Hi there,
Here’s our plan: traveling to CHIANG MAI from BANGKOK, passing through AYUTTHAYA and SUKHOTHAI, all by tandem bike with a trailer and a child.
What do you think of this route (distance, scenery, elevation, challenges, etc.)?
Any great tips for lodging or other advice are welcome.
Thanks in advance.
Hello,
I believe it—checked out VF member LUMPINI, the hero of the north. Personally, I only know the main roads by car, and I think the climbs aren’t too scary. That said, biking in Thailand puts you at the bottom of the food chain, so keep left and expect to get jostled in some of the narrower stretches up north.
What worries me more is the heat, especially with a child in tow. Avoid April in the north at all costs—I’d recommend November to February. The landscapes change (though not like in Europe), and the central plains might feel long. The climbs and scenery shifts really start around Utaradit and Pitsanulok.
I’d leave Bangkok by train to Ayutthaya.
Now, wait for other replies to piece it all together.
🙂 The Bangkok to Chiang Mai road is pretty dull and has really heavy traffic if you take the small roads. You’ll need a **very** good GPS because signs are often only in Thai, and it climbs a lot. To check the elevation changes based on your route, head to Google Earth—it shows altitudes with meter precision. I’ve got 300 photos of the whole trip on my site!
www.jpaventure.com
routard ou backpacker ok mais pas de voyage a n'importe quel prix
I have a fantastic route with GPS tracks and KML files for Google Earth that goes through Kanchanaburi, Tha Kradan, Ban Tin Tok, Ban Rai, Mae Wong, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Mae Sot, Tha Song Yang, Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son, Ban Chan, Samoeng, and Chiang Mai.
For the return trip, it's by bus to Sukhothai, then by bike to Bangkok in three days.
There are few national roads, and lots of trails and small roads. However, this route is very physical, and you need to travel light. It’s about 2,150 km with over 21,000 m of elevation gain. It took me a month with a bike under 30 kg. The return from Chiang Mai can be done by bus or train, which shortens the distance quite a bit, but doesn’t reduce the elevation gain since it’s practically flat.
Cycling through the Karen villages is just amazing. The people are welcoming and even kinder than the Thais (which is saying something), and it more than makes up for the effort it takes to get there.
If you want the KML files, send me your email via PM.
Hi,
This is a bike tour—less traffic and more scenery, but watch out for the hills with the trailer and the kid in back. If you've got the time, though, it's way better.
hi there,
I did this route a few years ago (2004) taking the western route (Kanchanaburi, Uthai Thani, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Hot, Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son). It’s a beautiful itinerary, especially the final stretch through the mountains along the Burmese border.
But it’s pretty demanding physically, with some serious elevation changes—tandem with a trailer? Forget about it!
This year, I’m heading out solo with a trailer (my daughter inside and me pedaling, or the other way around, depending on the day!) and I’m opting for a flatter route (southern part of the country). I’m used to hills (I live on Réunion Island, which IS one big hill), but with the trailer, it’s a whole different ball game.
For temperatures, if you go between November and February, you’re good.
If you’ve got any other questions, don’t hesitate.
Safe travels!
vous avez la montre, nous avons le temps (sagesse africaine)
Back in 2003, I did it in the north-to-south direction with a detour to Umphang, then a day and a half heading full east through the jungle with two Hmong guides and a pilgrim monk. The bike ended up being carried like a tiger on a bamboo pole, but I really enjoyed it.
Safe travels, and don’t dose your daughter up too much when she’s in the trailer, huh!
Good evening,
I just looked at the photos—exactly the time of year I advised against in my first reply.
Beautiful region, stunning landscapes, charming little village, it’s all there, but the climbs after the storms—I wouldn’t wish them on anyone, not even on foot or in a 4x4. I think next time it won’t be this season, right?
Selenit, looking at the photos, the main roads at the start make up at least 50% of the route through the center (not very interesting). Up to you to decide.
Thanks everyone for your replies—I think I’ll revise my itinerary and probably tweak it a bit.
I’ll look into it right away and share my new plan with you.
Thanks again!
