Thailand Heritage by Bicycle

We pick you up from your Bangkok hotel in the morning for a short transfer to the former royal summer residence of Bang Pa-In Palace. Originally built during the reign of King Prasat Thong of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya in 1632, the palace is now sometimes used by the royal family for banquets and ceremonies. After a walk through the gardens and the various styles of buildings we cross the River of Kings, the Chao Phraya, for lunch at a riverside restaurant. In the afternoon we have a flat cycle on backroads to Ayutthaya Historical Park to explore the ruins of the formerly wealthy kingdom that ruled for four centuries, and is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once a major trading post for merchants and sailors between the Far East and India, Ayutthaya was once home to traders from Japan, China, Portugal, Holland, France and Spain. We will stop often to visit temples and learn of their significance then and now. We finish the day at a Thai-style boutique resort set amidst rice paddies.



Ride: 30km

Elevation: +102m

Descent: -101m

Our riding day starts with a leisurely cycle to Wat Chaiyo Worawihan. This originally small temple was enlarged during the reign of King Rama V to accommodate a large seated Buddha image (16 metres from knee to knee and 22 metres high). For lunch we stop by a local restaurant before a short transfer to our country resort, where we have the option of a ride through tranquil rice fields, a sunset kayak, throwing a fishing line or a relaxing Thai massage.



Ride: 60km

Elevation: +230m

Descent: -224m

We ride up north out of Koh The Po along the Sakae Krang River and visit Hat Thanong village, renowned for their custom knife making. The villagers once were expert makers of illegal guns but were encouraged to put their skills to a different use and they now export their knives. We then drive to explore more of Thailand's cultural treasures at Kamphaeng Phet – the Diamond-Walled city – which served as a military fortress defending the former capital of Sukhothai during the 14th century. We have a casual cruise with our bikes inside the city walls and the old fortification of Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, absorbing the history of this UNESCO Wolrd Heritage site. In the afternoon our pleasant ride on country roads will take us to a local's hangout, Phra Ruang hot springs. Join young and old in soaking in the natural hot springs where the average temperatures range from 50-65°C. We then transfer to our charming Thai-style hotel in Sukhothai. Tonight we have dinner at the excellent Dream Cafe surrounded by artifacts and antiques.



Ride: 30km

Elevation:+172m

Descent: -170m

This morning we cycle through the remains of the first kingdom of the Thai people. Pre-dating Ayutthaya, though there is some overlap between the kingdoms, Sukhothai was established in 1238 and reigned until 1438. The story of Sukhothai was found in a stone inscription which describes the relationship between the king and his people as a father and son, the strong belief in Buddhism and the land as rich with natural resources, “in water, there are fish; in fields, there is rice." From this inscription also developed the Thai alphabet into the one currently used. Our riding through the sites will be leisurely as we explore the many temples and ruins and learn about like in Siam during the Sukhothai era and how it influenced current Thai culture. In the afternoon we beat the heat of the day with a transfer to the quaint town of Phrae, where we enter a different period of Thai history, the Kingdom of Lanna. We'll visit Khum Chao Luang, the resident of the last ruler of Phrae, bulit in a mixed Thai-European style of architecture known as "Gingerbread," popular during the reign of King Rama V, then in the evening we delve into a very important aspect of being Thai, food! Our guide will take you to explore the famous Phratu Chai Market known for local delicacies such as the Kanom Jeen Nam Ngiew (a northern style noodle soup) and Kanom Tom (a dessert made from coconut and palm sugar).



Ride: 30km

Elevation: +75m

Descent: -69m

After breakfast we have a two hour transfer to Lamphang, the fortress city of the Kingdom of Lanna, the most prosperous kingdom in northern Thailand during the 13th-18th century. Though of the same Tai family as the Siamese in the central plain, the Tai Yuan people, who established the Lanna Kingdom, developed their own language and alphabet, which can still be seen and heard today. Here, we explore Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, which still has the fortress walls that protected the people as well as the temple that contains a Buddha relic that is worshiped by Thais all over the country. We ride our bikes through the undulating countryside, seeing farmers in the fields, to our riverside hotel.



Ride: 63km

Elevation: +232m

Descent: -333m

We start the day with a 90 minute transfer and then begin our day of cycling to admire Lanna architecture. After just over 20 kms we'll take a break with a visit to the Lamphun Museum and learn about the ancient kingdoms of Haripunchal and Lanna. We then cycle around Wat Phra That Haripunchai, built around 1044 AD. From here we ride north along the Ping River on quiet country roads through farmland and abundant orchards with a plethora of seasonal fruit including longans, lychee, mangoes, jackfruit, durian, and dragon fruit, among many others. We'll ride through the historic ruins of Wiang Khum Kham, a Mon settlement dating back to the 11th century. Constructed as part of the Haripunchai kingdom this satellite town was ruined by floods and abandoned, but the ruins have recently been excavated. Our ride continues along the Ping River as we get to our final destination, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai. After we check into our hotel and have a rest we'll get back on our bikes for night tour of this walled city. We'll have some snacks at the market and then have a late dinner featuring the signature dish of Chiang Mai, Khao Soi – flat, yellow egg noodles and chicken, beef or pork in a coconut milk-based red curry soup.



Ride: 50km

Elevation: +190m

Descent: -256m

This morning we'll leave our bikes behind as we drive up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (1384 A.D.), the most sacred temple in northern Thailand, whose temple ground has been extravagantly expanded with many more holy shrines over the years. Once there, a panoramic view of the city of Chiang Mai (15 km away) can be seen on a clear day. Then, we visit Wat Suan Dok (1370 A.D.), where the ashes of Chiang Mai's royal family are interred. The temple is also the site of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidyalaya Buddhist University, where monks from nationwide come to pursue their Buddhist studies. We'll stop for a farewell lunch at a spot above Chiang Mai so you can take in the landscape of the Lanna Kingdom before we return you to your hotel.