Trip Description
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This bucket list ride takes place over 14 Days and 13 Nights at the best time for guaranteed ideal cycling weather. Based on the popular Bangkok to Phuket route, but with vastly improved hotels and cycling program.
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Our Coastal Thailand Adventure starts with a welcome dinner and Happy hour at Novotel Suvarnabhumi, in Bangkok (BKK).
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A whistle stop tour of cycling, cuisine and historic culture kicks off in the Thai capital before we ride south along beach roads, through bucolic villages and along monkey lined forest roads traversing idyllic national parks.
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With the Gulf of Thailand to the East, and the Andaman sea to the west we ride from coast to coast, crossing Khao Sok and Khao Lak National parks. Spending the night on Cheow Larn lake with its emerald waters set between karst peaks before arriving at the Andaman Coast.
Ride Overview
Average Daily Distance: 52 mil/ 84 km
Average Daily Climb: 1,867 ft / 569 m
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This ride is rated moderate. In total, the ride covers approximately 600 mi / 1,000 km over 13 riding days, meaning daily distances are very achievable.
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Most of the days are flat or undulating, always on tarmac roads, with very little real climbing or steep grades. Throughout the ride, we will have air conditioned vehicle support. If you are tired, or just fancy a rest, you can ride in the van with your bike and take in the scenery until you are ready to get back in the saddle.
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Having local riding guides throughout, and daily briefings, we will always know what is coming. GPS tracks, broken down day by day and an accompanying hotel list with contact details are provided.
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If you want to cruise and take photos, a rear support van/ sweep will always be behind the last rider. Riding guides and support vehicles will mark turns, usually in person or with chalk road markers.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Day, Skylane Shakedown
Welcome to Bangkok, Krueng Thep Maha Nakorn (City of Angels). On arrival, you will be met at the airport, and transferred to Novotel Suvarnabhumi. Take a dip in the pool, explore the city, or just enjoy your room.
If your flight arrives early enough, we will ride the skylane today, a world class bike track facility built around the airport grounds. This 23km free track has become the centre of Thai cycling culture, offering modest and well off Thais a place to rub shoulders and take turns in the wind. It's a great place to warm up winter legs, and get our bikes setup for the adventure to come.
In the evening, we will meet up for dinner and a tour briefing at 5 PM. You can meet your guide team, and get to know your fellow riders.
Ride: 23km/lap
Meals: Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Novotel Suvarnabhumi
Day 2: Amphawa, Kaeng Krachan NP - Hua Hin
Goodbye Bangkok, hello Thailand. We transfer past Bangkok's infamous traffic to the most well known floating market. After a short excursion by local boat, we drive further into the countryside before mounting up at the edge of Kreang Kachan National Park, the largest in Thailand. Flanked by huge trees, and skirting a reservoir, we will stop at the park visitor centre before riding on through fields and villages to a local vineyard where our ride will end, allowing us to sample the wines and enjoy a lunch overlooking the vines. After lunch, we transfer a short distance to Hua Hin, the Royal holiday town, with its popular night market. Happy Hour tonight is poolside overlooking the ocean, with dinner on the beach.
Ride: 70 - 75 km or 43 – 47 mi, +475 m / -376 m or +1558 ft / -1234 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Putahracsa Resort (Silksand Room)
Day 3: Ride The Bike Lane To Kui Buri
Leaving Hua Hin, we pick up the bike lane, and follow it until we peel off, crossing the rail lines to join the coast road again. Here we ride along the coast to Sam Roi Yod National Park (300 hundred Peaks).
The peaks are ever present, as we ride long flat roads teasing the coast, passing through fishing villages with estuaries teaming with colourful fishing boats and smiling locals. There is an opportunity to stretch our legs a little on this section, for those who want to.
We then head back inland for a short section of main road, before another coastal leg into our Hotel in time for a dip in the pool, or a massage in the spa. Happy Hour is in the bar, but we dine at a local seafood restaurant nearby, serving fresh catch of the day.
Ride: 82 km or 51mi, +408 m / -404 m or +1339 ft / -1325 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Dhevan Dara Beach Villa Resort (Studio Room)
Day 4: Through The Isthmus Of Kra To Ban Grood
At its narrowest point, Thailand is just 27miles across. Today, we pass through this area, known as the Isthmus of Kra, with the tip of Southern Burma to the West, and the Gulf of Thailand to the East. The region is known for bird condos; buildings designed for collecting nests to use for medicinal soup.