All the main roads can be avoided, especially in the plains—you just need to spend time on Google Earth to find parallel paths, roads, or tracks, and load up a GPS. Otherwise, you’re guaranteed to get lost. That said, the prep work is *very* time-consuming, and you’ll need Google’s maps to be detailed for the region you’re visiting. It might also limit your daily kilometers if you’re trying to cover ground. On a dirt track, you’ll go slower than on a main road, plus you’ll be stopping all the time to chat or take photos. It’s also a good idea to have a backup GPS in case the first one fails and you don’t want to end up back on the main roads. But if the prep is solid, even a basic GPS without maps—like a Garmin 205—will do the trick.
For mountain biking in tandem, it’s already pushing your limits if you’re strong, and with a trailer, forget it. The route before Mae Sariang from the south is brutal, and Mae Hong Son to Samoeng? I won’t even get into it. In Mae Sariang, I caught up with a German couple who’d taken two days to cover the same stretch and were heading straight to Chiang Mai, completely put off. Best to avoid ending up there.
After digging around online, I found this route that seems way cooler:
Chiang Rai - Wiang Pa Pao - Chiang Khong - Mae Sai - Tha Ton - Doi Thung - Phrao - Chiang Dao - Chiang Mai - with the must-see Doi Suthep.
Hello,
Doi Suthep is an excursion in the outskirts of Chiang Mai (a nice climb, though—good exercise with the return to Chiang Mai). The main-road trip from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai during the season (watch out) is pretty good, despite two passes that shouldn’t be underestimated and heavy traffic. Mae Sai is a breeze (still on the main road). So why not take a detour through Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, Chiang Kham, Phayao, and return to Chiang Mai via the Wang Nua route? After all, when exploring the north, you won’t escape the climbs—sometimes my tractor struggles to make it up!
Have you checked out Monsieur LUMPINI’s site? It’s worth it—he’s explored these regions but via the backroads.
Hi there,
I’m sorry to bother you, but a little question just popped into my head—just for info, do you know Thailand? And if so, which places? To help you out, it’d be easier if I knew a bit more—there’s no info on your profile?
Hello,
That’s exactly what I thought, but no worries—there’s no problem at all. You’re just going to discover another planet. It’s good to know that upfront. Maybe someone can cook up a route for you. You’ve already had several suggestions, but the north is all about mountains—not very high ones, though. The roads take shortcuts, which is why the climbs are so steep, and that’s also why everyone talks about the "chariot" behind. Anyway, I encourage you to keep going! Grab a map and check where the peaks and valleys are. The route I suggested isn’t very original, but it limited the climbs and kilometers a bit more. So, the next question: how much time do you have?
http://voyageforum.com/membres/lumpini/v.f?url=http%3A%2F%2Fvelo-thailand.over-blog.com%2F
http://voyageforum.com/membres/lumpini/v.f?url=http%3A%2F%2Friton.travelblog.fr%2F
Here are the links to check out Lumpini’s travels.
Have a great day, and happy reading!
Like the others, I can confirm that the CM - Mae Sariang - Mae Hong Son section, while beautiful, is also... grueling. Really, really tough, even for me since I was well-trained. The terrain is a bit like the Alps in terms of elevation, with some steep climbs and very tight turns. The moral of the story? If you "park" your bike on a slope and brake, the bike—weighed down by luggage—will slide backward... Tough on the morale... But reach out to Eric "Lumpini"—he’ll whip up a tailor-made route for you. Either way, have a great and beautiful trip. The key is to believe in it, right?
Hello,
My name is Thierry, I live in Thailand, and I do a bit of cycling. Your route with GPS tracks and KML files for Google Earth really interests me (the one passing through Kanchanaburi, Tha Kradan, Ban Tin Tok, Ban Rai, Mae Wong, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Mae Sot, Tha Song Yang, Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son, Ban Chan, Samoeng, Chiang Mai). I hope you still have these precious details.
Thanks a lot!
Thierry
Hello.
I have a fantastic route with GPS tracks and KML files for Google Earth that passes through Kanchanaburi, Tha Kradan, Ban Tin Tok, Ban Rai, Mae Wong, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Mae Sot, Tha Song Yang, Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son, Ban Chan, Samoeng, and Chiang Mai.
