MEDIA FACT SHEET
Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Northern Thailand, the Quiet Way
A 7-day eBike journey linking Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai by quieter northern roads through mountain villages, forested national parks, farmland and small provincial towns. Cave temples, local markets, ancient ruins and distinctive northern temples provide the cultural thread between the two cities.
Daily riding ranges from 42 to 76 km. Pedal assist makes the longer climbs more approachable without removing the cycling from the journey, allowing riders to spend more attention on the landscape, villages and cultural stops along the way.
Fast Facts
Destination: Northern Thailand
Activity: Guided eBike touring
Duration: 7 days
Start: Chiang Mai
Finish: Chiang Rai
Riding: 42-76 km/day
Level: Moderate
Terrain: Hills, climbs & valley roads
Best season: October to February
Lodging: Boutique inns & small resorts
Support: Guide team + support van
eBikes: Kaze pedal-assist
Price: From $2450
What Makes the Journey Different
The direct road between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai is not the point of this journey. Pedalers takes a much quieter route through mountain communities, national parks, agricultural valleys and smaller towns, using the two cities as bookends for a trip whose most interesting places lie in between.
The eBikes change what is practical without turning the route into a motorized tour. Riders still pedal every day, including a long mountain climb through Chae Son National Park, while adjustable assistance makes it easier to settle into the scenery and arrive at cultural stops with energy left to explore.
Editorial Angles
The Other Road Between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
Rather than following the familiar highway corridor, the route links the two northern cities through smaller roads, mountain villages, national parks, markets and provincial towns.
What eBikes Change About Mountain Touring
Pedal assist makes a route with real climbs accessible to a wider range of riders while preserving the daily rhythm, distance and independence of bicycle travel.
Northern Thailand Beyond the Headline Temples
Wiang Lo, Wat Nantaram, Tai Lue heritage, local markets and small mountain communities give the journey cultural depth beyond the region's best-known attractions.
Across Northern Thailand
- Pang Hai - 42 km: Leave Chiang Mai for handicraft workshops, Wat Tham Mae On and a night in a mountain village.
- Chae Son - 54 km: Ride a long forested climb through Chae Son National Park and visit the white stupas of Wat Chaloem Phrakiat.
- Phayao - 57 km: Return to flatter farmland, towns and markets before finishing beside Phayao Lake.
- Wiang Lo & Chiang Kham - 76 km: Explore the little-visited ruins of Wiang Lo by samlor, then visit Wat Nantaram and Tai Lue cultural sites.
- Phu Sang to Chiang Rai - 47 km: Ride through Phu Sang National Park and rural communities before finishing in Chiang Rai.
How Pedalers Runs the Trip
Guides: Local, English-speaking Thai guides lead the riding and provide cultural, route and logistical support throughout the journey.
eBikes: Kaze pedal-assist eBikes are used throughout the trip. Riders choose their level of assistance while continuing to pedal; spare batteries are carried when additional help may be useful on mountain days.
Support: A support van carries luggage and drinking water and provides ride breaks when needed.
Accommodation: The route uses locally styled boutique hotels, village stays and smaller properties chosen to keep the journey connected to the places being ridden through.
Food: Thai food is a major part of the route, with guide-selected restaurants, market stops and regional dishes introducing the flavors of Northern Thailand along the way.
About Pedalers
Pedalers has operated small-group active journeys since 1987, specializing in cycling, walking and canoe trips built around local knowledge, thoughtfully designed routes, regional food and distinctive accommodations.
The company focuses on destinations its team knows firsthand rather than maintaining a large global catalog.