Tours
Destinations
Attractions
Golf
Customize
About Us
Contact
35 Days Yunnan (China)-Laos-Thailand Cycling Tour from Kunming to Bangkok
1
| Last Month | Next Month | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 |
| 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 01 |
| 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 |
Features
This 35 day cycling tour takes you from Kunming in China to Bangkok of Thailand where you’ll discover a world of dramatic rock formations melding into tropical forests, traditional farming villages and ethnic minority communities, on both sides of the border. Travelers will tackle some outstanding mountain trails cut by local hill tribes. Most days feature afternoons out of the saddle to rest and explore on ground level with a variety of Buddhist temples and local markets adding to opportunities to check out the regional cuisine and compare how one town or village compares to the next. Roads are mainly well paved with some mountainous terrain inviting long climbs although luggage transfers, support cars and knowledgeable guides ensure that every effort has been made to increase enjoyment levels on this fair to moderate cycling tour. This tour will offer the fantastic view and give different experience.
Highlights:
- Cycle from China to Thailand, with charming scenery along the way.
- Have grand view of Yunnan and learn more about culture of Laos and Thailand, especially Buddhist culture.
- View some famous spots and Buddhist Temples.
Brief Itinerary:
- Day 1 Arrive in Kunming
- Day 2 Kunming-Yuxi
- Day 3 Yuxi-Huanian
- Day 4 Huanian-Ganzhuang
- Day 5 Ganzhuang-Mojiang
- Day 6 Mojiang-Tongguan
- Day 7 Tongguan-Ninger
- Day 8 Ninger-Puer
- Day 9 Puer-Dadugang
- Day 10 Dadugang-Jinghong
- Day 11 Jinghong-Menglun
- Day 12 Menglun-Mengla
- Day 13 Mengla-Mohan-Boten-Na Teuy
- Day 14 Na Teuy – Oudomxay
- Day 15 Udom Xai – Pak Beng
- Day 16 Pak Beng – Huai Xai
- Day 17 Huay Xai – Chiang Khong (Biking)
- Day 18 Chiang Khong – Chiang Rai (Biking)
- Day 19 Chiang Rai – Mae Salak (Biking)
- Day 20 Mae Salak – Chai Prakan (Biking)
- Day 21 Chai Prakan – Chiang Dao (Biking)
- Day 22 Chiang Dao – Chiang Mai (Biking)
- Day 23 Chiang Mai Day Tour
- Day 24 Chiang Mai–Lampang
- Day 25 Lampang–Phrae
- Day 26 Phrae–Uttaradit
- Day 27 Uttaradit–Sukhothai
- Day 28 Rest day in Sukhothai
- Day 29 Sukhothai – Kamphaeng Phet
- Day 30 Kamphaeng Phet–Nakhon Sawan
- Day 31 Nakhon Sawan–Sing Buri
- Day 32 Sing Buri–Ayutthaya
- Day 33 Ayutthaya – Bangkok
- Day 34 Bangkok
- Day 35 Departure from Bangkok https://www.transasiadiscovery.com/tours/china-laos-thailand-cycling-tour-from-kunming-to-bangkok
- https://www.spiceroads.com/tours/chiangmai_bangkok/itinerary
Day by Day Itinerary
Arrive in Kunming
Upon your arrival, your guide will meet you at arrival hall in the airport. Transfer to your hotel to check in and relax. In the afternoon, meet your tour guide to have a try of your bike.
After that, you will enjoy your free time to explore the city.
Kunming-Eshan
After all the introductions and formalities to introduce our event “Cycling Southeast Asia, 2011: Messengers of Friendship,” we set off from Kunming, crossing the bridge over Dianchi Lake towards Xishan. From there we had a wonderful ride paralleling the highway all the way to Haikou. It was especially sweet for me as the roads were the best I’ve seen over our first seven days as was the weather, and Chris Horton from GoKunming let me ride in his slipstream the whole way!
After lunch, our friends left us to face the dusty roads ahead and eventually the rain too. From Haikou to Yuxi it’s about 60km, and for about 10km at the base of Dianchi the road turns to dust, and is very slow going. Shortly after the road gets better, you pass the famous Chinese explorer Zheng He‘s hometown of Jinning. A short incline at about kilometer 65 for the day, and then a nice long descent, being careful to avoid the truck traffic.
