Northern Thailand by bike: Bangkok to Chiang Mai route (page 2 of 2)

Hi Serge,

We’re planning a fairly light bike trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai since we won’t be bringing anything for sleeping.

You made a KML track that might interest us. If you could send it our way, we’d really appreciate it.

Cheers,

Hi

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.

I’ve posted two KML sets here: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao4RXwvTfBtoxdNhkvW1uPEaufDN1g https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ao4RXwvTfBtoxdNftZ1VTrBYYyx2QQ

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.

Don’t hesitate if you’ve got other questions.

Serge

Thanks Serge for these details!

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.

Thanks again!

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.

I sent you a PM.

Serge

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!

Hi there

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.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Xzoe5uuKWe99jUi2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y3kPZEvwBEJkuQ5G3

Hello.

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.

I posted photos here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/sergeetsoa/Thailande2009

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

Hi

You’ll find the KML files here—let me know if you need GPX or can’t access them. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ubrb13op4pt9r8wbepriv/AHVFWzQ7vR9I5coXbIantqs?rlkey=fsms034e8e3cnbr7b2y16xad4&st=7wbp57so&dl=0

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.

Have a great trip! Serge

Hi everyone,

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.

Hi there,

You’ll find the KML files here—let me know if you need GPX files or can’t access them. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ubrb13op4pt9r8wbepriv/AHVFWzQ7vR9I5coXbIantqs?rlkey=fsms034e8e3cnbr7b2y16xad4&st=7wbp57so&dl=0

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!

Thanks again, Corentin

Hi Corentin.

I’ve added the GPX files here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/ubrb13op4pt9r8wbepriv/ACwicCv5g2ZpgTvFdacaSYw/GPX?dl=0&rlkey=fsms034e8e3cnbr7b2y16xad4&subfolder_nav_tracking=1

Have a good evening. Serge

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