For the return trip, I took a bus to Sukhothai, then cycled back to Bangkok in three days.
There are few national roads, and lots of trails and small routes. However, this route is very demanding physically, and you need to travel light. It’s about 2,150 km with over 21,000 m of elevation gain. It took me a month with a bike weighing under 30 kg. The return from Chiang Mai can be done by bus or train, which shortens the distance quite a bit, but doesn’t reduce the elevation gain since it’s practically flat.
Cycling through the Karen villages is just amazing. The people are welcoming and even kinder than the Thais (which is saying a lot), and it more than makes up for the effort it takes to get there.
If you want the KML files, send me your email via PM.
First off, you should know that the 250 km south of Chiang Mai are on national highways and aren’t very fun. It’s certainly beautiful because it’s mountainous, but it’s borderline dangerous. Taking the train is a great alternative. The best way to get to Chiang Mai—if you’re not afraid of mountains and have the time—is via Mae Hong Son. It’s tough, but unforgettable.
In the first one, which I did in 2009, you’ll find the climb via Mae Hong Son, passing through Kanchanaburi, and the direct descent minus the dangerous section I took by bus.
In the second, there’s the climb I did in 2013, which also goes through Kanchanaburi.
If I had to choose between the three routes, my preferences are:
1) 2009 climb (via Mae Hong Son)
2) 2013 climb
3) 2009 descent
I much prefer the first over the second, and the second over the third. While routes 2 and 3 are easily doable for most touring cyclists, that’s not the case for the first. You should know that between Mae Hong Son and Wat Chan (Bat Chan), there’s 4,000 m of positive elevation gain and 3,000 m of negative over 80 km, with climbs and descents of 20% to 30%. Plan for two days or more, with a stop in a Karen village. If there’s one place you *have* to go in Thailand, it’s here—but like all unforgettable spots, it’s also hard to reach. Also, be mindful of Thai and Karen customs and etiquette. People in these remote areas don’t see tourists often, and it’s important not to leave a bad impression, which unfortunately happens too much in the rest of the country and touristy regions.
One more thing: I ride with a mountain bike and Continental Travel Contact tires. My routes aren’t always paved—there can be rocks or dirt paths. A touring bike with Marathon tires will handle it fine, but racing tires won’t.
We’re heading out this winter for a 3-month bike trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, then a quick hop to Mandalay, Pagan, and Inle Lake, followed by Laos.
If you’ve got any tips, we’d love to hear them!
For bikes, we’re on 26-inch wheels with 45mm Marathon tires. The catch is my wife can’t handle 20% gradients, so we end up pushing the bikes.
Thanks again for the routes—think we might be neighbors since we work in Geneva and my wife is Swiss.
I don’t know how much time you’ve planned after Chiang Mai, but with three months, I’d go through Mae Hong Son. If your bike—weighing 30 kg—can climb La Croisette without a hitch, it’ll handle the hills there, even if you have to redistribute the load. You could also reach Chiang Mai via Pai, but that’d be a real shame. The weight you’re carrying is still one of the key factors for climbing hills.
The climbs aren’t ever too long—about 2–3 km—then it’s downhill and back up again, and so on. For me, there were one or two climbs where I had to push halfway. There are quite a few villages along the way, and people I know, but communication isn’t easy since few speak English.
I completed the loop in under a month—fast, too fast—but work commitments didn’t leave me much choice. Doing half in a month is more relaxed; it lets you shorten the distances and enjoy the places you like even more.
hi the route follows the via Route 11, 721 km via road number 1
that makes 698 km maybe easier in my opinion
anyway, you have to leave Bangkok via the n 11
then at Tha Ngam go through Tak
if you want something else, don’t hesitate—happy travels!
routard ou backpacker ok mais pas de voyage a n'importe quel prix
The purpose of GPS tracks is to avoid the national highways, which quickly become nightmarish and very dangerous in Thailand, and often lack any real interest.
My tracks only go through small villages and rural roads (four-digit roads or even unnumbered ones), except when it’s not possible or I had to make a connection. Even leaving Bangkok can be done while avoiding the big boulevards.