Unfortunately, the end of our ride was met with some heavy rain, but it was all worth it in the end, as just two kilometers west of Yuxi there is a natural hot springs and every room in our hotel was decked out with its own personal outdoor hot (spring) tub!
Yuxi (玉溪) – Huanian (化念) – 78km, 5 hours of riding
We were all thawed out from the previous day’s rain and mostly dry. It was looking like the weather was going to clear up, but sure enough, as soon as we started out it began to rain, and it continued all day.
There is a mild climb coming out of Yuxi, and the road is being rebuilt. For about 10km the mud was so bad that even motorcycles couldn’t get through. Luckily most of the worst parts are on a long descent about 15km into the ride, and if you’re brave enough you can ride most of it.
I’m not sure how smart it was, but I rode/slid down most of it and my bike was caked with mud. We had a nice lunch in Eshan (峨山) at the base of the mountain and stopped at a car wash to hose down our bikes.
From Eshan it’s about 35-40km of great cycling, winding through the mountains with lots of small hills to zoom up and down. We finished our ride with an 18km descent to the town of Huanian, tucked in a valley of white plastic farmland. We arrived late and found no open restaurants, so had to settle for some instant noodles in our cold hotel room, quite a change from the night before!
Huanian (化念) – Ganzhuang (甘庄) – 69km, 5 hours of riding
Another cold, rainy day… beginning to reconsider biking in Yunnan in January, but I still think it’s worth it as it’s only tough riding when it rains, and I think rain three days in a row is pretty rare here. Great roads all day today, with some big climbs, but even bigger descents.
The scenery in Southern Yunnan is breathtaking and you can really begin to realize its incredible productivity. On the way today we passed several factories, including one massive steel plant, and endless amounts of healthy farmland planted with just about anything you can imagine. We had a few technical difficulties today including two flat tires and some minor adjustments on brakes and derailleurs which slowed us down quite a bit. Around dusk we descended into the pleasant town of Ganzhuang.
Ganzhuang (甘庄) – Mojiang (墨江) – 99km, 7+ hours of riding
In retrospect, we should have done more miles the day before to cut off some today. The day started with an 8km warm-up climb. A short, fun, but somewhat unsatisfying descent followed and led us into a massive climb at about the 13km mark. From here we began to slowly climb for what seemed to be most of the day.
About 10km up there is a hot spring, and if you climb down to it you can have lunch while soaking your feet in the 43 degree (105 degrees Fahrenheit) water. Lunch was basic: eggs boiled in the hot spring – not in the same water we were soaking our feet in – and cold rice noodles. After lunch we continued to climb the rest of the 35km hill, gaining 1,600 meters in elevation. A series of smaller hills followed, the last being an excruciating 7km climb until our final descent into Mojiang.
Mojiang (墨江) – Tongguan (通关) – 74km, 6 hours of riding
After reluctantly accepting some gifts of rice wine, we hopped back on Old Road 213. The morning was filled with some great cycling, we whipped through the countryside. A great 15km descent down to a large river ended our morning and we had a delicious lunch just on the other side of the bridge. Some of the specialties were wild bitter fruit (山苦果) and some wild olives that mildly resembled the taste of olives.
After lunch, we followed the river upstream for about 25km, soaking up the beautiful view of the fertile valley. Towards the end of the day we began climbing slowly back up to the expressway and over a mountain. Some amazing views of the sunset and then a couple of kilometers’ descent into the new town of Tongguan.
The hotel was nice, but there wasn’t much in the town except for a “park” on top of a nearby hill with a golden Pegasus on top. There is a poorly built museum there too, showing off some artifacts of the Old Tea and Horse Road. If possible I would look for lodging in the old town of Tongguan just before you get to the new town. It seemed a lot more lively.
