Cycle Bangkok to Phuket, 10 Days, Cycle Tour Thailand

We meet at a Bangkok hotel before we transfer to the start of our ride in Petchaburi (approximately 2 hours). This ride is a gentle start to the trip as we head out of Petchaburi and into rural Thailand, along roads flanked by paddy fields and palm trees. We then ride along the beach into Cha-am and on to the beach resort town of Hua Hin. The town is closely tied to Thai royalty. The last 20 km is on a main road, but there is a wide shoulder to ride. If the traffic proves to be too heavy, this section can be transferred. We top off our day with a seafood dinner on a pier in the centre of town.

We head out of Hua Hin, towards Sam Roi Yot (300 hundred peaks) National Park. This park has spectacular limestone formations and freshwater marshes in between the peaks. We ride on quiet backroads along beaches with striking limestone peaks as our background. After the park, we have a short ride on the main road, about 20 km, before heading back to the coast, passing many small villages. The final section is along the beach to Prachuap Khiri Khan. The selected hotel has some great views and, as the town is well known for having some the finest seafood in Thailand, we’ll feast on the local specialties at dinner.

We leave the hotel and ride along the beachfront road for about 12 km before hitting the main road. This section is 45 km with the option to transfer. We are now well away from the main tourist areas, and the roads are quiet and in good condition. We head towards a serene beach and our nature-friendly boutique resort. Time to relax in a hammock and listen to the surf.

This is a rest day – you’ve earned it. Spend it relaxing at the beach, wandering around the fishing village of Ban Krut, or taking a dip in one of the two salt water pools at the resort.

With legs rested, it’s time to do some serious kilometres. We ride 118 km on quiet side roads with very little traffic. Our route sticks to the coast, giving us views of the sea to the left and rugged mountains on our right. We are passing through Thailand’s narrowest part as the border with Burma is less than 20 km away at some points. We end the ride just north of Chumpon, at another secluded and quiet beach.

We cross the Isthmus of Kra, which separates the Gulf of Thailand from the Adaman Sea, and is just 44 km wide at its narrowest point. We head west for about 60 km on an undulating road that cuts through the lush jungle-clad mountains that surround this area. The hills and the twists and turns in the road make for some varied riding. There is a climb of about 3 km starting at the Pun Ya Ban Waterfall, and then it is downhill and flat all the way to Ranong. This is a spa town, and the hotel has a hot mineral spring pool to soothe those aching muscles.

We ride through valleys today, so the road will be rolling, but there are no extreme climbs, just enough ascents and descents to make the ride interesting. We pass many villages and children waving and yelling out farang, farang (foreigner). After some great views, the ride ends in a lovely little resort nestled in a valley and surrounded by lush tropical rain forest.

We continue our journey south, riding from valley to valley towards picturesque Khao Lak. The road flattens out a bit as we reach Takua Pa, a former Portuguese settlement. The region was an important tin-dredging centre in the first half of the 20th century, but there remains little evidence of the mining as rubber plantations have covered the dredged land. We next ride through one of the areas worst devastated by the 2004 Tsunami. You’ll be amazed to see how quickly this area has bounced back and been rebuilt. We arrive early to the hotel, so you can spend time in the amazing pool this afternoon.

The last leg of the tour is to the tropical paradise of Phuket, the largest island, as well as a province of Thailand. There are a couple of small hills to conquer before we leave Khao Lak, but then it’s flat all the way down to Phang Nga and Phuket. This road is in excellent condition, and you’ll make good time towards our resort on Nai Yang Beach. Phuket is connected by a bridge to the mainland, and we’ll stop for a celebratory picture before riding on to our hotel.

Today is yours to relax and rest after eight days of great riding. We can help with arrangements if you’d like to extend your stay at Phuket or organise transfers to the airport for onward flights.

Breakfast