cycling group riding past Buddhist templ

Bangkok to Golden Triangle Bike Tour

Classic Inn to Inn ✦ 14 days ✦ Moderate ✦  From $3695
The First, Thailand cycling tours since 1987

The Original Thailand Bicycle Tour

Embark on a 14-day cycling adventure through the heart of Thailand, from the bustling metropolis of Bangkok to the legendary Golden Triangle. Our Bangkok to Golden Triangle tour is a journey through time and landscapes, where you'll explore ancient ruins, immerse yourself in vibrant culture, and witness the natural beauty of this captivating country. From serene agricultural plains and rolling foothills to towering golden cliffs and the mighty Mekong River, this tour offers a diverse and unforgettable experience.

Cycle through historical wonders, including the ancient cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Witness the spectacle of thousands of bats taking flight at sunset, learn about traditional palm sugar making, and savor the flavors of authentic Thai cuisine. Imagine pedaling past emerald green rice paddies, exploring 700-year-old ruins, and enjoying a riverside dinner overlooking Laos. This tour is a celebration of Thailand's rich heritage, stunning scenery, and warm hospitality. (Keywords: Thailand Cycling Tour, Bangkok to Golden Triangle)

Prepare to be amazed by the wonders of Thailand, from the bustling markets to the tranquil countryside. This journey will leave you with lasting memories of breathtaking sights, delicious food, and the joy of exploring by bicycle. This is Thailand at its finest!

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Bangkok to Golden Triangle Bike Tour
rides: 30 to 65 kms
sleep: boutique inns
eat: best regional cuisine

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chicken statues donated to roadside shrine buddha statue in front of stupha bicyclist riding past green rice paddies monks walking through ruins in Ayutthaya happy cyclist looking at water lily flowers bicyclists walking out of temple area
 