Tongguan (通关)– Ning’er (宁洱) – 89km, 6 hours of riding
A late night of drinking with the mayor of Tongguan and a long morning of him showing us around and giving us bricks of tea (…great, more weight to carry) meant a late start, but we still managed to do almost 90km. In between the old and new town of Tongguan, we bore right down the hill and cruised the 17km descent to the river. From there the road flattens out and follows the river for quite some time. The road is great for cycling here and the views of the river bank and coffee plants are breathtaking.
At about kilometer 70, we took a right towards Ning’er and joined all the traffic of the expressway, as it was still under construction. It was about a 12km climb in heavy traffic with no shoulder, and then a shorter descent into Ning’er. A different route would be recommended if the expressway is still under construction here.
Ning’er (宁洱) – Pu’er (普洱) – 47km, 3.5 hours of riding
A nice short day, but still not one to joke about. Again, we were riding in heavy traffic, and with the rain it was quite miserable. Pu’er sits considerably higher than Ning’er and we most definitely felt it. Climb after climb with very short descents. I was surprised by the integration of the coffee and tea plants everywhere and wondered about the benefits; a peaceful sign, maybe, of bringing our differences together.
Pu’er (普洱) – Dadugang (大渡岗) – 78km, 5 hours of riding
We spent a wonderful night in Pu’er as guests of Fudian Bank which was followed by wonderful weather all day.
Unfortunately, one of our team members, Jin Feibiao (Feibao’s older brother) fell on a descent early this morning before the road had a chance to dry. He rode another 20km to lunch, where he took a van to Jinghong to see a doctor. The diagnosis was a broken collarbone, and he flew back to Kunming for further treatment. He will be certainly missed on our trip.
Out of Pu’er we hopped back on Old Road 213 (a left turn at the southwestern end of the city). The road climbs for the first 5km and then descends quickly for about 8-9km more. A section is under construction at the 22km point making the short climb quite difficult. The rest of the day sees only small hills until the 68km mark where it begins to climb all the way to Dadugang at the top of the hill – be sure to stay right at the fork at about 76km to continue up and not down to the expressway. Dadugang only has two hotels and the one down the hill is basic, but with hot water and all rooms are on the first floor.
Dadugang (大渡岗) – Jinghong (景洪) – 83km, 5 hours of riding
It was a bit cold on top of the mountain this morning, but after a great breakfast feast of rice noodles, youtiao and bean soup, little baozi, and dumplings we headed out into the fog.
The first 10 km was a wonderful warmup, we were shooting up and down atop the ridge. If it hadn’t been so foggy, I’m sure it would have offered beautiful views of the surrounding tea country. After the warm up, there is a fast 11km descent back to the expressway and into the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve. From there the old road continues to decline, winding around the hills as the expressway cuts right through them. At kilometer 47 for the day the road flattened out and a few kilometers later we had lunch at Xiaomengyang (小勐养).
Just before the town there is an intersection with the expressway. The first left is the expressway and the immediate second left heads towards Mengla. If you take the second left it is only 23km to Jinghong on all new roads. We were told the old road was much longer and a lot harder to bike. The new road was indeed nice, but you had to first climb a steep 6km hill before the long fast descent into Jinghong.
At the first traffic circle take a left and follow it to go over the bridge and soak in the views of the Mekong and the city. We took ten days getting here, including one day’s rest in Mojiang. With our group size and heavy loads, I would say we did pretty good.
If you were just two people with light loads it could easily been done in a week’s time, but don’t forget to take some time to absorb the beautiful sights of southern Yunnan. From here we will head south to Mengla and across the border into Laos where we plan to take a month cycling from the north to the southern tip.
Jinghong (景洪) – Menglun (勐仑) 65km, nearly 3 hours of riding
Jinghong was a wonderful place to rest for two days. Aside from the amazing food, the incredibly friendly people and the beautiful weather, it was just nice to rest the legs (and the butt!) after battling Yunnan’s mountains for over a week. Jinghong also sits in a very strategic location. As the capital of Xishuangbanna, it also has very easy access to Southeast Asia. Before departing, our team received some more letters from the governor of Xishuangbanna to be delivered to Southeast Asia as well as the ones we are already carrying from the Kunming mayor.
