Bike Touring and Mountain Biking in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, the former kingdom founded by King Mengrai over 700 years ago, is a destination celebrated for its rich culture, ancient temples, and warm Thai hospitality. Yet, many visitors overlook the remarkable landscapes surrounding the city—lush valleys, forested mountains, rural villages, and scenic rivers—making it one of Thailand’s top cycling and mountain-biking regions. Exploring Chiang Mai by bike offers an intimate way to encounter ethnic hill tribes living in traditional thatched villages, wander through ancient temple ruins, admire historic city fortifications, and enjoy world-famous northern Thai cuisine.
Several reputable tour operators offer unique biking adventures in the Chiang Mai region, ranging from casual family-friendly routes to intense multi-day mountain biking challenges.
Pedalers offers a popular “Chiang Mai Countryside Inn-to-Inn” experience, a 2-day tour designed to take riders off the main tourist trails. Their South Route leads cyclists along the Mae Ping River, through the ancient ruins of Wiang Kum Kam, and into the artisan village of Baan Tawai, followed by rafting adventures along the Mae Wang River. For experienced cyclists, the North Route provides a tougher ride into the forested hills, visiting hill-tribe communities, meeting a village shaman, watching traditional dance performances by local children, and finishing with an exhilarating white-water run down the Mae Taeng River.
Chiang Mai Biking specializes in recreational cycling adventures, perfect for travelers who want to explore at a relaxed pace. They offer half-day cultural and culinary tours as well as extended 1- to 4-day cycling journeys. Their fleet of high-quality Merida mountain bikes is well maintained and equipped with 24 gears, front suspension, rear carriers, helmets, locks, pumps, spare tubes, tool kits, and optional lights for evening rides.
Crank Adventures provides professional, non-touristy day trips designed for riders of all ages and skill levels. They also create customized itineraries and multi-day adventures up to seven days long. Using top-quality mountain bikes and offering excellent guidance on and off the trails, Crank Adventures even features a cozy bar where riders can unwind after a long day of cycling.
