5 great routes for cycling in Thailand

Cycling is more than merely getting exercise or finishing a distance. The voyage itself—the picturesque highways, quaint towns, and fascinating cultural encounters along the way—is what attracts many people. Such refuges for cyclists abound in Thailand, a nation renowned for its diverse topography and abundance of cultural traditions. We identify bike routes that genuinely capture the distinct charm of this country.

For a lot of these cases, you will need your own bikes but you will find that there are various services that will rent out bikes to you as well.

The best cycling routes in Bangkok

Bang Krachao, Samut Prakan

A couple of routes run along the nature-filled and beautiful Bang Krachao which is located in the Samut Prakan area of Bangkok. This area serves as an antithesis to the urban jungle of Bangkok by replacing the drab concrete-filled views with green instead. With that, Bang Krachao offers various sites to visit and rest that provide a more grounded feel that does not feel overly congested.

Furthermore, This route is pretty easy for beginners as the roads are paved and the terrain is relatively flat. On this route, there are a variety of ways to start but one solid way is to take a ferry from Wat Bangna Nok to Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok where you will find bike rental shops there. From there you can begin your journey as you travel along the narrow path that overlooks fields and passes by some private houses.

From there you will pass by a coffee shop where you can rest for a short bit before hitting the open road and reaching the Bang Krachao floating market where you can taste a variety of street food and shop for souvenirs. From that point onwards, you can head on to Sri Nakhon Park where you will cycle around the lush greenery of the park around a lake with opportunities to do bird watching if you are into that. Then you can circle back to Wat Bang Nam Phueng Nok to finish your day.

Chinatown, Bangkok

The Chinatown route will take you through the busy streets of Bangkok where you will experience the urban jungle to its fullest. A juxtaposition to the lush greenery and nature that you could find on the outskirts of Bangkok, here you will be exposed to the frantic and fast-paced lifestyle of the city denizens.

The route is suggested to start at Hua Lamphong MRT station where you will north through Chinatown parallel to the Chao Praya River where you will cross Memorial Bridge to cross the river. From there you will ride south until you reach the Krung Thonburi road bridge and return back to Hua Lamphong MRT.

The sites that you will see along the route are Chinatown itself, Wat Kalayanamit, and the Santa Cruz Church. However, if you go off the beaten path a bit, You will find yourself passing by the awe-inspiring Wat Phra Kaew and the shining Wat Arun as well.

Arboretum – Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir, Chiang Mai

This cycling route up in the “Rose of the North” provides you with one of the most interesting experiences in Thailand where you will see the urban landscape of Chiang Mai while heading up into the nature-filled paths north of the city. This route creates a great balance for those who wish to experience the most about this area.

Starting at Kud Suan Kaew, You will begin your journey heading towards the northwest where you will make a stop at a coffee shop along the path called ‘Living a Dream’ where you can refresh or have some coffee to boost yourself. Next, you will move on to visit the Huay Kaew Arboretum which houses a lot of Thailand’s native plants and trees and is generally a pleasant place to ride through.

Nearby, there will be the Chiang Mai Zoo where you can see animals, observe fish in the aquarium, and even take a photo with pandas. From there, you will head up further north to Huay Tueng Thao Reservoir where you will cycle past a line of bamboo huts and possibly visit some eateries while you circle the reservoir. Afterwards, you will backtrack and return back to your initial destination.

Khao Kalok Beach

At the Khao Kalok Beach route, you will see the azure waves of the ocean as you ride along it. Tranquil in its open path that is away from the claustrophobic cityscapes of places like Bangkok and Chiang Mai while tasting the salt in the air. With that, this route is more difficult in the sense that its terrain will include more uphill and downhill roads.

With that, you will start your cycling route at Nong Kae station where you will cycle towards the Remember Khao Tao restaurant for a coffee and lunch break. From there you can continue northwards where you will pass by more local venues such as a couple of farms that will include the Zaithong Hydrofarm. From there since you are cycling parallel to the ocean, you will find various points where you can get your feet sandy and chill by the shores of Khao Kalok Beach.

Furthermore, you will reach the termination of your journey at a small coffee shop to refresh before you make your entire trek back south retracing your ride all the way to Nong Kae station.

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is a well-known island in Thailand with a reputation as a top vacation destination. With that, it is no stranger to the cyclist who dares to conquer its tropical paths. This route will be parallel to the beach the entire time and spans around the entire perimeter of the island itself. This route is for the more experienced and extreme cyclists but can be done with some effort.

With that, the route will start at the northeast end of the island next to the airport where your first destination will be the Fisherman Village. Cycling counter-clockwise alongside the sea, you will be going in and out of towns while visiting various sites which include temples and ports until you reach the ferry pier to Koh Taen where you can choose to hop on or just chill.

moving on, you will come across various places which include the Guan Yu Shrine and Wat Ratchathammaram. Going further north, you will encounter Lamai beach and Chaweng beach which give you opportunities to get sandy and/or take in the heat before you complete your route right back from where you started. 

Thailand caters to cyclers of varied preferences, from soul-soothing countryside rides to the challenging mountainous terrains and from historical leisure biking to urban jungle biking. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned cyclist, these destinations are sure to give you the most memorable cycling encounters.

If you are looking to embark on an adventure on foot, you can look for the best hiking trails HERE!