From Jinghong we backtracked our route a bit, crossing back over the Mekong (or Lancang River 澜沧江) in the northeastern part of the city and up the mountain we had descended just a few days earlier. Make sure you exit the expressway in the beginning following signs to the National Forest and not towards Wild Elephant Valley.
With fresh legs, we zipped right up the 13km mountain. At the top of the hill, the road splits: left is back to Kunming and right heads toward Mohan and Laos. After you take the right the road turns into an expressway, but there is little traffic, a wide shoulder, and a much quicker shot to Laos then any of the other alternatives. From here the road evens out for two or three kilometers, then it drops slowly for about 25km to where we had lunch.
The views were incredible, with vast mountain ranges covered with tea trees and eventually nothing but rubber trees. There were a few short tunnels on the descent, which was much better than having to go around the mountains, so be prepared with lights, especially in the back. After lunch it was a straight shot to Menglun only 23km more.
Among the huge rubber tree plantations in Menglun lies the largest botanical garden in China, worth a visit just on its own. It also doubles as an internationally accredited science academy. We stayed in a hotel inside the park, but there are plenty of options outside it as well.
Menglun (勐仑) – Mengla (勐腊) 80km, 4.5 hours of riding
From Menglun we hopped back on the expressway, called Erji Lu (二级路), which soars above the valleys and cuts right through the mountains. Be sure to have all your lights handy again, as we passed though about 15 tunnels today, two of which were over 3km long.
Outside of Menglun there is a slow, steady 20km climb which ends with a 3km tunnel and then descends back down about 12km. About one kilometer after the toll booth at the bottom of the climb is Mengyuan (勐远), a good resting point with plenty of options for food and drink. After lunch, the road began to rise again steadily, passing through numerous tunnels until the final 10km where it descended into Mengla (a right hand turn, 1km off the expressway).
Mengla is a big town with many options for sleeping and eating. On top of this it is only 46km from the Laos border. If you’re up for it, there is a wonderful park about 18km away (we took a bus) called Sky Tree Tropical Rainforest Park (望天树热带雨林公园), which has the world’s highest canopy walk of 38 meters and plenty of entertainment and wilderness to keep you busy a few days.
Mengla (勐腊) – Na Teuy, Laos – 67km, nearly 4 hours of riding
It is only 46km from Mengla to the border town, Mohan, on the expressway. It is a bit hilly but the road is great and you barely notice the hills. It’s a good idea to leave some time for the border crossing, but we had no trouble at all. It cost me 300 yuan to get my visa on arrival. The next town in Laos is Boten, only 3km from the border.
We decided to continue on as border towns are infamous for crime, and this one didn’t seem to be any different. A little less than 20km down the road lies the intersection of the roads leading to Luang Namtha (right) and Oudomxay (straight) in the town of Na Teuy. There are two basic guesthouses here, and a few restaurants, both Lao and Chinese styles.
Na Teuy – Oudomxay
After a wonderful breakfast of Lao-style rice noodles, we set off for Oudomxay, the biggest city in northern Laos. The road which was great all the way from Jinghong, turned to dust only a few kilometers after Na Thuai. The road is being rebuilt by the Chinese all the way to Oudomxay, but there are some nice sections still that they hadn’t torn up. At the 28km mark for the day we had lunch in the small town of Meng Namo.
After lunch we continued on and the road begins to rise. Altogether it rises about 500m over a 25km stretch. It is a slow climb with frequent resting points, brief downhills and tons of marvelous little villages were everyone shouts “Sabaidee!!” The children were especially happy to see us, as we handed out candy along the way.
During our climb we could begin to hear music coming from the top of the mountain. Needless to say at the very top there was a small village throwing a party. We stopped and joined the festivities briefly, but continued on as to not impose too much. From here there is a nice and long descent into Oudomxay. Unfortunately, the descent is filled with patches of gravel, or just dust, so we had to take it really slow.
Udom Xai – Pak Beng
With tonight’s hotel awaiting us 144 km / 89 mi away, today is set to be an epic day of riding! If some people aren’t up for the whole ride, we will make transfers as necessary to cover the distance. We set off on our bikes from Udom Xai along broken road and dirt tracks, coming into contact with locals along the way. The population here is made up of an astonishing 23 ethnic groups. Sharing the trail with colourful vehicles and livestock, we’ll get a glimpse of real rural life in Asia. We’ll have a picnic lunch before heading south to Pakbeng along the Beng River.