I have a fantastic route with GPS tracks and KML files for Google Earth that goes through Kanchanaburi, Tha BKradan, Ban Tin Tok, Ban Rai, Mae Wong, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Mae Sot, Tha Song Yang, Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son, Ban Chan, Samoeng, and Chiang Mai.
And for the return trip, by bus to Sukhothai, then by bike back to Bangkok in three days.
There are few national roads, and lots of trails and small roads. However, this route is very demanding physically, and you need to travel light. It’s about 2,150 km with over 21,000 meters of elevation gain. It took me a month with a bike under 30 kg. The return from Chiang Mai can be done by bus or train, which shortens the distance quite a bit, but doesn’t reduce the elevation gain since it’s practically flat.
Biking through the Karen villages is just amazing. The people are welcoming and even kinder than the Thais (which is saying something), and it more than makes up for the effort it takes to get there.
If you want the KML files, send me your email via PM.
Serge
Hi Serge,
It’s been a while since you did this, but I’d love to do more or less the same route! Do you still have those files? Thanks a lot!
Corentin
Or here are all the tracks, which you can edit and export as GPX if you have a Bikemap subscription. Just a heads-up—I don’t have any affiliation with Bikemap, but it’s super handy for creating routes. You can also use OpenCycleMap with a subscription.
https://web.bikemap.net/c/256316
I’d recommend preparing your routes before you leave and sticking to them. Avoid the main roads. Thailand has tons of small, beautiful, and pleasant roads, but improvising on the spot is really tough because the alphabet is unreadable on maps and signs, there are so many intersections, and people will always direct you toward a main road instead of showing you the back roads.
The most interesting stretch is from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai. But watch out—it climbs steeply, so you’ll want really low gears.
Regarding the route 105 from Mae Sot to Mae Sariang, I see that some of you mention Tha Song Yang, but it turns out there are actually two separate places about 70 km apart with the same name along this road:
- The first is a small town with a few accommodations: 17°13'35.81"N 98°13'43.55"E
- The other is a village with no accommodations, which locals distinguish from the first by adding the prefix "ban" (village), so Ban Tha Song Yang: 17°33'48.23"N 97°54'50.60"E.
Many maps mix the two up.
Also:
- The entire road is now paved. However, there’s very little traffic (and almost no trucks), especially between Tha Song Yang and Mae Sariang, and even less from Ban Tha Song Yang to Mae Sariang.
- The pass between Ban Tha Song Yang and Mae Sariang is often in the clouds (with visibility around twenty meters) and chilly.
Or here are all the tracks, which you can edit and export as GPX if you have a Bikemap subscription. Just a heads-up—I don’t have any affiliation with Bikemap, but it’s super handy for creating routes. You can also use OpenCycleMap with a subscription.
https://web.bikemap.net/c/256316
I’d recommend preparing your routes before you leave and sticking to them. Avoid the main roads. Thailand has tons of small, beautiful, and pleasant backroads, but improvising on the spot is tough because the alphabet is unreadable on maps and signs, there are so many intersections, and people will always direct you toward a main road instead of showing you the smaller paths.
The most interesting stretch is from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai. But be warned—it’s steep, so you’ll want really low gears.
Have a great trip!
Serge
Hey Serge, thanks a million for this goldmine! I can access the KML files, but if you happen to have the GPX files ready and it’s not too much trouble, that’d be awesome for my GPS device!
The backroads *are* so much nicer...
Can’t wait to tackle those mountains—it’s my favorite part!
I’d recommend planning your route carefully before you leave and sticking to it. Avoid the main roads. Thailand has tons of small roads that are really beautiful and pleasant, but it’s super hard to improvise once you’re there—because the alphabet is unreadable on maps and signs, there are so many intersections, and people will always direct you toward a main road instead of showing you the small paths.
