About This Tour
Northern Thailand Cycling Adventure | Chiang Mai & Pai
Discover the magic of Northern Thailand on two wheels with our carefully crafted eight-day cycling journey through the stunning hill country between Chiang Mai and Pai. This tour strikes the perfect balance – challenging enough to be rewarding, but designed to be enjoyable rather than exhausting.
Unlike many tours in the region that push too hard, we’ve created a route that lets you savor the experience. Yes, there are climbs through fragrant pine forests and descents through valleys dotted with hill tribe villages, but every day is paced so you can actually enjoy those mountain-top views stretching to Myanmar, linger at hidden coffee stops, and arrive at dinner ready to share stories rather than collapse into bed.
What Sets This Tour Apart
We’ve learned that constantly packing and unpacking ruins a good cycling tour. That’s why we use only two carefully selected hotels throughout the week, changing just twice. Start in Chiang Mai’s vibrant Nimmanhaemin district with easy access to the city’s exceptional dining scene, then settle into the beautiful Pai Village Resort for multiple nights. That extra time in Pai means you can truly relax into the mountain atmosphere, explore the valley without rushing, and wake up to those stunning views more than once.
Our accommodation choices aren’t accidental – we’ve selected properties that enhance the experience, not just provide a bed. Quality matters, and both hotels offer comfort, character, and locations that make sense for cyclists.
The riding itself reveals everything that makes Northern Thailand special: satisfying climbs rewarded with panoramic vistas, peaceful descents through changing landscapes, and those perfect cycling moments when everything just clicks. You’ll pedal through terrain that ranges from moderate to moderately challenging – accessible for fit recreational cyclists without requiring racing fitness. With eight days, we have the luxury of including rest options, gentler exploration days, and time to truly immerse yourself in Northern Thailand’s cycling paradise.
Package Investment: 62,000 THB (Shared Room) | 79,000 THB (Private Room)
Starts In
Chiang Mai
Fly Into
Chiang Mai
Ends In
Chiang Mai
Fly Out Of
Chiang Mai
Total Tour Distance
680 (km)
Distance Per Day
47 - 128 (km)
What Makes This Trip Special
What’s Covered
What’s Not Covered
Day 1 – Huay Sieo Village Circuit
(47 km, 440m of climbing)
Welcome to Northern Thailand! After bike fitting and introductions, we’ll ease into Thailand cycling mode with the Huay Sieo Village Circuit – the perfect opener through hidden corners of Chiang Mai Valley that gets your legs spinning without overwhelming them.
Day 2 – Samoeng Loop
(85 km, 1,500m of climbing)
Time to discover one of Northern Thailand’s legendary rides. The Samoeng Loop delivers rolling ascents building to spectacular viewpoints, with coffee stops that somehow taste better after earning them on two wheels. This is where you’ll start to understand what makes cycling here so special.
Day 3 – Lakes, Forests & Rivers
(110 km, 730m of climbing)
After leaving the city behind, we ride small roads through local villages to reach Mae Kuang Dam. After crossing the bridge, two short, steep climbs earn you a 15 km traffic-free ride through tropical forest. “The North Cafe” lies nestled in rice fields – the perfect refueling spot. The remaining 40 km are a pleasant, completely flat ride alongside a winding canal and then the Ping River back to town.
Day 4 – Chiang Mai to Pai
(128 km, 2,000m of climbing)
The big one: that classic journey over the main ridge that defines Northern Thailand cycling. Gentle valleys transition to serious mountain business as we climb our way to three nights of mountain tranquility. Pankled Café awaits at the halfway point – perfectly timed for tired legs and hungry stomachs.
Day 5 – Pai Valley Exploration
(47 km, 1,050m of climbing)
Our traditional “rest day” that’s anything but restful. With multiple nights in Pai, we can take our time discovering the valley’s hidden gems at a relaxed pace – scenic routes, local villages, and those cafes you’ve heard about but never had time to visit on rushed tours.
Day 6 – Doi Kiew Lom Pass Challenge
(50 km, 1,150m of climbing)
Experience one of Northern Thailand’s finest mountain passes. This Alpine-style ascent climbs through changing landscapes, culminating in jaw-dropping views across to Myanmar. The descent back to Pai rewards all that climbing effort – pure cycling joy.
Note on Pai Days: Both rides are optional. Do one, do both, or take a proper rest day – Thai massage, spa time, or pool lounging all count as excellent tour activities!
Day 7 – Return Journey: Pai to Chiang Mai
(128 km, 1,850m of climbing)
One final mountain crossing to cap off the week. That long, winding climb through forest, followed by the satisfying descent back toward civilization. The support van is available for tired legs on the final stretch – no shame in that after a week of serious riding.
Day 8 – “Full of Happiness”
(85 km, 40m of climbing)
We’ve earned this relaxed final day. A wonderful, almost completely flat ride to Lamphun – the capital of the province bordering Chiang Mai to the south. The route follows peaceful backroads along canals and returns alongside the mighty Ping River. “Full of Happiness” café (yes, that’s really its name!) serves the most delicious coffee specialties, smoothies, sweets, and hearty snacks – the perfect way to celebrate a week of incredible riding before saying goodbye to Northern Thailand.