Pak Beng – Huai Xai
Today we get a chance to relax and recover from our long ride the day before. We will board another slow boat and cruise upstream along the Mekong River from Pakbeng to Huai Xai, stopping to visit riverside villages along the way. The Mekong is the biggest river in Laos and there is a great deal of life that occurs along the river. If we’re lucky we’ll see elephants bathing along the riverbank, as well as fishermen casting lines wrapped around water bottles. Women and children can be seen washing clothes and playing in the water. Late afternoon we’ll arrive in Huai Xai and check in to our hotel for our last night in Laos.
Huay Xai – Chiang Khong (Biking)
After breakfast we’ll cross the border into Thailand via a bridge. We’ll say goodbye to our Laotian guide and hello to our Thai guide and driver. We’ll get equipped with a new set of bicycles and set off riding along the Mekong River and through the tropical Thai countryside. We finish with a long climb to our lodge in the middle of a Hmong village with spectacular views of the pristine valley. After we get settled, we’ll have tea with the shaman and learn some Hmong customs. There is free time in the evening to relax or wander through the village experiencing the local daily life of villagers in this community; children playing soccer and their parents physically working off of the land. Our first Thai dinner will be served on the deck of our lodge. Cycling 53 km / 33 mi
Chiang Khong – Chiang Rai (Biking)
We start today with a short transfer by vehicle to Chiang Saen, located in the south of the Golden Triangle. We’ll stop at one of the ancient temples here for a quick look before getting back on our bikes for the day. The terrain today is a mixture of dirt and paved undulating roads with some flat sections. We’ll cycle past plantations of rubber, terraced rice paddies where water buffalo plow through the fields with sowing seeds into the earth. We’ll get to our hotel in Chiang Rai mid afternoon and highly suggested this evening is taking a tuktuk to the Night Market and pampering yourself with a wonderful Thai massage. Overnight in Chiang Rai. Cycling 70 km / 40 mi
Chiang Rai – Mae Salak (Biking)
We start with a big breakfast this morning, refueling for today’s ride. We leave the provincial capital of Chiang Rai and follow the Mae Kok River through remote countryside. After stopping at a hot spring, we ride off-road jeep tracks along the river through small villages and a wide variety of crops. We’ll make a stop at Wat Run Khun, Thailand’s white temple, which is likely the most unique temple in the country. We continue by bike and end at Mae Salak, a small town with a traditional resort by a river. The rooms have a splendid view of the river and the lodge is situated next to a Lahu village. Here the local children will perform traditional music and dance. Cycling 70 km / 40 mi
Mae Salak – Chai Prakan (Biking)
Today’s ride is flat compared to the previous day and we will complete the distance fairly quickly. After an early breakfast we ride on back roads through small villages before arriving in Fang to stop for lunch. In the afternoon we continue riding, catching sights of farmers working their fields and orchards. We overnight in a comfortable Thai-style inn. 91 km / 57 mi
Chai Prakan – Chiang Dao (Biking)
Today’s ride is a real treat for mountain bikers as we tackle some outstanding mountain trails cut by local hill tribes. From the trailhead, we ride dirt roads through rice fields and soaring limestone cliffs. Along the way we will meet Akha, Lisu, Lau, and Palaung people. The colourful Palaung are recent migrants and we will see their women adorned with heavy brass waistbands working the fields. After lunch at a Forestry Camp we continue our ride to the Chiang Dao caves and temple retreat. Cycling 75 km / 47 mi
Chiang Dao – Chiang Mai (Biking)
Today we cycle away from our resort on an elephant trail through the forest. We will then travel along nice country roads to our scenic lunch spot at a refreshing waterfall. Next we enjoy some great singletrack riding through a scenic teak forest. When we come out of the reservoir again, we’ll hop on a boat for an afternoon cruise. From here, it’s a short transfer to Chiang Mai where we have earned a well deserved rest. Cycling 40 km / 25 mi
Chiang Mai Day Tour
In the morning we take a trip in our minibus to the justly famous temple Doi Suthep, which perches at 1050 m (3500 ft.) above sea level. 290 steps up the dragon staircase take you to the main entrance and to its centre, where the holy pagoda contains Buddhist relics.
