Cycling Coastal Thailand - 11 Days
E-Bike hire - US $550 (limited availability)
Hybrid bike hire - US $220
Single room surcharge - US $715
Overview
This Thailand bicycle tour will provide a unique insight into the life and traditions of Thais and the beautiful southern coast. We cycle off the main roads as much as possible, so we can explore long stretches of beach, the beautiful island of Koh Talu, and scenic areas around Koh Kho Khao and Khao Lak. We have a true Thai experience when we venture off the beaten track, staying overnight at a traditional fishing community with a family.
We meet in Bangkok and transfer to quiet roads to begin our tour with a glimpse at a traditional way of life along the canals. From the floating market, we take our first boat trip and see wooden houses from water level. From here, we head south to explore the beautiful coastal provinces on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, visiting friendly fishing villages on our leisurely cycle. We ride through the stunning mountain scenery of Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, take a speed boat to the tranquil island of Koh Talu where you can snorkel in the crystal clear water right from the beach, spend the evening with a fisherman to catch squid, and boat through a mangrove.
We end our cycling on the coast of the Andaman Sea in Khao Lak.
Highlights Include:
Culture: Thais are known for their welcoming nature and generosity. You will experience this and more from their deeply rooted Buddhism culture.
Nature: Discover remote fishing villages and snorkel in crystal clear water.
Activity: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, participate in the Thai tradition of making an offering to Buddhist monks, climb up to Phraya Nakhon Cave, take a speed boat to the island of Koh Talu
Culinary: Try fresh Lychee juice and delicious Thai cuisine
Souvenir: Thai Silk textiles
Tour Gallery
Full Itinerary
Bangkok to Amphawa
Starting from Bangkok, we drive south to the Mae Klong Delta area to start our bike tour at Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, the biggest and most colourful in Thailand and a must-see for any visitor. From there, we embark on a long-tail boat cruise through a maze of canals cutting through local villages and various plantations. This eye-opening boat ride offers a glimpse into Thailand of old, where local people are going about their daily life with the canal as the focal point. Then, we start riding into coconut plantations and fruit orchards along quiet backroads. We visit interesting temples, such as the quirky Wat Bang Kung, held up by a huge banyan tree, and the exceptional carved panels of Wat Bang Kae Noi. At night, we unwind at our cozy riverside hotel. Feel free to explore Amphawa’s lively weekend market, where rows of food stalls and charming shops fill the vintage canalside community.
Cycling Distance: 35km
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Amphawa
Amphawa to Kaeng Krachan
Wake up early to participate in the Thai tradition of making an offering to Buddhist monks. As we are on the river, the monks will come by in their boats. After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer for approx 1.5 hours to Kaeng Krachan National Park. Thailand’s largest national park, Kaeng Krachan is an excellent place for an adventurous day. We visit the park’s headquarters on the edge of a large reservoir then ride along the lake’s shoreline and across an impressive dam before heading inland along trails and quiet country roads. We stop often in this tranquil area to take in the wonderful views and give you time to take photos. There are some small hills but nothing too strenuous or taxing. The ride will end at our secluded riverside resort, set in wonderfully landscaped grounds. There will be time for a swim or massage before we meet for dinner at the hotel.
Cycling Distance: 25km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kaeng Krachan
Kaeng Krachan to Hua Hin
We ride directly from our resort on country roads through mango orchards, sugar cane fields, and palm plantations. We cross the Petchaburi River and ride 23 km to a reservoir where we hop in the van to visit a temple with a small cave. We take the stairs for a short walk up to the Dao (star) Cave, named for some unique formations inside. Then it's a short (10 km) ride to our lunch stop at the Hua Hin Vineyard. From our table, we'll have a fantastic view over the vineyard where the New Latitude grapes are grown - Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Shiraz, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo. Wine is not included in our lunch, but there are tasting sets for those who want to try Thai wine. After lunch, we get back on the bikes and take a back road that alternates between dirt, gravel, and tarmac to Wat Huay Mongkol, where a famous monk is revered. Here we'll pack up the bikes and drive 30 minutes to avoid the busy road to our centrally located hotel in the resort town of Hua Hin. Enjoy a stroll through the night market after dinner.