Hi there,
In Thailand, where I cycle regularly, there’s indeed a pretty well-developed secondary road network. But that’s mostly true in the plains. In the mountains, secondary roads are limited or even nonexistent, so your route choices are pretty much made for you. To avoid getting lost, the best thing is an offline smartphone app like Maps.me, OsmAnd, or Mapy.cz. These apps can sometimes have errors, though. Last winter, I upgraded my setup with a 5G SIM card and started using Google Maps. Now it’s impossible to get lost, but the sense of adventure is gone 😅. The mobile network with the best coverage is AIS. Otherwise, I can confirm that the Mae Hong Son loop is really tough, with steep climbs of 20% or more. For cycling in Northern Thailand, I wrote a trip report here: https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9945930#9945930
Je prépare actuellement l'itinéraire de mon demi tour du monde de 2016 en tandem. Au niveau de la Thailande, est ce que l'un d'entre vous est il passé par la…
Je connais maintenant très bien la région de Chiang mai pour l'avoir parcourue en VTT. Je serais intéressé de connaitre des cyclistes ayant parcouru le nord en…
Nous souhaitons voyager à vélo dans le Nord-Est de la Thaïlande, puis en direction de Bangkok. Nous pensons partir de Nong Khai vers Chiang Khan le long du…
Nous partons 3 semaines faire du vélo en Thailande fin juillet-début aout. Nous savons que c'est la période de la mousson mais nous n'avons malheureusement pas…
Je profite d'une pause (et d'un ordinateur) à Chiang Mai en attendant mon vol de retour pour vous livrer quelques réflexions sur le voyage à vélo de près de 2…
I’ve got my flight ticket sorted—departing in mid-November and returning in mid-March. I’ll arrive in Santiago and leave from Buenos Aires.
I’ve already been to southern Argentina, specifically Torres del Paine National Park, and I’d love to go back to do the full W trek (I only did the shorter version last time).
I also want to do some hiking and maybe even tackle a summit. I climb and occasionally do some mountaineering, so I’ll definitely be going with a guide.
I plan to start around Temuco in Chile, with the idea of heading toward the lakes, then taking the Carretera Austral.
I’m not sure if I’ll go all the way to Ushuaia—it’s supposed to not be *that* worth it, except for the bragging rights of saying you’ve been to the end of the world.
I saw there are lakes in Argentina too.
I don’t have a precise itinerary, but what I’d love is, once I reach the southernmost point of my trip, to take a mini-cruise to see some wildlife. Any tips for that?
What kind of sleeping bag did you take? Is a 0°C (32°F) one enough?
And one last question: white gas stove or can I get by with my gas stove?
Hi there,
I’ve been road cycling for several years, and I’m about to switch to gravel in the next few days—I’m waiting for my bike, which should arrive this week.
I’m planning a bikepacking trip in a few weeks along the Véloroute V81, also known as the Vélosud, from Biarritz to Le Barcarès.
Has anyone here already done this route? Any info is welcome, whether it’s about the route itself, gear, or accommodation. I’ll prioritize staying with locals as much as possible. On that note, I just signed up for the brand-new site *Guidon et Couette* ((www.guidon-et-couette.fr)), which offers free accommodation between cyclists across the country, but there’s almost no one listed along my route!
Thanks in advance.
Laurent.
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
After testing it for three years across various modes of transport, I’m sharing this video of a bike packing case. It’s made from recycled cardboard and shrink-wrapped, with adjustable thickness and added bubble wrap depending on the level of protection you want.
Installing spacers at the fork and chainstays makes the packaging compact. With the fifteen-odd euros for shrink-wrapping at the airport, this case travels really well.
https://youtu.be/_GDJi-GqmkM
- Low bulk (1.10m x 0.70m x 0.25m for a large frame), it fits vertically in train luggage compartments and the total dimensions (x+y+z) don’t exceed 2.40m.
- Two carrying solutions for public transport and easy handling by airport staff (no more tears in the cardboard from openings).
- Discreet packaging when dealing with bus drivers and train conductors, as it looks like an ordinary parcel.
- No need to return to the starting point to retrieve the case from your outbound trip, which you’d otherwise have to store somewhere, or deal with a bulky cover to pack in your panniers.
- You can still check tire pressure through the plastic film without damaging the packaging too much.
Drawbacks: Around 3 hours for this lengthy and meticulous process—removing the wheels, pedals, handlebars, and derailleur without misaligning them, then securing all components to the frame.
If you get a chance to test it, send me your feedback for future improvements.