In the afternoon we can choose to visit various arts & craft workshops that will give you an insight into the manufacture of silk, paper umbrellas and varnish.
Later in the evening the bikes will be set up and adjusted. You may use the rest of the evening to visit the nightmarket or simply enjoy the idyllic old town’s charm and exotic ambience.
Chiang Mai–Lampang, 124 km (77 miles)
After a short ride through the town, we bid farewell to Chiang Mai (300 m / 1000 ft. above sea level). We ride along the enchanting Mae Ping River before passing the city of Lamphun. After several easy ascents, we reach Lampang, our day’s goal. On the way, we will visit an elephant training camp and watch the friendly animals at work.
Lampang is well known for its colourfully decorated horse-drawn carriages, and for its white clay pottery. Our hotel is conveniently located in the city center.
Lampang–Phrae, 103 km (64 miles)
This stage takes us through a jungle-clad mountain landscape. This stretch features plenty of minor climbs and rewards us with magnificent vistas of temples and stunning views of smaller villages.
Phrae is one of the oldest cities in Thailand. It was founded in the 11th century as part of the Hariphunchai Kingdom of the Mon. In our hotel, we will spoil you with Thai massages and swimming pool.
Phrae–Uttaradit, 75 km (47 miles)
We leave the provincial capital Phrae with its numerous old buildings, which were built in the typical teak construction Burmese. The temples recall the once mighty Lan Na Kingdom.
Nearby is Sirikit dam, rising to a height of 169 m (550 ft.) and spanning a width of 800 m (2640 ft.). The Sirikit dams the River Nan, creating a beautiful reservoir and picturesque scenery just upstream. Once we’ve arrived at our hotel, we may treat ourselves to another Thai massage and a dip in the pool.
Uttaradit–Sukhothai, 115 km (70 miles)
The remainder of our stages through to Ayutthaya will be pretty much completely flat. We’ll ride on peaceful low-traffic back roads, passing vast rice paddies, temples and quant villages to arrive at Sukhothai, a former capital of Ancient Thailand.
Here, we can look forward to a well-deserved massage and the amenities of our modern hotel.
Rest day in Sukhothai
On our rest day, we have a visit to the Historical Park Sukhothai on the agenda. In 1987, it was reopened after ten years of restoration work and is considered one of the most important Buddhist landmarks in Asia, as well as being a UNESCO World Heritage site.
It is a sprawling complex with 16 Buddhist temples, 4 Hindu shrines, ornamental ponds, ramparts and trenches over a 70 square kilometre area. We spend the rest of the day with relaxing by the refreshing hotel pool.
Sukhothai – Kamphaeng Phet, 87 km (54 miles)
Today, we pedal our bikes on historical soil across Kamphaeng Phet province. Its glory period was from the late Sukothai to early Ayutthaya era. The archeological sites in the city’s historical park, both inside and outside the city’s walls, are definitely worth a visit.
Before setting out on the sightseeing expedition, riders may spend a moment relaxing in our hotel’s spa facilities. After sunset, a lively night market will draw our attention.
Kamphaeng Phet–Nakhon Sawan, 129 km (80 miles)
Today’s ride takes us through a very picturesque landscape. Plantations producing a variety of regional fruits border our route to Nakhon Sawan, considered as the gateway to Northern Thailand. Four major rivers flow through this province: Rivers Ping, Yom, Nan and the famous Chao Phraya, the latter of which flows through Bangkok and into the Gulf of Siam, marking Thailand’s traditional centre.
The award-winning Utthayan Sawayan Park rests in the city’s core and is surrounded by a large lake, making it a popular meeting place.
Nakhon Sawan–Sing Buri, 130 km (80 miles)
From our bikes we can observe farmers dressed in their typical round hats at their work in the fields, cultivating rice. We roll past traditional villages and countless rice fields. We stay in a clean modest hotel on the outskirts of Sing Buri, a typical Thai town.