Cycling Distance: 50km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Hua Hin
Hua Hin to Sam Roi Yot and Baan Grood
We start the day with a short transfer to our start point just outside Hua Hin. Today's ride will be along the coast with picturesque fishing boats making excellent photo opportunities. We start our ride at a temple where we ready our bikes for a very flat ride past fishing villages, schools, temples, and many coconut plantations. Following a windy road that offers some shade, we will pass through local shrimp farms and see squid drying on racks at the fish market in Praknam Bran. We ride past Khao Kalok, a large rock that separates one bay from another and numerous resorts, on our way to Sam Roi Yot (300 hundred peaks) National Park, known for numerous caves, beaches, and limestone cliffs. We'll stop at the base of Phraya Nakhon Cave for lunch. You may want to climb to the two caverns uniquely illuminated with natural light due to a collapsed roof. In 1890, King Rama V visited the cave and built a royal pavilion that became the symbol of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. We then hop in the van to miss a busy section of highway to our next seaside resort.
Cycling Distance: 50km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Baan Grood
Baan Grood to Koh Talu
This morning, we have the option for a short 20-km ride along the coast before a brief drive to the pier where we board a speed boat that will whisk us away to our own private island, Koh Talu. The afternoon is free to snorkel with the colourful coral and fish, to kayak around the island, or to clamber up to the view point. Dinner tonight is at our resort on the island.
Cycling Distance: 20km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Koh Talu Island Resort
Koh Talu to Chumphon
There is time to go for one more snorkel before we leave our island oasis and boat back to the mainland. Our bikes will be waiting and ready for us to ride. Our palm tree-lined route takes us past white sand beaches on one side and a backdrop of green lush hills on the other. Depending on the boat's arrival time, we'll ride for 30 km on a scenic road and then transfer to our next beach resort.
Cycling Distance: 30km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Chumphon
Chumphon to Ranong
We start today with another coastal ride. However, the terrain will start to undulate, making it a bit different from our earlier rides. We'll then take a lift in our support vehicle up to see a coffee plantation where the region's best Arabica coffee is grown. we will also see longan orchards that produce a small, sweet, and sour fruit grown widely in the south of Thailand. We then stop at Poonyaban Waterfall, where there’s time for a dip before we continue on to the port city of Ranong, a Thai province that shares the border with Myanmar, where we will spend the night.
Cycling Distance: 40km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Ranong
Ranong to Suk Samran
After breakfast we hop on the bikes and head inland on a short ride to a local hot spring. There are three natural spring pools, and the water temperature remains constant at about 65 C. Once we have relaxed our muscles, we transfer about 2 hours to our next Thai experience at a village where Muslims and Buddhists live side by side. We'll immerse ourselves in learning local customs and traditions. Our local host family will teach us how to make authentic Thai snacks and, of course, enjoy the results. After lunch, we bid our hosts goodbye and transfer to our resort.
Cycling Distance: 20km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Suk Samran
Suk Samran to Takua Pa
In the morning, we transfer about one hour to the old city of Takua Pa - once a flourishing trade port known by Indians and Arabs back in the 17th century. Tin used to be the major export that brought wealth to the city, and what remains are the merchant houses built in Chino-Portuguese style. We have a leisurely cycle through the town and then ride on to visit the beachside Tsunami Memorial at Ban Nam Khem and the big fishing boat that was carried an amazing 2 km inland by the surging waters. We'll also pass a pond where smaller boats were deposited nearby. We will arrive early at our resort - built in the typical Thai architectural style - so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the beach, pool and spa.
Cycling Distance: 25km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Takua Pa
Takua Pa to Khao Lak
We cycle from the resort and head inland to take a quiet backroad through small villages and shady rubber plantations. We will cross some rivers as we cycle to the small waterfall of Sai Rung. There’s a dipping pool at the base, perfect for cooling off before we have lunch. Then it’s a short cycle to the sandy shores of Khao Lak Beach where we end our ride. We meet up for our farewell dinner and reminisce about all the Thai experiences we have had along the way.