Our hotel this afternoon is situated on a secluded beach, so take a stroll along the white sands or lay by the pool before we meet for Happy Hour and Dinner.
Ride: 98 km or 621mi, +430 m / -440 m or +1450 ft / -1455 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Baan Grood Arcadia (Poolside Room)
Day 5: Private Island Excursion
Today we will travel by speedboat to the tiny private Island of Koh Talu. After a short cycle to the pier, the afternoon is free to beachcomb, kayak and snorkel around the coral reef, fish off the pier or simply stretch out on the sand.
Dinner and Happy Hour are at the quaint island resort.
Ride: 32 km or 19 mi, +168 m / -167 m or +551 ft / -548 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Koh Talu Island Resort (Ocean Bungalow)
Day 6: Coastal Road To Saplee
Enjoy waking up on the island! Our boatman will arrive at 9am to take us to the mainland. Then we saddle up, and hit the beach roads again, through coconut palm lined roads and shrimp farms towards Saplee, a sleepy seaside village with resorts dotted along the white sand beach.
Our resort today is set a little way back from the beach. Tonight we break from local fare and eat woodfired pizza, while sipping cocktails, watching the sun set from a beach bar popular with the locals.
Ride: 83 km or 52 mi, +560 m / -552 m or +1814 ft / -1811 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Nana Beach Resort (Superior Room)
Day 7: Saplee To Arunothai Beach
Another day riding flat roads in the sun. Today we start to see the mangrove forests flanking fishing villages bristling with brightly coloured boats. In the distance, limestone karts protrude the horizon. This spot is a great place for some seatime, snorkeling around the myriad tiny islands, or floating in the waves.
Our hotel tonight is located on the secluded Haad Arunothai. It’s a perfect place to enjoy one of Thailand’s most famous exports -- Traditional Thai massage. Make sure to ask the local team to call ahead and book a spa pavilion in the garden.
Ride: 93 km or 58 mi, +645 m / -658 m or +2156 ft / -2159 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Tusita Wellness Resort (Deluxe Villa)
Day 8: Tungtako To Chaiya – Laem Sai Beach
A slightly longer ride today, and the last day riding along this coastline. Endless beaches guide our way towards Chaiya, a former capital of the Srivijaya Kingdom, based in what is now Indonesia and dating back 1,500 years.
Tonight’s accommodation is modest, but the best available in the remote mangrove location. A short walk from our rooms, we dine with the locals, in a stilted seafood shack on the water, serving fresh catch and ice cold beer.
Ride: 110 km or 68 mi, +386 m / -390 m or +1266 ft /-1280 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Laem Sai Resort (Run of the House)
Day 9: Floating Houses Of Cheow Larn Lake
We bid goodbye to beaches for a while, as today we ride inland, entering the forested Khao Sok national park. With our new direction, we encounter our first few climbs, as we make our way up to Ratchaprapa dam, and glimpse the emerald waters below. From here we will leave our bikes onshore, and take a boat around the steep cliffs to our resort, a floating village of raft houses nestled in the karsts. Dive off your balcony, and take a swim to visit your neighbours.
Ride: 114 km or 71 mi, +676 m / -577 m or +2218 ft / -1893 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Panvareee Floating Resort (Raft House)
Day 10: Cheow Larn Lake to Khao Sok Jungle Lodge
We can enjoy the morning on our rafts, or perhaps take a kayak to explore the karsts and caves. Back on the mainland, we ride deep into the jungled Khao Sok, Southern Thailand’s largest area of virgin rainforest, home to 5% of the world’s species.
The undulating single park road leads us through tropical forest to our accommodation, a boutique jungle lodge, hidden amongst the limestone cliffs
Ride: 57 km or 34 mi, +525 m / -555 m or +1720 ft / -1820 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: The Cliff & Jungle Resort (Superior Lodge)
Day 11: Khao Sok Into Khao Lak & the Andaman Coast
Riding out of the park area today, we approach the Andaman Coast. As we approach Takua Pa, colonial buildings, remnants of portuguese traders are dispersed among the wooden houses. We make a brief stop to pay respects at the Tsunami memorial before riding a picturesque winding road, crossing rivers and palm plantations before suddenly reaching the turquoise waters of the west coast.
After celebrating our coast to coast traverse with a dip at a refreshing waterfall, we ride on 10km further to our Beachfront resort.
