Bicycle Tour Thailand; Cycling Mae Hong Son loop:
Pai, Lod Caves (Tham Lod) on the way to Mae Sariang.
The Mae Hong Son Province offers fantastic options for cycling and exploring.
This area is characterized by high mountains and steep roads so, if you are not well trained, I wouldn’t recommend you to choose this route if you were to use only the bicycle , trust me!!!.
A second option could be to use the local transportation from one city to the other and cycle to visit the attractions around the villages such as Pai , Tham Lod, Mae Sariang, etc.
Cycling Mae Hong Son rice fields
The mountains and the dense jungle along the cycling loop have amazing views through valleys and paddy fields.
As I said, the mountains are very high some over 2000 mt. so, is good to have a wide range of clothing because temperatures can drop down to 0 degree during the dry season starting from November to April.
We’ve been here in August 2017 (hot season) last time and the temperature was 12 degrees in Doi Inthanon 2565mt.
Mae Hong Son loop map, Pai, Lod Caves, Thailand
Bicycle tour itinerary options Chiang Mai or Sukhothai
- From Chiang Mai:
Most travelers start their bicycle tour from the lovely Chiang Mai.
Some distances: Mae Hong Son Loop MAP Download
Chiang Mai to Pai 130km
Pai to Mae Hong Son 107km
Mae Hong Son to Mae Sarian 163km
- From Sukhothai or Kamphaeng Phet to Mae Sot and Mae Hong Son Province
From Sukhothai or Kamphaeng Phet, you can cycle north to Tak and Mae Sot the gateway to Myanmar. The roads are flat between Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet. Mountains start on the way to Tak and the road become steep and windy on the way to Mae Sot.
Best Places on the Loop:
Cycling Mae Hong Son Loop Elephant on the road
Pai:
Pai is a small sleepy village: It’s a perfect place to chill and explore the area by bicycle. Surrounded by mountains, farmers villages, waterfalls, hot springs, temples, any kind of attractions and agencies providing tours.
Lod Caves or Tham Lod:
Is located 50 km form Pai half way between Mae Hong Son. Tham Lod is well served with hotels, Guesthouses and Homestays. Great place for trekking, kayaking and cycling.
Don’t miss a cycling loop around Ban Mae Lana and ban Jabo with plenty of minority ethnic villages. (check on the map).
Mae Hong Son:
Mae Hong Son is bigger than Pai but still cute. Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang temples face a small round lake in the centre surrounded by guesthouses, restaurants and a small food market.
If you like to experience rural lifestyle, I recommend the Northern area: Ban Ruam Thai, Ban Rak Thai and Ban Na Pa Pak. (Check on the map) where you can visit the Long Nek Karen Villages and some other minority ethnic villages.
Bicycle tour Mae Hong Son loop
Cycling from Mae Hong Son to Mae Sariang
If you are cycling from Chiang Mai you can proceed to Mae Sariang 160km and Mae Sot 400km down to Sukhothai.
Our favorite route cycling south: is through Mae Nong Kieaw, Mae Surin Waterfalls, down to Mae Cham, Inthanon National Park and back to Chiang Mai.
The intersection that leads to this area is located 40km from the center of Mae Hong Son just after Ban Huai Pong village.
The road is STEEP! Very steep!!!
But the view from the top of the mountains is amazing and the farmers are still living in their own traditional way of life. Cycling this route is like a dream going back in time.
Enjoy biking the loop.