Hi there, I’m planning a cross-Canada bike trip, and I’ve got a question that might seem silly, but could someone tell me how to pack a bike (in a box, with a fragile sticker... I don’t know) for a flight? Thanks in advance!
This summer, we’re planning to cycle along the EV 19 that follows the Meuse River from Langres all the way to Rotterdam.
My question is about getting back to Nantes.
Do any of you know what the best return option might be? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
I saw that FlixBus doesn’t take bikes.
By train, I think it’s possible but would involve multiple local trains.
We were also wondering if there’s a boat from Rotterdam to Saint-Nazaire that could take passengers with bikes.
Any tips or experiences you can share would be really helpful—thanks in advance!
Have a great evening
I’ve gotten used to crossing Europe by bus to return by bike.
It was really convenient to take the bike without having to disassemble it.
But FlixBus no longer accepts bikes...
What alternatives do you know about?
Thanks.
Hi there,
I’m planning to ride the Dutch section of the EuroVelo 19, from Maastricht to Rotterdam.
Since it’s too complicated to bring my bike on the train, I’m looking to rent one locally.
I’d love any tips or bike rental shop recommendations—I’m struggling to find options even in Rotterdam.
The plan is to rent in Rotterdam, take the train to Maastricht with the bike, then cycle back to Rotterdam.
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!
Nath
I’m planning to cycle from Morlaix to Brest (via Roscoff and the V45 coastal route). We’ll start riding on August 16th for 13 days (with stops for island visits, surfing, etc.). Is there a lot of traffic at this time of year? I’ve got two kids, 11 and 13, and we don’t like riding in the middle of cars (we’ve already done the Vélomaritime—Caen to Cherbourg—the Loire route from Orléans to Saumur, the Vélodyssée from Nantes to Royans, and the canals like the Nivernais and Bourgogne, where there were plenty of bike-only lanes, which isn’t the case on this route).
Thanks for your help if you’ve already done this route in late August!
Virginie
I’m planning to build a new touring bike.
I want to prioritize lightness.
That said, I’m tempted by a suspension fork that could offer some comfort on rougher roads.
The recent appearance of gravel suspension forks on the market might meet my needs—at least on paper.
I’m particularly considering the RockShox Rudy Ultimate XPLR fork.
Unlike MTB forks, its travel is short: either 30 mm or 40 mm.
It weighs 1400 g, which is 400/500 g more than a steel fork.
Any thoughts or real-world feedback on this?
I’m also wondering about the durability of magnesium (lower leg) for long-distance bike touring.
And what’s the impact of skipping the manufacturer-recommended maintenance every 50 and 200 hours? That’s bound to happen on a long trip unless you carry extra gear.
More generally, how reliable are these kinds of forks?
I’m making an exception and creating a separate post this time, since it’s all about France. In May, we spent a week in Provence, specifically in the Luberon, exploring the cycling routes *Autour du Luberon à Vélo*, the *Véloroute du Calavon* (part of EuroVelo 8), and the shorter *Les Ocres à Vélo* route. Together, they gave us an amazing journey through rolling hills, vineyards, lavender fields still green in spring, and some of the most stunning landscapes in southern France.
It was, of course, the perched villages that impressed us the most. We visited Gordes, Roussillon, Bonnieux, Lacoste, Lourmarin, Ménerbes, Oppède-le-Vieux, Cucuron, and Lauris. Many of them are among the most beautiful villages in Provence, and it’s hard not to agree with that reputation.
One interesting point is the route of EuroVelo 8 in this part of the region. The official path mainly follows the old railway line of the *Véloroute du Calavon*, which is very comfortable and safe. But in our opinion, cyclists traveling EuroVelo 8 around the Mediterranean would discover even more treasures if the route passed through villages like Bonnieux, Lacoste, or Oppède-le-Vieux.
We were also pleasantly surprised by how safe cycling felt. Most of the route takes small local roads, but traffic is light, drivers are respectful, and road design really takes cyclists into account. It’s one of those places where you can ride peacefully even without separated bike lanes.