Wat Phikun Tong is Sing Buri’s most famous temple with the biggest sitting Buddha in Thailand. It is surrounded by a peaceful garden inviting visitors to meditate.
Sing Buri–Ayutthaya, 80 km (50 miles)
Rice paddies, shrimp farms and fruit orchards line our way to Thailand’s former capital Ayutthaya, which ruled historical Siam for four hundred years. UNESCO has designated it a World Heritage Site. Magnificent historical temples and ruins invite us for a visit.
From our hotel, we have a wonderful view over the River Pasak. We can look forward to spending another night in a delightful hotel and enjoying a group dinner where we can toast to a great tour and reflect over and savour our experiences and accomplishments.
Ayutthaya - Bang Pa-In - Bangkok
We have the last leg of our sojourn through Thailand. We ride down to Bangkok along country roads that will take us past Bang Pa-In Palace, the former summer palace of King Chulalongkorn. We end our journey in north Bangkok, and we transfer the last few kilometres to our hotel in the city centre. We then meet in the evening for a celebratory dinner and bask in the glory of a job well done!
One Day Biking Tour in Old Town Bangkok
There’s a charm to Old Bangkok that I would encourage all those visiting this city to explore. Travelling by bicycle is not only fun, but also a great way to cover lots of ground that would normally be difficult on foot.
What’s the most important thing before a full day of exploring? A full stomach of course! The first stop on the tour was to a cozy restaurant specializing in delicious curry noodles. Although you would never have guessed it by looking at them, the couple that own the restaurant are of Thai/Portuguese decent…ancestors of the earliest Europeans in the region!
Continuing to bike through the laneways of Little Portugal, we are introduced to one of the yummiest treats I had in Bangkok. These individual little cakes are baked traditionally using charcoal and only have three ingredients - flour, eggs, and sugar. We got to watch them being hand made from start to finish and best of all, got to taste them FRESH from the oven. Crunchy on the outside and so light and fluffy on the inside. I regretted not taking some for later!
With our stomachs satisfied, we continue to explore the Old Town. Our local guide, Wat, navigates the back alleys so that we don’t battle any car traffic and instead can enjoy the scenery and interact with the locals we pass. “Sawasdee!” our progression calls in unison to the aunties selling fruits along our path. The pace is enjoyable and appreciated as the Bangkok heat is starting to moisten my t-shirt.
Our next stop is to one of the over 400 Buddhist temples in Bangkok. We explore the grounds of this sacred site and take in the majestic beauty of the architecture and fine detail of the statutes highlighted by massive 40ft golden Buddha! The group sits down to listen to some of the stories Wat shares about his Thai upbringing and we discuss some of the local customs and how they differentiate from our corners of the world. One of the most interesting takeaways I learned is that whether the Thai identify as Buddhist, Catholic, Islam etc, all accept each other equally (a stark contrast to religious hatred we often see in other parts of the world) and respect others lifestyle choices.
You wouldn’t be doing Bangkok justice if you weren’t eating every couple of hours so lunch is next on the agenda. I GUARANTEE you would never stumble across this restaurant if you weren’t on this tour. You know why? Because we ate in the dining room of one of Wat’s childhood friends! Homemade local dishes cooked fresh in mom’s kitchen…it can’t get more authentic than this.
Bangkok is often referred to as the “Venice of the East” for its vast network of canals used for both drainage and transportation. Our tour rides along many of these and after our lunch we hop off our bikes and walk along Khlong Bangkok Yai exploring many cultural shops and cafes along the water while waving to passengers on the river taxis passing by.
The final stop before heading back to base is Wat Paknam temple. The hustle and bustle of the streets quickly quiets as we ascend the stairs and arrive into the Stupa on the top floor. It’s the most hot and humid we’ve felt all day but it’s also the most majestic. It feels as though I have stepped into another dimension with the domed roof elegantly painted looking down on a massive emerald-green relic. A truly special place!
Departure from Bangkok
Departure from Bangkok
Related Tours
Price Description
Price Included
Price Excluded
No comment is turned on.
