River of Kings Ride
14 Days Starting in Chiang Mai and ending in Bangkok
Visiting: Thailand
Tour operator:
Tour code:
THA-TRK
Group size:
2 - 16
Age range:
Min age:18
Trip Styles:
Activities:
Tour Overview
This bike journey — much like Thailand's geography and history — is shaped by the flow of rivers. In the north, the Ping descends from the mountains into Chiang Mai. In the Central Plains, the Yom meanders through the ancient landscape of Sukhothai, while the Ping and Nan rivers converge to create the mighty Chao Phraya, the River of Kings. In the Mae Klong Delta, the rivers fan out and spill into the Gulf of Thailand. Along these valleys and plains, expansive rice paddies, villages, towns, and remnants of once-powerful empires come to life. Over 14 days, we wind along scenic backcountry roads for an in-depth exploration of what has made Thailand — the so-called “Land of Smiles” — the vibrant country it is today. With manageable daily distances, limited climbing, and plenty of off-saddle exploration, plus delectable Thai cuisine and cosy accommodations (many along rivers!), this is the ideal tour for those seeking an active yet immersive Thai holiday. We start in Chiang Mai, exploring this storied city by bike before heading south through the rustic countryside of “Lanna” (the local name for northern Thailand). Along the way, we discover glittering temples, charming heritage towns, and an agrarian world shaped by Buddhist and animist beliefs. Next, we venture into the heartland of the ancient Sukhothai Empire, visiting its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the grand capital and its pottery-producing satellite city of Sri Satchanalai, as well as the military fortress of Kamphaeng Phet. Riding through Thailand’s rice basket, we follow the Chao Phraya River, flanked by expansive paddy fields stretching to the horizon. By day 9, we reach Ayutthaya, where the UNESCO-listed ruins of the former Siamese capital offer a faded reminder of past glory. We then veer west into Kanchanaburi, where jungle-clad mountains loom over the plains of the historic River Kwai. The last leg of our journey takes us to the Mae Klong Delta, home to Thailand’s most famous floating market and endless coconut farms. Afterward, we transfer to Bangkok for a final ride through an urban oasis before bidding farewell over dinner aboard a converted rice barge cruising along the River of Kings. The tour concludes in Bangkok.Join us on this eye-opening ride into the heart and soul of Old-World Siam!
Itinerary
Bike Hire
Hybrid: US$ 280, E-Bike*: US$ 700
Single Supplement
US$ 585
Check out our Q&As
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Yes! SpiceRoads insists that all clients must take out good travel insurance before joining one of our tours. There are inherent risks involved in cycling and mountain biking and we will not be liable for your medical expenses or evacuation in case of an accident. This insurance must include adequate coverage for any personal accident, medical expenses, injury, death and repatriation. Insurance should also provide coverage for cancellations or curtailment of the holiday. Clients should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for any dangerous or unusual activities that might be included in their tour. If you join the tour without adequate insurance you may be disallowed from continuing on the tour without the right of refund. Clients are solely responsible for arranging their insurance and they should ensure that they are covered for the full duration of their tour. Your tour leader will ask for copies of your insurance before allowing you to join the tour. This protects both you and us.
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Is the trip guaranteed to depart and does it require a minimum number of people?
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please contact us.
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Why hire a bike from SpiceRoads?
SpiceRoads bikes are never just "fit for duty" but a key component of our riders’ tour experience and satisfaction. For tours with bike hire option, renting one of our bikes saves hassle, not to mention precious luggage allowance. All SpiceRoads tours use well-known makes of mountain, hybrid or road bikes (depending on the tour) with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes or disc brakes and Shimano components. Mountain bikes all have front suspension. We renew bikes in our fleet every two seasons. When in use, our bikes are well-cared for, including full service before each trip and daily cleaning while on tour. SpiceRoads tour support vehicles carry plenty of spares and extra tubes for every emergency.
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Do you have E-Bikes?
Electric "pedal assist" e-bikes are available on select tours. E-bikes can help manage long distances and climbing terrain through the use of a pedal-activated electric motor. Unlike other e-bikes, "pedal assistedr" e-bikes feel more natural to the rider. We recommend e-bikes for riders interested in tours that might normally be too challenging for them, or for groups of riders with mixed ability. E-bikes provide assistance for long distance or more challenging terrain, but they can’t do all the work for you! Always chose a tour within the range of your own abilities to ensure your own enjoyment when exploring a new destination. Contact us for a complete list of e-bike available tours.
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What do I need to bring if I rent a SpiceRoads bike?
Bikes rented for tours always come with a helmet, a single water bottle cage, and a standard saddle. If you prefer to bring your own saddle (just the saddle, not the seat post), additional water bottle cage, or SPD pedals, we will fit them to your bike for the tour. Don’t forgot to bring your shoes and cleats if you bring SPD pedals! Women specific seats are recommended for longer tours. We have a limited supply of gel seat covers to soften the ride, and of strap-on toe cages. Please enquire about adding these during your booking.
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Do you have details of the SpiceRoads fleet?
In Thailand we have a fleet of Verve city bikes, TREK 4300 and X-Caliber 7 mountain bikes, TREK 7.2 X, FX 3 and 7200 hybrid bikes and Trek 2.1 C, Domane 2.0, Lexa SL and carbon Émonda S5 road bikes. We also carry Giant 2019 Explore E+ 3 e-bikes. Our bicycles are available in sizes ranging from 13 inches to 22 1/2 inches or 47 cm to 62 cm. Please note that a certain frame model is not guaranteed. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, baby seats, tag-alongs, and child bikes for children are available. In Bangkok the single-wheeled tag-along bike attach to the seat-post of an adult bike, allowing a child to pedal along behind the adult. There's no age limit to the tag-along bike, but there is a 36 kg weight limit. Bike hire is include in the tour price for short tours, while longer tours offer bike hire as a supplement, as many riders opt to bring their own bike for our cycling tours. Depending on the destination, length of tour, and type of bike, hire costs vary.
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Dec 08, 2024 - Dec 21, 2024Sunday - Saturday
Mar 02, 2025 - Mar 15, 2025Sunday - Saturday
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Nov 16, 2025 - Nov 29, 2025Sunday - Saturday
Dec 07, 2025 - Dec 20, 2025Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
SpiceRoads Cycling allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform spiceroads cycling, 40 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
SpiceRoads Cycling requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of spiceroads cycling charges.
At 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 0% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.