Ride: 93 km or 58 mi, +740 m / -699 m or +2400 ft /-2293 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Apsara Beachfront Villa Resort & Spa (Superior Room)
Day 12: Phuket Island
Welcome to Southern Thailand - Palm, Rubber, Beaches and sleepy Islamic communities. As we approach the bridge connecting Phuket to the mainland, all roads become one, crossing the bridge and Island checkpoint on our bikes, before peeling off onto quiet back roads again, and an undulating beach road alongside the Andaman sea. Phuket is the paradise island that started tourism, but these days it has been transformed into a luxurious lifestyle island, offering triathlon training camps alongside 5-star private villas and a host of activities.
We will earn our final resort with a short steep climb over the hills to the hidden Nai Yang beach, and the exclusive Dewa Phuket Resort. Happy Hour and dinner tonight is a few steps to the sand.
Ride: 105 km or 63 mi, +763 m / -759 m or +2513 ft / -2498 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Dewa Phuket Resort (Deluxe Room)
Day 13: Phuket Island Circuit
Today we will circumnavigate the island on our bikes, taking in the stunning Phan-nga bay to the East, and the hilly coast roads to the west. Our last ride will serve as a perfect way to end the trip, with a victory lap of the island, and a chance to stretch any legs yearning for more miles. If there is time in the afternoon, take a walk through the National park next to our resort.
Tonight we will share tales and toast our unforgettable journey over a farewell meal, and a special Happy Hour.
Ride: 65 km or 40 mi, +775 m / -774m or +2543 ft / -2539 ft
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour
Accommodation: Dewa Phuket Resort (Deluxe Room)
Day 14: Phuket Departure
Catch either an international or domestic flight (Phuket to Bangkok flights range from 50-150USD, Bangkok Airways are a good option) from Phuket international airport (HKT), or extend your stay and enjoy the sun and sands of Phuket!
Ride: -
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: -
Bikes
Bring Your Own
The ideal machine for this ride is a road bike or hybrid touring bike fitted with a minimum 25mm tire width and 2 water bottle holders. If bringing your own bike, please make sure that it is in excellent working order, and that you bring sufficient parts and supplies to complete the distance. Tubes and compressed air cartridges can be requested in advance. Tandems and Bike Fridays can be accommodated on this tour upon request.
Bike Rental
Limited bike rentals (Road, Carbon road, Hybrid & eBike) are available from WeAdventure upon request. Saddles, clips and accessories can be fitted to rental bikes at the shakedown ride, day 2. Please mention these when booking a bike rental. Ebikes are extremely limited and require additional logistics, so please make sure to request these well in advance.
Local Bike Hire:
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Aluminium Road Bike - USD 380
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Hybrid Bike - USD 280
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E-Bike - USD 590 (limited availability)
Inclusions
What's Included
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Arrival and departure drop off
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13 nights accommodation on a shared room basis
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All meals - 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches, 13 dinners, 12 happy hours
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Snacks and drinks while riding
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Guiding and support services, boat transfers
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Entry fees when mentioned
What's Not Included
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National and international airfares
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Bike rental
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Single room supplement *
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Guide team gratuities
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Travel insurance
* Single rooms are available on request at a surcharge of 1,190USD per room.
Essential Info
Visa and Entry Conditions
At the time of writing, Thailand have reinstated pre-covid visa on arrival and entry requirements. As usual visitors will require the following:-
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Passport (valid for at least 6 months from date of entry)
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Visa if required
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Flight itinerary
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Hotel/ Tour booking confirmation
Consult the Thai Embassy website for the latest entry requirements.
Health and Vaccines
It is advised to have the standard following vaccinations: typhoid, polio, tetanus and hepatitis A.
Weather
December/ January is the best time to travel to the areas we will visit. It is a cooler season with average temperatures between 68F and 85F. A light jacket is advised for evenings. For riding, starting rides in the morning with layers, and peeling off in the warmth of the day is the best strategy. Support vehicles are always on hand to carry day bags which can be accessed easily.
Money and Expenses
It's a good idea to have some cash on you for incidentals, either in USD or better yet some local currency (The Thai currency is the baht. ATMs, which are abundant, are the easiest ways to get Thai baht. Having some US dollars in cash will enable you to change some money, incase of card issues. Cards are accepted in chain and larger establishments, but a few baht notes are accepted everywhere.
