Northern Thailand Mountain Biking - Chiang Dao Hills to the Maekok River

Duration: 4 days / 3 nights

Fitness Level: Easy cycling with off-road trails. Suitable for fit participants. Cycling experience is recommended to fully enjoy the tour.

From Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai, join us and experience our most popular mountain bike route over four days of great cycling from the hills of Chiang Dao to the Maekok river.

Discover small villages and the ethnic hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Cycle through scenic area with plenty of exciting trails and sights. Meet with the locals and spend a night with a hill tribe family. See the full itinerary below.

Pricing

Joint Departures (departs every Monday from Chiang Mai)
US$ 330 / person (based on half-twin room)
Single Surcharge: US$ 50 (add if booking alone)

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Itinerary

Monday (around 30 to 45 km cycling / 18 to 28 miles)
Day 01 - Chiang Mai-Chiangdao (L/D)

Around 8:30 am, pick up participants from various Chiang Mai hotels and drive north by covered pickup to Chiang Dao region. Stop at elephant camp in jungle. Watch elephants bathing and demonstrating their skills. Explore Chiang Dao caves, followed by lunch in local restaurant.

Then we start our bike ride through rural back roads first, continuing on off-road trails, across a pristine landscape leading to small hill tribe villages. Visit Lahu, Lisu and Akha villages, and discover the Palaung people from Myanmar (only a few settlements in northern Thailand). Finish cycling at Palaung village where we spend the night as guests of the village headman's family. Excellent Thai dinner served by your guide.

Tuesday (30 to 60 km cycling / 18 to 38 miles)
Day 02 - Chiang Dao-Thaton (B/L/D)

Intense and fantastic cycle tour through nature! However, the route is not too difficult and the escort vehicle is always nearby. After breakfast, ride exciting trails (30 km) then onto paved road. Lunch stop and visit Buddhist forest temple and caves. Afternoon cycling around 25 km, mostly off road, then car transfer to Ban Thaton for overnight stay on the banks of Maekok river, near the Burmese border. Night and dinner at hotel.

Wednesday (45 to 60 km cycling / 28 to 38 miles)
Day 03 - Thaton-Chiang Rai (B/L/-)
Early morning, after breakfast, we cycle through the Maekok river valley, past rice fields and plantations. Then we follow an exciting riverside trail. Next we ride a local longtail boat downriver. We continue cycling to a Karen village on the riverbanks. We proceed by bike or transfer by car to our Chiang Rai hotel. Evening and dinner free at leisure.

Thursday (cycle between 20 to 40 km / 12 to 24 miles)
Day 04 - Chiang Rai (B/L)
Cycling itinerary is flexible today and to some extent depends on the season. Cycle out of town and follow the river to discover exciting new trails. Cycle up the mountain to a waterfall and down another route. Lunch, relax and shower at waterfall, before car transfer back to Chiang Mai (3 hours). Arrive around 7pm and drop off at hotel.

General Information

Anyone in good physical condition can join our regular cycling trips. Experienced bike riders will best enjoy trip. The main goal of this tour is to stay in the saddle.

Monday departures year round from Chiang Mai.

Private tours can depart any day, subject to prior advance notice and availability.

Small groups not exceeding 12 persons. We can accommodate larger private parties group if required, with departure at your convenience.

Best (coolest) cycling season from September to late February.

Accommodation

Hilltribe Village: very basic, dormitory style, with mats + sleeping bag. Toilet outside and shower at the stream (no Western toilet facilities). The experience will certainly compensate for lack of comfort!

Thaton: Thaton Chalet, a tourist class hotel located on the bank of the Maekok river. Excellent restaurant.

Chiang Rai: The Golden Triangle Inn, Tourist class hotel, excellent location in the center of town.

Included

Tour as per itinerary. Transportation/escort vehicle is a covered pickup truck. Share twin room. American breakfast at hotel. Elephant camp, cave admission fees. Boat transfer.

We provide quality, well maintained 21 speed, mountain-bikes with front-suspension with safety helmets and water bottles. English-speaking tour guides/mechanic assistance.

Meals as mentioned in the itinerary: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner. Drinking water and fresh fruits always available in escort vehicle.

Not Included

Meals not mentioned, beverages. Personal spending, tips and optional tours, domestic airport tax. Travel insurance, possible required gala dinner at hotels. Participants must bring own cycling gear or appropriate equipment.

Remarks

• No reduction for participants bringing own bicycles. (Please contact for any group bookings.)
• All programs subject to our general conditions.
• This trip is a mountain biking tour, therefore participants should have some previous cycling or mountain biking experience. We welcome accompanying non-cycling participants, to follow in escort vehicle.
• Itinerary changes are sometimes necessary, depending on weather conditions.
• Anyone in a good physical condition can join our regular cycling trips!

Note: Participants understand this type of adventure travel incurs some risks. We do not provide personal insurance and strongly recommend participants to contract such insurance before taking trip. We require participants to sign full liability release before trip departure.

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