Chiang Rai & the Golden Triangle

Day 1: Arrival – Chiang Rai (bike handover, no cycling)
Welcome to Chiang Rai. Settle into your hotel and explore the city at your own pace, then collect the bike that will carry you through the tour — a chance to set the fit and ask the team any last questions. The famous White Temple (Wat Rong Khun), the Blue Temple and the Saturday Night Market are a perfect first taste of the region.

Day 2: Chiang Rai – Mae Chan (78 km; +820 m)
The first stage rolls straight out of Chiang Rai onto quiet backroads. You pass the Baan Dam Museum (the Black House), climb gradually toward the riverside cafés of Nang Lae Nai, then drop back onto peaceful lanes. As Mae Chan nears, the Choui Fong tea plantations spread out ahead — a natural place to stop — before you reach your hillside hotel.

Day 3: Mae Chan – Phamee (43 km; +1,300 m)
Short on distance but a true mountain stage. You climb in cool highland air to the magnificent Doi Tung Royal Villa and its immaculate gardens, then to the Pha Hi viewpoint and its sweeping panorama. The day ends in Phamee, a hilltribe village tucked between the peaks — a corner of Thailand few travellers ever reach.

Day 4: Phamee – Chiang Saen (51 km; +610 m)
You come down from the heights onto more flowing roads. The Mae Sai market, a vivid crossroads between Thailand and Myanmar, is a must-stop for crafts and street food. You then cross agricultural plains to Chiang Saen, a historic town at the heart of the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, and dine beside the Mekong.

Day 5: Chiang Saen – Chiang Khong (68 km; +620 m)
Your Mekong journey begins. After a manageable stretch on the main road — broken up by a visit to the remarkable Wat Phra That Pha Ngao — the route turns beautifully rural, hugging the river past riverside cafés and natural stopping points all the way to the quiet old town of Chiang Khong.

Day 6: Chiang Khong – Phu Chi Fa (89 km; +2,190 m) — queen stage
The most demanding day on the circuit. You leave the Mekong and climb hard into the mountains, with panoramas opening at every bend; a stop at the Phu Duen Coffee Farm is well earned. A support-vehicle option is available to skip the main climb. The night at Phu Chi Fa, cooled by mountain air with ridge views all around, is unforgettable.

Day 7: Phu Chi Fa – Chiang Rai (107 km; +800 m)
The final stage opens with a long, satisfying descent, then rolls through peaceful countryside and open plains back toward Chiang Rai. A boat trip on the Mekong offers a last look at the river from the water before you return to the city for a final evening among its temples and markets.

Day 8: Departure – Chiang Rai
A free morning to rest and explore Chiang Rai's famous temples before your onward flight. If you have not yet seen the White Temple or the Blue Temple, this is the moment for one last dose of northern Thai beauty.