Bicycle Touring in Thailand

Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand The cool north is Thailand’s cycle-touring heartland, and Chiang Mai makes the perfect base. The classic local ride is the punishing climb up Doi Suthep, the temple-topped mountain that looms over the city, though gentler lanes wind through the surrounding valleys past rice paddies and hill-tribe villages. A friendly weekly ride departs from Tha Pae Gate on Sunday mornings, and rental shops and organised tours are easy to find.

Mae Hong Son Loop, Northern Thailand This 600-kilometre circuit from Chiang Mai through Pai and Mae Hong Son is one of Asia’s great long-distance rides. The road climbs relentlessly through misty mountains, with more than 1,800 curves testing your legs and brakes in equal measure. Guesthouses in the small towns along the way make it easy to break the loop into comfortable daily stages. The cool season from November to February is by far the best time to attempt it.

Pai, Mae Hong Son Laid-back Pai sits in a mountain valley halfway along the Mae Hong Son Loop, and the whole town is best explored on two wheels. Forested trails lead out to waterfalls and hot springs, while the sealed road onward to Mae Hong Son offers plenty of hills and hairpins to draw out the day. Cheap bicycle hire and a relaxed backpacker scene make it an easy place to pause for a few days.

Sukhothai, North-Central Thailand One of Thailand’s ancient capitals, Sukhothai is a magical place to explore by bicycle. Its UNESCO-listed Historical Park is a beautifully landscaped expanse of crumbling ruins and serene Buddha images, much of it closed to motor traffic so you can pedal freely among the temples. The flat terrain makes for effortless riding, and combining light cycling with sightseeing is the ideal way to spend a day here.

Ayutthaya, Central Thailand The former royal capital of Ayutthaya sits on an island ringed by rivers just north of Bangkok, its skyline studded with the towering brick spires of ruined temples. Flat roads and dedicated paths make cycling the obvious way to link the scattered wats, and a bike can be hired within minutes of arriving. As a day trip from Bangkok or a stop on a longer central-plains tour, it is hard to beat.

Bangkok, Central Thailand Thailand’s sprawling capital hides a surprising number of quiet cycling opportunities away from its notorious traffic. The trick is to leave the busy thoroughfares for the leafy side streets and canal-side lanes, especially in the Bang Krachao “green lung”, a jungly loop of the Chao Phraya just across the river. Guided dawn and evening tours are the easiest way to find these hidden green spaces and ride safely.

Krabi, Southern Thailand The countryside around Krabi rewards cyclists who venture out of town, with quiet coastal roads threading through rubber and coconut plantations and traditional fishing villages. Ao Nang makes a good base for an all-day loop that follows the shoreline before circling back inland. The scenery of soaring limestone karst is unforgettable, though the tropical heat means an early start is wise.

Kanchanaburi, Western Thailand Best known for the Bridge over the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is a relaxed riverside town ringed by countryside ideal for gentle touring. Short day rides reach the WWII war cemeteries, the sombre memorials of the Death Railway, and the Mangkon cave temple in the surrounding hills. Cooler and greener than the central plains, it makes a rewarding overnight escape from Bangkok.

Phuket, Southern Thailand Thailand’s largest island offers everything from lazy coastal cruising to genuinely tough hill climbs. The old town and resort strips are easy to potter around, but the interior throws up steep twists that must be shared with fast island traffic, so a good bike and road awareness matter. Fit riders can circumnavigate the whole island in a single long day for a satisfying challenge.

Nan, Northern Thailand Tucked against the Laos border in Thailand’s far north-east, Nan feels a world apart and is one of the country’s most underrated touring regions. The mountain roads that climb toward Doi Phu Kha National Park are widely rated among the finest cycling routes in the kingdom, winding through cloud-forest and remote hill-tribe villages. Traffic is light, the scenery immense, and the province still sees relatively few foreign visitors.

Surat Thani, Southern Thailand Surat Thani is a natural staging post for long-haul cyclists crossing between the Gulf and Andaman coasts. The landscape alternates between coastal vistas and broad swathes of rice paddy, with dramatic karst outcrops beginning to rise as you head west. It is more a link in a longer journey than a destination in itself, but a pleasant and practical one.

Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son A quiet riverside town on the western arm of the Mae Hong Son Loop, Mae Sariang offers a gentler, less-travelled alternative to Pai. The roads here roll through teak forest and Karen villages along the Myanmar border, with far fewer tour buses than the eastern side of the loop. It is a good spot to overnight, refuel, and enjoy the peace before the next mountain stage.