Our full story:
Around Luberon by bicycle - the most beautiful villages of Provence
You can also find all our cycling travel stories on the forum:
Cycling Thread - Europe’s most beautiful bike routes
Hi there, we’re a group of 4 cyclists looking to get from Treviso in Italy to Munich with our 4 non-folding bikes. It seems complicated! Are there any solutions? Thanks so much.
hello fellow cycling enthusiasts
here’s a travel journal of the cycling tour through the Rhône-Alpes Auvergne region by Claudio
zouli
it was the plan
http://cbandiera.free.fr/parcours/auvergne-Ralpes/
the trip was completed
story being posted online soon
1100 km in 11 days
beautiful and varied regions
Hi there, we’re planning a Munich to Venice bike trip at the end of June 2026. Getting back from Venice to Toulouse by train with 4 bikes isn’t straightforward. What return options have others who’ve done this trip chosen? Any tips or great deals would be much appreciated. Thanks a bunch! !
Hi everyone,
Happy owner of a Pegasus Estremo bike with a Rohloff hub, which is giving me trouble with the SF11-NCX-FT-E-LITE 700C TS 300/0 fork (serial number TD01329060). It’s starting to show its age, and I’d like to repair it to extend the life of my beloved bike.
The suspension is gone, and there’s an oil leak from the seals.
Does anyone know how to repair it? Where can I find parts that are about fifteen years old? Or where to find an identical replacement fork? Just to clarify, the Magura HS11 brakes are mounted using Firm Tech, meaning they’re on pivots behind the fork, facing the frame.
Hi, I'd like to know if anyone has done this route recently or has reliable info.
Does the track exist, and most importantly, is there sand (for biking)?
Any info is welcome.
Cheers,
diego ambilobe: mangaoka, manondro, ramena
vohemar sambava: masondrono, tanambao
Hi there,
New to bike touring,
I’d love to start with a section of the Via Rhona to explore and share (route to be decided).
Looking forward to exchanging tips!
I’m landing in Madagascar with a buddy before the end of April 2026. We’re planning to bike around for about twenty days or so. We don’t have a specific goal other than exploring the country and meeting the locals.
Ideally, we’d prefer a loop route starting from Antananarivo with a good chunk of it along the coast. On the bike side, we’re used to riding 6 to 8 hours a day, depending on the needs, encounters, and mood 😉 Any feedback or tips from trips around this length?
A big thank you to Lazarou for all the info you share in this forum!
I'm passionate about Morocco, which I cycled through back in 2009.
Last year, my wife and I explored the High Atlas by tandem. Completely smitten, we're heading back in April (Anti Atlas) and May (High and Middle Atlas), still on our tandem.
Do you have any info on the track between Amezri and Ali Ait Nito? Are the river crossings in the Tessaout still there? It's not easy to navigate with a loaded tandem... especially if the river level is high due to this year's heavy snowmelt!
Thanks in advance for any tips you might have, and best wishes for health in this new year!
Claudio specializes in the route of the Savoie lakes
Here are his travels
Between Bornes, Chartreuse, the Savoie foothills, and Dauphiné
Five lakes: Léman, Annecy, Paladru, Aiguebelette, Bourget, not to mention a few ponds along the way
Plenty of accommodation options: camping, hotels, and more...
A lovely route not far from his place
Rural and quite peaceful
A road cycling route created by Serge B...
First of all... happy New Year! Wishing you great roads in 2017!
I’ve been traveling for a few years now with a high-quality mountain bike, but it’s equipped with hydraulic disc brakes. I live (pedal) with the constant worry of a breakdown (leak, air bubble, heat causing the fluid to...). My bike mechanic tells me it’s impossible to switch them out for V-brakes.
What do you all think? Am I taking a big risk continuing (alone) with these brakes? Thanks in advance for your great tips!
First post here to share a quick recap of our west-to-east bike trip along Algeria’s coast in January 2025.
It was just the two of us—my partner and I—with French passports and not a word of Arabic. No friends or welcoming hosts in the country.
Under those conditions, we’d strongly advise against going.
Our original plan was to follow the coast from Algiers to Tunis. We ended up cycling from Algiers to Béjaia, then took the train from Béjaia to Annaba (with a stop in Constantine), and finally biked to the border.
