Mae Hong Son Highlands Loop

Meet with your guides in the early afternoon at our hotel to enjoy a walking tour through parts of the Old City section of Chiang Mai. Discover stupa ruins dating back 700 years and historic wats (temples) sprinkled in among the shops and houses of locals. Gather for orientation and bike fitting before heading out for some excellent Lanna cuisine.

Avoiding morning rush hour, we will shuttle out to Wiang Khum Kam Visitor Center to start our ride. Cycle around this area where Chiang Mai was originally founded 735 years ago, exploring the ruins of ancient temples. From here the route turns south cycling along the Mae Ping (Ping River) through small villages, past fish farms, and through expansive longan orchards. Tonight we relax riverside at our hotel in Chom Thong.

After breakfast enjoy a bit more riverside cycling before we turn towards the mountain and start the reason cyclists come here, alpine cycling. Today's ride starts in thick forests of teak and other trees, slowly gaining altitude along the Mae Chaem (Chaem River). Take a walking break to explore the Ob Luang Gorge, before reaching the tiny village of Bo Luang where we spend the night at a farm stay, enjoying a farm-to-table dinner.

Our route stays high in the Thong Chai Mountain Range, cycling up and down a number of smaller ridge lines as we cross over what many geologists believe to be the southeastern end of the Himalayas. In the afternoon we enjoy a downhill run to the Yuam River Valley and our overnight stop in Mae Sariang. Relax on the balcony of your room overlooking the river before dinner.

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

Another day of rolling terrain through forests, farmlands, and small towns. Enjoy photo breaks at several overlooks, then faster descending at the end of the day, a quick stop at Pha Bong Hot Spring before rolling into town. Our hotel sits in rice paddies on the edge of town, yet within walking distance of all the interesting aspects of the town.

The day is to your leisure, perhaps stroll around Nong Chong Park to explore the Burmese-style temple complex or the night markets.

Today is what you have been building up your legs for as we tackle a couple of big climbs crossing back over the Thong Chai Mountain Range. Take a short break from cycling to visit Tham Pla the fish cave and So Tong Bamboo Bridge, before starting the first big climb. If time allows go to visit Tham Lod and catch the evening return of some 300,000 swallows to the cave.

You have one long uphill this morning gaining 1000 meters in 17 kms, then a long downhill runs to the mountain town of Pai. You have the afternoon free to explore this old hippy paradise, perhaps a hot spring visit or ride out to Pai Canyon or simply relax at the hotel.

The grand finale of our alpine cycling tour takes us over one of the highest points of the ride and then we start a downhill roller coaster, descending and climbing again and again until we find ourselves at the edge of the Ping River Valley again. We finish our descent out of the mountains into the Ping River Valley. Passing Mae Malai our ride picks up quiet farm roads along the Klong Kiat, an irrigation canal, with beautiful panoramic views of the valley and its surrounding mountains and no traffic. We will end the ride at Wat Mae Ket Noi, with its Good & Evil teaching garden full of rather bizarre and colorful statuary. We shuttle from here to our hotel to avoid downtown traffic.

Travel further as per your onward travel plans.