Cycling Distance: 40km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Khao Lak
Departure Day
It's time to say goodbye. Following breakfast the tour ends in Khao Lak. Please make your own arrangements for your onward travel.
Alternatively, we can assist you in extending your holiday in Khao Lak, known for its amazing beaches and weekend street food market. Or we can arrange transport to Phuket to explore more of Southern Thailand.
Please let us know if we can help with transfers or accommodation.
Cycling Distance: 0km
Meals: Breakfast
Download the Itinerary PDF here
All distances are approximate. Our tours often go off the beaten track and follow routes that are not always predictable. We cannot always guarantee the weather. For these reasons we may occasionally have to update our itineraries. We will only do this to improve your experience or for safety reasons. Our listed accommodation is always accurate at the time of writing but should we need to change you can rest assured that it will be for similar or better. Display price may differ to what is quoted as this tour is invoiced in the currency stated, and can be dynamic with daily exchange rates.
The Details
- Accommodation: 10 nights in mostly 3-4 star hotels (Single room surcharge)
- Meals as listed
- Support vehicle
- Experienced English speaking guide(s)
- Bottled water while riding
- Snacks & drinks while riding
- Cycling jersey
- International & domestic flights
- Airport pick up
- Airport drop off
- Bike Hire
- Visa fees
- Drinks (except water while cycling)
- Tips for crew
We cycle 325 kilometres in 10 cycling days exploring beaches, waterfalls, jungles, and fishing villages, overnighting on beautiful islands. We enjoy some time off the bike to take in boat rides, wildlife, and the islands. The cycling is on a mixture of tarmac and dirt roads, mostly on flat terrain.
We designed the route for those who wish to see the rural Thai countryside and the rich history of Thailand, all while enjoying an active holiday. We ride off the main roads as much as possible, so we can explore long stretches of beaches, the beautiful island of Ko Talu, and scenic areas around Koh Kho Khao and Khao Lak. We have a true Thai experience when we spend an afternoon with a traditional fishing community.
The trip is fully supported, and your guide’s expert knowledge of the area and terrain means that you always know what is coming up in terms of distance and difficulty. This makes a tremendous difference, as does the constant supply of cold drinks and fresh fruit.
You can expect a fairly gentle ride each day with none of the distances being overly long. There are a few small hills and some dirt trails, but these can be tackled by anyone with even a moderate amount of fitness. The emphasis on this tour is Thailand’s history, culture, and scenery, all off the beaten track.
This trip is mainly on tarmac roads with a few sections where we will have hard packed dirt trails – no off-road experience required. An air-conditioned support bus travels behind the group to support us, and participants can cycle as much or as little as they like and still enjoy the same views as the rest of the group.
If you're unsure about anything, please see our FAQs page for extra information.
FAQsBooking information
Participants will be asked to complete a booking form after confirmation of their booking.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
To ensure the trip's viability with our suppliers, a minimum of typically 2 participants is usually required. Upon submitting your booking request, we will provide specifics regarding minimum numbers. Following trip confirmation, you may proceed with flight bookings and other travel arrangements. A ‘Limited’ trip status signifies limited spaces available. For trip status inquiries, kindly email or call our office.
DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS
A deposit is required to secure your place on your selected tour departure. On receipt of your deposit, Global Cycling Adventures will email you a confirmation to verify your travel arrangements and advise final payment details. The final payment is normally required 60 days before departure date unless otherwise specified.
CANCELLATIONS & AMENDMENTS
All tour cancellations will require notification in writing to Global Cycling Adventures by the person participating on the tour. Please be advised that booking cancellations or amendments will incur relevant fees. Cancellation charges are tour-specific and timing-dependent. For a comprehensive outline of our terms and conditions, including the cancellation policy, please refer to the travel proposal provided by our team.
We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance on payment of your tour deposit in case unforeseen circumstances force you to cancel your tour.
OVERSEAS JURISDICTION AND TERMS
For all overseas tours, the terms and conditions, laws, and jurisdiction of the destination country will apply. By booking a tour with us, you acknowledge and agree that local regulations, industry practices, and terms specific to the destination country may supersede or modify our standard terms. It is your responsibility to understand and comply with all applicable local laws and regulations while participating in the tour.
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