We were tailed by police the whole way—whether on our bikes, on the train, or even on foot while exploring towns. On top of that, we couldn’t wild camp and were limited to the few state-approved hotels that accept foreigners. Under those circumstances, connecting with locals was especially tough.
With such an omnipresent and intrusive police presence, we’d definitely recommend against this destination for bike touring. A really sad situation that completely cuts you off from the local population...
We’d been warned, we went to check it out, and we weren’t disappointed!
Hi there,
I’m planning the route to cycle from Lille to Nordkapp with my partner.
Duration: 3 months, from May 1st to July 31st, 2026.
In the attached details below, I need to add some "non-riding" days (rest days, basically).
So I’m looking to "shorten" the trip by taking ferries or trains for some stretches. Which areas could I skip?
Thanks in advance for your great tips.
Have a good evening.
https://www.komoot.com/fr-fr/collection/4023980/-lille-cap-nord-1er-mai-au-31-juillet-2026?ref=collection
I’m planning to bike back from Poland this summer. Does anyone know a way to ship it there without having to take it apart? Otherwise, it’s a real hassle to fine-tune all the settings before departure!
Thanks in advance.
Hi, has anyone recently bought Primus or Butagaz gas, possibly puncture-style, in Dubrovnik or the surrounding area? Same question for Albania... thanks. aichatou
Just a few words about the loop I did by bike in Yunnan.
Entry and exit
I entered China through the Sino-Vietnamese border crossing at Lào Cai / Hekou under the 30-day visa exemption currently available to French nationals and others.
The process was simple and quick. A Chinese police officer even helped me complete my electronic pre-registration at a computer kiosk. I wasn’t aware this formality was required—it’s similar to Thailand’s TM6.
No issues with the bike.
I left the country via the Sino-Laotian border crossing at Mohan / Boten.
The atmosphere was a bit chaotic there, but again, no problems with the bike.
The timing
I visited Yunnan in February 2026.
Weather-wise, at higher altitudes (between 1,500 and 2,000 meters), it was around ten degrees at night and in the mornings, and around twenty degrees at the hottest part of the day.
I had two days of rain, so I took the bus to keep moving. Otherwise, clear blue skies.
Culturally, Chinese New Year fell on February 17th (and the 15 days following), right in the middle of my trip. Because of this, my take on the traffic might be off.
Accommodation and food
I always found a hotel to stay in for prices ranging from 8 to 15 €. Except in Kunming (the capital), where many hotels were fully booked (Chinese New Year). I ended up at a 100 € hotel with great value for money.
A bowl of noodles costs about 1.5 € on average.
Onboard electronics
Since my smartphone doesn’t support eSIMs, I subscribed to a China plan with my carrier. Otherwise, for much cheaper, Alipay offers eSIMs for foreigners that allow access to services usually blocked for Chinese users (WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.).
An internet connection is essential for paying with Alipay or WeChat, as this payment method is widespread.
I only managed to use Alipay.
Either way, always carry cash because sometimes there’s no signal, or the merchant only accepts WeChat.
Also, it’s best to bring a power adapter when you arrive rather than struggling to find one.
Traffic and roads
The Chinese aren’t reckless drivers. They follow traffic rules and watch out for cyclists. This is slightly less true in Xishuangbanna (the region bordering Myanmar and Laos).
In urban areas, there are almost always wide bike lanes, separated from other roads, where bikes, electric mini-scooters, and scooters share the space pretty harmoniously.
The roads are in great condition, and traffic is generally manageable—even light—except for one stretch (Eshan -> Yangwu).
Most traffic is absorbed by expressways, China’s equivalent of highways: toll roads that are off-limits to slow vehicles.
You’re never far from these expressways; sometimes you even ride alongside them, which can be noisy at times.
The climbs are usually reasonable, around 5% to 6%. From what I remember, the steepest section was between Menglun and Mengla, with gradients of 8% to 10%, sometimes more.
Riding at these altitudes—though modest—took a bit of getting used to.
The route
I didn’t plan anything in advance. My only goal was to reach Kunming. I don’t know why, but just hearing the name of that city, like Yunnan, always felt dreamy to me.