Cycling Bangkok to Golden Triangle itinerary  

Day 1 - Shuttle to Ayutthaya, Walking Tour, Uthai Thani
  • Shuttle to ancient Ayutthaya for a walking tour.
  • Explore the significant ruins of this former capital city.
  • Dinner at a floating restaurant and launch traditional fire balloons.
Your group will gather this morning at Bangkok's Suwarnabhumi Airport, then drive north of the city to ancient Ayutthaya. We'll embark on a walking tour to explore some of the more significant ruins of this former capital city. After lunch, we continue north to the historic town of Uthai Thani, our launching point for this cycling holiday. We enjoy dinner at a floating restaurant followed by the launching of traditional khom loy (Thai Fire Balloons) for good luck.
 Walk: 2 hours walking
Eat: Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Uthai Heritage Hotel
Day 2 - Ride through Rice Fields, Monkey Temple, Bat Flight
  • Cycle through the flat farmlands of central Thailand.
  • Visit the Monkey Temple at Wat Khao No.
  • Witness the evening bat flight.
The first bike tour of the trip travels through the flat farmlands of central Thailand, with emerald green rice fields stretching as far as the eye can see, punctuated by vibrantly colored temple complexes and wooden houses. Our small hotel tonight is tucked away just outside the tiny village Bahnpot Phisai. After reaching our hotel, we will shuttle over to explore Khao Noi, with its temple cave and thousands of monkeys roaming the grounds. At sunset, we will be treated to one of nature's unique phenomenons, a sunset bat flight with thousands of bats weaving through the evening sky.
 Ride: 61 mi / 98 km, Land: flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Signature @Khao No
Day 3 - Chao Prayao Valley, Traditional Farming, Night Market
  • Cycle along farm roads in the Chao Prayao Valley.
  • Dinner at floating restaurant.
Continuing north along smaller farm roads, we may have the opportunity to witness traditional agricultural methods, duck-powered pest control, sun drying of tapioca and peppers, wind winnowing of rice hulls. Our goal for the evening is Kamphaeng Phet, another of Thailand's ancient kingdoms, dating from the Sukhothai Era (500 to 700 years ago). We head out for dinner at the night market at a small, simple cafe with a fabulous chef.
 Ride: 59 mi / 95 km, Land: flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: White Wall Riverfront Hotel
Day 4 - Kamphaeng Phet Ruins, Palm Sugar, Sukhothai
  • Explore the ancient ruins of Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park (UNESCO).
  • Learn about making palm sugar candies.
  • Cycle to Sukhothai Historical Park (UNESCO).
In the morning, we will pedal the short way through town to Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a section of ruins within the city containing the Imperial Temple complex among others and a second section tucked away in the forests outside the city. We will enjoy a walking tour of the first and then take our bikes for a ride through the second. From Kamphaeng Phet, it is a short, scenic ride through rural Thailand to our next stop at the renowned ruins of Sukhothai and our hotel sitting just outside the historical park.
 Ride: 53 mi / 85 km, Land: flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Legendha Resort
Day 5 - Explore Sukhothai Ruins, Night Market
  • Cycle through Sukhothai Historical Park (UNESCO).
  • Free afternoon to relax or explore.
  • Dinner at the night food market.
We start our day with a cycling trip through the Sukhothai Historical Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), where we will discover many fabulous ruins dating back some 500 to 700 years. The complex is an amazing tribute to the ancient kings and their visions. The afternoon is free to do as you please, relax poolside, stroll through town. For dinner, we will go "grazing" at the night food market, tasting an array of everyday Thai food, watching as the locals come to get their dinners (very few Thais have full kitchens at home, preferring to buy their prepared dinners at the markets).
 Ride: 12 mi / 20 km, Land: flat
Eat: Breakfast, Dinner
Sleep: Legendha Resort
Day 6 - Cycle to Thoen
  • Cycle north through rural Thailand.
  • Observe unique geological formations.
  • Overnight stay in Thoen.
We head north out of the agricultural regions and into the foothills of the northern mountains today. Much of the day is quite flat but does give way to hills as we approach the crossroads town of Thoen. At one point during the ride, it appears that massive mountains block our way, but as we approach, we come to discover that they are really flat slabs of granite turned up on edge and are only a 100 feet thick, yet towering way above our heads. We will bed down tonight in Thoen.
 Ride: 72 mi / 117 km, Land: small hills with big climb at end
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: De Mala
Day 7 - Roll to Li, Shuttle to Chiang Mai
  • Cycle through the forested hills of the north.
  • See teak trees and small rural villages.
  • Traditional northern Khan Toke dinner with dancing.
Our last bike ride of the first week follows rolls through the forested hills of the north. We'll see teak trees with their ever-present flowers, small rural villages where cyclists like us generate big smiles and lots of hellos. In the late afternoon, we will shuttle into Chiang Mai to avoid the afternoon rush hour traffic. Tonight, we head out for a traditional northern Khan Toke dinner with classical Thai and hill tribe dancing.
 Ride: 46 mi / 75 km, Land: big climb, then small hills
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Akira Thaphae
Day 8 - Free Day in Chiang Mai
  • Free day to explore Chiang Mai.
  • Optional activities: cycling tours, visits to handicraft shops, cooking classes, etc.
Today is a free day. A variety of options of things to do in Chiang Mai is available, from cycling tours of Wiang Kum Kam, visits to handicraft shops, cooking classes, etc. Your guides will be glad to fill you in on the options and help you plan your day.
 Relax: Free day
Eat: Breakfast
Sleep: Akira Thaphae
Day 9 - Cycle to Mae Sa Valley, Baan Rai
  • Cycle north along the Mae Ping River.
  • Cycle through rice paddies and past temples.
  • Overnight stay in Baan Den.
We head north this morning, following small roads along the Mae Ping through villages and past flower farms. Lunchtime will find us in the town of Mae Rim, where we will break from cycling to visit an orchid grower and a butterfly farm. In the afternoon, we remount our bikes for a beautiful ride through emerald rice paddies and past colorful temples en route to our overnight stop in the village of Baan Rai.
 Ride: 31 mi / 50 km, Land: flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Phusanfah Resort
Day 10 - Mae Malai Market, Wat Baan Den, Mae Ping Gorge
  • Explore Wat Baan Den Temple.
  • Cycle through the Mae Ping Gorge.
  • Relax at a resort near the karst hills.
Our morning ride takes us first to Mae Malai, where we visit a traditional market featuring a broad selection of local vegetables, fruits, and fish, along with a tasty array of prepared foods from pad see ew (noodles) to fried insects. We will also visit the magnificent Wat Baan Den before heading north into the rolling, forested countryside. Our bike tour winds down the day at a picturesque resort tucked in amongst the impressive karst hills... relax by the lake with a cold Singha beer or on the porch of your teak cottage hidden in the gardens.
 Ride: 57 mi / 92 km, Land: flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Changkham Luang Resort
Day 11 - Mae Ai Temple, Tham Tub Tao Cave, Tha Ton
  • Cycle to the Burmese-style temple at Mae Ai.
  • Explore the 1000-year-old temple cave at Tham Tub Tao.
  • Relax riverside in Tha Ton.
After breakfast this morning, we will pedal up to a beautiful giant Buddha, perched beneath the golden cliffs, then enjoy a thrilling descent onto the agricultural realm around Fang. We will visit Tham Tub Tao, an ancient temple complex with hundreds of Buddha images inside a giant cavern. Each year a gathering of 2,500 monks takes place at this temple and has been happening for hundreds of years. In the afternoon, we will spend some time exploring Wat Mae Ai Luang, with its historic wooden temple featuring Burmese architecture, before rolling further north to Tha Ton, our overnight stopping point.
 Ride: 54 mi / 88 km, Land: big climb then flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Maekok River Village
Day 12 - Mae Salong Tea Village
  • Ride along the Mae Kok River.
  • Visit Mae Salong village, known for its tea plantations.
  • Overnight stay at a lodge surrounded by dramatic landscapes.
As the morning fog burns off, we head out for a leisurely ride along the Mae Kok, watching as the villagers start their days in the fields. In late morning, we will load up in our sag and drive to Mae Salong village perched on the mountaintop (avoiding a very steep climb). The village, started by members of the KMT escaping China's civil war, is surrounded by tea plantations and markets. We will remount our bikes in the afternoon and continue our ride to a nice lodge out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by dramatic landscapes and bucolic quiet.
 Ride: 52 mi / 85 km, Land: several big climbs
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Katliya Resort
Day 13 - Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen Ruins
  • Explore the ancient ruins of Chiang Saen.
  • Visit the Golden Triangle.
  • Farewell dinner overlooking the Mekong River.
The last ride through the Land of Smiles takes us to the Mae Khong (or Mekong River as many may know it). We will explore the ancient ruins of Chiang Saen, which date back some 900 years, visit the notorious Golden Triangle (though today is a bustling tourist destination), then settle down for the evening in our hotel overlooking the river and celebrate the end of a great ride with a great dinner riverside.
 Ride: 36 mi / 58 km, Land: mostly flat
Eat: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sleep: Athita Resort
Day 14 - Departure
  • Visit the White Temple.
  • Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport.
Our cycling holiday must come to an end today. After breakfast, we will visit the White Temple, a unique Buddhist temple featuring incredible carvings by a Chiang Rai artist. Then saying our fond farewells at Chiang Rai Airport. Khap khun khap, sawasdee khap.
 Travel: Shuttle to airport
Eat: Breakfast
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Whatcha gonna get

