Road Cycling Chiang Mai to Bangkok

We meet in the early afternoon and heat out for a relaxed warm-up ride in the outskirts of Chiang Mai. In the evening we reconvene for a welcome dinner.

We follow the Ping River and ride flat roads through rice paddies and longan farms. After lunch near a pretty railway bridge, we tackle a steep climb through Khun Than National Park. Finally, we roll into the plains, visit an ancient fortified temple, and reach our riverside hotel in Lampang.

We begin on flat rural roads, but the terrain gets hillier as we cross into Phrae Province via the main throughway. We then follow a secondary road north, navigating the countryside and a few more hills before reaching the quaint provincial capital, once the center of the lucrative teak trade.

We transfer 1.5 hours south where we begin our ride through the ancient landscape of Sri Satchanalai, known for its still discernible pottery kilns and temple ruins. We then follow the Yom River to the town of Sukhothai where we are based for two nights.

Today is an easy day on the bikes as we explore the stunning Sukhothai Historical Park. We ride along roads connecting ancient temples and stop to admire some of the most impressive ruins. The afternoon is free to relax by the pool.

We skirt around the forested slopes of Ramkhamhaeng National Park and ride through a vast expanse of rice paddies. Our destination is Kamphaeng Phet, a military fortress from the Sukhothai Era, featuring fortification walls entwined with tree roots.

Today’s ride takes us through rural Thailand to the city of Nakhon Sawan, where the Ping and Nan Rivers converge to form the Chao Phraya. Before reaching our hotel, we make a short detour to an art installation marking the origin of this much-revered ‘River of Kings’.

Today, we ride through 4 of Thailand’s 76 provinces! Heading south along the plains of the Chao Phraya, we enjoy scenic river views as we pass through the provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, and finally reach Singburi.

The tour’s final century ride takes us to Ayutthaya, Siam’s once-glorious capital just north of Bangkok. Along the way, we traverse a temple-dotted landscape, pausing to admire several larger-than-life Buddha statues.

In the morning, we cycle through Ayutthaya’s UNESCO-listed ruins and riverside communities, reaching Bang Pa-In, the former summer palace of Siamese kings. We then follow a canal road into the northern outskirts of Bangkok, where we saddle off and transfer into the city.

Extend your stay to discover more of Bangkok or head to the airport for your onward flight.