:People with particular requirements are advised to bring their own pedals, shoes, saddle, helmet, gloves or other cycling clothes.
Meeting: We will answer all your remaining questions and your bicycles will be setup according to your needs. You will receive all supporting material and will be briefed how to read the route description and use the cyclometer.
Clothes: Suitable clothes are shorts and firm footwear. Please no loose fitting dresses that can get caught up in wheels, and no flip-flops. Your safety is a major concern to us. We provide a light poncho during the rainy season.
Packing list: Sunglasses, sun block, insect repellent, pocket money and a small camera. You will receive a complete packing list after your booking of this cycling tour is confirmed.
Support: This environmentally friendly cycling tour does not need a support vehicle; however, backup is provided when necessary.
Supporting material: All route descriptions, maps, guide books and equipment are the property of Click and Travel Ltd. and must be returned to Click and Travel Ltd. after the tour.
GPS: The use of GPS or other tracking devices is not allowed during our tours.
Rates
Prices start at about 1250 Thai Baht per person per day for 2 or 3 people sharing a room.
The price per day using single rooms starts at about 1750 Thai Baht.
Depending on the period of your cycling trip, prices might be different.
If you make a reservation, we will make you an exact offer.