  • Expert local bilingual guides
  • Entrance and activity fees
  • Handpicked lodges, ensuite rooms, double occupancy
  • Daily breakfast, lunch, snacks*
  • Dinners featuring fine local cuisine*
  • Unlimited drinking water**
  • Support van for baggage and lifts
  • Free use of bicycles
  • Airport pick up & drop off

*as noted in itinerary
**during activity

Getting there

The Bangkok to Golden Triangle Bike Tour meets at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok, Thailand and ends at Chiang Rai International Airport in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Guests should plan their flights to arrive in Bangkok before 07:00 (7 am) on Day 1 of the tour and their departing flights from Chiang Rai after 14:00 (2 pm) on Day 13.

Bangkok Airport code: BKK     Chiang Rai Airport code: CEI     Local Time: GMT+7

  Travel Tip:   Buying your domestic flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok separately from your international flight to Thailand is often a better value. But do leave sufficient time between flights (4 hours suggested).

 

Documents Please

All travelers must carry a valid passport. Depending on your nationality, a visa may also be required. Please check with the nearest Thailand Embassy or consulate for details.

Good Gear

Pedalers provides Merida Speeders, a lightweight, flatbar, sport road bike. A limited number of eBikes are available at a supplemental cost (advance bookings mandatory).

As a safe health measure and plastic reduction, guests are asked to bring their own helmets and waterbottles for cycling.


Merida Speeder bicycle

Good Eats

Discover the best of northern Thai cuisine each night with our Guide Curated Menus. Your guide team has found the best dIshes to try at each of the restaurants we visit at dinner time.

Perhaps some delicately fried morning glory with a seafood sauce. Or try some nam prick, a roasted Thai chili dip eaten with fresh vegies or pork skins. Discover Lanna dishes such a pork curry or Sai Ua, a spicy northern Thai sausage.


khantoke dinner

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