Day 9 – Departure Day
After a final good night’s rest and one more indulgent breakfast at Kantary’s rich American buffet, it’s time to say goodbye – until next time! Airport transfers are included. Feel free to extend your stay in Chiang Mai; we’re happy to book additional nights at our special rate.
“Cyclists understand Cyclists”. Our main man Fidel has been riding in Thailand for over 30 years. With this on-the-road experience combining “the touch of Thai-ness”. Partnering with Yui, who worked organizing many major triathlon, marathon, and bike races in Thailand. An idea sparks. For us, we take care of you as if you are visiting our home. Not just riding, but the whole experience from day till night, where our bike-relationship grows.
The package includes one evening at the designated hotel for “Trip Briefing”, basically a get to know you and give out the tours’ goodies; a jersey, 2 bidons and Sanook Cycling phonebag.
Only if you feel happy and you feel like our staff should be rewarded.
Our tour guide will be riding with the group.
Each morning, we share the coffee stop and the destination; if you like to go fast – you can! It is just like you are riding with your friends, you know how we will always find each other…
We have a van as a “broom wagon” – on board is a mechanic, who would take care of us and the drivers will be the soigneur.
We offer bike-computer rental, for additional cost – we will upload the map and you can ride alone at your preferred speed. (or you can bring yours!)
The price is that two people are in each room. If you’d like your own room, please book Complete Package in a Single Room”
Yes, ride at skylane, bike box transfer, bike rental, simcard rental, phone rental, just tell us what you want and we try to accommodate.
Here is some useful visa information for the Kingdom of Thailand
The most important thing for us is to be transparent, upfront, and fair about our terms and conditions, our policy is aligned and approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism. To protect your benefit and be informed, please study our Terms and Conditions.
Should you need to cancel your trip, please reach us and we will be as accommodating as possible. Our cancellation policy is aligned by Thailand’s Tourism Business and Tourist Guide ACT 2016. Cancellation charges will be imposed as a percentage of the total package price as follow:
Anytime to 30 days before departure [100% – X]
You will receive an amount of 100% package price subtracted by an accrued amount of actual costs; third parties booking fee, transport booking fee, hotel booking fee, any amount that occurred toward your benefit for booking (provided with receipt(s). Credit card processing fee can’t be refunded.
15 to 29 days before departure [50% – X]
You will receive an amount of 50% package price subtracted by an accrued amount of actual costs; third parties booking fee, transport booking fee, hotel booking fee, any amount that occurred toward your benefit for booking (provided with receipt(s). Credit card processing fee can’t be refunded.
0 to 14 days before departure: no refund.
It is a requirement from Thailand’s Department of Tourism that a Tour Operator provides a guest with one (1) Travel-Accident-Policy, this insurance covers the whole duration of the package. However, we recommend that you purchase travel insurance for your own peace of mind. It is important that events such as family emergencies, illness, injuries, or work conflicts cannot be covered by Sanook Cycling’s insurance policy.
Accommodations, breakfast and lunch stated in the package you selected. Fuel and nutrition on course. Non-alcoholic beverages during the coffee stop. Sanook Cycling goodies; 1 jersey, 2 water bidons, and a phonebag. We also provide a transfer from Bangkok to the starting point. But if you’d prefer to travel in your privacy, we respect that, too.
We launched our packages to our current patrons before going public. We recommend that you book early.
On the rare occasions when we must cancel a trip, all payments received to date will be 100% refunded.
If due to any reason you abandon a journey ahead of time, regardless of his/her reasons, no refund can be made.
Yes, you can bring your own bike. There is a bike-box transportation fee to manage the bicycle box to your desired last destination.
We will set up the bike according to the measurement you gave us from the bike fit form. Feel free to try yourself with the help of this VIDEO.
We have Shimano, Look, and normal pedals on our trips. (subject to availability) We strongly advise all guests to travel with their own pedals and shoes, to avoid compatibility issues.
Accommodations, breakfast and lunch stated in the package you selected. Fuel and nutrition on course. Non-alcoholic beverages during the coffee stop. Sanook Cycling goodies; 1 jersey, 2 water bidons, and a phonebag. We also provide a transfer from Bangkok to the starting point. But if you’d prefer to travel in your privacy, we respect that, too.
No. We do not provide rental cycling shoes. Please bring them with you.
We provide Selle Italia Model X for COLNAGO V4 and Fizik Antares R7 for BMC Teammachine.
However, having a comfortable saddle is the most important thing that makes your riding experience even more fun. If this is the case, we encourage you to bring the saddle from home.
You will receive a Sanook Cycling welcome pack which includes:
1 (one) active jersey or aero jersey
2 (two) water bottles
and a Sanook Cycling phonebag