Mae Hong Son Highlands Loop

Arrive in Chiang Mai and settle into your hotel. Today visit some of the classic highlights of Chiang Mai by walk: Wats (temples) like Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep; Patara Elephant Farm where you can bathe, feed elephants and gentle giants. We convene tonight to celebrate the start of our awesome journey on a bike.

After the orientation, we head out for a ride into the valley, just so that you can get oriented to the terrain. Mae Taeng lies on the northern part of the Chiang Mai district, with the River Taeng, making it a rich, verdant area, full of natural off-the-beaten trails to explore. This is a haven for nature lovers.

At night, we can choose to eat at the in-house restaurant, or head to get a taste of local fare. If your palate is new to Thai food, start with the more popular green curry and rice. Be well rested for the next morning, as we start our Thai adventure with a slightly longer day of cycling.

Get ready for a long day on a bike today! Pai, situated at the banks of Pai river, is home to numerous waterfalls and hot springs, surrounded by mountains covered with lush tropical forests. Ride the winding terrain combined with gradual climbs from low-lying riverside valleys to steep mountain trails. The descent into Pai is through lush paddy fields.

Today, we cover a significant distance. For those whose legs begin to fail them, there is always a back up! We also come across several villages on the way – perfect to get great photographs of the interiors of Thailand.

As we leave Pai, the initial part has good climb with peak at about 1,450m and then its a sheer drop and we pace out our journey to Mae Hong Son and arrive at this beautiful remote town surrounded by hills. It is one of the bordering towns with Myanmar in this area. The great part of this is that one gets to see the blend of Burmese and Thai and area is inhabited by Shan and H’mong hill tribes.

Today you can plan your own day. Spend the day at leisure or take short walk around and explore some Wats.

This is a rarely visited destination, so we are likely not to encounter many tourists – pleasantly aloof from Thailand’s massive influx of tourists and lacks the cosmopolitan influence. Our ride today is a bit undulating and runs in parallel to the Burmese border. Another good day on a bike through spectacular mountain scenery.

After being submerged in nature, we take the cycles and ride to the charming riverside town, surrounded by hills and lush paddy fields. Again, the route largely remains undulating with no climb in sight.

Another long day on bike today with fabulous mountain greenery to give company.

This is the last day for soaking in Thailand’s moutain life. We start early to utilize the full day. There is agricultural land as far as your eyes can see.

Travel further as per your onward plans.